HK1238615B - Anti-theft device for a bicycle - Google Patents

Description

Anti-theft device for bicycles

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for a bicycle, in particular for a bicycle rental system.

Background Art

For protecting bicycles against theft, the most diverse solutions are known from the prior art.

Chain locks, cable locks or bow locks are usually used here, with the aid of which the bicycle is connected to a stationary object and thus secured.

A disadvantage of such bicycle locks is, on the one hand, that they are always completely accessible from the outside and can therefore be destroyed by thieves with little effort, depending on the materials used, rendering the bicycle lock inoperable.

Another disadvantage of such bicycle locks is that they must be attached to the bicycle itself when not in use or must be carried separately by the bicycle user, for example in a bag or backpack. In any case, this results in corresponding additional costs for storing and carrying such bicycle locks.

Furthermore, bicycle locks are known from the prior art in which protection against theft is provided by a locking bolt which is arranged, in particular, in the area of the rear wheel of the bicycle and, in the locked state, extends through the spoke area of the rear wheel, thereby locking the rear wheel.

A particular disadvantage of such bicycle locks is that only the rear bicycle wheel is locked by the locking bolt and therefore only theft by riding away is prevented, and in this case all components of the bicycle lock providing protection are also accessible from the outside.

Therefore, not only are the components of the bicycle lock accessible to thieves, but they are also exposed to the effects of weather.

Particularly within the scope of publicly accessible rental systems, when the bicycle is in operation, the components of the bicycle lock are often exposed to constant weathering, which can lead to corresponding functional impairments, in particular of the components responsible for locking the locking bolt.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an anti-theft device for bicycles (in particular for bicycle rental systems) while avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art, which allows different measures for release authentication, provides high resistance to theft attempts and does not require separate transportation and storage costs.

This object is achieved by the features according to the invention.

An anti-theft device according to the invention for a bicycle comprises, on the one hand, a fork unit comprising a first fork lever and a second fork lever, wherein the fork unit simultaneously performs the conventional function of accommodating a front wheel on a bicycle.

According to the present invention, the first fork has a penetration, while the second fork has a receiving opening. The receiving opening can extend only partially or completely through the second fork. In particular, the penetration and receiving opening are arranged in each fork, one above the other, on a common central axis. Preferably, the penetration and receiving opening are at the same height. Depending on the application, the penetration and receiving opening can also be arranged at different heights.

Furthermore, the anti-theft device according to the invention has a locking element which is preferably designed as a locking bolt and which can be arranged in the fork unit in such a way that it penetrates the first fork in the region of the penetration and engages in a receiving opening of the second fork.

Advantageously, the locking element is arranged in the fork unit in such a way that it penetrates the spoke region of the front bicycle wheel and can thus provide a locking of the front wheel.

In the present case, the spoke region is understood to be that region of the front wheel in which the spokes are arranged and which is delimited on its outer circumference by the rim.

According to the invention, the locking element has an engagement contour on its first end that engages in the receiving opening. The engagement contour is designed as a circumferential groove or as a hole, for example.

As a further feature, the anti-theft device according to the invention has a locking unit which is arranged in the second fork. According to the invention, the locking unit can be placed in a locked state or an unlocked state.

The locking unit currently comprises an electromechanical drive and a locking contour, wherein the locking contour is connected to the electromechanical drive. In the locked state, the locking contour engages with the engagement contour of the locking element. The locked state is brought about, for example, by a spring element, which is connected to the locking contour under preload and, in the unloaded state, pushes the locking contour into the engagement contour. Alternatively, the locked state can also be achieved solely by the weight of the locking contour, thereby enabling the locking contour to be pushed into the engagement contour.

In the unlocked state, however, there is precisely no engagement of the locking contour into the engagement contour.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the locking unit and in particular its electromechanical drive is connected to an electronic control unit, which will also be referred to simply as control unit below.

The control unit is preferably designed as a computer and in particular as a bicycle computer. Bicycle computers for user authentication are increasingly being provided in bicycles of bicycle rental systems.

For example, corresponding instructions, which may be a numerical code, are entered into the bicycle computer via a touch screen in order to establish the unlocked state.

The commands are converted by a control unit into control signals by which the electromechanical drive can be controlled.

After obtaining and processing the control signal, the unlocked state of the locking unit can be provided by the electromechanical drive by leading the locking contour out of the engagement contour of the locking element. The electric drive can be configured as a spindle drive or as an attraction magnet for this purpose.

The anti-theft device according to the present invention has the following technical advantages: the locking unit, and therefore all the elements necessary for locking and unlocking the locking element, are located inside the fork unit and are therefore protected from external influences. Consequently, it is particularly impossible for a thief to directly access the locking unit and thus to manipulate it. The locking unit can only be disabled by forceful intervention, such as partial or complete destruction of the fork lever. However, such intervention also renders the bicycle unusable and, therefore, prevents it from being quickly removed from the location of the theft.

Thus, a significantly improved protection can be achieved by the anti-theft device compared to conventional devices.

At the same time, the locking unit is protected from weather influences within the fork without additional means, which in particular allows for a significantly longer service life of the anti-theft device compared to conventional devices located outside.

Another advantage of the anti-theft device according to the invention is its spatial arrangement on the bicycle in the area of the fork. Since this arrangement corresponds to the usual way of using a bicycle, in particular with regard to its placement on the bicycle column, it allows for particularly simple and user-friendly operation of the anti-theft device.

In a particularly advantageous further development of the anti-theft device, the second fork has a molded body on its outside with a rear engagement region, for example a molded body in the form of a mushroom head. The outside of the fork is here its side facing away from the first fork.

According to the invention, the molded body is designed in such a way that it can be placed in a coupled state with a coupling element of a bicycle column. In this respect, the coupling element and the bicycle column are not currently considered to be part of the invention.

In the coupled state, the rear engagement region of the molded body engages rearwardly in an undercut region of a coupling element, which for this purpose has, for example, a T-slot-shaped cross section, and into which the molded body is pushed while the bicycle is being placed on the bicycle column.

At the same time, in this further development of the invention, the locking element is designed such that, in the locked state, it penetrates both the receiving opening of the fork lever and the shaped body.

The shaped body in this case has a through-opening, for example in the form of a through-hole.

In particular, the locking element is currently designed such that, in the coupled state between the shaped body and the coupling element, it can be brought into engagement with a retaining opening of the coupling element. The retaining opening of the coupling element is in this case designed, for example, as a blind hole and can achieve a positive fit transverse to the central axis of the locking element by partially enclosing the locking element.

By means of this form lock, the connection between the molded body and the connecting element is ensured in the engaged state of the locking element in such a way that, on the one hand, movement in the longitudinal direction of the front wheel is prevented by the form lock and, on the other hand, movement in the transverse direction of the front wheel is prevented by the rear engagement area engaging the undercut section at the rear.

As a particular advantage, in this way, in the locked state of the anti-theft device, protection against theft and at the same time secure reception of the bicycle in a bicycle post provided accordingly for this purpose can be provided.

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the molded body and the coupling element must be coordinated with one another. This is the case in particular in bicycle rental systems.

In particular, it is a particular advantage that, with the present further development, both the locking of the front wheel and the connection to the stationary structure are effected with only one means and one working step.

As a further advantage, the anti-theft device according to the invention can be integrated particularly easily into a bicycle rental system, so that a stationary structure can be used via the system bicycle pole.

Furthermore, as a further advantage, in a further development a transmitter, for example a limit switch, can be provided in the holding opening, so that the occupation state of the system bicycle column can be evaluated or the user can be informed of the proper engagement in the holding opening.

Furthermore, a preferred variant of the anti-theft device provides that the locking element is assigned a cable element which comprises, for example, an armor wire.

Here, the cable element is connected to the locking element at a first cable end and to the fork unit at a second cable end. In particular, the connection of the cable element to the fork unit can be designed such that the cable end has a pull-out section that can be pulled out of the fork unit or, conversely, pushed into the fork unit, so that the cable element can be pushed into the fork unit to the desired extent when the locking element is not in use. In this application, the cable element can be wound around a stationary structure, such as a lamp post or a commercial bicycle pole.

A particular advantage of the cable element is that the bicycle to be protected can be locked by means of the cable element to a stationary structure, for example a lamp post or a commercial bicycle pole, in addition to locking the front wheel by the anti-theft device when the bicycle is in the locked state.

In an alternative variant, the cable element is connected at its second cable end to the main frame of the bicycle, wherein the main frame is not a component of the present invention in this case.

The connection of the cable element to the main frame can also be designed in this case in such a way that the cable element has a pull-out section which can be pulled out of the main frame or pushed into the main frame.

In addition to the advantageous double protection of the bicycle by being fixed to a stationary structure and by locking the front wheel, the present variant offers the particular advantage that the fork unit, in the locked state of the anti-theft device, is also additionally protected against unwanted disassembly in the event of a theft attempt by being indirectly connected to the main frame via a rope element.

In a further development of the invention, a particularly advantageous feature is that the main frame can also be locked in a fixed position when installed in a system bicycle column, since the fork unit can be connected to the system bicycle column as a fixed structure via the molded body and the locking element, and the main frame can be connected to the system bicycle column indirectly via the locking element and the cable element.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the fork unit is assigned a retaining device for receiving the locking element.

The holding device is designed, for example, as a clamping element and in the present case allows for a secure reception and fixation of the locking element, in particular when the locking element is not in use.

In this respect, the holding device can not only be arranged directly on the fork unit or in the region of the main frame of the bicycle.

A preferred further development of the anti-theft device further provides that the locking unit and the control unit are connected to one another via a wireless or wired connection, and that status information relating to the locked or unlocked state can be transmitted from the locking unit to the control unit via this connection.

The transmitted status information can in particular be visualized by the control unit, so that the bicycle user can be informed about the current operating state of the anti-theft device and about the correct setting of the locked or unlocked state.

The connection between the locking unit and the control unit is preferably the same connection via which the control unit is connected to the electromechanical drive of the locking unit and via which the corresponding control signals for providing the unlocked state are transmitted.

Furthermore, in an advantageous variant, the electronic control unit of the anti-theft device according to the invention has means for wireless data transmission, wherein the means for wireless data transmission are also referred to below as transmission means for short.

The transmission means can particularly advantageously enable a wireless connection of the control unit to a central data unit, which is designed, for example, as a terminal or a distributed database of a bicycle rental system. The central data unit is not a component of the present invention.

In this respect, for example, the aforementioned status information regarding the locked or unlocked state can be transmitted from the control unit to the central data unit via the transmission means and stored in the central data unit.

Therefore, in particular when the central data unit is designed as a distributed database of the bicycle rental system, the corresponding status information can be transmitted

The respective operator of a bicycle rental system can thus always be informed about the status of the associated anti-theft device.

Furthermore, particularly when the central data unit is designed as a terminal in a bicycle rental system, corresponding control commands for providing the unlocked state of the anti-theft device can be input directly at the terminal via a transmission device and transmitted from there to the control unit. This allows the unlocking process of the anti-theft device in such a bicycle rental system to be optimized and user-friendly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The anti-theft device according to the invention is explained in more detail by way of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the basic structure;

FIG2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a shaped body;

FIG3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view with a rope element;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view in the released state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an anti-theft device for a bicycle in a basic configuration.

The anti-theft device in the present case comprises a fork unit 1 comprising a first fork 2 and a second fork 3 , wherein the first fork 2 has a penetration 4 and the second fork 3 has a receiving opening 5 .

The anti-theft device further comprises a locking element 6, which is in the present case designed as a locking bolt and can be arranged in the fork unit 1 in such a way that it penetrates the first fork lever 2 in the region of the penetration 4 and engages in the receiving opening 5 of the second fork lever 3. The locking element 7 is also arranged such that it penetrates the spoke region 7 of the front wheel (only shown in simplified form), the penetration taking place between two spokes of the spoke region 7.

According to the invention, the locking element 6 has an engagement contour 8 which is in the present case designed as a circumferential annular groove and which, in the arrangement of the locking element 6 shown in FIG. 1 , is positioned in the second fork 3 .

In this case, the engagement contour 8 is designed such that the locking contour 11 can engage therein.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the locking contour 11 is a component of the locking unit 9 , which is arranged in the second fork 3 and which also has an electromechanical drive 10 .

In the present case, the electromechanical drive 10 is designed as a spindle element and is connected to the locking contour 11 .

In the present exemplary embodiment, the locking unit 9 and in particular the electromechanical drive 10 are connected to a control unit 12 , which is designed as a bicycle computer, for example.

Furthermore, the locking unit 9 can assume a locked state or an unlocked state.

The locked state provides for a particularly positive engagement between the locking contour 11 and the engagement contour 8, wherein the locking contour 11 is pushed into the engagement contour 8 by a force applied by means of the spring element 19. The engagement of the locking contour 11 in the engagement contour 8 effectively prevents the locking element 6 from being pulled out of the receiving opening 5 and thus effectively prevents the anti-theft device from becoming inoperative. The locked state is a state of the anti-theft device in which the anti-theft device is active and the front bicycle wheel is effectively locked by the locking element 6.

The unlocked state of the locking unit 9, on the other hand, provides that the engagement of the locking contour 11 in the engagement contour 8 is released, and thus the locking element 6 can be pulled out of the receiving opening 5 and the anti-theft device can be released. In this regard, the unlocked state is provided by means of an electromechanical drive 10, which, upon receiving a corresponding control command from a control unit 12, pulls the locking contour 11 out of the engagement contour 8 and thus releases the positive-locking engagement. The control command is currently triggered by inputting a corresponding release code into the control unit 12.

Another embodiment of the anti-theft device is shown in FIG2 .

The second fork 3 has a shaped body 13, which is in the present case designed as a mushroom head and has a rear engagement region 14. The shaped body 13 allows the fork unit 1 of the anti-theft device to be accommodated in a coupling element 15 of a bicycle column (not shown). This accommodation is achieved by pushing the fork unit 1 together with the shaped body 13 horizontally into the coupling element 15 until a defined end position (e.g., provided by an end stop) is reached, wherein the rear engagement region 14 of the shaped body 13 engages rearwardly with an undercut section 16 of the coupling element 15 and thus provides a positive fit between the shaped body 13 and the coupling element 15 in the direction of the center axis of the locking element 6.

2 , the locking element 6 is designed such that, in particular in the locked state, it penetrates the second fork 3 and the shaped body 13 and engages in a retaining opening 17 of the coupling element 15. The retaining opening 17 is in this case designed as a blind hole and is designed such that, in the region of the retaining opening, the locking element 6 is at least partially surrounded on its outer circumference by the coupling element 15 and, in this way, a positive fit is provided between the locking element 6 and the coupling element 15 transversely to the center axis of the locking element 6.

As a particular advantage, the anti-theft device in the presently described embodiment not only provides for locking the front wheel of the bicycle, but also enables secure accommodation of the bicycle in a bicycle post provided for this purpose, wherein, when thus accommodated in the bicycle post, the fork unit 1 is prevented from being pulled out of the bicycle post laterally by the positive connection between the molded body 13 and the coupling element 15, and the fork unit 1 is prevented from being pulled out of the bicycle post in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle by the positive connection between the locking element 6 and the coupling element 15.

The embodiment of the anti-theft device described here is particularly suitable for bicycles that are used within the scope of a bicycle rental system with a system bicycle post at various locations, such as train stations or central areas.

FIG3 shows another embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the present invention.

The locking element 6 is additionally assigned a cable element 18 , which in the present case comprises an armor wire and which is connected to the locking element 6 at a first cable end and to the fork unit 1 at a second cable end.

In the area of connection to the fork unit 1, the cable element 18 currently has a pull-out section 20, which can be pulled out of the fork unit 1 or pushed into the fork unit, wherein the cable element 18 is prevented from being completely pulled out of the fork unit 1 by corresponding stop means (not shown).

As a particular advantage, the rope element 18 enables, on the one hand, an additional locking of the fork unit 1 or the bicycle to a fixed structure 21, such as a bicycle post, wherein the rope element 18 is placed around the fixed structure before the locking element 6 is pushed into the penetration of the first fork rod 2 and the structure is thus enclosed between the fork unit 1 and the rope element 18.

On the other hand, the cable element 18 enables additional locking of the locking element 6 to prevent loss when the anti-theft device is not in use. In particular, the extension section 20 allows the cable element 18 to be pushed into the fork unit 1 far enough to prevent the cable element 18 from getting caught unintentionally on other fixed structures or from interfering unintentionally with the spoke area 7 during use of the bicycle.

In addition, FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the anti-theft device in the disarmed state, for example during use of the associated bicycle.

As can be seen from FIG. 4 , the fork unit 1 is assigned a holding device 22 which is designed in the present case as a clamping element made of plastic and in which the locking element 6 can be accommodated during the released state of the anti-theft device.

As also illustrated in FIG. 4 , in the released state of the anti-theft device, the cable element 20 is pushed into the fork unit 1 to the required extent.

Reference numerals used

1 Fork unit

2 First fork

3 Second fork

4 Through-hole

5. Accept the opening

6 Locking element

7 spoke area

8 scarf profile

9 Locking unit

10 Electromechanical drive

11 Locking profile

12 Control Unit

13 formed body

14 Back inlay area

15 Connecting elements

16 Side concave section

17. Keep your mouth open

18 Rope elements

19 Spring element

20 Pull out section

21 Fixed-position structure

22 Holding device

Claims (6)

1. An anti-theft device for bicycles, the anti-theft device having: The fork-shaped component unit (1) includes a first fork (2) and a second fork (3), wherein the first fork (2) has a through portion (4) and the second fork (3) has a receiving opening (5); A locking element (6) is disposed in the fork unit (1) such that the locking element passes through the first fork (2) in the region of the through portion (4) and is engaged in the receiving opening (5) of the second fork (3), wherein the locking element (6) can pass through the spoke region (7) of the bicycle front wheel and the locking element (6) has an engagement profile (8) at the first end engaged in the receiving opening (5); A locking unit (9) is disposed in a second fork (3) and has an electromechanical drive (10), wherein the locking unit (9) can be placed in a locked state or an unlocked state and the locking unit (9) has a locking profile (11) connected to the electromechanical drive (10), and in the locked state the locking profile (11) is engaged in an engagement profile (8), while in the unlocked state the engagement of the locking profile (11) in the engagement profile (8) is disengaged; and an electronic control unit (12) connected to the electromechanical drive device (10), wherein the electronic control unit (12) can control the electromechanical drive device (10) and the electromechanical drive device (10) can provide an unlocked state. The second fork (3) has a molded body (13) on its outer side including a back engagement region (14), the molded body (13) being configured such that it can be placed in a connected state with a connecting element (15) of a bicycle post and in this connected state the back engagement region (14) engages with a side recess (16) of the connecting element (15) on the back. The locking element (6) is configured such that in the locked state it passes through the receiving opening (5) of the second fork (3) and the molded body (13), and in the connected state it can be placed in an engagement state with the retaining opening (17) of the connecting element (15), wherein the engagement state is guaranteed by the engagement state. 2. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (6) is provided with a rope element (18), the rope element being connected to the locking element (6) at a first rope end, and the rope element being connected to the fork-shaped unit (1) at a second rope end. 3. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (6) is provided with a rope element (18), the rope element being connected to the locking element (6) at a first rope end, and the rope element being connectable to the main frame of the bicycle at a second rope end. 4. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fork-shaped unit (1) is provided with a retaining device (22) for receiving the locking element (6). 5. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, via the connection between the locking unit (9) and the electronic control unit (12), status information regarding the locking or unlocking state of the locking unit (9) can be transmitted from the locking unit (9) to the electronic control unit (12). 6. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the electronic control unit (12) has a device for wireless data transmission.