Abstract:
A portable lock mounting assembly including a body defining a lock retaining mechanism and a contact surface. A strap having first and second ends is attachable to the body such that a loop facing the contact surface is defined by the strap. A cam member is supported by the body adjacent the contact surface and is pivotal between a first position wherein the cam member extends generally parallel to the contact surface and a second position wherein the cam member extends at an angle relative to the contact surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to mounting assemblies for temporarily stowing locks, for example, bicycle U-locks and cable locks, when not in use, and for releasing the locks for ready use when needed or maintaining a portion of the lock housing during use. 
         [0002]    Since the invention of bicycle U-locks and cable locks, a variety of holders have been proposed for removably carrying such a lock when the bicycle is in use, rather than parked. Such a U-lock typically comprises a semi-enclosure member or shackle having legs or fittings with configured feet, a straight crossbar having openings for reception of these feet, and a locking mechanism in the crossbar for retaining or releasing these feet. Such a cable lock typically comprises a cable having at one end a leg or fitting with a configured foot, a bar extending from the other end of the cable and having an opening for reception of this foot, and a locking mechanism in the bar for retaining or releasing this foot. For protection against theft, this tie lock assemblage ties a strut or the like of the bicycle to a post, rail or other station. 
         [0003]    The objectives of a holder for such locks are to carry the lock securely on the bicycle frame without rattling, to position the lock inconspicuously on the bicycle frame without hindering movement of the cyclist, and yet to facilitate convenient release of the lock from the holder whenever needed. Prior art holders have not completely met these objectives. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect, the invention provides a portable lock mounting assembly including a body defining a lock retaining mechanism and a contact surface. A strap having first and second ends is attachable to the body such that a loop facing the contact surface is defined by the strap. A cam member is supported by the body adjacent the contact surface and is pivotal between a first position wherein the cam member extends generally parallel to the contact surface and a second position wherein the cam member extends at an angle relative to the contact surface. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a mounting assembly  20  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described.  FIG. 1  shows mounting assembly  20  attached to a bicycle frame component  10  with a U-lock  12  supported in the mounting assembly  20 . The U-lock  12  includes a lock housing  14  and a shackle  16 . While the invention is illustrated herein with a U-lock, the invention is not limited to such and may be utilized with various portable locks, including, but not limited to, modular locks as described in PCT International Application No. PCT/US09/048226, incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, while the mounting assembly  20  is illustrated herein attached to a bicycle frame, the invention is not limited to such, but may be utilized in various applications. 
         [0007]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the mounting assembly  20  of the exemplary embodiment generally comprises a bracket body  22 , a strap  36  and a cam  40 . The bracket body  22  defines a lock receiving opening  24  with an end cap  26  with a slot  29  defined therein, as will be described hereinafter. The bracket body  22  includes a fixed strap support  30  and a free end strap support  32  which supports a strap buckle  34 . The cam  40  is supported on the bracket body  22  between a contact surface  23  thereof and a bracket insert  38  which defines a secondary contact surface  39 . Preferably, the bracket insert  38  has a configuration opposite the secondary contact surface  39  which is compliments the bicycle frame or other object to which the mounting assembly  20  is to be connected. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the bracket insert  38  and the cam  40  are positioned within a recessed portion  25  of the body  22 . The recessed portion  25  defines a generally confined area about the contact surface  23 . The cam  40  is connected to a cam lever  42  outside of the bracket body  22 . 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-7 , mounting of the mounting assembly  20  will be described. The mounting assembly  20  is positioned on the frame  10  at a desired location. A strap ring  35  on one end of the strap  36  is positioned on to the fixed strap support  30  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The strap  36  is wrapped around the frame  10  and the free end  37  is fed through the free end strap support  32  and about the strap buckle  34  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The strap free end  37  is pulled such that the strap  36  is firm and snug against the frame  10 . At this time, the cam  40  is positioned between the bracket body  22  and the bracket insert  38  in a neutral position such that it applies substantially no biasing force on the bracket insert. To further tighten the mounting assembly  20  to the frame  10 , the cam lever  42  is rotated as indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 6  such that the cam  40  is rotated to the position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Rotation of the cam  40  causes a biasing force on the bracket insert  38  which forces the bracket insert  38  away from the bracket body  22 . Since the strap  36  is held tight by the strap supports  30 ,  32 , the strap  36  stretches about the frame  10 , hence tightening the mounting assembly  20  on to the frame  10 . 
         [0009]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , in the exemplary embodiment, as the cam  40  is rotated past 90°, for example to about 97°, the tension in the strap  36  and thereby the tension of the bracket insert  38  against the cam  40  locks the cam  40  against cam stops  41  in the bracket body  22 . Preferably the angle is between approximately 91 degrees and 100 degrees. 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-16 , an exemplary mounting assembly  20 ′ that is an alternative embodiment of the invention will be described. The mounting assembly  20 ′ is substantially the same as in the previous embodiment, but eliminates the bracket insert and re-routes the strap  36 . In this embodiment, the strap  36  is routed through a slot  21  in the bracket body  22 ′ as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the strap  36  is extended across the bracket body  22 ′ and out a second slot  23  on the opposite side of the bracket body  22 ′. A pin  33  or the like is attached to the strap  36  and received in the strap support  32  to fix the fixed end of the strap  36 . In extending the strap  36  across the bracket body  22 ′, the cam  40  is between the bracket body  22 ′ and the strap  36 . 
         [0011]    The strap  36  is wrapped around the frame  10  and the free end  37  is fed through the free end strap support  32  and about the strap buckle  34  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The strap free end  37  is pulled such that the strap  36  is firm and snug against the frame  10 . To further tighten the mounting assembly  20 ′ to the frame  10 , the cam lever  42  is rotated as indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 12  such that the cam  40  is rotated to the position illustrated in  FIG. 13 . Rotation of the cam  40  directly contacts the strap  36  and thereby stretches the strap  36  about the frame  10 , hence tightening the mounting assembly  20 ′ on to the frame  10 . 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 14-16 , in the exemplary embodiment, as the cam  40  is rotated past 90°, for example to about 97° the tension in the strap  36  locks the cam  40  against cam stops  41  in the bracket body  22 ′. Preferably the angle is between approximately 91 degrees and 100 degrees. 
         [0013]    Having described exemplary embodiments of the mounting assembly  20 ,  20 ′, mounting of an exemplary lock member  12  to the mounting assembly  20 ,  20 ′ will be described with reference to  FIGS. 17-24 . As indicated above, the mounting assemblies of the present invention may be utilized with various locks, but are described herein for example with respect to a U-lock  12  having a locking head  14  with a projecting engagement member  15  extending therefrom. The bracket body  22 ,  22 ′ may have various configurations to accommodate locks of different configurations and to mate with them in various manners. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 17-19 , the locking head  14  is slid into the lock receiving opening  24  with the engagement member  15  aligned with the slot  29  in the end cap  26  of the bracket body  22 ,  22 ′. It is noted with reference to  FIG. 19 , when the cam lever  42  is rotated to the locked position, it has a contact surface  44  adjacent to the slot  29 . Once the engagement member  15  is received through the slot  29 , the locking head  14  is rotated to the desired orientation. When the locking head  14  is rotated to the desired orientation, the engagement member  15  rotates from its alignment with the slot  29  and engages the end cap  26  and locks the locking head  14  relative to the bracket body  22 ,  22 ′ as illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . This helps to reduce the possibility of inadvertent dislodging of the locking head  14 . The engagement member  15  also engages the contact surface  44  of the cam lever  42  such that the mounting assembly  20 ,  20 ′ can not be loosened from the frame  10 . As also shown therein, the bracket body  22 ,  22 ′ preferably has a slot  25  configured to align with a lock leg opening  17  in the locking head  14 . Once the locking member (for example the U-shackle) is locked to the locking head  14 , its extension through the slot  25  prevents the locking head  14  from being slid out of the mounting assembly  20 ,  20 ′. 
         [0015]    To minimize rattling and/or spinning of the locking head  14 , the mounting assembly  20 ,  20 ′ may further include a tensioning assembly configured to radially tension a portion of the locking head  14  within the lock receiving opening  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tensioning assembly includes a locking head lever  28  pivotally supported on the bracket body  22 ,  22 ′ with a camming surface  31  extending through an opening  27  in the bracket body  22 ,  22 ′ (See  FIG. 2 ). In the open position illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the locking head lever  28  is rotated outward such that the camming surface  31  is retracted in the opening  27  and does not extend substantially into the lock receiving opening  24 . Once the locking head  14  is positioned, the locking head lever  28  is rotated as indicated by arrow B to the locked position shown in  FIGS. 22 and 24 , wherein the camming surface  31  extends through the opening  27  and creates an interference fit with locking head  14 , thus holding the locking head  14  from spinning and/or rattling. 
         [0016]    Other tensioning assemblies may also be utilized. For example, in place of the locking head lever, a strap (not shown) may be routed within the lock receiving opening such that it extends about the locking head  14  and thereafter is tensioned against the locking head  14 . Such a strap may be a portion of the strap  36  or may be a separate strap. One or more of the straps disclosed in PCT International Appln. No. PCT/US2009/048226 may be utilized as the tension assembly, however, the invention is not limited to such straps. 
         [0017]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.