Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BICYCLE LOCK APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INSTALLING SAME
Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application claims priority from United States Application No.
61/729,507 filed on
23 November 2012 and entitled SEAT POST BIKE LOCK. For purposes of the United
States,
this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of United States
Application No.
61/729,507 filed on 23 November 2012 and entitled SEAT POST BIKE LOCK which is
hereby
incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Technical Field
[0002] The technology described herein relates to bicycle locks and methods
for installing
bicycle locks on bicycles.
Background
[0003] To protect a bicycle (also referred to herein as a "bike") against
theft while it is left
unattended by the rider, bicycle locks (also referred to herein as "bike
locks") are commonly
used. Various types of bicycle locks are available. For example, a bicycle
lock can be a chain,
cable or a rigid ring such as a U-lock, D-lock or ring-lock. The bicycle lock
can be inserted
through the bicycle wheel, frame, and/or through a fixed or immovable
structure, such as a post
or rack secured to the ground or other such stationary structure to deter
theft. Alternately, or in
addition to the foregoing, a bicycle lock cable can be inserted into an
electronic lock device
affixed to the bike that will sound an alarm if the lock or cable is tampered
with.
[0004] A problem with conventional bicycle locks is to determine how to
transport the bicycle
lock, cable or securing device with the bicycle to the location in which it is
to be used. One way
in which a bicycle lock may be carried is to wrap the lock around the bicycle
frame, handlebar,
rack, or other part of the bicycle, and optionally secure it to the bicycle
using a strap, tie, bungee
cord or clip. Another way in which a bicycle lock may be carried is to install
an external mount
to the bicycle frame or rack, and then clip in or fasten the bicycle lock to
the mount. Yet another
way in which a bicycle lock may be carried is to put the bicycle lock in the
rider's pocket or in a
bag that is mounted to the bicycle or carried by the rider.
[0005] However, the aforementioned ways of transporting the bicycle lock can
be inconvenient
or difficult to implement. Some bicycles do not have any convenient location
on the frame to
which a bicycle lock mount can be installed. Even if space for the mount is
available on the
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bicycle frame, the mount can be difficult to install. If the user is attaching
or wrapping the lock
to the bicycle, each time once the bicycle lock has been used, the user
typically has to spend
some time to attach the lock back to the bicycle before transport. The bicycle
lock takes up space
on the bicycle or in a bag or the rider's pocket. The attached or mounted
bicycle lock can hinder
the rider's movements or can impede the installation of other bicycle
accessories. Due to these
and other difficulties and inconveniences, a rider may forego transporting a
bicycle lock and may
risk having his bicycle stolen or may restrict taking his bicycle only to
places where a bicycle
lock is not required. Or in some cases, the rider may either forget to attach
the bicycle lock to the
bicycle or to pack the bicycle lock in his bag or pocket.
[0006] There is a general desire for apparatus and methods that address at
least some of the
aforementioned problems.
[0007] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related
thereto are intended to
be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will
become apparent to
those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of
the drawings.
Summary
[0008] Aspects of the technology described herein provide an apparatus for
integrating a bicycle
lock with a bicycle seat post. The bicycle lock may be slid in and out of the
bicycle seat post.
The bicycle lock may hang below the bottom of the seat post and into the seat
tube of the bicycle
frame.
[0009] One aspect provides an apparatus having a lock-receiving seat post, and
a bicycle lock
housed at least partially within the seat post. The seat post has an opening
formed in the seat post
through which the bicycle lock can be accessed. A portion of the bicycle lock
is extendable from
the seat post through the seat post opening. The seat post opening may be
along a side of the seat
post and/or through the top of the post.
[0010] In certain embodiments the bicycle lock has complementary male and
female locking
connectors, wherein the female locking connector is adapted to receive and
engage with the male
locking connector for locking together the male and female locking connectors.
The bicycle lock
may comprise at least one cable. In one embodiment the bicycle lock has two
cables: the first
cable has a first upper free end which has the male locking connector, and the
second cable has a
second upper free end which has the female locking connector. In other
embodiments the bicycle
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lock has a single cable. The single cable has an upper free end having one of
the male and female
locking connectors. The other one of the male or female locking connectors is
affixed to the seat
post or another part of the bicycle.
[0011] In particular embodiments, the bicycle lock includes a stop secured to
a lower end of the
bicycle lock. The stop is movable up and down within the seat post and is
sized and shaped so as
to restrict the stop from being completely pulled out through the seat post
opening. The stop may
be weighted to pull the bicycle lock down into the seat post in the absence of
force applied to
extend the bicycle lock from the seat post.
[0012] In alternate embodiments, the bicycle lock is fully removable from the
lock-receiving
seat post to allow for more flexibility in affixing the bicycle lock. For
example, once removed
from the seat post, the bicycle lock may be run through the frame and/or
wheels of the bicycle
and then optionally through a fixed object before connecting together the male
and female
locking connectors at opposite free ends of the bicycle lock cable.
[0013] Another aspect of the technology described herein provides a method for
installing a
bicycle lock on a bicycle. The method includes: providing a lock-receiving
seat post having an
opening; inserting a bicycle lock into the seat post, wherein the bicycle lock
is extendable and/or
removable from the seat post opening; and mounting the seat post in a frame of
the bicycle. In
particular embodiments, inserting the bicycle lock into the seat post includes
inserting at least
one bicycle lock into the seat post. For example, one or two cables may be
inserted into the seat
post. A stop may be affixed to a lower end of the bicycle lock prior to
installing the seat post to
the bicycle frame. The stop is movable up and down within the seat post and is
sized and shaped
S0 as to restrict the stop from being completely pulled out through the seat
post opening. Other
embodiments may incorporate a bicycle lock which does not include a stop; such
lock may be
fully removable from the seat post.
[0014] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,
further aspects
and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study
of the
following detailed descriptions.
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Brief Description of Drawings
[0015] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the
drawings. It is
intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be
considered illustrative
rather than restrictive.
[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bicycle lock apparatus according to one
embodiment
comprising a bicycle lock and lock-receiving seat post. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the
bicycle lock of
the apparatus in a retracted (concealed) position and an extended position,
respectively.
[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the bicycle lock apparatus with the bicycle
lock in the retracted
and extended positions of FIGS. 1 and 2, as installed in a bicycle.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a bicycle lock apparatus according to another
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates an upper portion of a lock-receiving seat post of a
bicycle lock
apparatus according to one embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates the locking connectors of a bicycle lock that is
housed within a lock-
receiving seat post according to one embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates the locking connectors of the bicycle lock shown in
FIG. 7.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a bicycle lock apparatus according to another
embodiment.
[0023] FIGS. 10A and 10B (collectively, FIG. 10) illustrate a bicycle lock
apparatus according
to another embodiment.
Description
[0024] Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in
order to provide a
more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known
elements may
not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring
the disclosure.
Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an
illustrative, rather than a
restrictive, sense.
[0025] Particular embodiments provide apparatus that may be used to lock a
bicycle. The
apparatus integrates a bicycle seat post with a bicycle lock, making it easy
and convenient to
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transport and store the lock as well as to use the lock to protect a bicycle
against theft. The
apparatus comprises a lock-receiving seat post and a bicycle lock that may be
housed at least
partially within the seat post. The seat post is specially adapted to house
the bicycle lock and to
allow access to the bicycle lock. When not in use the bicycle lock is
retracted within the seat post
and the bicycle frame. When it is to be used the bicycle lock is pulled out
through an opening in
the seat post. In one embodiment the bicycle lock comprises two cables
extendable from the seat
post. The free ends of the cables can be locked together. For example, the
free ends may
comprise complementary male and female locking connectors, which when locked
together, may
be released only with the use of a key, a combination code (mechanically or
electronically), or a
key fob, smart card or other suitable device that can be used to control
access. Alternately, the
free ends may comprise loops or rings that may be connected together using a
padlock or other
lock.
[0026] To use the bicycle lock, the bicycle lock cables are extended from the
seat post through
the seat post opening by pulling on the cables' upper free ends. The cables
can then be wrapped
around the bicycle frame and/or other part of the bicycle and then around a
rack, post, tree or
other immovable structure, before locking together the free ends of the
cables. In particular
embodiments, the cables can be installed in the seat post and bicycle frame
such that they cannot
be removed from the bicycle. For example, the lower ends of the cables may be
affixed to a stop
that is sized and shaped so as to be slidable up and down within the seat post
and bicycle frame,
but cannot be removed through the seat post opening, thereby preventing the
cables from being
detached from the bicycle. Alternately, the lower ends of the cables may be
permanently affixed
to the seat post or the bicycle frame.
[0027] In another embodiment the bicycle lock comprises a single cable
extendable from the seat
post through the seat post opening. The cable's free end may have a locking
connector that can
be lockingly engaged to a complementary locking connector attached to the seat
post or another
part of the bike. The locking connectors may be complementary male and female
locking
connectors. Alternately, the cable's free end may have a loop or ring that can
be connected using
a padlock or other lock to a loop or ring on the seat post or another part of
the bike. In still other
embodiments, the cable's free end may have a locking connector that is
connectable to a frame
lock.
[0028] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a bicycle lock apparatus 20 according to a
particular embodiment.
Apparatus 20 comprises a lock-receiving seat post 21 mounted to a bicycle
frame 35 of a bicycle
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30. A bicycle saddle or seat 32 can be mounted to seat post 21. As described
in further detail
below, seat post 21 is specially adapted to house a bicycle lock 31. Seat post
21 is generally a
hollow tube. Typically the portion of bicycle frame 35 that receives seat post
21 is also a hollow
tube, so that such portion of bicycle frame 35 and seat post 21 together
provide a continuous
channel 34 for receiving a bicycle lock 31 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In some cases
channel 34 may
extend all the way to the bottom of the bicycle frame 35. In other cases
channel 34 may extend
along only a portion of bicycle frame 35, or may not reach the bicycle frame
35 at all (i.e. it
extends only along a length of seat post 21).
[0029] Apparatus 20 comprises a bicycle lock 31 that is housed within channel
34 (i.e. within
seat post 21 and bicycle frame 35). Bicycle lock 31 may extend through the
channel 34 in seat
post 21 down to the bottom bracket tube or bottom of the bicycle frame 35. An
opening 22 is
provided in the side of and/or at the top of the seat post 21, through which
bicycle lock 31 is
accessible. For example, opening 22 may be located in the side of the seat
post 21 immediately
below bicycle saddle 32, at the top of the seat post 21 immediately below the
bicycle saddle, or
at some other location on the seat post 21 that can provide the user with
convenient access to
bicycle lock 31.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, bicycle lock 31
comprises first and second
cables 23a, 23b (collectively, cables 23). Cables 23 may be made of steel,
aluminum, titanium,
hardened steel, graphite, KevlarTM, carbon fiber and/or other suitable
material for a cable lock.
Cables 23 are optionally coated with a high density plastic, rubber or fabric.
When not in use,
cables 23 are housed and concealed within channel 34 as shown in FIGS. 1 and
3. In this
concealed position, cables 23 hang below the saddle 32 and may extend through
a portion or the
full length of channel 34. Cables 23 may be formed so that all or portions of
cables 23 are
substantially straight when pushed into channel 34 (i.e. the cables are not
memory coiled). To
use to lock a bicycle, cables 23 are extended from the seat post 21 by pulling
them through seat
post opening 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Cables 23 can then be wrapped
around the bicycle
frame and a fixed or immovable structure and their respective free ends locked
together to secure
the bicycle to the structure.
[0031] Cables 23a, 23b have upper free ends 24a, 24b, respectively
(collectively, free ends 24).
In particular embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4,
free end 24a of
cable 23a comprises a male locking connector 25. Free end 24b of cable 23b
comprises a female
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locking connector 26. To lock together the free ends 24, male locking
connector 25 is inserted
into female locking connector 26.
[0032] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism automatically locks together
the locking
connectors once the male locking connector 25 is inserted into the female
locking connector 26.
In other embodiments, the locking mechanism requires insertion of a
corresponding key 33 (as
shown in FIGS. 1, 2) to lock together the locking connectors. Once locking
connectors 25, 26 are
locked together, the lock can be released only with the use of the
corresponding key 33 (or in
other embodiments, a combination code, key fob, smart card or the like).
[0033] It is not necessary that free ends 24 incorporate male and female
locking connectors 25,
26 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In alternate embodiments, free ends 24 comprise
loops or rings. A
padlock or other locking device may be inserted through the loops or rings and
locked to secure
the free ends 24 together.
[0034] Cables 23a, 23b have lower ends 28a, 28b, respectively (collectively,
lower ends 28).
Lower ends 28 may be attached to a stop 27 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Stop 27
is movable up
and down within channel 34 to facilitate the extension of cables 23 from seat
post 21. However,
the shape and size of stop 27 is such that stop 27 cannot be entirely pulled
out through seat post
opening 22. Stop 27 therefore prevents bicycle lock 31 from being removed from
the bicycle 30.
FIGS. 2 and 4 show bicycle lock 31 fully extended, with the stop 27 preventing
any further
extension of the lock from seat post 21. In some embodiments, stop 27 may be
permanently
clamped onto the lower ends 28 of cables 23a, 23b. In other embodiments, stop
27 may be
removable or replaceable by the user. For example, stop 27 may incorporate
threads so that it can
be screwed onto a corresponding threaded piece on lower ends 28, 28b of cables
23a, 23b in
order to removably fasten stop 27 to the cables.
[0035] In other embodiments, lower ends 28 of cables 23 are affixed to seat
post 21 (or to a
location of bicycle frame 35 in channel 34) to prevent removal of bicycle lock
31 from the
bicycle. For example, lower ends 28 may be permanently attached to a base of
seat post 21. In
such case, cables 23 should have sufficient length that they can still be
extended through seat
post opening 22 even though the lower ends 28 cannot move within channel 34.
[0036] When cables 23 are not required to lock the bike, they can be pushed
through seat post
opening 22 back into the channel 34 extending through seat post 21 and bicycle
frame 35 to
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assume a retracted position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This can be done by
hand by feeding
cables 23 through seat post opening 22. In some embodiments, stop 27 on
bicycle lock 31 is
weighted so that stop 27 helps to pull cables 32 down channel 34, facilitating
retraction of the
bicycle lock 31 within channel 34.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows a bicycle lock apparatus 120 according to another example
embodiment.
Apparatus 120 is similar in some respects to apparatus 20 of FIGS. 1 to 4 and
similar reference
numerals are used herein to refer to similar features, except that for
apparatus 120 the reference
numerals are prefixed with the numeral "1". In the FIG. 5 embodiment,
apparatus 120 comprises
a bicycle lock 131 and a lock-receiving seat post 121 that is specially
adapted to house the
bicycle lock 131. The seat post 121 may be mounted to a bicycle frame to
support a bicycle
saddle 32. Apparatus 120 differs from the apparatus 20 of FIGS. 1 to 4 in that
apparatus 120's
bicycle lock 131 comprises a single cable 123 instead of two cables. Cable 123
of bicycle lock
131 is housed within a channel 134 extending through lock-receiving seat post
121 when not in
use, as shown in FIG. 5. To use to lock the bicycle, cable 123 can be extended
from seat post 121
through seat post opening 122. Cable 123 can then be wrapped around the
bicycle frame and
around a fixed or immovable structure, before locking a male locking connector
125 on cable
123's upper free end 124 to a complementary female locking connector 126
mounted to the seat
post 121 or to some other part of the bicycle. For example, in the illustrated
embodiment, the
female locking connector 126 is mounted to seat post 121 near seat post
opening 122 and below
bicycle saddle 32. In some embodiments, the male and female locking connectors
may be
reversed (i.e. the upper free end 124 of cable 123 comprises the female
locking connector 126,
and male locking connector 125 is attached to the seat post 121). In still
other embodiments,
upper free end 124 of cable 123 may comprise a loop or ring that can be
locked, using a padlock
or other locking device, to another loop or ring attached to seat post 121. In
still other
embodiments, cable 123's free end 124 may have a locking connector that is
connectable to a
frame lock, such as a ring lock or wheel lock which secures the back wheel so
that the bicycle
cannot be ridden or pushed away.
[0038] As with the FIGS. 1 to 4 embodiment, cable 123 of FIG. 5's bicycle lock
131 comprises a
stop 127 at its lower end 128 to prevent removal of the cable 123 from the
bicycle. In other
embodiments, lower end 128 of cable 131 is permanently affixed to the seat
post 121 to prevent
the cable 131 from being removed. Stop 127 may be weighted and/or a retraction
mechanism
may be provided to facilitate retraction of cable 131 within channel 134. In
other embodiments,
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stop 127 is omitted (or is removable), and cable 123 is fully removable from
the lock-receiving
seat post 121.
[0039] To use the bicycle lock of the embodiments described above, cables 31,
131 are pulled
out through the seat post opening, and inserted through the bicycle frame and
around a fixed
object. Then the locking connectors are locked together to deter theft as
discussed. When
affixing the bicycle lock to the fixed object, cables 31, 131 may be run
through the bicycle frame
(e.g. through the triangle 49 defined by the main part of the bicycle frame 35
as seen in FIGS. 3,
4) so as to ensure that the cable(s) stay connected to the bicycle frame even
if the seat post is
removed. This also protects against theft of the seat or seat post.
[0040] FIG. 6 depicts an upper portion 29 of a lock-receiving seat post that
may be used in the
lock-receiving seat post 21, 121 of FIGS. 1 to 5. Upper portion 29 has a
generally tubular body
36. At one side of the tubular body 36 is defined an opening 22 through which
the bicycle lock
31 is accessed and extended. Above the opening 22, the upper portion 29 may
have generally
curved edges 38 or a surface that conforms to the shape of the body 44 of
female locking
connector 26 (or male locking connector 25). In the storage or transport
position, when body 44
of female locking connector 26 is received against edges 38 as seen in FIG. 7,
body 44 is braced
against tubular body 36 so as to reduce or minimize sliding or movement of the
locking
connectors relative to the lock-receiving seat post. At the top of the upper
portion 29 is a
surface 37 for supporting a saddle attachment assembly 39 (shown in FIG. 7).
Saddle attachment
assembly 39 may be placed on surface 37 and then bolted to upper portion 29 of
the lock-
receiving seat post. Bicycle saddle 32 may be mounted to the saddle attachment
assembly 39.
[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates an upper part of a bicycle lock 31 received within a
lock-receiving seat
post 21 according to one embodiment. Bicycle lock 31 has similar features to
those described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Bicycle lock 31 comprises cables 23a, 23b
having upper free
ends 24a, 24b, respectively. Free end 24a of cable 23a comprises male locking
connector 25 and
free end 24b on cable 23b comprises female locking connector 26. Only the male
and female
locking connectors 25, 26 protruding from seat post opening 22 are visible in
FIG. 7, as the
remainder parts of the bicycle lock 31 (including cables 23a, 23b) are largely
concealed within
channel 34 extending through seat post 21. FIG. 7 shows male and female
locking connectors 25,
26 in the locked position, with male locking connector 25 inserted into and
lockingly engaged
with female locking connector 26.
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[0042] FIG. 8 shows the male and female locking connectors 25, 26 of FIG. 7
separated from
each other. As seen in FIG. 8, male locking connector 25 comprises a prong 41.
Female locking
connector 26 comprises a complementary receptacle 43 for receiving prong 41 of
male locking
connector 26. Prong 41 of the illustrated embodiment includes a groove 42
extending around the
prong 41 for receiving a complementary locking member (not shown) within the
female locking
connector 26; once such locking member is inserted into the groove 42, the
locking mechanism
is engaged and prong 41 is detained within receptacle 43 such that it cannot
be removed. A key
33 may be inserted into a key slot on female locking connector 26 and turned
in order to engage
and disengage the locking mechanism.
[0043] In other embodiments, other kinds of suitable locking connectors or
locking mechanisms
may be used in place of the male and female locking connectors described
herein, in order to:
lock free ends 24 of cables 23 together, lock free end 124 of cable 123 back
to a locking
connector located on the seat post 121 or elsewhere on the bike, or lock free
end 124 of cable
123 to another lock, such as a frame lock.
[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment for a bicycle lock apparatus
220. Apparatus
220 is similar in some respects to apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 and similar
reference numerals are used
herein to refer to similar features, except that for apparatus 220 the
reference numerals are
prefixed with the numeral "2". In the FIG. 9 embodiment, upper portion 229 is
a hollow,
substantially cylindrical piece which is open at the upper end, providing an
opening 222 located
at the top of the upper portion 229, through which the bicycle lock 231 is
accessed and extended.
On the outside of the upper portion 229, a clamp may be affixed to which a
saddle attachment
assembly 239 may be affixed. In some embodiments, seat post opening 222 of
upper portion 229
is relatively smaller than opening 22 of the FIG. 6 embodiment's upper portion
29. A lock-
receiving seat post which incorporates upper portion 229 with a smaller seat
post opening in the
top of the seat post may be used in connection with narrower bike lock cables.
In the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 9, upper portion 229 tapers or narrows at the upper end
(i.e. toward the
bicycle saddle 232 and seat post opening 222). Therefore, seat post opening
222 at the top of
upper portion 229 has a smaller diameter than a diameter of a lower portion of
the seat post tube.
This taper may help to secure the bicycle lock in the seat post and prevent
its removal¨for
example, a stop may be attached to the lower end of the bicycle lock; the stop
is sized and shaped
so that it cannot move through the upper tapered portion of the seat post. In
other embodiments,
the stop is omitted (or the seat post does not taper at the upper end) and the
bicycle lock is
completely removable from the lock-receiving seat post.
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[0045] It is not necessary that bicycle locks 31, 131, 231 consist of cables
as described above. In
other embodiments, bicycle locks 31, 131, 231 can comprise chains, foldable
locks, or other
locks that can be at least partially concealed within a bicycle seat post, and
extended (or
removed) from the seat post to secure the bicycle to an immovable structure.
For example, the
lock may comprise one or two foldable locks or chains. Each comprises a series
of attached links
that can be pivoted or bent relative to one another. To store the lock in the
lock-receiving seat
post, the links can be straightened into a linear shape. To use to lock the
bicycle, the links can be
shaped into a ring shape (such as a D, U or 0-shape) to wrap around the
bicycle frame and a
fixed structure. The lock links may be rigid or semi-rigid. The free ends of
the lock may
comprise complementary male and female locking connectors. A foldable lock
having these
features may be substituted for one of bicycle locks 31, 131, 231 in the
embodiments described
above. Alternately, a foldable lock can be housed in the lock-receiving seat
post and can be
completely removed from the lock-receiving seat post through the seat post
opening when it is to
be used to lock the bike.
[0046] For example, FIG. 10A illustrates a foldable lock 331 housed in a lock-
receiving seat
post 321 in the transport or storage position. FIG. 10B illustrates the same
lock 331 completely
removed from the seat post 321, and formed into a ring and placed in the
locked position by
locking together the opposite ends of lock 331. The foldable lock embodiment
is similar in some
respects to bicycle lock 131 of FIG. 5 and similar reference numerals are used
herein to refer to
similar features, except that in FIGS. 10A, 10B, the reference numerals are
prefixed with the
numeral "3" instead of the numeral "1". The illustrated foldable lock
embodiment of FIG. 10A,
10B does not include a stop at its lower end 328. Lock 331 therefore can be
completely removed
from lock-receiving seat post 321. In addition, upper free end 324 of lock 331
includes a female
locking connector 326 for receiving a complementary male locking connector 325
at lower end
328 of lock 331. Lock 331 may comprise a plurality of connected links 347 as
shown. Each link
347 may be connected to adjacent links 347 with pins 348, so that the links
347 can pivot about
the connecting pins 348 to allow for the arrangement of links 347 into the
ring shape seen in
FIG. 10B. In particular embodiments, the lock links 347 comprise hardened
steel plates,
providing similar security to conventional D-locks or U-locks.
[0047] It can be appreciated that a bicycle lock apparatus in accordance with
the embodiments
described herein provides a number of advantages including, for example:
= Ease and convenience of bike lock transport: when not in use, the bicycle
lock is housed and
concealed within an existing structure of the bicycle (i.e. a lock-receiving
seat post, adapted
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to receive the bicycle lock). Apart from the lock-receiving seat post (and,
for some
embodiments, a locking connector mounted on the seat post or elsewhere on the
bicycle), no
separate lock mounting structure is required to be installed to the bicycle in
order to
accommodate the bicycle lock. In addition, since the bicycle lock is tucked
inside the seat
post and bicycle frame during transport, the bicycle lock is convenient to
carry and does not
get in the way of the rider.
= Convenience of use: The bicycle lock can be easily pulled out of the lock-
receiving seat post
when required to lock the bike. The stop on the lower end of the bicycle cable
lock prevents
the lock from being completely removed from the seat post and ensures that the
cable lock
does not become separated from the bicycle. When the cable lock is run through
the bicycle
frame and wrapped around a fixed object and its ends are locked together, the
bicycle is
protected against theft. The bicycle lock can also be conveniently pushed back
into the seat
post when it is no longer being used.
= Ease of installation: only the existing bicycle seat post on a bicycle
needs to be replaced with
the apparatus comprising the lock-receiving seat post and the bicycle lock
contained within
the seat post. To install the bicycle lock, the existing bicycle seat post is
first detached and
removed from the bicycle frame, and the bicycle's saddle along with its saddle
attachment
assembly is removed from the existing bicycle seat post. The bicycle's saddle
attachment
assembly and saddle may be mounted to the new lock-receiving seat post
containing the
bicycle cable lock. The new lock-receiving seat post is inserted into the
bicycle frame's seat
post-receiving tube so that the cable lock is allowed to hang down into the
bicycle frame and
the upper free end(s) of the cable lock are located near the seat post
opening.
[0048] Where a component (e.g. lock, key, cable, seat post, stop, male or
female locking
connector, chain, link, pin, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise
indicated, reference to that
component (including a reference to a "means") should be interpreted as
including as equivalents
of that component any component which performs the function of the described
component (i.e.,
that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not
structurally equivalent to
the disclosed structure which perform the function in the illustrated
exemplary embodiments.
[0049] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed
above,
those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations,
additions and sub-
combinations thereof For example:
= Some of the embodiments described herein include a stop 27, 127, 227 to
prevent removal of
a bicycle lock from the lock-receiving seat post. In alternate embodiments,
this stop is
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CA 02891401 2015-05-13
WO 2014/078967 PCT/CA2013/050896
omitted so that the lock can be housed within the lock-receiving seat post for
storage and
transport, but can be completely removed from the seat post in order to be
used to lock the
bicycle in a variety of different manners to various objects. For example,
once removed from
the seat post, the bicycle lock may be wrapped around a wheel and frame of the
bicycle only,
or around a wheel, frame and/or some fixed structure. The bicycle lock that is
stored in the
lock-receiving seat post and completely removable from the seat post may
comprise a cable,
chain, foldable lock, or other lock mechanism. In some embodiments, the
opposite free ends
of the cable have complementary locking connectors which may be locked
together. In other
embodiments, the opposite free ends of the cable each have a locking connector
which may
be locked to a complementary locking connector mounted on the bicycle.
= Particular embodiments may include a light integrated with the bicycle
lock. For example,
the light may be housed in the part of the bicycle lock that has the locking
mechanism. Such
light may be useful where the lock is a mechanical or electronic combination
lock; the user
may turn on the light in poor lighting conditions in order to use the dial or
key pad. In other
embodiments, a light may be positioned on the bicycle lock (such as at the
rear of body 44 of
female locking connector 26 in FIG. 7) such that when the lock is in the
storage or transport
position, the light functions as a bicycle tail light.
= Upper portion 29, 129, 229 or 329 of the lock-receiving seat post need
not be a separate
component from the remainder or lower portion of the seat post. In some
embodiments the
entire lock-receiving seat post is an integrally formed single piece.
= In certain embodiments, apparatus 20 is provided with a retraction device
that assists with
pulling the extended cables 23 into seat post 21. The retraction device may
comprise a spring
which is biased to retract the cables 23 and maintain them in a retracted
position in the
absence of a countering force applied by the user to extend the cables 23 from
seat post 21.
For example, the retraction device may be a spring connection between stop 27
and a base of
seat post 21.
It is therefore intended that the scope of the following appended claims and
claims hereafter
introduced should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples,
but should be
given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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