1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an anti-theft device for bicycle parts. It is especially adapted to the clamping of wheels by bolting onto the spindle of the wheels or onto the saddle tube clamp or collar of bicycles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
More particularly, in this anti-theft device for bicycle parts, wheels and/or saddle tube, the wheels are held onto the front fork or onto the rear stay by a bolting device attached to a support washer that is positioned on the wheel hub, whereas the saddle tube is held in its recess by a through-bolting device that is attached to the saddle clamp or collar.
Bicycle wheels and saddle tubes (the tube carrying the saddle) are often stolen and this is a real problem for cyclists. In addition to the nuisance the theft of major parts of the bicycle causes, the cyclist is obliged to replace the stolen parts. The theft of these parts of the bicycle is particularly frequent.
To avoid this, a device to prevent the nut and/or bolt being unscrewed may be fitted. The existing devices which attempt to solve this problem are fitted with a normal type of key, and such keys are easy to get hold of, or a coded key with a specific pattern which means that such key must be carried at all times and not lost or mislaid.
To avoid the bicycle being stolen, it is strongly recommended to secure it to a fixed point using a known type of anti-theft device (cables, etc.) generally rings or hoops that are placed at the disposal of cyclists as a fixed point. In this case, the bicycle cannot be laid flat or turned upside down.
The problem for this invention can be defined as how to prevent the wheels and/or the saddle tube from being stolen.
According to embodiments of the present invention, this problem is remedied by a device which may include at least a support washer or a saddle clamp or collar which engages with a nut or a bolt head. The support washer may be shaped such that when it is fitted onto its support, it cannot be rotated around its axis without the support itself being rotated. One or more guide passages may be provided and each of which may accommodate at least one pin, these passages defining blind holes in the upper part of the support washer or the clamp (the upper part and the lower part of the support washer are defined by a plane that is the same as the axis of the support washer, and for the clamp by the axis of the hole which accommodates the bolt). A nut or a bolt may also be provided, of which the part that engages with the support washer or the clamp, for the bolt or more precisely the head of the bolt, may have a plurality of ratchet notches on their peripheral surface on the axis of the nut or bolt. In its first working position, with the bicycle in its position of use standing on its two wheels, (nut or bolt locked in position), the device is clamped, the reversible means formed by at least one pin blocks and prevents by means of its partial positioning in the ratchet notches the loosening/unscrewing of the nut or bolt, in this same position of the bicycle, the screwing/tightening of the nut or bolt being possible if the latter has not already been clamped. In its second position of use, with the bicycle standing upside down, on its handlebars and saddle, the locking means composed of at least one pin, under the effect of gravity, moves inside its guide passage, thus freeing the ratchet notch and therefore subsequently permitting the loosening/unscrewing of the nut or bolt and the screwing/tightening.
In accordance other features of the device according to the present inventions invention, the anti-theft device applied to the bolt may include for the wheels a thrust washer engaged on the bolt on the opposite side to the head of the bolt, serrated on one side and with a raised portion on its peripheral section, the raised portion being housed between the tips on the end of the fork. The anti-theft device applied to the bolt may include on the clamp a ratchet surface on the end opposite that which accommodates the head of the bolt. The anti-theft device applied to the bolt may include for the wheels and the saddle a nut that is serrated on one face. The serrated ratchet nut may press against the ratchet notches of the thrust washer of the wheels and on the ratchet surface of the clamp of the saddle. The use of the tool required to tighten/screw in may be replaced by one or several raised portions positioned on the head of the nut or the head of the bolt, such as a butterfly or lever type.
Embodiments of the present inventions will be more clearly understood by means of the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-restrictive example and in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
1, wheels 2, 3 and/or saddle tube 4 shown in the figures (
The anti-theft device for bicycle parts may include of one or more guide passages 19, 31, 43 (
The support washer 10, 20 is fitted on its peripheral surface with a raised portion 14, 32 (
One or several mobile and free pins 11, 27, 36 move inside the guide passage(s) 19, 31, 43, permitting the screwing/tightening of the nut 9, 44 or bolt 21, 38 and preventing in a specific position the unscrewing of the nut 9, 44 or the bolt 21, 38 and in another position the free rotation of this same nut 9, 44 or bolt 21, 38.
The mobile element(s) formed by the pins 11, 27, 36 move inside the guide passage(s) 19, 31, 43 according to whether the bicycle 1 is in its usual position stood on its two wheels 2, 3 (
The pin(s) 11, 27, 36 are engaged under the effect of their weight into the ratchet notch 16, 29, 41 (
These grooves have a variable depth which progressively increases so that it reaches on one of the sides a depth that is sufficient to engage part of the pin 11, 27, 36 and on another of the sides so that it is at the same level as the outside surface of the bolt head 21, 38 or the outside surface of the round section of the nut 9, 44.
To make this clearer, let us consider the two essential positions of the support washer 10, 20 and the two essential positions of the saddle collar or clamp 33 supporting the bolt 38 (
Another advantage of embodiments of the present inventions is that in the case of the use of the nut device, it is not necessary to fit each wheel with two anti-theft nuts for the device to be functional, a single anti-theft nut positioned indifferently on either side of the hub prevents the wheel from being removed.
The nut anti-theft device may be indifferently equipped with a blind nut 9 (
In order to be completely effective, the bolt anti-theft device for wheels should be equipped with a nut 22 (
The thrust washer 23 positioned between the nut 22 and against the tips of the fork 7 or the tips of the clamp 8 may have on one of its flat faces a radiating ratchet notch which engages with the radiating ratchet notch of the nut 22 and a raised portion 28 which is positioned between the end of the tips of the fork 7 or the end of the tips of the clamp 8.
The raised portion 28 (
The radiating ratchet notches of the nut 22 and the washer 23 which engage with one another permit the loosening/unscrewing of the nut 22 to be prevented while permitting the tightening/screwing of this same nut 22 regardless of the position of the bicycle 1.
For the saddle collar or clamp (
The purpose of the radiating ratchet notch of the nut 39 and the saddle collar or clamp 33 which engage with one another is to prevent the loosening/unscrewing of the nut 39 but to permit the tightening/screwing thereof.
The bolt head 38 is held in its sheath by means of a retainer 37 (
After assembly the retainer 37 is located on the bolt body 38 at the opening of the saddle collar or clamp 33 pressed against the face of the end of the clamp which accommodates the bolt head 38.
Regardless of the type of anti-theft device, both for the device with a bolt or with a nut, it is preferable to ensure the longevity of the device and the free movement of the pin(s) 11, 27, 36 to position a seal 12, 13 (
The use of the tool required to tighten/screw may be replaced by one or several raised portions 45, 46 (
The sole purpose of the reference signs inserted after the technical features mentioned in the claims is to make them easier to understand and in no way restricts their scope.
Even though the invention has been described in relation to specific structures, it is in no way restricted to them and many variants may be made.
The combinations of the different embodiments shown in the figures or described above are within the scope of the invention.
This anti-theft device for bicycle parts may be applied without restriction to other types of vehicles and used whenever the prevention of loosening/unscrewing is necessary.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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06/04729 | May 2006 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/FR2007/000880 | 5/25/2007 | WO | 00 | 11/28/2008 |