Abstract:
The invention features a theft-deterring, quick-release axle apparatus comprising an axle having first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis; a first, removable end cap disposable on the first end of the axle that includes an end cap body, a bore extending into the end cap body to receive the first end of the axle, and a lock assembly disposed within the end cap body, whereby the first end cap is locked to and unlocked from the first end of the axle as the lock assembly is locked and unlocked, respectively; a first support positioned upon the axle, located medially near the first end; a second end cap disposed at the second end of the axle; a second support positioned upon the axle located medially near said second end; a first friction reducer disposed on the axle, between the first end cap and the first support; a second friction reducer disposed on the axle, between the second end cap and the second support; wherein the first end cap, the second end cap, and the axle rotate around the longitudinal axis of the axle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/185,195, filed Nov. 4, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,541 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/741,712, filed Oct. 31, 1996, now abandoned, both of which have the same inventor as the present application. The disclosure of application Ser. No. 09/185,195 is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to quick-release axles which allow a wheel to be removed quickly and easily and, in particular, to quick-release axles which are configured to deter theft. 
     Quick-release axles, for use on bicycles for example, are well known in the art. In general, as shown in FIG. 5, a quick-release axle  10  supports a hub  11  for rotation about the axle  10 . Spokes (not shown) extend from the hub  11  to the rim of the wheel and support the wheel, as is generally known. The axle  10  is threaded at one end  12  and an end cap  14  is threaded onto the threaded end  12 . 
     A quick-release cam mechanism  16  is provided at the opposite end of the axle  10 . Although a number of different configurations are known in the art, previously known quick-release axles tend to operate on the same general principle. Specifically, locking lever  18  is used to rotate a shaft  20  which passes through an aperture in the end of the axle  10 , which is in turn enclosed within end cap  22 . The shaft  20  has a cam surface such that rotating the locking lever  18  and hence the shaft  20  “pulls” the axle  10  further into end cap  22 . This causes the inner surfaces  24  and  26  of the end caps  14  and  22 , respectively, to bear against the supporting tangs  28  of the structure from which the axle is suspended and squeeze the tangs  28  together slightly to secure the wheel to the fork. Bearing elements (not shown) disposed between the ends of the hub  11  and the fork tangs  28  permit the hub to rotate about the axle  10 . 
     Because quick-release axles are so easily and quickly removed, a number of theft-deterrent mechanisms have been developed and are known in the art. Known theft-deterrent mechanisms all generally work by preventing the cammed actuator from being turned—either by limiting the range of motion of the locking lever  18  or by removably positioning a pin or other blocking means in the shaft  20  to prevent rotation—or by preventing access of the locking lever or an equivalent device to the shaft  20 . 
     A thief may overcome such a theft deterrent mechanism by grasping one end of the axle with a pair of pliers or a similar device and twisting. Since the other end of the axle is solidly attached to the support the theft deterrent mechanism will sustain torsional shear until it snaps. There remains a need for an axle and lock assembly that defeats this strategy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, in contrast, deters theft by allowing a quick-release axle assembly to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the axle. The quick-release axle assembly is formed by permanently affixing an end cap to one end of an axle and by locking an end cap to the other end of the axle. Friction reducing means such as thrust bearings are inserted between each end cap and the axle supports to allow the quick-release axle assembly to rotate freely. The end caps are generally cylindrical and thus offer no convenient surface with which to grasp them. A thief who attempts to break off one of the end caps by applying a torque to it with a pair of pliers, for example, will find that the end cap rotates with the assembly, rather than breaking in shear. This arrangement is thus generally more difficult to circumvent than prior art locking mechanisms. 
     In particular, the invention features a theft-deterring, quick-release axle apparatus comprising an axle having first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis; a first, removable end cap disposable on the first end of the axle that includes an end cap body, a bore extending into the end cap body to receive the first end of the axle, and a lock assembly disposed within the end cap body, whereby the first end cap is locked to and unlocked from the first end of the axle as the lock assembly is locked and unlocked, respectively; a first support positioned upon the axle, located medially near the first end; a second end cap disposed at the second end of the axle; a second support positioned upon the axle located medially near said second end; a first friction reducing means disposed on the axle, between the first end cap and the first support; a second friction reducing means disposed on the axle, between the second end cap and the second support; wherein the first end cap, the second end cap, and the axle rotate around the longitudinal axis of the axle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1A is a schematic view side view of a quick-release axle with locking end cap and friction reducing means according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 1B is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 1C is a side view of an embodiment of the friction reducing means shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 1D is a front view of an embodiment of the friction reducing means shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B, and  2 C are a schematic view partially in section, a section view along the lines  2 B— 2 B in FIG. 2A, and an end view, respectively, of an example of a quick-release axle with locking end cap suitable for use with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2D is a detail view, partially in section, of the circled portion in FIG. 2A; 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C are a schematic view partially in section, a section view along the lines  3 A— 3 A in FIG. 3, and an end view, respectively, of an alternative configuration of the locking end cap shown in FIGS. 2A,  2 B, and  2 C; 
     FIG. 4A is a schematic, side view of a second example of a quick-release axle with locking end cap suitable for use with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4B is a detail view of the end of the axle not visible in FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 4C is a section view taken along the lines  4 C— 4 C in FIG. 4B; 
     FIG. 4D is a detail view of the retention cylinder which is partially visible in FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 4E is a section view taken along the lines  4 E— 4 E in FIG. 4D; 
     FIG. 4F is an end view of the lock ring shown in FIG. 4A; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in section, showing a quick-release axle as known in the art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1A, an embodiment of the theft-deterring quick-release axle  500  according to the present invention includes an axle  510  having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. There is a first, removable end cap  521  on the first end of the axle  510 , composed of an end cap body  522 , a bore  523  extending into the end cap body  522  to receive the first end of the axle  510 , and a lock assembly  524  disposed within said end cap body  522 . There is a first support  531  positioned on the axle  510  near the first end of the axle. There is a second end cap  540  disposed at the second end of the axle. In a preferred embodiment the second end cap  540  is permanently fixed to the second end of the axle  510  by spin welding or forging, for example. Also in a preferred embodiment first end cap  521  and second end cap  540  are of generally circular cross-section and have smooth surfaces. A second support  532  is positioned on the axle  510  near the second end of the axle  510 . In a preferred embodiment the first and second supports are the forks of a bicycle, but they may be any means of attaching an axle to a vehicle, such as a chassis suspension component like a steering knuckle, a swing-arm, a MacPherson strut, or the like. A first friction reducing means  551  is disposed on the axle  510  between the first end cap  521  and the first support  531 , and a second friction reducing means  552  is disposed on the axle  510  between the second end cap  540  and the second support  532 . The first friction reducing means  551  reduces friction between the first end cap  521  and the first support  531  such that the quick release axle assembly  500  is able to spin relatively freely about the longitudinal axis of the axle  510 . In a similar manner second friction reducing means  552  reduces friction between the second end cap  540  and the second support  532  such that the quick release axle assembly  500  is able to spin relatively freely about the longitudinal axis of the axle  510 . In a preferred embodiment the first friction reducing means  551  and the second friction reducing means  552  are realized as thrust bearings. The first friction reducing means  551  and second friction reducing means  552  could, however, be realized as roller bearings, ball bearings, thrust washers, or lubricants, including a low friction surface coating on a washer, or any combination thereof, without deviating from the spirit of the invention. In a preferred embodiment the first friction reducing means  551  and the second friction reducing means  552  are separate components, but first friction reducing means  551  may also be incorporated into the first end cap  521  or, in the alternative, first support  531 . Second friction reducing means  552  may likewise be incorporated into the second end cap  540  or, in the alternative, first support  532 . In the alternative, first friction reducing means  551  could be made in two halves, with a bearing race or a lubricant, which could be a low friction surface coating, disposed between the two halves, wherein one half is attached to first end cap  521  while the second half is attached to first support  531 . In a similar manner, second friction reducing means  552  could be made in two halves, with a bearing race or a lubricant, which could be a low friction surface coating, disposed between the two halves, wherein one half is attached to second end cap  540  while the second half is attached to second support  532 . 
     Also shown in FIG. 1A is a hub  560  disposed on the axle  510  in a conventional manner, with third friction reducing means  553  disposed on: the axle  510  between the hub  560  and the first support  531 , and fourth friction reducing means  554  disposed on the axle  510  between the hub  560  and the second support  532 . Third friction reducing means  553  and fourth friction reducing means  554  reduce the friction between hub  560 , first support  531 , and second support  532  so that hub  560  will rotate freely about axle  510 , as would be known to one skilled in the art. Although third friction reducing means  553  and fourth friction reducing means  554  are shown in FIG. 1A to be separate components, they may be incorporated into hub  510 , first and second supports  531 ,  532 , or a combination thereof, as would be known to one skilled in the art. Friction reducing means to reduce the friction between hub  560  and axle  510  (not shown), may also be incorporated in hub  560 , axle  510 , or a combination thereof, as would be known to one skilled in the art. 
     In FIG. 1B is an end view of the embodiment of the theft-deterring quick-release axle of FIG.  1 A. In FIG. 1B may be seen axle  510  (in hidden line), first end cap  521 , first friction reducing means  551 , and first support  531 . 
     Side and front views of first friction reducing means  551  are shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, respectively. Second friction reducing means  552  is similar. 
     The theft-deterring quick-release axle according to the present invention works as follows. Second friction reducing means  552  is threaded over axle  510  and moved into close proximity with second end cap  540 . Axle  510  is threaded though the axle apertures in second support  532 , fourth friction reducing means  554 , hub  560 , third friction reducing means  553 , and first support  531  in consecutive order. First friction reducing means  551  is then placed over the first end of axle  510 , followed by locking end cap  521 . Axle  510  is drawn into locking end cap  521  and locking end cap  521  is locked by any suitable manner including but not limited to those described in the aforementioned related application Ser. No. 09/185,195 and further described below. If either end cap of the theft-deterring quick-release axle is grasped and turned the entire axle assembly turns, since first friction reducing means  531  and second friction reducing means  532  allow axial rotation of the end cap and axle assembly while the theft-deterring quick-release axle is installed. Grasping both end caps at once and twisting is difficult since first end cap  521  and second end cap  540  are of a substantially circular cross-section and have generally smooth surfaces. 
     Some examples of locking end caps suitable for use with the present invention follow. These examples are given by way of example, not limitation. Any locking end cap of substantially circular cross-section that allows the quick release axle assembly to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the axle could be incorporated into the present invention., as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     As shown in FIG. 2A, an example of a locking end cap assembly suitable for use with the embodiment of the quick-release axle with locking end cap shown in FIGS. 1A-1D includes an axle  110  and a locking end cap  150 . The axle  110  has an end cap  112  which is joined to one end of the axle and a series of teeth which form a rack gear  114  at the opposite end of the axle. The end cap  112  may be formed as an integral part of the axle or, as shown, may be press fit on the end of. the axle and secured thereto, e.g., by welding. The axle  110  also has a groove  118  and a latch receiving portion such as a groove  120  which are used to position and then secure, respectively, the axle relative to the locking end cap  150 , as explained below. 
     The locking end cap  150  is fashioned from a solid block of metal, e.g., aluminum, and has a longitudinal bore  152  extending through it. A bore recess  154  is formed in one wall of the bore  152 , and a pinion gear  156  is disposed in the bore recess such that the teeth of the pinion gear extend into the bore  152 . 
     A counterbore  160  extends into the side of the end cap and extends to the main, longitudinal bore  152  while leaving a retaining shoulder  162  as shown in greater detail in FIG. 2D. A position indicator pin  164  is disposed in the counterbore  160  and is biased by spring  166  to protrude into the main longitudinal bore  152 . The indicator pin  164  is restrained by shoulder  168  which abuts retaining shoulder  162  of the counterbore  160 . A plug  170  is inserted into the counterbore  160  behind the spring  166  and is permanently secured in place. 
     The locking end cap  150  has another bore  180  which passes all the way through it and, in particular, through the bore recess  154  as shown in greater detail in FIG. 2C. A pinion gear shaft  182  passes through the counterbore  180  and through a correspondingly shaped aperture  184  in the pinion gear. A spring clip or E-clip (not shown) is secured to the end of the pinion gear shaft to prevent the pinion gear shaft from being withdrawn from the bore  180 . 
     The locking end cap has a plug-type lock  190 , e.g., a “church lock,” press fit into another bore  192  that is sunk into the end of the end cap as shown in FIG. 2A. A latch member such as a lock pin  194  slides within bore  196  extending between the bore  192  and the main longitudinal bore  152 . When key  198  is inserted into slot  200  (see FIG. 2C) and turned to unlock the plug-type lock  190 , then lock pin  194  is free to rise within the bore  196  such that its lowermost end no longer protrudes into the longitudinal bore  152 . The lock pin  194  has a configuration similar to that of the position indicator pin  164  to restrain it within the bore  196  (see FIG.  2 D). 
     The quick-release axle and locking end cap works as follows. A wheel with a quick-release, theft-deterrent axle according to the invention is mounted to the supporting fork assembly in the same general manner as shown in FIG. 1A, with friction reducing means interposed between the end caps and the supports. The locking end cap  150  is then inserted onto the end of the axle  110  with the bore  152  sliding over the axle. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the pinion gear  156  contacts the end of the axle, Allen wrench  210  is inserted into socket  220  in the end of pinion gear shaft  182  and is used to turn the pinion gear  156  clockwise, as shown in FIG.  2 A. This draws the axle  110  further into the bore  152  and hence clamps the tangs of the bicycle fork between the two end caps  112  and  150 . (The lock  190  must be unlocked during this operation.such that the lock pin  194  is free to rise within the bore  196  as the end of the axle  110  contacts the lock pin and passes by it.) 
     When the axle  110  has been drawn into the bore  152  by the proper amount, position indicator pin  164  will click into groove  118 , and this clicking can be both felt and heard. Furthermore, lock pin  194  will be engaging groove  120 . At this point, the lock  190  is locked using key  198  such that the lock pin  194  is no longer free to rise within the bore  196 . Hence, the end cap  150  is securely locked directly to the end of the axle  110 , thereby preventing its removal and theft of the wheel. 
     An alternative configuration of a locking end cap assembly suitable for use with the embodiment of the quick-release axle with locking end cap shown in FIGS. 1A-1D is shown in FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C. In this configuration, the pinion gear shaft  182  is provided with a thumbwheel  230  instead of an Allen wrench-receiving socket. The thumbwheel has a knurled surface  232  which provides a good grip, as well as thumb extensions  234  which may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger to turn the pinion gear shaft  182 . The end cap configuration shown in FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C is otherwise identical to that shown in FIGS. 2A-2D. 
     A second example of a locking end cap assembly suitable for use with the embodiment of the quick-release axle with locking end cap shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, which operates on generally the same basic principles as the example described above, is shown in FIGS. 4A-4F. In this embodiment  300 , the axle  302  has a fixed end cap  304  at one end  305  thereof. The fixed end cap  304  is either integrally formed with the axle  302  or permanently fixed thereto in any convenient fashion. The fixed end cap  304  has a square or hex-shaped lug extension  306 , which is used to tighten the axle as explained below. The fixed end cap  304  alternatively may have just a hexagonal socket which receives an Allen-type hex-wrench, or the lug extension  306  may have such a socket. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the opposite end  308  of the axle  302  is externally threaded along a portion thereof, as indicated schematically by cross-hatching  310 . As shown in FIG. 4C, the externally threaded portion has a flat  312  formed therealong, e.g. by milling the axle  302  before the end  308  has the threads formed on it. 
     As shown in FIG. 4A, a retention cylinder  316  is screwed onto the externally threaded end  308  of the axle  302 . Details of the retention cylinder  316  are shown in FIGS. 4D,  4 E and  4 F. As indicated schematically by cross-hatching  318  shown in FIG. 4D, the external surface of the retention cylinder  316  is threaded, as is the interior surface  320  (see FIG. 4E) of the bore  322  extending through the retention cylinder  316 . 
     The retention cylinder  316  has four flats  324  formed thereon which are devoid of threads. The flats  324  may be formed, e.g., by milling the external surface of the retention cylinder  316  before the threads are formed thereon. Each of the flats  324  has a latch-receiving, groove-shaped “trough” or “valley”  326  formed therein, e.g. by milling, which extends approximately half-way through the wall of the retention cylinder, as shown in FIG.  4 D. Additionally, screw holes extend from at least one of the flats  324  through the wall of the retention cylinder and into the bore  322 , and latch members such as set screws  328  are provided therein, as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E. 
     As further shown in FIG. 4A, lock ring  332  screws onto the retention cylinder  316 . Interior surface  334  of the lock ring bore  336  (see FIG. 4F) is threaded to mate with the threaded exterior surface of the retention cylinder  316 . 
     The lock ring  332  has a flat  340  formed on one side thereof. A key-release, push-button-type lock assembly  342 , e.g. model number MPL  201  available from the Royal Lock Corporation in Wauconda, Ill., is screwed into a threaded lock assembly-receiving bore (not shown) extending from the flat  340  through the wall of the lock ring to the bore  336 . The lock assembly  342  is secured in place by a pin (not shown) which is tapped into a small hole (not shown) in the side of the lock ring  332  and which extends into a pin-receiving slot or hole in the lock assembly. The pin is secured in the lock ring by means of an interference or friction fit. 
     In operation, a wheel (e.g., the front wheel of a bicycle) is mounted on and secured to an axle support as follows. Friction reducing means in the manner of the embodiment of the quick-release axle with locking end cap shown in FIGS. 1A-1D is placed on the axle  302 . The threaded end  308  of the axle  302  (without the retention cylinder or lock ring) is then passed through the hub of the wheel, and the axle is positioned in the tangs of the fork with the fixed end cap  304  located on the outside of one of the tangs and the threaded end  308  of the axle extending through and beyond the opposite fork tang. (For proper positioning, it may be desirable to put one or more washer-shaped spacer shims over the axle  302 , before it is inserted through the hub, so that the spacers are positioned between the fork tang and the fixed end cap  304 .) Another friction reducing means is placed over the threaded end  308 , and the retention cylinder  316  is then screwed onto the threaded end  308  of the axle  302 , with the threaded end of the axle extending into the bore  322  of the retention cylinder  316 . The retention cylinder is turned by hand, grasping the fixed end cap  304  with the opposite hand, until it “snugs up against” the friction reducing means. It is then rotated either slightly further, if possible, or backward until the set screws  328  are positioned over the flat  312  on the threaded end  308  of the axle  302 . At this point, the set screws are tightened down, e.g. using an Allen-type hex wrench. 
     The lock ring  332  is then screwed onto and over the retention cylinder  316 , as indicated in FIG.  4 A. The lock ring  332  is turned by hand until it butts up against the friction reducing means. At this point, the lock ring is screwed down onto the retention cylinder more tightly by grasping the lug extension  306  with a wrench (or inserting the end of a hex wrench into a socket, if provided) and continuing to turn the lock ring by hand. While turning the lock ring, button  350  of the lock assembly  342  is continuously pressed lightly to cause the retractable lock latch  352  (shown as extended) to be pressed toward the interior of the lock ring, i.e., against the surface of the retention cylinder. When the lock ring is rotated to a position such that the latch  352  is located over one of the troughs or valleys  326 , the lock latch  352  will extend down into the valley. At this point, the button will remain depressed with the lock latch  352  extending into the valley  326 , thereby securing the lock ring to the retention cylinder. Because the lock ring completely covers the set screws  328 , which secure the retention cylinder to the threaded end  308  of the axle, the entire assembly is at this point secured to the axle. 
     The assembly may be subsequently removed by unlocking the lock assembly  342 . A key (not shown) is inserted into key slot  360  (FIG. 4A) in the top surface of the button  350  and is rotated. At this point, the button pops back up, withdrawing the latch  352  from the valley  326  and allowing the lock ring to be unscrewed from the retention cylinder. This exposes the set screws  328  so that they may be loosened and so that the retention cylinder can be removed from the axle. 
     Other embodiments, configurations, and uses will occur to those having skill in the art. For example, the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be employed in a locking, quick-release seat post clamp or on any machine or device having a rotating axis such as an axle engaging the wheels of a car, a hinge attaching the hood, deck lid, or doors of a car to the body, a steering wheel linkage, and the like. Such modifications and uses are deemed to be within the scope of the following claims.