A Locking Device for Securing Velocipedes against Theft, and at the same time Giving an Audible Indication when the Machine is being Tampered with.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by ALBERT VAN LANCKER, of 18 Place Liedts,
Brussels, Belgium, Engineer.]
A Locking Device for Securing Velocipedes against Theft, and at
the same time Giving an Audible Indication when the Machine
is being Tampered with.
1, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County
of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
-
This invention relates to a locking device for velocipedes for preventing the
stealing thereof, and which at the same time affords an audible indication to the
owner that the machine is being tampered with.
I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which Figure 1 shews a vertical section of the locking device, Fig. 2 an elevation,
Figs. 3 to 6 detached details, and Fig. 7 a diagram view shewing the application
of the locking device to a velocipede wheel.
The locking device consists of an outer cylindrical casing having branches at the
upper and lower ends, and which contains a shorter cylindrical piece F fixed
therein. In the upper part of the outer casing is a cylinder B having an axial
rectangular recess 6 and at one side a slot 6', as shewn at Fig. 1 and at the vertical
section of this cylinder at Fig. 3. The screw bolt E screwing into the upper
branch of A can be screwed inwards by means of the key J to such an extent as to
take into the slot b' and thus allow the cylinder B to turn only through a small
angle. This cylinder B has at its lower end a strong pin having two wings b².
Within the casing is a striking bolt C which is held by means of a pin in two slots
of the inner socket F, and which is acted upon by a spring H. This bolt is hollow
and has near its upper end two internal projections c c. In the lower end of the
outer casing is fitted a cylinder D which can contain an explosible charge in its
central bore.
The cylinder D is fixed in position by a stud on the inner end of a screw G
projecting into an annular groove thereof.
This apparatus is secured permanently by means of the ring K to the front or
rear fork of the velocipede.
The elbow piece A, which the rider carries in his pocket while travelling, is
provided at its short arm with a projecting spring pin a, as shewn more clearly at
Figs. 5 and 6.
The locking device is used in the following manner.
After the cylinder D has been liberated by means of the key J and is removed,
a blank cartridge is inserted through the upper end of its bore. The striker C is
then pushed upward by a small rod; the elbow piece A is inserted into the recess
of the cylinder B, the pin a being made to spring into a hole communicating with
the slot, and the cylinder B is turned so that the wings 62 thereof project
underneath the projections c of the striker C, which is then let go of, the piece A
being then reinoved, for which purpose the screw E is screwed inwards in the
slot 6' sufficiently far to push back the pin a. The screw E is then screwed back
again two or three turns so as to still be engaged with the slot.
The charged cylinder D is then fixed in position again by the screw G, the

page_text: cartridge being secured against being pushed upwards, by an annular disc L fixed
inside the casing.
A notch on the outer rim of cylinder B shews that the projections c bear correctly
upon the wings b².
If now the rider desires to dismount and leave his machine, he introduces the
elbow piece A. between the spokes of the wheel as at Fig. 7, and presses it into the
rectangular recess of cylinder B.
If any one but the owner should now attempt to move the velocipede, the
wheel in turning slightly will move the elbow piece slightly round (the motion
being limited by the screw E in the slot ) whereby the wings will be
turned from under the projections of the striker C, and this will now be thrown
downwards and will explode the cartridge. The wheel will still remain locked
by the elbow piece A owing to the limited extent of motion allowed to this,
so that the machine cannot be propelled until the owner has removed the
elbow piece, by forcing back the pin a by means of the screw E acted upon by the
key J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
A locking device for securing velocipedes against theft, consisting of an elbow
piece A which is introduced into a casing fixed to a fork of the machine, and is so
locked therein as to be capable of only slight angular motion, so that the wheel
of the machine, through which the elbow piece projects, in turning slightly
causes the elbow piece to turn and thereby to liberate a striker which fires
off an explosive charge in the lower part of the casing, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of December 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.