GB2562319A

GB2562319A - Cycle securing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2562319A
Application number: GB1712007.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Usborne Cross Oliver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-05-05
Filing date: 2017-07-26
Publication date: 2018-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-26
Also published as: GB2546698A; GB2562319B; GB2546698B; GB201707276D0; GB201712007D0

Abstract

A cycle securing apparatus for fitting within a handlebar 1 comprises first and second flexible tethers 5a,5b slidably mounted within corresponding first and second stopping members 8a, 8b that are connected together and arranged to be located within the handlebar 1, the first and second tethers 5 having respective first and second outer ends 9 for securing a cycle and first and second inner ends 7 that are unable to pass through the corresponding first and second stopping members 8. The inner ends 7 may be shaped to pass each other in the handlebar when the tethers are stowed. The stopping members 8 may be connected together via a third tether 12.

Description

Cycle Securing Apparatus Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to apparatus for securing at least part of a cycle, such as a bicycle or tricycle, against theft.

Background of the Invention [0002] One type of such apparatus is a cable lock, in which a cable is secured through part of the cycle and preferably around a fixed object, such as a cycle stand or street furniture. For convenience, and to ensure that the cable lock is always to hand, it is known to store a cable lock within a hollow part of the cycle, such as the frame, seat post or handlebar: see for example US 6,945,081, US 5,5289,704 and US 2013/061642.

[0003] In some cases, one end of the cable may be retained within a part of the handlebar to serve as a securing point: for example, US 4,024,741 (Arblaster) discloses a cable that can be withdrawn from one end of the handlebar of a cycle. An enlargement on the inner end of the cable limits the withdrawal of the cable.

[0004] One problem with using the handlebar as a securing point is that a thief may remove the handlebar from the stem, or the stem from the front forks, and steal the remainder of the cycle. If the cable is threaded through the frame or wheel of the cycle, the removed handlebar may also be threaded through so that the frame or wheel may be stolen.

[0005] One problem with a cable stored within the handlebar of a cycle is that the length of the cable is limited by the length of the handlebar. The length of the cable may not be sufficient to secure a part of the cycle to a fixed object, or to thread through a frame and wheel of the cycle.

[0006] US 4,870,843 discloses a self-retracting tether system in which a security tether is extendable from either end of a handlebar, the outer ends of the security tether being lockable together. However, the overall length of the security tether is less than the length of the handlebar.

Statement of the Invention [0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cycle securing apparatus according to claim 1.

[0008] An embodiment of the invention comprises a handlebar, each end of which has a respective flexible tether that is extendable therefrom and retractable or stowable within the handlebar, wherein the inner ends of the tether pass each other within the handlebar as the tethers are retracted or stored. This may allow the total length of the two tethers to be longer than the handlebar, thereby improving the securing function of the tethers.

[0009] Each tether may be slidably mounted through an aperture within the corresponding end of the handlebar, and the inner end of the tether may have an end stop which is unable to pass through the aperture, thereby securing the tether to the handlebar.

[0010] The end stop may have an inner end that is tapered to facilitate the end stops passing each other when the tethers are stowed or retracted. The end stop may have a rounded or chamfered outer end to prevent the end stops from snagging each other when the tethers are withdrawn.

[0011] The aperture may be formed within a stopping member or block that is mounted within the end of the handlebar. The aperture may be offset from the centre of the stopping member and therefore from the central axis of the handlebar. The apertures of the stopping members at either end of the handlebar may be offset in different or opposite directions, thus reducing the likelihood of interference between the inner ends of the tethers within the handlebar, and allowing the inner end of one tether to fit between the other tether and the inner wall of the handlebar, particularly when the tethers are retracted. [0012] The stopping member may be fixed within the end of the handlebar, or may be slidably mounted so that the outer end of the tether can be stored within the end of the handlebar, but the stopping member may be pulled outwardly when the tether is extended, thus increasing the effective length of the tether.

[0013] The latter arrangement is considered to be independently inventive, and therefore according to another aspect of the invention there is provided a handlebar having a tether extendable from an end thereof and retractable or stowable within the handlebar, the inner end of the tether being retained within the handlebar by a stopping member through which the tether is able to slide, the stopping member being slidably mounted within the handlebar.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the stopping members at either end of the handlebar may be connected together so that neither stopping member can be pulled out of the handlebar in such a way as to release the tether. This arrangement may avoid the need to permanently fix the stopping members within the handlebar, thus allowing the locking apparatus to be removably fitted within the handlebar. A removable stop may be provided at either end of the handlebar, to prevent the stopping members from falling out of the handlebar.

[0015] This alternative embodiment is considered to be independently inventive, and moreover provides a locking assembly that can be provided separately from a handlebar, and can be easily fitted or removed from the handlebar. Therefore, according to another aspect of the invention there is provided a cycle securing apparatus for fitting within a handlebar, the apparatus comprising first and second flexible tethers slidably mounted within corresponding first and second stopping members that are connected together and arranged to be located within the handlebar, the first and second tethers having respective first and second outer ends for securing a cycle and first and second inner ends that are unable to pass through the corresponding first and second stopping members.

[0016] The ends of the handlebar may be stopped by respective removable bar ends, to prevent the outer ends of the tethers from falling out when the cycle is in use. The bar ends may be attached to the respective outer ends of the tethers.

[0017] The outer ends of the tethers may comprise loops formed from the tethers. The outer ends may be secured to a lock mounted on a part of the cycle. This may prevent that part of the cycle being stolen by removing the handlebar from the stem, provided that the tethers are secured around a fixed object.

[0018] Alternatively, the outer end of one tether may comprise a lock for locking onto the outer end of the other tether.

[0019] The tether or tethers may comprise wire cables, preferably in the form of wire rope.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0020] There now follows, by way of example only, a detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the figures identified below.

Figure la is a perspective diagram of the cycle securing apparatus in an embodiment of the invention, in a securing position.

Figure lb is a perspective diagram of the cycle securing apparatus in a partially stowed position.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement of the cycle securing apparatus within the handlebar of the cycle.

Figures 3a and 3b are side and back views respectively of a cable end stop in the embodiment.

Figures 4a and 4b are perspective and front views respectively of a stopping member in the embodiment.

Figure 5 is a cross-section of one type of cable suitable for use in the embodiment. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of a handlebar end with cable retracted, in an optional feature of the embodiment.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of the handlebar end with the cable extended, in the optional feature of the embodiment.

Figure 8 shows a cable end loop in the embodiment.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a bar end in the embodiment.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a locking bracket in the embodiment.

Figure 11 is a view of a locking arrangement of the outer ends of the cables in an alternative embodiment.

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a bar end cup fitted to a tether in a variant of the embodiment of Figure 12.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments [0021] As shown in Figures la, lb and 2, the cycle securing apparatus in an embodiment of the invention comprises first and second cables 5a, 5b that may be retracted or stowed within a handlebar, through respective ends thereof. The cables 5a, 5b may be extended or withdrawn from the respective ends so that the outer ends 9a, 9b of the cables 5a, 5b may be secured to a locking bracket 6, mounted in this example on the front fork 3 of the cycle, which is connected to the handlebar 1 by a stem 2 as shown in Figure la. One of the cables 5a, 5b may pass through the fork 3 and/or the front wheel 4 of the cycle, to prevent the cycle from being ridden or wheeled away. One or more of the cables 5a, 5b may pass around or through a fixed object, such as street furniture, to prevent the cycle from being removed.

[0022] Figure 2 shows schematically the arrangement of the cables 5a, 5b within the handlebar 1, which is hollow and preferably tubular in construction; the handlebar 1 may be curved or bent, but is shown as straight in Figure 2, for simplicity.

[0023] Each of the first and second cables 5a, 5b passes slidably through an aperture 11a, 1 lb in a corresponding stopping member 8a, 8b mounted within a corresponding end of the handlebar 1. End stops 7a, 7b are fixed to the respective inner ends of the cables 5a, 5b, to prevent the cables 5a, 5b from being removed from the handlebar 1. In this way, the inner ends of the cables 5a, 5b are secured within the handlebar 1.

[0024] The cables 5a, 5b may be stowed within the handlebar 1, by pushing the cables 5a, 5b through the apertures 11a, lib in the corresponding stopping members 8a, 8b. In this embodiment, the inner ends of the cables 5a, 5b pass each other within the handlebar 1 when the cables 5a, 5b are fully stowed. This allows the sum of the lengths of the cables 5a, 5b to exceed the length of the handlebar 1; preferably, each of the cables 5a, 5b is almost as long as the handlebar 1. Hence, the cables 5a, 5b may together be long enough to secure the cycle to a fixed object and/or to pass through the frame and front wheel 4 of the cycle.

[0025] To avoid the inner ends of the cables 5a, 5b from abutting against each other as they pass, the inner ends of the end stops 7a, 7b are tapered so that the end stops 7a, 7b slide past each other. The inner ends may be conical and the end stops 7a, 7b bulletshaped, as shown in Figures 2 and 3a. The outer ends of the end stops 7a, 7b are rounded, as shown in Figures 2 and 3b to prevent the end stops 7a, 7b from snagging each other as the cables 5 a, 5b are withdrawn.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2, 4a and 4b, the apertures 11a, lib are offset from the centres of the stopping members 8a, 8b in different, preferably substantially opposite directions relative to a central longitudinal axis of the handlebar, so that the cables 5a, 5b tend to pass along opposite sides of the handlebar 1, thereby reducing the risk of abutting or snagging. The apertures 11a, lib need not be circular in cross-section and may extend radially in substantially opposite directions, for example, to allow movement of the cables 5a, 5b to avoid abutting or snagging.

[0027] The stopping members 8a, 8b may be formed as blocks, such as short cylinders, of suitable material, such as aluminium, dimensioned to fit within the ends of the handlebar 1 and welded or otherwise fixed within the handlebar 1. The cycle securing apparatus may be retro-fitted to an existing handlebar 1, for example by threading the cables 5a, 5b through the respective stopping members 8a, 8b, with the end stops 7a, 7b already attached to the respective inner ends, and fixing the stopping members 8a, 8b within the ends of the handlebar 1.

[0028] The apertures 11a, lib may be drilled through the stopping members 8a, 8b. Alternative forms of stopping member may be used, such as a frame including the respective aperture 11a, lib.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the cables 5a, 5b preferably comprise flexible wire rope comprising a plurality of strands each comprising a plurality of wires. In one example, the wire rope comprises 7 strands each of 19 wires, which provided sufficient flexibility while being resistant to cutting.

[0030] Preferably, the outer ends 9a, 9b of the cables 5a, 5b can be stowed within the corresponding ends of the handlebar 1. As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the outer ends 9a, 9b may comprise cable loops, secured for example by a ring crimped around the end of the loop; this may be done after fitting the cables 5a, 5b into the respective ends of the handlebar 1.

[0031] The stopping members 8a, 8b may be recessed a short distance into the end of the handlebar 1, to allow the outer ends 9a, 9b to be stowed within the handlebar 1. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the stopping members 8a, 8b may be slidably mounted within the corresponding end of the handlebar 1 so that, as shown in Figure 6, the stopping member 8a may be pushed inwards to allow the outer end 9a to be stowed within the handlebar 1, but may be pulled outwards to a stop 10a fixed close to the end of the handlebar 1 when the cable 5a is pulled out. This arrangement allows a greater length of the cable 5a to be used for securing the cycle.

[0032] The ends of the handlebar 1 may be stopped by respective removable bar ends 11a, 1 lb, to prevent the cables 5a, 5b from extending out of the handlebar 1 when the cycle is in use. The bar ends 11a, lib may be secured to the respective outer ends 9a, 9b of the cables 5a, 5b, to assist in withdrawal of the cables 5a, 5b from the handlebar 1 and to avoid loss of the bar ends 1 la, 1 lb.

[0033] The locking bracket 6 may comprise a first portion 6a for housing a lock, such as a padlock having a shackle for securing the outer ends 9a, 9b of the cables 5a, 5b, and a second portion 6b that fixes the locking bracket 6 to the front fork 3. The second portion 6a may be formed in two halves that are fitted around the front fork 3 and are secured together, for example using tamper-proof bolts.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in Figure 11, one of the outer ends 9a may comprise a lock, such as a combination lock, for locking onto an engaging portion on the other one 9b of the outer ends.

[0035] Figure 12 shows a variant of the embodiment of Figure 2, in which the stopping members 8a, 8b are connected together by a connecting tether 12. The connecting tether 12 may comprise a cable that is flexible enough to adapt to the shape of the handlebar 1, or a rigid rod shaped to fit within the handlebar 1. The connecting tether 12 avoids the need to securely fix the stopping members 8a, 8b within the handlebar 1, because when the outer ends 9a, 9b are used to secure the cycle, the inner ends 7a, 7b are secured by the stopping members 8a, 8b and the connecting tether 12, thus forming a loop which cannot easily be broken.

[0036] The variant of Figure 12 does not require welding or other secure fitting of the stopping members 8a, 8b within the handlebar 1, so can easily be retrofitted to the handlebar 1 by sliding a locking assembly, comprising the tethers 5a, 5b slidably fitted within the stopping members 8a, 8b which are connected together by the connecting tether 12, into the handlebar 1.

[0037] To prevent the locking assembly from falling out of the handlebar 1, bar end cups 13a, 13b may be fitted to the tethers 5a, 5b. At least one of the bar end cups 13a, 13b may be split or otherwise removably attachable around the tethers 5 a, 5b after the locking assembly has been fitted within the handlebar 1. The bar end cups 13a, 13b preferably form an interference fit within the respective end of the handlebar 1. The bar end cups 13a, 13b preferably have a corresponding rim 14a, 14b at their outer ends that abuts the end of the handlebar 1 and prevents the bar end cup 13a, 13b from passing completely into the handlebar 1. The bar end cups 13a, 13b are preferably hollow so as to house the respective outer ends 9a, 9b when the tethers 5 a, 5b are retracted.

[0038] The locking assembly in this embodiment can be easily removed from the handlebar 1, when the outer ends 9a, 9b are not secured, by removing the bar end cup 13a from one end of the handlebar 1 and pulling the locking assembly out from the other end. This allows the locking assembly to be transferred easily to another handlebar 1.

[0039] As shown in Figure 13, the stopping members 8a, 8b may have the form of loops attached to either end of the connecting tether 12, through which the tethers 5 a, 5b are able to slide.

Environmental Benefits [0040] The cycle securing apparatus described above can be retrofitted to an existing cycle handlebar and therefore encourages re-use of existing materials. The cycle securing apparatus may reduce the risk of theft and therefore encourage the use of cycles as an alternative to motor vehicles, thereby reducing pollution and the use of fossil fuels.

Alternative Embodiments [0041] At least some of the features described above may be applied to only one of the two cables, if the benefit thereof is not required for both cables.

[0042] Instead of cables, other types of flexible tether such as reinforced cords or sheathed chains may be used, provided they are strong enough to secure the cycle against theft.

[0043] Alternative embodiments may be envisaged, which nevertheless fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Cycle securing apparatus for fitting within a handlebar, the apparatus comprising first and second flexible tethers slidably mounted within corresponding first and second stopping members arranged to be located within the handlebar so that the tethers are extendable from and stowable within the handlebar, the first and second tethers having respective first and second outer ends for securing a cycle and first and second inner ends that are unable to pass through the corresponding first and second stopping members, wherein the stopping members are connected together so as to secure the inner ends of the tethers when the tethers are extended from the handlebar.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein first and second inner ends are arranged to pass each other as the first and second tethers are stowed within the handlebar.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, including first and second retaining members for fitting to respective first and second ends of the handlebar so as to retain the first and second stopping members within the handlebar.

4. Cycle securing apparatus comprising a handlebar with first and second ends having corresponding first and second flexible tethers extendable therefrom and stowable within the handlebar, the first and second tethers having respective first and second outer ends for securing a cycle and first and second inner ends that are retained within the handlebar and are arranged to pass each other as the first and second tethers are stowed within the handlebar.

5. Apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least one of the first and second inner ends comprises a tapered end portion that is arranged to slide past the other one of the first and second inner ends as the tethers are stowed within the handlebar.

6. Apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least one of the first and second inner ends comprises a rounded or chamfered outer end to prevent the inner ends from snagging each other when the tethers are withdrawn from the handlebar.

7. Apparatus of claim 4, or claim 5 or claim 6 when dependent on claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second tethers is slidable through an aperture in a stopping member mounted within the respective end of the handlebar and has an end stop at the inner end thereof that is unable to pass through the aperture.

8. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stopping member is slidably mounted within the handlebar.

9. Apparatus of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the aperture is offset from a central axis of the handlebar.

10. Apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first and second tethers are each slideable through a respective aperture in a respective stopping member mounted within the corresponding end of the handlebar.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 when dependent on claim 9, wherein the respective apertures are offset in mutually different or opposite directions with respect to the central axis of the handlebar.

12. Apparatus of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the stopping members are connected together so as to secure the inner ends of the first and second tethers.

13. Apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 12, wherein the respective stopping members are connected together by a connecting tether.

14. Apparatus of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the stopping members are retained within the handlebar by retaining members fitted to the first and second ends of the handlebar.

15. Apparatus of claim 3 or claim 14, wherein at least one of the retaining members is removably fitted around the corresponding tether.

16. Apparatus of any preceding claim, further including first and second bar ends for stopping the respective first and second ends of the handlebar when the first and second tethers are stowed within the handlebar.

17. Apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second bar ends are attached respectively to the first and second outer ends of the first and second tethers.

18. Apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second outer ends is formed in a loop.

19. Apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein one of the first and second outer ends comprises a lock for securing to the other one of the first and second outer ends.

20. Apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 18, including a lock for securing the first and second outer ends to a part of the cycle or to each other.

21. Apparatus of claim 20, wherein the lock is securely mounted on a part of the cycle separate from the handlebar.

22. Cycle securing apparatus comprising a handlebar having a flexible tether stowable therein and extendable from an end thereof, the tether having an outer end for securing a cycle and an inner end retained within the handlebar, the tether being slidable through an aperture in a stopping member mounted within the end of the handlebar such that the inner end is unable to pass through the aperture, the stopping member being slidably mounted within the handlebar.

23. A cycle including cycle securing apparatus of any preceding claim.