Patent Application
20220185410
The present disclosure relates to systems, methods and apparatuses for locking a bicycle, a scooter or a frame to an object.
Various potentially valuable items have frames, for example scooters, bicycles, some skateboards, prams, golf carts, and luggage/wheeled bags. It is often desirable to lock such items to objects that are secured in place, e.g., rails or fences or bars or posts or trees, to resist undesirable removal of the item, e.g., theft of a bicycle or scooter, while the item is not in use.
Existing locks can be used to secure items to objects, e.g., bicycle D-locks or combination cable-locks; however, generally existing locks need to be purchased, carried and stored separately from the items, e.g., in a bag or attached to the frame by a custom clip, and such existing locks can be separated from the items and left behind, which in some circumstances may be undesirable.
It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for locking a frame to an object, the apparatus including:
The invention also provides a system for locking a frame to an object, the system including:
The invention also provides a method for locking a frame to an object, the method including:
The invention also provides method for manufacturing a locking apparatus, including:
Some embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Described herein is an apparatus (100) for locking a frame (102) to an object (10X), the apparatus (100) including: a tethering portion (104) that is stored inside the frame (102) in a storage position, and that extends around the object when it is partially removed from inside the frame (102); a retaining portion (106) secured to a distal end (302) of the tethering portion (104); and a lockset or locking portion (200) mounted inside the frame for receiving the retaining portion (106) to lock the distal end (302) of the tethering portion (104) to the frame (102).
The apparatus (100) may be referred to as “an integrated locking system” because the tethering portion (104), the retaining portion (106) and the locking portion (200) are integrated into the frame (102), and operate as components of the system that locks the item to the object. The apparatus (100) includes a case, housing or body that holds its components fixedly relative to each other in the frame (100). The case can be formed by portions of the frame (100) itself, i.e., by arranging and mounting the components of the apparatus (100) in the frame (100).
The tethering portion (104), which may be referred to as a “tether” or “shackle”, is a member that is rigid in tension and flexible in compression, such as a rope, cable, chain or linked arms (i.e., rigid arms linked by hinges). The tethering portion (104) resists separation and cutting so it cannot be broken using average manual strength, manual application of a knife or scissors, and/or manually operated bolt cutters. The tethering portion (104) can have a tensile strength and cut resistance equal to a commercially available bicycle cable lock, e.g., from ABUS, Kryptonite or OnGuard.
The tethering portion (104) includes an inner portion surrounded circumferentially by an outer portion. The inner portion resists manual separation of cutting, and can include steel cables, braided steel cable, steel links, jointed steel tube sections, etc. The outer portion, which may be referred to as a “cover”, protects the inner portion and assists the tethering portion (104) sliding into and out of the frame (102). The outer portion forms an outer circumference of the tethering portion (104) and can include a low-friction material to assist the tethering portion (104) sliding in and out of the frame (102), and a water resistant material and/or an ultra-violet (UV) resistant material to protect the inner portion from damage caused by contact with water and/or UV radiation. The outer portion can include a polymer material, including polyurethane or vinyl. The outer portion can be over moulded or heat-shrunk onto the inner portion.
The retaining portion (106) is fixed to the tethering portion (104) securely to resist at least manual separation of the tethering portion (104) from the retaining portion (106), e.g., equal to a commercially available bicycle cable lock.
The retaining portion (106), which may be referred to as a “retainer”, “retainer lug” or “toe”, may be rotationally symmetric so it can be inserted into the locking portion (200) at any angle with equal effect. As shown in
The components of the retaining portion (106) include:
The components of the retaining portion (106) are arranged mutually coaxially and coaxially with the distal end (302) of the tethering portion (104), and are mutually securely connected, for example, the components of the retaining portion (106) can be formed as one piece, e.g., machined from a solid piece (e.g., by lathe), or formed in a mould, or printed, using suitably hard materials.
As shown in
The collar portion (310), which may be referred to as a “collar” or “retainer collar”, is only slightly narrower than the entrance (212) and thus at least mutually opposed sides of the collar portion (310) bear against mutually opposed sides of the entrance (212) to keep the longitudinal axis of the retaining portion (106) parallel with the longitudinal axis of the entrance (212), thus resisting twisting of the retaining portion (106), which might otherwise allow the retaining portion (106) to be pulled away from the latch bolt (202) even when in a locked condition. The enlarged portion (318) can have a diameter equal to the diameter of the collar portion (310) to also bear against the sides of the entrance (212) to mitigate the twisting.
The latch bolt (202) may be referred to as a “lock plate” or “latch bearing”. The latch bolt (202) may have a wedge shape as shown in
As shown in
The tethering portion (104) is longitudinally extended with a generally consistent cross-section to allow it to be drawn out of and fed into the frame (102) before and after use.
As shown in
The stopper portion (304), which may be referred to as a “stopper” or “shackle heel”, is secured to the tethering portion (104) to resist manual separation of the stopper portion (304) from the tethering portion (104)—including by clamping, crimping (e.g., using a 6-tooth hydraulic crimper), screwing, welding and/or brazing—to provide this secure connection at least as strongly as the gripping portion (308) is fastened to the tethering portion (104).
The stopper portion (304) slides in the frame (102) in the stopper tunnel (412) formed in the frame (102). The stopper tunnel (412) may be formed by drilling a hole into or through and along a member of the frame (102), e.g., the stem (404) which may be formed of aluminium. The stopper portion (304) has a cross-sectional width (e.g., diameter), transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tethering portion (104) attached thereto, slightly less than the cross-sectional width of the stopper tunnel (412) so the stopper portion (304) slides in the stopper tunnel (412) without rattling between opposed sides of the stopper tunnel (412), thus reducing an undesirable source of noise or rattle while the item is being used in the unlocked condition. The stopper portion (304) can include a coating or circumferential material around the cross-sectional circumference that is: (i) low-friction to reduce sliding friction along the stopper tunnel (412); and (ii) resilient to reduce the rattle between the opposed sides of the stopper tunnel (412).
As shown in
The stopper tunnel (412) may be in an upright receiving portion of the frame (102) that receives the stopper portion (304) and the proximal end (306) of the tethering portion (104), and that, when in normal use, lies beneath the restriction hole (408) and an exit (406) from the frame (102), so that the stopper portion (304) is accelerated into the frame (102) away from the exit (304) by gravity. This may naturally assist with replacement of the tether portion (104) into the frame (102) after use as a lock. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus (100) can include a retracting spring that is in tension when the tethering portion (104) is in the extended position (304B), and that is attached to the tethering portion (104) or the stopper portion (304), that naturally forces the tether portion (104) back into the frame (102) through the exit (406). For a scooter, the upright receiving portion can be the head stem post(s), and for a bicycle the upper receiving portion can be the seat post, head stem, seat tube or down tube. For a pram, a golf cart, or a roller luggage bag, the upright receiving portion can be the tube(s) reaching close to 1 m from the ground in the item's upright orientation.
The retaining head (312) includes a camming face (320) at an angle of 45 degrees (or between 25 degrees and 75 degrees) to the longitudinal axis of the retaining portion (106), thus forming a frustoconical section, that cooperates with an angled face (206) of the latch bolt (202) when the retaining portion (106) is pushed into the locking portion (200) to force the latch bolt (202) away from the longitudinal axis of the retaining portion (106) and out of the entrance (212), and thus around the enlarged portion (318) into the slot (312). The retaining portion (106) includes a front face (322) that effectively removes the otherwise pointed tip of the frustoconical section to remove a potentially sharp portion of the retaining portion (106) and a potentially brittle portion that might become damaged.
As shown in
The entrance (212) is a channel, tunnel or tube into which the retaining portion (106) is inserted. The entrance (212) is inside the frame (102), either formed in the frame (102)—e.g., by drilling a hole into a solid member of the frame (102), which may be formed of aluminium, or as a separate portion inserted and mounted into or to the frame (102), thus when the retaining portion (106) is in the entrance (212), it is also in the frame (102). The entrance (212) includes one or more sides along which the retaining portion (106) moves, i.e., that are parallel to the retaining portion (106) when it is inside the entrance (212), and the sides hold the retaining portion (106) coaxially with the entrance (212), or at least guide the retaining portion (106) to and against and past the latch bolt (202) when the retaining portion (106) is inserted into the entrance (212), and that retain the retainer base (316) against the latch face (214) when in the locked condition, i.e., the entrance (212) is only slightly wider than the width of the enlarged portion (318) of the retainer head (314) so the retaining head bracket (314) cannot slip past the latch bolt (202) without interfering therewith along the longitudinal axis of the entrance (212).
The apparatus (100) includes electrical wiring (108) that connects the actuator (210) to energy storage on or in the item, e.g., a battery mounted on or in the frame (102), e.g., a commercially available battery for powering the actuator (210). The wiring (108) includes electrical conductors for carrying the power and electrical insulators coating the conductors that resist corrosion of the conductors and that avoid undesirable electrical connections between the frame (102) and the wiring (108). The wiring (108) can include 3 separate conductors securely concealed and held within the frame (102).
The components of the locking portion (200) can be mounted and aligned in the frame (102) either individually, i.e., while the relevant frame portion is being constructed, or as a separate stand-alone unit that is then separately mounted in or to the frame (102) and connected to the wiring (108). The frame (102) includes an opening in the frame (102) to receive the locking portion (200), typically facing downwards. The locking portion (200) is mounted into the opening by adhesion, mechanical fasters (e.g., screws or clips), welding and/or brazing. The opening is covered by a tamper-resistant cover (410), shown on an underside of the handlebars (402) in
As shown in
As mentioned hereinbefore, the stopper tunnel (412) is generally or at least partially vertical when the frame (102) is in a natural orientation, thus causing the tethering portion (104) to be naturally drawn back into the frame (102) by the force of gravity. The exit tunnel (504) includes a ninety-degree bend between the exit aperture (502) and the restriction hole (408) at the end of the stopper tunnel (412).
The exit aperture (502) is generally arranged in a portion of the frame (102) that is normally vertical so the frame (102) can be placed next to the object for securing thereto, and so the tethering portion (104) can easily reach the object as it exits the exit aperture (502). Rain is less likely to enter the exit aperture (502) due to its generally vertical orientation when the frame (102) is in its natural orientation.
As shown in
As shown in
In embodiments, the tethering portion (104) can have a length of 500 mm or 600 mm, e.g., depending on the size of the frame (102) and length of the stem (404), or between 300 mm and 700 mm, or between 100 mm and 1 m. The tethering portion (104) can have a cross-sectional width (i.e., diameter) of 10 mm, or 10 mm to 12 mm, or between 2 mm and 15 mm depending on the application. The retaining portion (106) can have a maximum cross-sectional width (i.e., diameter of the enlarged portion (318) and the collar portion (310)) of 14 mm or 15 mm, or between 6 mm and 19 mm, or at least 4 mm larger than the cross-sectional width of the tethering portion (104). The stopper portion (304) can have a cross-sectional width (e.g., diameter), transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tethering portion (104) attached thereto, equal or substantially equal to the cross-sectional width of the retaining portion (106), or about 14 mm to 15 mm, or between 6 mm and 19 mm, or about 27 to 28 mm, or at least 4 mm larger than the cross-sectional width of the tethering portion (104) and at least 1 mm or 2 mm less than the cross-sectional width of the stopper tunnel (412). The restriction hole (408) can have a cross-sectional width between 1 mm and 3 mm more than the cross-sectional width of the tethering portion (104), and between 1 mm and 3 mm less than the cross-sectional width of the retaining portion (106) and of the stopper portion (304). The stopper tunnel (412) can have a cross-sectional width of about 28 mm, e.g., in a stem of about 32 mm diameter. The actuator (210) can have a cross-sectional width (diameter) of about 20 mm to 25 mm, and can be up to 40 to 50 mm in length. The spring (214) can be about 10 to 15 mm long when mounted to the post (208).
As shown in
The controller (702) can be a commercially available electronic controller unit, including an electronic microprocessor, a power controller, and an internal wireless communications module, with bespoke software and/or firmware settings to provide operational functions described herein. The controller (702), and its components, is powered electrically by the battery (704). The controller (702) controls the state of the actuator (210) based on signals received by the internal wireless communications module. The internal wireless communications module can be a Bluetooth module, including a low-power Bluetooth module, or a Wi-Fi module, or a Near Field Communications (NFC) module. The internal wireless communications module is configured to receive data representing an unlock message from an external wireless communications module (of a corresponding type, e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, etc.) to switch the state of the internal wireless communications module from a locked state to an unlocked state, or from the locked state to the unlocked state. The internal wireless communications module sends corresponding signals representing the selected locked state or unlocked state to the microprocessor, which controls the power controller to drive the actuator (210) to its corresponding locked state or unlocked state. As mentioned hereinbefore, the locked state of the actuator (210) can be the de-energised or de-electrified state, i.e., with no electrical current powering the actuator (210), so when no power is supplied to the actuator (210), the actuator portion (210) is in the locked state: to have the locking portion (200) in its unlocked state, the actuator (210) requires electrical power from the wiring (108) and the battery (704) via the controller (702). Thus, the locking portion (200) is naturally locked, and it cannot be unlocked if there is no electrical power, e.g., if the battery (704) is absent, if the battery (704) is flat, or if the wiring (108) is damaged, which improves the security of the lock. The actuator (210) may include a control processor or electronic code lock that controls the actuator (210) to operate only if a unique preselected control authentication signal or code is received from the controller (702) to mitigate unauthorised activation or hacking of the actuator (210).
As shown in
The external controller (708) may be configured to generate the unlock message that controls the controller (702), on receipt of the message, to move to the unlocked state, and thus activate and unlock the actuator (210). The external controller (708) may be configured to transmit the unlock message when the external controller (708) is within a selected range of the internal wireless communications module in the controller (702), with the selected range depending on the particular shared communications protocol, e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, etc., which may include a determination of signal strengths and/or proximity appropriate to the protocol such that the controller (702) moves to the unlocked state when the external controller (708) is within the selected range. The range may be selected to be at least contact (i.e., zero range, touching the frame (102), the handlebar (402) or the display), or at least 1 mm, or at least 10 mm, or at least 100 mm, or at least 1 m, or at least 5 m, or at least 10 m, depending on the application. The selected range may be selected by selecting a type of protocol, and/or by selecting a range-defining parameter in one or both of the internal wireless communication module and the external wireless communication module.
The apparatus (100) may include a manual key-operated lock that can activate the actuator (210) and/or the locking portion (200), e.g., for use when the external controller (708) is inoperable or unavailable—i.e., the key-operated lock can be a back-up unlocking mechanism. The key-operated lock can include a tumbler mounted into the frame (102), e.g., into the tamper-resistant cover (410) on the underside of the handlebars (402). When operated using a matching manual key, the tumbler can: (i) operate a mechanical switch in the locking portion (200) to electrically connect the actuator (210) to power, and thus to unlock the locking portion (200); (ii) operate a mechanical switch connected to the controller (702) so that the controller (702) switches its state from the locked state to the unlocked state; and/or (iii) operate a mechanical mechanism to pull the latch bolt (202) out of the slot (312).
The electrical system of the apparatus (100) can include a disconnect detection mechanism to detect electrically when the retaining portion (106) is disconnected—including by cutting the retaining portion (106), or damaging the retaining portion (106) or locking portion (200). The disconnect detection mechanism includes electrical connections forming a conductive loop through the retaining portion (106) from the locking portion (200) to the stopper portion (304) or the exit (406): this conductive loop is broken when the retaining portion (106) is disconnected, and the controller (702) monitors electrical current flow (directly or indirectly) through the conductive loop, and generates an alert signal when the electrical current flow stops. The controller (702) can be configured to respond to the alert signal by sending an alert message to the external controller (708) to alert the user. The controller (702) can be configured to respond to the alert signal by disabling electrical functions of the item, e.g., drive functions of a scooter or bicycle.
The disconnect detection mechanism includes:
The apparatus (100) can be manufactured by the following method:
The frame is locked to the object by the following method:
The confirmatory input may be a combination code generated by user operation of operational input controls of the item: i.e., input controls also used for operation of the item (e.g. a vehicle), the operational input controls can include: throttle up, throttle down, brake on, brake off, vehicle turn on, vehicle turn off, frame fold, frame unfold. The operational input controls can generate respective input signals for the controller (702), including from electronic sensors attached to the operational input controls, and the controller (702) is configured to receive a time series of these input signals and compare this series to a stored passcode representing a preselected unlock series of signals. These input signals may also be generated by general operation of the throttle, the brake, an accessible button, touch screen display or keypad, or audio input to a microphone. If the stored passcode matches the time series of operational input signals, the controller (702) is configured to active the actuator (210), thus unlocking the lock. The combination code may also be used without the wireless unlock signal, e.g., for use when the external controller (708) is inoperable or unavailable—i.e., the confirmatory input can be a back-up unlocking mechanism. When operating the operational controls, the controller (702) may be configured to generate corresponding visible features on the display (706) to provide feedback regarding whether the operated controls have generated respective signals or not, thus assisting efficient operation by the user.
The tethering portion (104) and the retaining portion (106) may be safe because they are retained in the frame (102) while unlocked, and are not therefore easily caught in the wheels or control of the item. As mentioned hereinbefore, the locking portion (200) and the tethering portion (104) may be located at an advantageous height for locking to many secure objects, including poles, fences, bike rails, and posts, and the locking act can be performed at hand level, to mitigate excessive bending or kneeling, and the item can be held upright by the connection of its upper portion to the object, e.g., to stop the scooter or like falling over onto the ground.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019900809 | Mar 2019 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2020/050229 | 3/12/2020 | WO | 00 |
