A Theft-prevention Device for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
A Theft-prevention Device for Velocipedes.
We, FRANZ GLINICKE, Manufacturer, 82, Ritterstrasse, Berlin, and AUGUST
BECK, of 24, Gross Gorschenstrasse, Berlin, Engineer, 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:→
Owing to the fact that velocipedes are so often stolen many means have been
devised and tried with the view of preventing such thefts.
The fundamental idea of the generality of devices of this kind which have
heretofore been used is the provision of a stop arrangement between the rotating
and the fixed parts of the wheel, but such arrangements have the disadvantage
that they can be forcibly removed in some way or other owing to their accessi-
bility from the outside."
The object of this invention is a theft prevention device which, whilst being
protected by its position against being tampered with, can be readily adapted
to any velocipede, in, different ways as desired, by varying the form of a key
which is capable of opening the device and by other constructive changes.
The annexed drawings show, by way of example, one miode of carrying out
the invention.
On the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the hub and axle of a machine and
showing the theft prevention device and its key within the hub and in the
unlocked position.
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the theft prevention device in the locked
position.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a view of the locking plate.
Fig. 5 is a view of the key.
Fig. 6 shows a pin which is screwed into the axle for the central guidance of
the locking plate and which is opposite to the key when inserted."
Into the hollow axle a of the wheel, on one side, a pin b is screwed whose
tapered end extends a little beyond the centre of the axle. At the centre of
the axle a is a vertical slot in which works the locking plate e which is always
guided to the centre by means of the pin b. The hollow c of the axle a is, on
the side of the pin b, made in such manner that one end of the spiral spring d,
coiled round the pin, can bear solidly against it whilst the other end of said
At the middle of the hub f, at the inside,
spring can press against the plate e.
there is rigidly secured to it a round disc g arranged diametrically across the
hub and which has four openings h arranged at right angles to one another,
and corresponding in width to the thickness of the locking plate. The key i
(Fig. 1) which is introduced into the hollow axle a has, at its outer end, an
appropriate knob k and, at its inner end, a hole which is destined to receive
the tapered end of the pin b. This hole is of such a depth that the key i,
when inserted, can push the plate e, by a single pressure, out of its position

page_text: and thereby compress the spring d. This spring d, when so compressed, con-
tinually tends to force the plate e back into the spaces of the disc g. On this
ground a stable pressure must be opposed to the action of the spring in order
that it may be impossible for the locking apparatus to catch when the machine
is being ridden. For this reason the key is made with a bayonet groove n
into which a pin m fixed at the inner side of the hollow axle can enter; said
pin, after the plate e is forced back, enters, owing to the action of the spring d
at a single turn of the key i, into the short end of the groove n.
The modus operandi is as follows:-
When the wheel is to be locked a slight pressure on the knob k of the key i
and a turn of the latter is sufficient to enable the key to be taken out of the
axle a the plate e will then, on account of this action and the action of the
spring, (the hub fand the disc which is arranged in the hub being in an
appropriate position) freely enter one of the cross spaces h of the disc. The
bringing of the hub and disc g to the proper position is effected by turning the
wheel slowly forwards or backwards. When the wheel is to be set free again the
key is inserted in the hollow axle a. the plate e is forced back, and a turn is
given to the key as a result of which the pin m enters the groove n.
The parts are retained in this position by the action of the spring d. The key i
remains in the axle a whilst the machine is running thereby retaining, on the one
hand, the locking apparatus out of gear, and, on the other hand, protecting it
against external influences.
"
If so desired each wheel of the bicycle can be locked independently.
It is evident that the shape and number of grooves n and corresponding pins and
the position of the entire mechanism relatively with the hub can be varied.
The fundamental idea of the invention, to connect, at the inside of the hub of
the wheel, in such a manner as to prevent the wheel revolving, the rotating and
non-rotating parts so that only a key of a certain shape, inserted from the outside
into the hollow axle, can be used for unlocking the mechanism, is, naturally, not
confined to the special construction hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we consider novel and desire to claim. is:-
1. A device for locking velocipedes so as to prevent theft characterized by the
apparatus for locking together the rotary and fixed parts of the wheel being
at the inside of the hub and being capable of being thrown out of gear by insert-
ing and retaining a key within the hollow axle and of being thrown into gear
again by simply withdrawing the key, substantially as herein before described.
2. The construction of the device, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown on the drawings annexed.
Dated in 6th J
T
1000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.