Patent ID: 8181496

Claim:
A U-lock for locking a bicycle to an object in a locked configuration of the U-lock in order to prevent theft of the bicycle, said U-lock comprising: a U-shaped shackle that is sized to receive a wheel of the bicycle and the object; a cross-bar that is removably secured to the U-shaped shackle to lock the bicycle wheel to the object; and a cross brace that is removably positioned on the U-shaped shackle, wherein, in a locked configuration of the U-lock, the bicycle wheel is positioned on one side of the cross brace and the object is positioned on another side of the cross brace, the cross brace comprising: (a) a first engaging member having a first through bore with a first through bore opening extending in a first plane and a first through bore exit extending in a third plane spaced from the first plane, the first through bore having a first central axis, the first through bore having a smooth continuous surface extending from the first through bore opening to the first through bore exit; (b) a second engaging member having a second through bore with a second through bore opening extending in a second plane and a second through bore exit, the second through bore having a second central axis, the second through bore having a smooth continuous surface extending from the second through bore opening to the second through bore exit; and (c) a connecting member extending between and connecting the first and second members relative to one another such that the first and second planes are spaced from one another with the third plane between and spaced from the first and second planes and the first and second central axes are spaced from one another in a lateral direction, the connecting member contained within a space between the first and second engaging members in the lateral direction.