Abstract:
A bicycle mounted locking system for theft prevention includes a carrier member attachable to a bicycle frame member. A swingable arm extendable from the carrier member provides for tethered anchorage to a stationary object. A swivel stirrup depending from the carrier member is engageable with a bicycle wheel for providing wheel rotational blockage and securement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to security devices and especially to locking devices for cycles and the like. 
     In particular, the locking system of this invention concerns a device for providing a bicycle with tethered anchorage and wheel rotation blockage. 
     2. Related Art 
     Bicycle larceny/theft in the United States has become a serious problem and is especially prevalent in larger cities and on college campuses. Commonly used theft deterrents, such as cable locks and chains with padlocks, are relatively easy targets for thieves using bolt cutters and similar tools. Another shortcoming of these locking devices is the tendency to scratch or mar the finish of the bicycle frame during usage and when self-carried, to vibrate when the bike is in motion. 
     Another type of locking arrangement, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,113 relies upon a U-shaped shackle. A disadvantage of these locks is that the locking mechanism is readily subject to failure when a mechanical force is generated through use of a pipe/lever or an automobile jack. A further limitation of the U-shaped lock device is that the bicycle must be positioned in close proximity to a stationary object to which it is secured. 
     Still a further deficiency of prior bike lock devices is that they did not separately secure the front wheel and the wheel could, in some instances, be separately removed from a bicycle locked to a bike-rack or stanchion. 
     Another species of locking device is the wheel spoke-gap traversing lock, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,739, 4,459,833 and 3,788,108. A problem with these locking devices is that the bicycle is not always constrained to a fixed object and thus would not prevent the bicycle from being physically removed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The nature of this invention concerns a bicycle locking system for theft prevention that is not subject to the limitations of the previously extant devices. 
     The locking system of this invention includes a carrier member adapted for attachment to a bicycle frame member. A swingable anchor arm is mounted, at one end, to an upper portion of the carrier member; a collar member is provided at an opposite end of the anchor arm. The collar member is hingedly operable for lockable securement to an immovable object. A swivel stirrup depending from a lower portion of the carrier member is proximately located for lockable engagement with a wheel of the bicycle for securing the wheel to the bicycle frame as well as for blocking wheel rotation. The carrier member includes removable spacer elements for accommodation with different size bicycle frame members. 
     A feature of this invention is that it provides a dual locking system. Another aspect of this invention is that it provides an arrangement of multi-positionable articulated members. 
     Having thus summarized the invention, it will be seen that it is a preferred object thereof to provide a bicycle mounted locking system for theft prevention which is not subject to the aforementioned limitations. 
     Another preferred object of this invention is to provide a bicycle mounted locking system providing for tethered anchorage of the bicycle and securement of the front wheel. 
     A still further preferred object of this invention is to provide a bicycle mounted locking system that is key operated. 
     Yet another preferred object of this invention is to provide a bicycle mounted locking system that can be selectively attached to a bicycle frame. 
     A still further preferred object of this invention is to provide a bicycle mounted locking system that is adaptable for use with a range of different-size bicycle frame members. 
     Still yet another preferred object of this invention is to provide a bicycle mounted locking system that is practical in use, reliable in operation, simple in design, and economical to manufacture. 
     With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in certain combinations of elements and arrangements of parts by which the aforementioned preferred objects and certain other objects are hereinafter attained all as more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which is more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an exemplary embodiment of the invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a bicycle secured to a post with a wheel locked against rotation utilizing the bicycle mounted locking system of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isolated perspective view of the locking system of this invention illustrating a carrier member, a swingable anchor arm supporting a collar member, and a swivel stirrup; 
     FIG. 3 is an isolated perspective view partially in section, showing a collar member juncture to the anchor arm; 
     FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective view to an enlarged scale taken substantially along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2 showing a connection of the stirrup member to the carrier member; 
     FIG. 5 is the sectional view taken substantially along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2 showing the carrier member secured to a bicycle frame member; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view in perspective showing in detail a lock assembly utilized in this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6 illustrating a lock seating arrangement; and 
     FIG. 8 is an auxiliary view taken substantially along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 6 showing a lock washer and a stop member for limiting rotational displacement. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural aspects of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the invention may be embodied in practice. 
     Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral  10  denotes generally a bicycle mounted locking system in accordance with this invention. The locking system  10  is intended for use as an auxiliary, anti-theft attachment, for bicycles however, it can also be incorporated as original manufacturer equipment. Although the invention will be described with reference to use with a bicycle, it should be apparent that the locking system  10  could also find application with motorized cycles and similar vehicles. 
     With regard to this exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of a bicycle  12 , secured with the locking system  10 . The locking system  10  includes a carrier member  14  adapted for attachment to the bicycle  12  and preferably for mounting to a downtube  16  as shown in FIG.  1 . The carrier member  14  is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve and is constructed in two half-sections forming segments  14   a ,  14   b , which, in this preferred embodiment, are connected by a hinge  18  running along one set of confronting edges  15   a ,  15   b . A lock assembly  20  is mounted, along an opposite set of confronting edges  17   a ,  17   b , within a lock housing  22  that is in registration with a lock keeper  24 . 
     The carrier member  14  is adapted to be attached to the downtube  16  and to be securely held in position. In order to accommodate a range of different downtube configurations and to provide substantially vibration-free securement, a set of spacer elements  26   a ,  26   b  are employed. The spacer elements  26   a ,  26   b  are yieldably deformable to conform to the contour of the segments  14   a ,  14   b  and for that purpose, are made of a compressible “foam” or elastomeric material. The illustrated carrier member  14  has an oval cross-sectional configuration. Alternative spacer elements  26   a ,  26   b  of various selected sizes and shapes may be used as needed for providing snug engagement with the downtube  16  as, for example, is shown in FIG. 5 or with other downtube configurations. 
     The lock assembly  20  will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. A lock plug  28  is mounted in a cylinder recess  30  in the lock housing  22  and is secured therein by a threaded lock nut  32 . The lock plug  28  contains a tailpiece  34  for receiving a lock washer  36 . The lock washer  36  includes a notched portion  38  that contacts a stop member  40  to define the limit of rotational displacement of the plug  28 . A tongue  42  is affixed to the tailpiece  34  for rotation with the lock washer  36 , the tongue  42  is registrable with a recess  44  in a strike plate  47 . The lock plug  28  may be rotated with a key member  46  for displacing the lock tongue  42 , within the defined limits of the rotational displacement (illustrated by arrows), to a locked position below the overlying strike plate  47 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2, the anchor arm  48  is attached at a proximal end by a pivot connection  50 , to the carrier segment  14   a . The anchor arm  48  may be swingably displaceable about the connection  50  (as illustrated by the arrows in FIG.  1 ), and may be retained, when not in use, by engagement with a clamp member  52  as shown in FIG.  2 . The clamp member  52  includes a curved spring clip  54  for releasably holding the anchor arm  48 . 
     A collar member  56  is provided at a distal end of the anchor arm  48 . The collar member  56  is connected to the anchor arm by a connector assembly  58 . The connector assembly  58  includes a connector shaft  59 , fixedly secured, at one end to the collar member  56 . A guide plug  60  and a cam  62  are secured to the opposite end of the shaft  59  for rotational movement within the anchor arm  48  as the collar  56  is displaced. A pin  64  projecting internally within the anchor arm  48  co-acts with the cam  62  to limit displacement of the collar member  56 , preferably within a range of approximately 180°. The collar member  56  is positionable within a first plane when in operational locked mode and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the anchor arm  48  to a second plane when engaged with the spring clip  52 . 
     The collar member  56  has two linked sections  56   a ,  56   b  connected by a yoke member  65 . The free ends of sections  56   a ,  56   b  are relatively displaceable and respectively include a lock housing  68  and a lock keeper  70 , for accommodating a lock assembly  20   a  substantial identical the lock assembly  20 . In use, it should be apparent that the collar sections  56   a ,  56   b  will be displaced about the connector assembly  58  and/or the yoke member  65  for engaging a stationary object such as a post  72 . The length of the anchor arm  48  is of sufficient length such that the bicycle  12  need only be remotely located with respect to the post  72  for tethered anchorage. Furthermore, although, not shown, it should to be apparent that the anchor arm  48  can have an adjustable length e.g. it can be made telescopically extendable. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2 there is shown a stirrup member  74 . The stirrup member  74  is secured to the carrier segment  14   b  by a neck member  76  recess mounted within the carrier segment  14   b . A bushing  80  facilitates rotational displacement of the neck member  76 . An elongate tabular shoulder portion  78  is adapted for receiving a hanger member  82 . The hanger member  82  is journalled through the shoulder member  78  as shown in FIG.  4 . One leg of the hanger member  82  is linked to a lock bar  84  by a yoke member  86 . The free end of the lock bar  84  contains a lock keeper  88 . Another leg of the shoulder member  82  includes a lock housing  90  for accommodating a lock assembly  20   b  substantially identical to lock assembly  20 . The stirrup member  74  is used for rotational blockage of a front wheel  92  of the bicycle  12  as shown in FIG.  1  and to prevent removal of the wheel  92 . Alternatively, the stirrup member  74  can be releasably secured to the carrier  14   b  and optionally used for securement of a rear wheel. 
     It should be understood that the several lock assemblies  20 ,  20   a ,  20   b  are preferably operable using a single key. Alternatively, a magnetic-key lock may be substituted and/or a card key or combination lock may be used in place of the key lock. The locking system  10  is preferably fabricated from high performance chrome-nickel alloy, harden steel, or similar durable materials that can withstand most theft attempts. 
     It should thus be seem that there is provided a bicycle mounted locking system for theft prevention which achieves the various preferred objects of this invention and which is well adapted to meet conditions of practical use. 
     Since various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention or modifications might be made to the exemplary embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all materials shown and described in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.