Improvements in or relating to Locking Devices for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Locking Devices for Cycles and
the like.
GEORG ADAM HELLER, of Liebenstein, Saxe-Meiningen in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described aud ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a device for locking the front-fork of cycles and the
like in order to make steering impossible in the event of the cycle being stolen, or
in order to enable cycles to be more conveniently stored when not used, as the
present device enables the front wheel to be fixed at any angle, which is an
advantage when the cycle has to be. placed against a wall or in a corner, and at
once canses the bicycle to remain upright.
The new locking device is further of such construction that a stranger cannot
unlock it, as the lock of the device can be opened only by a special key.
The locking device consists mainly as can be seen from Figure 1 of the accom-
panying drawing, of a vertically adjustable bolt R arranged in a suitable casing G,
which when in the locked position engages with corresponding openings in the
front fork.
The casing G is secured to the frame A by means of a lug a so that the bolt R
engages with the openings O when the front wheel turns and in this way a rigid
connection is established between the framing and the front fork.
The locking device is shown on an enlarged scale in
Figure 2 in elevation and
Figure 3 in plan.
Figure 4 shows it in its locked position and
Figure 5 in its open position both views being in partial vertical section.
Figures 6 and 7 show the lock casing in horizontal section, the tumblers being
shown in locking position in Figure 6 and in open position in Figure 7.
Figure 8 shows the key for this lock in section and in elevation.
The present locking device is constructed as follows;
The bolt R controlled by a spring is provided with a knob r and is guided in
the casing G.
The bolt R is provided in order to prevent it from turning with a longitudinal
groove (Figure 4) which engages with a projection n of the casing G.
The bolt R is also provided with cross grooves a 3 which are arranged
one above the other on both sides of the bolt. The tumblers 2¹2 23 24 which are
pivotted in the box S at i engage with said grooves when the device is in its
locked position (Figures 4 and 6).
The tumblers pivotted on the pin i and arranged one above the other engage
with the grooves and a and the tumblers 32 pivotted on the pin of the
box S and also arranged one above the other engage with the grooves and ¹ and
are constantly maintained pressed against the bolt R by means of the springs
as y y'. The two pairs of tumblers have tongues a¹ a² as a of different lengths,
against which bear corresponding inclined surfaces b₁ 62 63 of the key c
(Figures 6, 7, and 8) which is introduced at S' into the casing S to enable the
device to be operated (Figure 7).
The projections d d by means of which the casing G is connected with the lock-
casing S affords suitable guidance to the tumblers
32.
A temporary securing of the bolt R in locked or half-locked position is afforded
by a lever h which is pivotted upon said bolt R and passes through a stepped

page_text: slot k of the casing G which lever h is constantly pressed to the right by a spring p
secured to the bolt R and pressing against the pin (Figures 1 and 2).
If the bolt R is depressed by its knob the lever h automatically enters in
consequence of the pressure of the spring p into the horizontal part of the slot k
and secures the bolt R against upward movement, the lower end of the bolt having
meanwhile entered in the openings O.
In this position the lever R may again be released without necessitating the use
of the key c simply by forcing the lever back into the vertical part of the
slot k.
The method of securing just described is used when it is necessary to lock the
front wheel to enable the cycle to be more conveniently placed against a wall or in
a place where the owner can watch the cycle.
When, however the owner is obliged to leave his cycle unattended, then he
depresses the bolt R into its lowest position (Figure 4).
The result of this action is that the tumblers 21 22 23 and 2 enter into the
transverse grooves x1, x2 3x of the bolt and thus prevents free steering of the
cycle. To make steering possible it is necessary first to lock the device by means
of the key c, Figure 7, when the bolt R will be forced upwards by the spring f
but will be stopped by the lever in the horizontal part of the slot k and only
after the lever has been moved by hand into the upper vertical part of the slot k
into the position shown in Figure 5 will the device be completely unlocked.
From this position the bolt R can be brought into locked position by pressing
upon the knob the lever has already mentioned, automatically entering into the
horizontal part of the slot k and from there descending downward.
I do not confine myself to the number of transverse grooves and corresponding
parts shown in the drawings as these may be varied.
The locking device described fulfils all the requirements of such devices it does
away with ordinary locks and chains and can be easily adapted to any cycle
without alteration to the machine and cannot be opened by unauthorised persons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. A locking device for the front forks of cycles consisting of a bolt such as R,
suitably mounted on the framing A and secured by a lock, said bolt engaging with
the corresponding openings O in the top of the front fork.
2. A construction of a locking device as described in Claim 1, consisting in the
arrangement in a casing G secured to the cycle frame A of a spring-controlled
bolt R which with its lower end engages with the openings o in the front fork and
is held by tumblers 2 2 3 2 entering into it, transverse grooves x¹x²x² said.
bolt R being forced upward by its spring, when the tumblers are opened by a
suitable key and being held in the horizontal portion of a stepped slot k of the
casing G by its spring-lever the final unlocking being effected by turning the
lever by hand and introducing it into the vertical part of the slot k substantially
as described.
3. In combination with the locking device described a key the flat shank of
which is provided with inclined cam-surfaces or notches for acting on each pair of
tumblers two or more cam surfaces arranged one over the other being capable
of actuating several pairs of tumblers substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a complete cycle lock
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of November 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.