Abstract:
The present invention provides a locking system that is more secure and theft resistant than traditional key and cylinder systems. A hidden locking system is provided where access to the locking mechanism is hidden from view and cannot be rotated or engaged by screwdrivers, pens or other common tools. In another aspect the present a primary and all related secondary locking systems on an object such as a bicycle. In a further aspect the present invention provides lockup in applications where large and bulky key and cylinder systems are not possible or practical.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a locking system with hidden keyed access that cannot be engaged or rotated other than with a special coded key. The locking system can be applied to a variety of locking applications but has particular applicability in the recreation industry including bicycles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Various key and cylinder locking systems are known where the locking cylinder is exposed so that a key can be inserted to unlock the device. Such systems can be relatively easily picked or tampered with by inserting a slender object into the cylinder opening. Recently it has been shown that even a pen can open some known locking systems. 
         [0003]    Forcing a sharp-pointed object into the cylinder opening can also easily damage Key and cylinder systems. Key and cylinder systems are large and bulky and are not practical in many applications where space is not available such as bicycle wheels. 
         [0004]    There is a need for a locking system that is more secure and theft resistant than traditional key and cylinder systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a locking system that is more secure and theft resistant than traditional key and cylinder systems. 
         [0006]    In preferred embodiment the present invention provides a locking system with hidden keyed access where access to the locking mechanism is hidden from view and cannot be rotated or engaged by screwdrivers, pens or other common tools. 
         [0007]    In another aspect the present invention provides one combination key that operates a primary and other related secondary locking systems on an object, such as a bicycle. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect the present invention provides lockup in applications where large and bulky key and cylinder systems are not possible or practical. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side plan view partially in cross-section of a primary locking system in the form of a U-Lock without hidden keyed access of the present invention 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view partially in cross-section of the U-lock of  FIG. 1  having one embodiment of a hidden keyed access according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the U-lock of  FIG. 2  a key inserted into the hidden keyed access. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view in cross section of the key and hidden keyed access of the locking system of  FIG. 3  with the key not engaged. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view in cross section of the key and hidden keyed access of the locking system of  FIG. 3  with the key engaged. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a secondary component locking system in the form of a bicycle head set. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing of a tamper resistant POG washer for use in accordance with the present invention used in conjunction with a tamper resistant nut on a bicycle locking skewer (not shown). 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view in cross-section of another embodiment of a bicycle lock having a shackle and lock housing according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a key to be used with the bicycle lock of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an expanded perspective schematic view of the lock housing of the bicycle lock of  FIG. 8  without a protective enclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    While the present invention may be used in a wide variety of applications one embodiment will be described with reference to a U-lock which can be used for locking up a variety of objects particularly bicycles. With reference to  FIG. 1  one embodiment of a U-Lock is illustrated. The U-lock, generally indicated at  1 , consists of a U-shaped shackle  2  designed to have its ends  3 , 4  inserted within a cylindrical tube or lock body  5 . The locking mechanism includes within the lock body  5 , an inner tube  6 , that is adapted to be rotated by a key from a locking to an unlocking position and back, to lock and unlock shackle  2  within the lock body  5 . The inner tube  6  has an end plug  7  at one end  8  and a driven plug  9  at the other end  10 . A driver  11  is biased away from contact with the driven plug  9  by compression spring  12  or other suitable bias means. Driver  11  is equipped with a projecting shaft  13  sized and shaped to fit within a corresponding hole  14  on the face  15  of the driven plug  9 . In  FIG. 1  both projecting shaft  13  and the hole  14  on driven plug  9  have a hex-shaped cross-section albeit other shapes are possible. The face  16  of the driver  11  remote from shaft  13  is provided with keyed access means that can be engaged by a key to rotate driver  11 . In the embodiment shown the keyed access means includes a convex nut  17  that is attached to driver  11 . The means of attachment in  FIG. 1  is that nut  17  is threaded on and then riveted to driver  9 . A convex face  18  of nut  17  is preferably provided with at least two cutouts  19  spaced away from the axis of rotation of nut  17 . The cutouts  19  are located, sized and shaped for engagement by the mating member on a specific key (not shown) for rotation of the nut and driver about their axis. The cutouts  19  and key are preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,927. 
         [0021]    To operate the U-Lock of  FIG. 1 , a combination key (not shown) is inserted onto and into engagement with nut  17  so that projections on the key engage the cutouts  19  on nut  17 . As noted above nut  17  is fixed to one side of driver  11 . The driver  11  is floating in the lock body  5  by the weak compression spring  12 . Unless the driver  11  is pushed in parallel with its axis, the shaft  13  on the driver  11  cannot engage with the hole  14  in the driven plug  9 . The driven plug  9  is welded on the inner tube  6  so the inner tube  6  can be turned with the rotation of the driven plug  9 . On the inner tube  6  there are two “D” holes to hold the shackle  2  and the shackle  2  goes through to the opposite side. The inner tube  6  also rotates limited angle and held in place by a lock pin  20 . The end plug  7  is welded on the other end of the inner tube  6  and has a space for holding a torsion spring  21 . The torsion spring  21  is held between the end plug  7  and an end cover  22 . 
         [0022]    Rotating the driven plug  9  can release the shackle  2 . A nut end cover  23  is provided around the nut  17 . End cover  22  and nut end cover  23  are held in place by wire rings  24 . 
         [0023]    In the embodiment of the U-Lock shown in  FIG. 1 , co-axial access to the nut  17  or other keyed access means is unhindered. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , nut  17  is recessed within nut end cover  22  to prevent access from the side. To preclude unhindered co-axial access to the nut  17  or other keyed access means, the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , provides an outer cylinder casing according to one embodiment of the present invention enclosing keyed access means, in this case the nut. By hiding the keyed access means to direct access, the keyed access means cannot be engaged or rotated other than with a matching coded key. While  FIGS. 2 to 5  only show the locking system with hidden keyed access means of the present invention in conjunction with a U-lock, the hidden keyed access means can be used with other locking applications. For example on a bicycle there may be locking skewers used to hold the wheels and/or seat in place and/or locking head sets to hold the handle bars in place and/or locking skewers on vehicle racks. In accordance with the present invention, one combination key can be provided to lock and unlock the primary locking device (i.e. the U-lock) retaining the bicycle to a fixed object such as a bike rack and the other component secondary locking systems on the bicycle (i.e. locking skewers, head set etc.). 
         [0024]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the present invention features a keyed access means in the form of a convex combination nut and a concave combination key which match one another to provide positive engagement. The convex combination nut is recessed and hidden from view within a protective enclosure. To operate the lock, the key must be first be inserted through a narrow slot in the side of the protective enclosure. The key can then be plunged towards the combination nut to create positive engagement. The present invention is a significant improvement over the prior art by providing a locking mechanism that is not accessible or visible and thus is more difficult to pick or tamper with. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 2-5  the U-lock  30  has a similar construction to the U-lock shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 2-5 , a keyed access means in the form of a combination nut  51  (number  17  in  FIG. 1 ) is housed within an outer casing  52 . The combination nut  51  is preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,927. The operative components of combination nut  51  are preferably at least two cutouts provided on the face of the combination nut  51  and spaced away from the axis of rotation. The cutouts are located, sized and shaped for engagement by the mating member on a specific key for rotation of the nut about its axis. Outer casing  52  has a cylindrical outer wall  53  and end wall  54 . Cylindrical outer wall  53  and end wall  54  hide the operative components of combination nut  51  from view and prevent the use of common tools to engage and rotate the combination nut  51 . A narrow slot  55  is provided within the cylindrical outer wall  53  and end wall  54 . The casing  52  can have any shape but in the embodiment illustrated is cylindrical and sized to fit on the end of the lock body of the U-lock. In other applications the size and shape of the casing  52  may vary to fit the application. The key  56  in the embodiment shown (see  FIGS. 3-5 ) has a body portion  57  with a concave engaging surface  58  with projections  59  coded to match the size, shape and location of the cutouts  60  on combination nut  51 . A shaft  61  extends from the surface  62  of body portion  57  opposite the concave engaging surface  58 . At the free end  63  of shaft  61  is a handle  64  pivotally mounted to shaft  61 . The shaft  61  is sized to fit in slot  55 . The key  56  operates the lock by first inserting it through slot  55  in the outer casing  52  and then plunging it towards combination nut  51  to cause active engagement with the combination nut  51 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  illustrates another locking application where use of the same key as used on the primary locking system i.e. U-Lock, can be used to lock a secondary component locking system in the form of a bicycle head set. The head set, generally indicated at  100 , is used to hold the handle bars to the bike. One end  101  of the head set  100  is equipped with a clamp member  102  which can be tightened to the body  103  of head set  100  to hold the handle bars (not shown) in the recess  104  defined between the end  101  of head set  100  and clamp member  102 . The other end  105  of the body  103  of head set  100  is adapted to connect the head set to the frame of the bicycle. A top cap or casing  106  is provided around a vertical hole  107  in the end  105  of the body  103  of head set  100 . Keyed access means in the form of bolt  108 , having a convex head  109  and threaded shaft  110 , is recessed within top cap  106  with shaft  110  passing through the hole  107  and threading into the bike frame (not shown) to hold the head set in place. The convex head  109  of bolt  108  is preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,927. The operative components to permit rotation of bolt  108  are preferably at least two cutouts  118  provided on the face of the convex head  109  and spaced away from the axis of rotation of the bolt. The cutouts are located, sized and shaped for engagement by the mating member on a specific key for rotation of the nut about its axis as described above for the U-Lock. The cutouts can use the same combination as for the U-Lock described above and therefore can use the same key. By recessing the head of the bolt  108  it makes it difficult to access it with common tools. A washer  111  is provided with a depending and outwardly extending tab  112 . Washer  111  (“POG washer”) is placed between the head of the bolt  108  and the recess  113  in the top cap  106  with tab  112  fitting into a slot  114  in top cap  106  and a second slot  115  in the stem  116  at the end  105  of the head set  100 . The tab  112  on washer  111  prevents the top cap from being turned in an effort to turn bolt  108 . The side wall of top cap  106  can be extended and an end wall provided to result in a hidden locking system similar to the one described in  FIGS. 2-5 . 
         [0027]    The head set of  FIG. 6  provides a compact, light-weight headset locking system which is compatible with standard bicycle designs. The head set of the present invention overcomes problems with prior art through the use of a convex-head combination bolt which can be rotated/torqued only with the use of a matching key. The invention features a slotted cap with a recessed center cavity. When installed in its locked position, the combination bolt convex head is recessed within the center cavity of the slotted cap, thus preventing access by tools or other pointed objects which could be used to pry or dislodge the combination bolt. The slotted cap also prevents the use of pin-style universal wrenches (known by the tradename “Gator”-wrenches). The slotted perimeter of the cap causes such pin wrenches to become engaged in the cap, thus preventing their rotation of the combination bolt. The invention also features a POG washer which serves to prevent relative rotation between the slotted cap and the bicycle headset stem. This prevents removal of the lock by rotation of the slotted cap itself. 
         [0028]    The slotted cap is inserted into the bicycle headset stem. The POG washer is then inserted into the recessed cavity of the slotted cap. The combination bolt is then inserted and tightened into the bicycle headset stem to prevent its removal from the bicycle frame. The center cavity of the slotted cap provides a recessed protective enclosure around the perimeter of the convex-head combination bolt, thus preventing pointed objects such as screwdrivers from gaining access to beneath the combination bolt head. The POG washer features a tangential leg which fits into the gap in the headset stem and the slot of the slotted cap to prevent their relative rotation. The combination bolt is threaded and tightened into the headset stem to provide an effective locking system which cannot be opened without the use of a matching combination key. 
         [0029]    Another example of a secondary component locking system utilizing the same key as the U-lock and head set is shown in  FIG. 7 . A variation of the POG washer, generally indicated at  120 , with two upstanding tangential tabs  121  or legs can be used as illustrated in  FIG. 7  with other applications of the tamper resistant fastener of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,927, and incorporated herein by reference.  FIG. 7  illustrates the use of the POG washer  120  with locking skewers (not shown) for the wheel of a bicycle. The two upstanding tangential legs  121  or tabs prevents the use of pin-style universal wrenches (known by the tradename “Gator”-wrenches) from turning the locking nut  122 . The locking skewer on the bicycle wheel would fit into the slot  123  on the bicycle frame  124 . The POG washer  120 , together with conventional washer/spacers  125 ,  126  on either side of POG washer  120  slide over the end of the locking skewer that would extend beyond the bicycle frame  124 . A depending flange  127  on POG washer  120  is adapted to fit in the slot  123  on the bicycle frame the prevent the POG washer  120  from turning. A tamper resistant locking nut  122  of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,927 is then tightened on the threaded end of the locking skewer. 
         [0030]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, any shackle having a free end can be used for locking a variety of objects. Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 8  illustrates a bicycle u-lock  240  comprising a shackle  210  releasably engaged on both ends in a lock housing  220 . 
         [0031]    The ends  211 ),  212  of the shackle  210  have inward facing grooves  211  which engage in the locked position with a left stop  231 ) and right stop  232 ) as described more fully below. When connected to the lock housing  220 , the shackle  210  is designed to lock a bicycle wheel and or frame to a secure post, such as a standard bicycle rack. 
         [0032]    The lock housing  220  has two sides, a shackle facing side  221  and a key facing side  222 . The lock housing  220  is illustrated in the embodiment shown as rectangular-shaped but other shapes and size are within the scope of the present invention. On the shackle facing side  221 , there are two cylindrical lock bodies  280 ,  281  as shown in  FIG. 10 , each of which receives a respective end  211 ,  212  of the shackle  210 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0033]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the lock housing  220  includes an inner body  230 , including, on its key facing side  222  a keyed access means, shown generally at  224 . The inner body  230  is comprised of two links  233 ,  234  which are diametrically opposed to each other, each of which have a stop link  231   232  on each opposite end  270 ,  271  and wrench faces  235  and  236  on each facing end  272 ,  273 . The two links  233  and  234  are connected with each other through their wrench faces  235  and  236 , each of which is connected to a tooth  237  and  239  for each face. The teeth  237  and  239  are both mounted on a disc  239 , which can be seen in  FIG. 8 . The bottom side of the disc  238  is connected to a driveably connectable means, such as a nut shaft  251 , which houses a convex nut  250  at its distal end  254 . Nut  250  has a convex top face  255  and a flat opposite surface  256 . The nut  250  has at least one cutout  252  on its convex face and houses a spring  253  within the cavity of the nut  250 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , a key  300  is provided. The key  300  has a handle  310 , a plug  330 , and a t-shaped shaft  320  connecting the handle  310  to the plug  330 . With reference to the embodiment shown, a key  300  having only a mating member  330  and some form of handle can also be used, even where the shaft itself forms the handle. The t-shaped shaft  320  pivots about pivot screw  340  which connects the t-end of the shaft  320  to the handle  310 , thereby allowing flexibility in operating the key  300  and locking system  340 . The mating member  330  is concave-shaped having at least one protruding pin  331  which projects out of the concave face of the mating member  330  and is ready to be inserted into a cutout  352  having the same size, space and location to ensure a secure interaction. 
         [0035]    To operate the bicycle u-lock  340  of  FIG. 8 , a key  300 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , is inserted onto and into engagement with the nut  350  through the keyed access means so that the pin  331  interlocks with the cutout  352  and secures the nut with the mating member  330 . Once engaged, when the key  300  turns left and has pressure applied in the direction of the shackle facing side  321 , the spring  353  is compressed from its resting and expanded state simultaneously while the shaft  351  rotates about its vertical axis, causing the disc  339  to rotate left along its horizontal axis. The teeth  337  and  338  then pull each respective wrench faces  335  and  336  and consequently pull each link  333  and  334  towards each other. When the links  333  and  334  are pulled toward each other, their respective stop links  331  and  332  are also pulled inwards and create an opening in the cylindrical lock bodies and release the inward facing grooves  311  of a shackle  310 . Once the inward facing grooves  311  are released, the ends of a shackle  310  are then free to slide out of the aperture and into the open position. Conversely, rotation of the key  300  to the right results in the stop links  331  and  332  wedging into the inward facing grooves  311 , securely locking the ends of the shackle  310  within the lock housing  320  and into the closed/locking position. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the means to access the mating member  330  with a nut  350  is unhindered. Nut  350  is recessed within nut end cover  360  to prevent direct access from the key facing side  322 . As such, nut  350  cannot be engaged or rotated other than with a corresponding key  300  and is more difficult to tamper with than locks disclosed in the prior art. In order to operate the bicycle u-lock  340 , the key  300  must be inserted sideways through a narrow slot in the key facing side  322  of the lock housing  320 . Once inserted, the key  300  can then be plunged towards the nut  350  to create a positive and secure engagement. 
         [0037]    To deter thieves from simply cutting through the shackle  310  and releasing the secured objects, the shackle  310  is preferably constructed of a sturdy, corrosion-free metallic material which cannot be readily broken, even with the use of a crowbar and the like. 
         [0038]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.