GB2524530A

GB2524530A - Bicycle security apparatus tether

Info

Publication number: GB2524530A
Application number: GB1405364.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven John Blanks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-25
Filing date: 2014-03-25
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Also published as: GB201405364D0

Abstract

A bicycle security apparatus comprises a tether having a flexible core formed from at least one elongate resilient cord and a sleeve surrounding the core that is expandable and comprises a braided material including metal strands. The core may comprise multiple elastic strands. The core preferably forms a continuous loop that may include a glued butt joint (B, figure 3) protected and reinforced by an adhesive lined heat shrink sleeve (A). The continuous loop may be controlled into a figure of eight arrangement by means of a Y-shaped heat shrink boot (I, figure 6). The apparatus may be designed specifically to enhance the securing of an immobilisation device comprising an immobilising jam member configured to be secured to the crank arm assembly of a bicycle.

Description

Bicycle Security Apparatus Tether

Description

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device and in particular to a device for tethering a bicycle to prevent it being stolen.

To prevent opportunistic theft it is well known for cyclists to secure bicycles whilst left unattended in a public place by means of tethering to street furniture or anchor points or immobilising the rear wheel. It is also generally accepted that current products afford only a basic deterrent to professional thieves suitably equipped with tools of the trade such as heavy duty bolt cutters and readily available power or hand tools. In an attempt to thwart professional thieves manufacturers have typically increased the size and weight of their security products without making any radical alterations to the basic design and functionality. This approach has only marginally improved security yet also renders these products impractical for cyclists to transport them as the added weight and bulk is a hindrance to the basic principle of cycling efficiency.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved bicycle security apparatus which addresses the above described problems and/or which offers improvements generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a bicycle security apparatus as described in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a unique device for tethering bicycles has been devised to afford a robust lightweight and secure means of theft prevention available in a range of scalable security levels. This is achieved through a lightweight non-metallic core, preferably constructed from a plurality of elastic strands, such as bungee cord. The core is joined into a continuous loop of adequate length to enable the tether to extend around part of the bicycle and a structure to which it is to be tethered. The core is encased within a layer or multiple layers of cut resistant material, preferably constructed from a lightweight braided, flexible, expandable sleeve specially designed to provide cut and abrasion resistant properties.

A benefit of the continuous loop arrangement is that no additional separate components are required to secure or lock two pads of the tether together, reducing weight and cost, as well as removing an additional point of weakness in the security of the tether.

The combination of a flexible inner core and cut resistant layer or layers of braided sleeving affords a number of advantages namely: The inner core is flexible enough to enable the continuous loop to be fed through its self and tied into a looped knot that grips around the profile of the tethering point.

The cut resistant layers loosely surround the inner core enabling the core to retain its flexibility and ability to be stretched as a traditional unprotected bungee cord would function. The sleeve is preferably formed from a resilient, woven, braided material loosely inter-dispersed/inter-woven with metal fibres. It is this construction that provided the sleeve with its cut resistant properties. The sleeve surrounds the core with the core and the sleeve being relatively movable, with the core able to slide and rotate within the sleeve.

At least one layer and preferably multiple layers of protective sleeving substantially increases the resistance to attack of the inner core which in its own right has very low resistance to attack and can be readily cut with a knife or scissors. The ability to resist attack can be attributed to the fact that the resilient, woven, braided material of the sleeve that is loosely inter-dispersed with metal fibres doesn't fail in the same manner as metal bar or metal cable when subject to significant forces designed to sever or saw through a toughened metal core, instead the sleeving stretches and distorts and the inner core crushes and spreads to disperses the applied forces. As such conventional tools that readily cut through traditional bicycle security products made substantially from metal such as cable or D locks are ineffective on the described flexible, resilient and pliable tether.

The combination of materials used significantly reduces the weight of the product whilst retaining comparable levels of overall security when compared to the described traditional products.

The tethering device is preferably deployed in conjunction with an immobilisation device preferably secured to the crank arm assembly, which includes both the crank arm and the pedal either in isolation or simultaneously.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following illustrative figures in which: Figure 1 shows a tethering strap pre-formed into a figure of eight with the cross over point of the figure of eight created by means of a heat-shrink Y shaped boot.

Figure 2 shows a heat-shrink sleeved joint (A) designed to protect and reinforce the inner core loop joint and secure the protective outer sleeving joint.

Figure 3 shows 1⁄2 section through heat-shrink sleeve exposing butt glued joint (B) between the cut ends of the inner core (C). The inner core (C) is covered by an inner protective sleeve (D) which in turn is covered by outer protective sleeve (F). The void within the confines of the heat-shrink sleeve surrounding C, D and E is filled with adhesive to securely bond the joint against lateral forces.

Figure 4 shows a method of feeding the larger diameter tether loop (F) through itself to secure one end of the tether to street furniture (G) or similar object of sound foundation. Alternately this arrangement can be used around a bicycle frame with the tail fed through railings or similar suitable object before attaching the opposite end of figure of 8 arrangement to a secondary bicycle security device, thus preventing the bicycle from being ridden or free wheeled away.

Figure 5 shows a method of feeding the larger diameter tether loop through smaller diameter tether loop (H) to secure one end of the tether to street furniture or similar object of sound foundation.

Figure 6 shows the Y shaped heat-shrink boot (I) that forms the smaller diameter of the figure of 8 arrangement; encased within the Y shaped boot before the shape is shrunk into place is an 0-ring (J) to create a grip feature to improve the users handling of the tether when stretching the end in order to locate with a secondary bicycle security device.

Figure 7 shows an integrated Velcro strap (K) to enable the tether to be secured to a suitable point on the bicycle frame (L) for ease of transport or tied into a compact configuration when not in use.

Claims

Bicycle Security Apparatus Tether Claims 1. A bicycle security apparatus comprising a tether having a flexible core formed from at least one elongate resilient cord, and a sleeve surrounding the core, the sleeve being expandable and comprising a braided material including metal strands.
2. A bicycle security apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is expandable in the axial direction to allow the sleeve to stretch with the flexible core.
3. A bicycle security apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the core comprises multiple resilient cords.
4. A bicycle security apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the core comprises multiple elastic strands.
5. A bicycle security apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the core forms a continuous loop.
6. A bicycle security apparatus wherein the core is free to move relative to the sleeve along at least part of its length.
7. A bicycle security apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the core is rotatable relative to the sleeve.
8. A bicycle security apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the core is rotatable relative to the sleeve.
9. A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby the outer braided sleeve is manufactured from Tisa-Flex®.
1O.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby the continuous loop join is fashioned from a glued butt joint subsequently protected and reinforced by an adhesive lined heat shrink sleeve.
11.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby the continuous looped core circumference is less than the sleeving encasing it to allow for the cord to stretch.
12.

A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby two spaced sections along the length of the tether are secured together, to define two separate loops.
13. A bicycle security apparatus according to claim 11, whereby the continuous loop is controlled into a figure of 8 by means of a Y shaped heat shrink boot.
14.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby the figure of 8 arrangement enables the twin loops of the figure of 8 to be passed through each other to provide a noose around secondary objects.
15.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby both of the twin loops of the figure of 8 are configured to accept a secondary anti-theft immobiliser or padlock that when secured effectively acts as the lock for the tethering device.
16.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, whereby the proportions of the figure of 8 arrangement enables the smallest of the two loops of the figure of 8 to integrate with a secondary anti-theft immobiliser to form a complete bicycle security system.
17.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, designed specifically to enhance the security of an immobilisation device for a bicycle comprising an immobilising jam member configured to be secured to the crank arm assembly of a bicycle such that at least a portion of the jam member extends inwardly towards the frame of the bicycle, and arranged such that when so secured a portion of the jam member engages with a part of the bicycle to prevent rotation of the crank arm to thereby immobilise the bicycle.
18.A bicycle security apparatus according to any proceeding claim, which is configured to be wrapped around the frame of a bicycle for storage when not in use.