Cycle Lock.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Cycle Lock.
I, HUBERT ALKER, of No. 12, Ring, Königshütte, Upper Silesia, Schoolmaster,
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:―
The present invention refers to a cycle lock in which a so-called letter-padlock
is combined with a chain, so that only the person who is acquainted with the
key-word is enabled to open the lock and withdraw the bolt, which is held in
grooves in the usual way.
The use of such a lock consequently does away completely with the necessity
for a key and it is almost impossible for the lock to be opened fraudulently.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a cycle with my lock fitted thereto.
Fig. 2 shows a letter-lock with chain, in longitudinal section.
Fig. 3 shows a cross section of same.
Fig. 4 shows a letter lock and chain, in which the ordinary staple is dispensed
with.
Fig. 5 shows the same opened.
As already mentioned this new cycle-lock is composed of a permutation lock
whose two ends are connected by a chain.
This lock is composed of several disks or rings e revolving round a sleeve h
having a slot at its lower side, in which slot the teeth of the bolt slide, said bolt
being firmly held, as well as the plate b to which it is attached, by turning the
disks e.
The circumference of each ring is provided with letters, and each ring is in-
dented on its inside edge, diametrically to a certain letter, in such a way that
when the corresponding tooth of the bolt comes into the said indentation, the
bolt can easily be withdrawn.
When all the rings e are placed in this manner and so arranged that all the
indentations are in line with the teeth of the bolt, it follows that the whole bolt
can easily be withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 5. This would for instance occur
in such a lock if the rings of the lock in Figs. 4 and 5 were so arranged that the
letters B, E, T, H, R, were in a line. This key-word to the letters would of
course only be known to the owner of the lock.
If the letters were disposed in any other way it would be impossible to open
the lock. The chain K can either be fastened to ends a and b as shown in Figs. 4
and 5 or to side plates a placed on either side of the lock as in Fig. 2.
The first mode of formation is much to be preferred as this lock is neater and
can be manufactured more cheaply.
The security is of course considerably increased if the number of rings e is
greater, as it is then only possible to open the lock when a long key-word has
been found out.
The lock is most advantageously fitted on in the way illustrated in Fig. 1,

page_text: the chain K passing round the main-tube and the rim of the front wheel, in
such a way that the cycle cannot be moved forward or backwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A cycle lock characterised by the two ends a and b or side plates a¹, b' of a
permutation lock being connected by a chain K as herein described and set forth.
Dated this Third day of June 1898.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for the Applicant, 171, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.