Patent Publication Number: US-2013248571-A1

Title: Fastener

Description:
This application relates to the field of fasteners for securing articles, and more particularly, to secure bicycle accessories such as locks to a bicycle frame. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     In order to prevent theft or unauthorized use of bicycles, bicycle locks are used to secure the bicycles. However, such locks tend to be bulky and an easy transport on the bike is not always possible. 
     Several fasteners are known in the related art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,018, for example, describes a mount for securing a lock at the top end of the bicycle by using a plurality of the described mounting locks. U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,422 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,188 use devices to secure a lock to a bike using straps that are not expandable. U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,422 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,456 B1, US 2005/0011921A1, US 2006/0124679 A1, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,353 use connectors to connect the fastening elements permanently to the bicycle frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,268 describes a flexible strap to secure objects to a bicycle frame. 
     The possibility to attach and remove the lock quickly from the fastener securing it to the frame is advantageous in the day to day use of the bicycle. Also, due to the limited space on the bicycle frame, it is advantageous if the lock and the fastener can be placed and removed without the use of any installation equipment on the frame as need be. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a fastener for fastening a locking device to a bicycle is provided. The fastener includes a base having a pair of flexible extensions, each extension having an extension hole, and a rigid rod extending through the base and extending therefrom on both sides. One of the extensions is sized to wrap over a bicycle part and to hook to one end of the rod, and the other of the extensions is sized to wrap over locking device and to hook to the other end of the rod to fasten the locking device to the bicycle. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a fastener for fastening an accessory to a bicycle is provided. The fastener includes a base having a first lateral side, an opposing second lateral side, a top side and a bottom side, the top side and first lateral side meeting at a first end, the bottom side and second lateral side meeting at a second end. A first rigid extension extends outward from the first lateral side and a second rigid extension extends outward from the second lateral side. A first flexible extension is provided having a first hole therein, the first flexible extension extending from first end, the first flexible extension being sized to wrap over a bicycle part to be secured to the top side and to have the first hole secured to the second rigid extension. A second flexible extension is provided having a second hole therein, the second flexible extension extending from the second end, the first flexible extension being sized to wrap over an article to be secured to the bottom side and to have the second hole secured to the first rigid extension. 
     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a fastener is provided which includes a base having a first lateral side, an opposing second lateral side, a top side and a bottom side, the top side and first lateral side meeting at a first end, the bottom side and second lateral side meeting at a second end. A first rigid extension extends outward from the first lateral side and a second rigid extension extends outward from the second lateral side. A first flexible extension is provided having a first hole therein, the first flexible extension extending from first end, the first flexible extension being sized to wrap over an article to be secured to the top side and to have the first hole secured to the second rigid extension. A second flexible extension is provided having a second hole therein, the second flexible extension extending from the second end, the first flexible extension being sized to wrap over an article to be secured to the bottom side and to have the second hole secured to the first rigid extension. 
     In the embodiments described above, the base and the extensions may be formed as a single piece, and are preferably made of an elastomer, most preferably a thermoplastic elastomer. Preferably, the base has recesses on opposing (e.g. top and bottom) sides to receive a bicycle frame on one side and a lock on the other side. 
     The rigid extensions described in connection with the second and third embodiments may be formed as a rod, and the rigid extensions and/or rod of all three embodiments are preferably made of a material selected from the group of metal and plastic. Preferably, each rigid extension, or each end of the rod, has a recess to receive one of the flexible extension holes. 
     Alternatively, the base can be made of a rigid material (such as metal or plastic) with a covering made of an elastomeric material. The extensions can be made of an elastomeric material and form a single piece with the covering. The rigid extensions can be formed as one piece with the base, or separately therefrom. The elastomeric covering may also cover the rigid extensions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be further described with respect the following Figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastener for securing a bicycle lock to a bicycle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  from a front or back view, the front and back views being identical. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  from a top or bottom view, the top and bottom views being identical 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  from a side view, both side views being identical. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  attaching a bicycle lock to a bicycle frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener to attach a bicycle lock to a bicycle in a convenient and fast way. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention can also be used to secure other accessories to a bicycle, or for that matter, to secure other articles to eachother. 
     The present invention provides a fastener for fastening a locking device to a bicycle comprising a base having a pair of flexible extensions each having a hole. The fastener also includes a first rigid extension and a second rigid extension, preferably in the form of a rod or bar extending through the base. One flexible extension is sized to wrap over a bicycle frame and to hook onto one rigid extension. The other flexible extension is sized to wrap over the locking device to hook onto the other rigid extension to fasten the locking device to the bicycle. 
     In this regard, the base can be described as having a first lateral side having the first rigid extension, an opposing second lateral side having the second rigid extension, a top side and a bottom side, where the top side and first lateral side meeting at a first end, the bottom side and second lateral side meeting at a second end. The first and second flexible extensions preferably extend from the first and second ends respectively. 
     The base and both extensions are preferably made of one piece of elastic material, e.g. of an elastomer via injection molding. Most preferably, the base, including both extensions, are made as a one piece thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) base. The rod or bar is made of a rigid material, e.g. of metal or hard plastic, most preferably aluminum or a thermoset hard plastic. 
     The rod preferably passes through a bore in the base and extends beyond the base on both sides. Recesses are located at both ends of the rod, preferably on opposite sides of the rod, to receive the extensions. 
     The base is configured to preferably have recesses on opposite sides, each recess having an extension on one side and a stub on the other. The extension and the stub are located vice versa on the opposite recess. The recesses are preferably concave shaped to mate with the bicycle frame and bicycle lock. 
     As explained above, the recesses on opposing ends of the rod receive associated extensions of the base, with the extension holes resting in the recesses. The recesses on the rod can be U-shaped, V-shaped or otherwise shaped to face an opposite direction as the base recess around which its associated extension is wrapped. Alternatively, the recesses on the rod can extend circumferentially around the rod. 
     The holes located in the extensions can be oval-shaped. Preferably both extensions are substantially identical, so that they can be used interchangeably. However, alternatively, one of the recesses, holes and extensions can be of another size than the other of the recesses, holes and extensions. 
     In operation, one of the recesses in the base is placed against the bicycle frame and its associated extension is wrapped over the bicycle frame and secured to the recess on one side of the rod (“rod recess”) by stretching a distal end of the hole of the extension over the rod and resting it in the rod recess. Then, the bicycle lock is placed against the other recess in the base, and the other extension is wrapped over the bicycle lock and secured to the recess on the other side of the rod (“other rod recess”) by stretching a distal end of the hole of the other extension over the rod and resting it in the other rod recess. Once the fastener is removed from the lock and bicycle, the elastomeric base preferable returns to its original shape as discussed below. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a fastener  1  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 4  shows a side view of the fastener. Fastener  1  includes a base  10  and a rod  20 . Base  10  is provided with a middle section  16  and extensions  11  having openings  12 . Middle section  16  is configured to have recesses  13  on opposite sides to each other and sides  15 , also opposite to each other. Although the base is symmetrical, for ease of reference, recesses  13  can be described as on the top and bottom sides. and sides  15  can be described as first first and second lateral sides. Recesses  13  are formed in such a way so as to fit on a bicycle frame on one recess and so as to receive a bicycle lock on the other recess. Both recesses  13  are have stubs  14  on one side and extensions  11  on the other side. Stubs  14  are arranged diagonal to each other on the upper and lower side of middle piece  16 . Extensions  11  are also are arranged diagonal to each other on the upper and lower side of middle piece  16 . On each side, stub  14  delimits one end of recess  13 , and extension  11  delimits the other end of recess  13  and extends therefrom. 
     Base  10  is made from an elastic material, e.g. an elastomer and rod or bar  20  is made from a rigid material, e.g. hard plastic or metal. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , extensions  11  include openings  12  and are designed to wrap over the bicycle frame  30  on one side and to, wrap over bicycle lock  40  on the other side. The elastic material and base  10  is configured so that after the fastener  1  is unfastened from the lock  40  and frame  30 , it will revert back into its original shape as shown in  FIG. 1 . Most preferably, the base, including both extensions, are made as a one piece thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) base. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , rod  20  extends horizontally through a bore in middle piece  16  of base  10  and extends outside of middle piece  16  on both sides  15 . Rod  20  has recesses  21  on both ends  22 , recesses  21  being on opposite sides of each other, one side facing up the other facing down. Rod can either be permanently fixed in position in the bore, either through a press fit or adhesives, or can be removeably positioned in the bore. Although illustrated as a cylindrical rod, rod  20  can alternatively be formed as a flat bar or rod, or otherwise shaped extension from the base. 
     Recesses  21  are shaped in such a way so as to receive the end of extensions  11 . Due to the elasticity of the material of base  10 , extension  11  can be stretched over bicycle frame  30  and lock  40 , respectively and openings  12  can be hooked into recesses  21  of rod  20  and fix bicycle  30  and lock  40  in place, as shown schematically in  FIG. 5 . 
     Alternatively, the base  10  and/or rod  20  (or bar) could be formed of a rigid material (for example, metal or plastic) that is wrapped in a thin coat of elastomer. The base  10  could be a solid one or two piece rigid member (metal or plastic) that forms two opposing ‘U-shaped’ portions that are back to back. The rod or bar could be formed separately from the base, or be formed integrally with the base (e.g. as a single piece with the base), protruding equally from both sides. The pair of flexible extensions  11  could be solid extensions of the same piece of elastomer that wraps around the solid base  10 . 
     In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.