Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Patent Application of
Alexander K. Matta
for
TITLE: LOCKING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES
BACKGROUND ¨ FIELD
[0001] This application relates to a device for locking an article to a
fixed structure, more
specifically to an improved method of locking a helmet to a vehicle or post.
[0002] In many countries, laws have enforced the wearing of safety helmets
for various
vehicles, such as, but not limited to, motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain
vehicles (ATVs), scooters,
etc. These safety helmets can range in cost from $50 to $1,500 and therefore
warrant being
guarded against theft. Many riders use such vehicles for their daily commute
and, once they arrive
at their destinations, are left with a choice of either leaving their helmets
unsecured with their
vehicles or carrying them about with them. Carrying around a helmet can be
quite an
inconvenience as they are bulky, awkward to manipulate and transport
comfortably, and leaves a
person with only one hand free to perform activities. Helmets left unsecured
with the vehicle are
often stolen by thieves for profit, personal use or just to create trouble and
damage to the rider's
property.
[0003] Additionally, there are now laws that prevent the alteration of a
safety helmet by end
users, such as drilling a hole for example, in any way in order to maintain
the safety integrity of the
protective equipment. Consequently, this type of law has made prior methods of
locking a helmet
obsolete.
[0004] Modern safety helmets consist of a hard "impact-resistant" outer
shell and a protective
inner lining usually consisting of polystyrene and a strap with a D-shaped
ring for securing the
helmet to a user's head. A full face helmet has a cavity for inserting a
user's head, a large face
hole for viewing outwards, and a strap with a D-shaped ring. An open face
helmet consist only of a
shell that sits on the top of a user's head, with no face covering or hole in
its body, and a strap with
a D-shaped ring.
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BACKGROUND - PRIOR ART
[0005] Previous devices have attempted to address the problem of helmet
theft. European
Patent 2327614 Al to Merighi (2011) and US Patent 7,159,423 B to Mrdeza (2007)
describes and
claims devices that have a lock body permanently installed to the handlebar of
a motorcycle to safe
guard a helmet, which is accomplished by means of securing a ring on the tie
band of the helmet to
its lock body. This prior art has three disadvantages of some magnitude.
First, they are adapted
specifically for incorporation with the handle bar and thus lack versatility.
Second, they require
invasive action to be installed upon the motor vehicle. Third, they do not
secure the shell of the
helmet to the machine, but merely the attached fastening strap, which can be
easily cut by a
common pocket knife.
[0006] Another common helmet locking method used is with steel cables
locks. One example
of this can be seen in US Patents 7,661,280 B1 to Weyland (2010), which
consists of a lock body
affixed to the handlebar by means of a lock bolt or screw and a steel cable.
The cable can be
looped through a hole in a helmet then have its end engaged to the lock body.
This device has
several disadvantages. First, it lacks locational versatility on the
motorcycle. Second, it requires
that the helmet have a pre-existing hole in order for the cable to be looped
through. Third, the steel
cables are vulnerable to typical shears or bolt cutters used by common
thieves. Lastly, it has an
aesthetically unappealing look on the motor vehicle. Another example of this
type of lock is US
Patent 8,087,270 B1 to Gruver (2012), which consists of steel cables that are
weaved together to
form a net or cage to surround or bag a helmet. The ends of the steel cable
each form a loop which
can then be locked by means of a standard lock. Once again the vulnerability
of the steel cables to
shears and bolt cutters proves to be a disadvantage which is also true of the
standard bolt lock that
is used in conjunction to secure the ends of the cable. This device is also
quite awkward to
manipulate and time consuming to implement correctly, reducing its all-around
convenience factor.
[0007] US Patents 4,096,715 (1978) and 4,118,960 (1978), both to Lipschutz,
are two helmet
locking devices that work similarly to each other. They are both lock bodies
which are fastened to
the handlebars of a motorcycle by means of a lock screw and engage the helmet
by means of
gripping the edge or rim of the helmet. These devices however still carry the
disadvantage of
positional versatility on a vehicle and the added flaw of damaging the helmet
through invasive
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means. The former applies pressure to the fragile polystyrene inner lining
component of the helmet
whereas the latter grips by means of a toothed element which also can pierce
both the lining and
outer shell of the helmet.
[0008] US Patent 3,882,700 to Dunlap (1975) is a helmet locking device that
works by means
of telescoping in order to apply pressure to the inner walls of a helmet. The
device locks by means
of bolt and key, is U-shaped and once applied to the helmet forms a looped
that can be secured
against a fixed bar structure on a motor vehicle. One major disadvantage to
this device is the
pressure applied to the fragile polystyrene inner lining component of the
modern helmet. The
device would quickly render the helmet unusable by law after a few
applications. Another is in its
manipulation and application, requiring the user to awkwardly pull both ends
of the device to
sufficiently apply enough pressure for the device to secure against the
helmet, rendering it
inefficient and a strain to use every time you disembark from the vehicle.
[0009] US Patent 6,116,064 to Driscoll (2000) consists of a semi-spherical
form to encase a
helmet and straps to tighten it down to the motorbike. Two disadvantages
exists in this device.
First, the straps are vulnerable to cutting tools such as knives and shears.
Second, not all helmet-
requiring motor vehicles have a suitable shape to apply the device and those
that do risk being
damaged by it, for example on a fender.
[0010] Some prior art, such as US Patent 5,531,364 to Buis (1996) and China
Patent
101,559,796 A to Qiang (2009), are examples of devices that require the lock
bodies to be bolted
directly to the surface of a motorcycle in order to be used. These means are
very invasive and
unappreciated by the motorcycle-driving community.
[0011] Other prior art, such as US Patent 4,274,271 to Todd (1981) and
South Korean Patent
20,130,075,868 A to Yoo Jae (2013), are examples of devices that require
invasive and permanent
attachment to the helmet itself. Both aesthetically non-pleasing and not
allowed in some countries
by law.
[0012] The device in which this application relates seeks to resolve the
disadvantages of prior
art stated above. Thus several advantages are: an increase in positional
versatility; non-invasive
means of application resulting in no damage to a helmet or motor vehicle;
secures the shell or
body of a helmet instead of the fastening strap; resistant to typical theft
tools like shears and bolt
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cutters; adaptable to all types of helmets as it does not require a hole or
loop on helmet to be
integrated; easy to manipulate saving handling time and physical strain; and
aesthetically pleasing
to the eye. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become
apparent from a
consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0013] In accordance with one embodiment a locking device comprising of a
lock body
including generally parallel legs at one pair of corresponding ends by means
of an adjustable
length handle in which a locking mechanism operable to releasably lock a
relative separation
distance between said legs.
[0014] The handle comprising a handle assembly with a threaded borehole, a
shaft
comprising a threaded section coupleable with the threaded borehole, a casing
positioned
concentrically about handle assembly and independently rotatable about the
handle assembly, and
a transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to
the handle assembly.
The transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to
the handle assembly
is enabled by a lock mechanism.
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DRAWINGS - FIGURES
Fig 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the locking device in the
open or
extended position.
Fig 2 is an action view of one embodiment of the locking device inclosing or
locking a safety
helmet.
Fig 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the locking device.
Fig 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the locking device.
Fig 5 is a partially sectioned view applied to select components of an
embodiment of the
locking device in order to view internal workings.
Fig 6A to 6C shows floating images of a key, some combination rings and a
handle,
components that form a locking mechanism of one embodiment of the locking
device.
Fig 7A to 7D shows front and perspective views of casing components of the
locking
device.
Fig 8 shows a perspective view of a retainer component of one embodiment.
Fig 9 shows a perspective view of a key component of one embodiment.
Fig 10 shows a perspective view of a nipple component of one embodiment.
Fig 11 is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of the locking
device in the
extended and contracted positions.
Fig 12 is an action view of one alternative embodiment of the locking device
inclosing or
locking a safety helmet to a handlebar.
Fig 13 to 16 are perspective views of alternate components of one embodiment
of the
locking device.
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DRAWINGS - REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 top Shell 2 bottom shell 3 handle
4 key 5 retainer 6 ring
7 spring 8 anchor 9 nipple
leg 11 pad 12 sleeve
13 shaft like lock body 14 member 15 hollow cylinder
16 lip 17 hole 18 borehole
19 lip 20 cavity 21 slit
22 groove 23 base plate 24 hole
25 cavity 26 bar 27 casing
28 cavity 29 tongue 30 cavity
31 section 32 wall 33 half-borehole
34 cavity 35 wall 36 half-borehole
37 cavity 38 screw hole 39 slot
40 square cut 41 opening 42 key slot
43 borehole 44 screw holes 45 platform
46 curved surface 47 notches 48 section
49 key hole 50 button 51 cavity
52 shaft 53 shaft 54 shaft
55 borehole 56 lip 57 base plate
58 hole 59 cavity 60 shaft
61 section 62 cavity 63 screw
64 cavity 65 stopper 66 shaft
67 hole 68 hole 69 stopper
70 cavity 71 cavity 72 member
73 member 74 hinge slot 75 hinge slot
76 opening 77 lip 78 lip
79 hinge 80 hollow cylinder 81 cylindrical body
82 hollow cylinder 83 bolt 84 helmet
85 suction cup 86 screw hole 87 screw hole
88 concave cavity 89 screw 90 rivet
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION ¨ FIRST EMBODIMENT ¨ FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9 and 10
[ow 5] One embodiment of this locking device is illustrated in Fig. 1
(perspective view), Fig. 3
(exploded view) and Fig. 5 (section view). The device has two cantilevers,
jaws or legs 10, made of
a rigid material such as a metal, for example steel or aluminum, attached at
both ends of a shaft-
like lock body 13. Each leg 10 consist of an extended member 14 with a hollow
cylinder 15 sitting
at its top. At the end of the inner side of member 14 sits a slot 39 for a pad
11, which could be
made of a soft material such as rubber. Just above slot 39 sits a platform or
stopper 65. Hollow
cylinder 15 has an internal lip 16 on its inner side and three holes 17 on its
outer surface to apply a
permanent fastening element, such as a rivet 90.
[0016] As shown in Fig. 6, a shaft, knob or cylindrical handle 3 comprises
an internally
threaded borehole 18 at its core, an external lip 19 at one of its ends, a
longitudinal cylindrical
cavity 64 located at the end of borehole 18, a hollowed out cavity 20 located
at its opposite end, a
rectangular slit 21 taken out from the surface of the hollowed out cavity 20,
and a groove 22
running around its diameter located in between both ends of its body. Handle 3
runs through the
outer side of hollow cylinder 15 so that lip 16 and lip 19 meet in a manner
that has handle 3
protruding out from the inner side of leg 10a. An anchor 8 consisting of a
circular base plate 23
having the same diameter as the inner diameter of hollow cylinder 15a, three
holes 24 lining up
with the leg holes 17a, three cavities 25 on inner side of base plate 23 each
adjacent to holes 24.
Additionally extending from the center of the inner side of base plate 23 is a
short cylindrical shaft
66 followed by a long polygonal or prism shaped bar 26. Anchor 8 runs through
the outer side of
hollow cylinder 15 in a manner where the bar 26 runs through borehole 18,
shaft 66 sits inside
cavity 64 and holes 24 line up with the leg holes 17a allowing a fastening
element to be applied,
such as a rivet 90.
[0017] Moving forward, handle 3 sits inside grooved sections of a top shell
1 and a bottom
shell 2 that together form a cylindrical casing 27. Top shell 1 and bottom
shell 2, see Fig. 7, are
made up of multiple inner sections consisting of semi-circular cavities and
thick semi-circular walls.
Starting from one end of bottom shell 2, there is a small semi-circular cavity
28b ending at a
tongue 29b, which itself ends at a length slightly smaller than groove 22 on
handle 3, followed by
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semi-circular cavity 30b that is large enough to fit section 31 of handle 3,
in turn met with a wall
32b with a concentric half-borehole 33b at its center, followed by another
semi-circular cavity 34b
ending at a wall 35b with a concentric half-borehole 36 at its center, also
met with two internally
threaded longitudinal screw holes 38b, ending finally with a semi-circular
cavity 37b. Top shell 1 is
made up of identical sections to bottom shell 2 with a few variances.
Similarly, starting from one
end of top shell 1, there is a small semi-circular cavity 28a ending at a
tongue 29a which itself ends
at a length slightly smaller than groove 22 of handle 3, followed by semi-
circular cavity 30a which is
large enough to fit section 31 of handle 3, in turn met with a wall 32a with a
concentric half-
borehole 33a at its center, followed by another semi-circular cavity 34a
ending at a wall 35a which
has two internally threaded longitudinal screw holes 38a and ending finally
with a semi-circular
cavity 37a. The variances of top shell 1 to bottom shell 2 are as follows;
where wall 35b has half-
borehole 36, wall 35a has a longitudinal centered half square cut 40 of side
length greater or equal
to the diameter of half-bore 36; a cross shaped opening 41 centered over
cavity 34a; a longitudinal
rectangular cut or key slot 42.
[0018] Furthermore, casing 27 is held together by a retainer 5, see Fig. 8,
in the form of a
small shaft with a center borehole 43 and four screw holes 44, which mate with
screw holes 38
using four screws 63. Screw holes 44a mate with screw holes 38a and screw
holes 44b mate with
screw holes 38b. Retainer 5 has a prism-shaped platform 45 extending
longitudinally from one
side, above borehole 43 and between screw holes 44a, which hovers over cavity
34b. A curved
surface 46 lies underneath platform 45 of radius equivalent to borehole 43.
Platform 45 runs
through four rings 6 that have ten notches 47 that form ten sections 48. Each
section 48 on ring 6
is adorned or marked with a numeral, such as 0 to 9. A key hole 49 lies
centered underneath one
random section 48 for each ring 6. Rings 6 are placed adjacent and
concentrically together in
cavity 34. A key 4, see Fig. 9, consists of two prism-shaped buttons 50 with
cavities 51 at their
underbelly, attached together by a prism shaped shaft 52 and a second prism
shaped shaft 53
protruding from one button 50 at one end. Key 4, see Fig. 5, is placed
longitudinal inside opening
41 just above platform 45 with shaft 52 containing and running through rings 6
with shaft 53 facing
handle 3. Two springs 7 are placed individually inside cavities 51 of key 4
and sit upon platform 45.
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[0019] Finally, as can be seen in Fi.,7.= 3, a sleeve 12 consists of a
cylindrical shaft 54 with a
concentric borehole 55 running completely through its body and an outer lip 56
at one end. Sleeve
12 is inserted into hollow cylinder 15b where lip 56 is in contact with lip
16b. A nipple 9, see Fig.
10, consists of a circular base plate 57, of diameter equal to the inner
diameter of the hollow
cylinder 15b, three cavities 59 on inner side of base plate 57 each adjacent
to three holes 58, a
long cylindrical shaft 60 extending from the center of the inner side of base
plate 57 with a
threaded end section 61. Nipple 9 runs through the outer side of hollow
cylinder 15b in a manner
where shaft 60 runs through borehole 55 and borehole 43, screwing into
threaded borehole 18. Bar
26 of anchor 8 inserts into a rectangular cavity 62 running longitudinally
through the center of shaft
60. Holes 58 line up with the leg holes 17b allowing a fastening element to be
applied.
OPERATION ¨ FIRST EMBODIMENT ¨ FIGS. 2,5, and 6
[0020] The manner of using the first embodiment of the locking device is by
clasping or
clamping a helmet 84 in between two legs 10, see figure 2, where pads 11 act
as protective
surface contact agents and platforms 65 sit flat against the rim of helmet 84,
all of which together
form a loop which can be wrapped around a fixed body, such as a bar or post.
This is done by
rotating handle 3 on threaded section 61 of nipple 9 which acts as a
tightening screw components.
As handle 3 is screwed on to nipple 9, lip 19 is pressed against lip 16a
effectively pulling leg 10a
closer to leg 10b. Simultaneously, nipple 9, which is permanently fastened to
leg 10b, also pulls
leg 10b closer to leg 10a. Casing 27 blocks any direct access to handle 3 and
is allowed to freely
rotate around the body of handle 3 through a tongue and groove mechanism
formed by tongue 29
and groove 22. In order to rotate handle 3, key 4 must be in its most elevated
position, hereby
known as the open position, see figure 6C, where shaft 53 is in contact with
slit 21 and key slot 42,
in order to transfer rotation from casing 27 to handle 3. If key 4 is in a
lower state of elevation,
hereby known as the closed position, see figure 6A, shaft 53 does not contact
slit 21 or key slot 42,
and freely rotates within cavity 20.
[0021] In this case, the elevation of key 4 is actuated by the two
compression springs 7 which
push off platform 45 into cavities 51. The level of elevation of key 4 is
dependent on the positions
of rings 6, marked by numerical values on each section 48. Key 4 elevates when
the right
combination of numerals are put in and all four key holes 49 are aligned,
allowing shaft 52 to sit
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inside all four key holes 49, forming the open position. If the wrong
combination of numerals are
put in, one or more of rings 6 will not be aligned with each other, thereby
keeping shaft 52 pushed
down by the inner edge of rings 6, forming the closed position. Rings 6 can be
accessed by
opening 41 on top shell 1 in order to change their relative positions, by
pushing or rubbing, causing
them to rotate in cavity 34 relative to casing 27. Once the device is
appropriately tightened to
helmet 84, the user simply pushes down on buttons 50, which manually depresses
key 4, and
rotates rings 6 into misalignment, thereby returning the device to the closed
position such that the
device can neither be contracted nor detracted.
[0022] Given that retainer 5 acts as a method to fasten top shell 1 to
bottom shell 2, see Fig. 3
and 5, with screws 63, forming casing 27, it additionally acts as a fixture to
allow compression
springs 7 to apply a force to key 4 off of platform 45. Sleeve 12 acts as a
protective barrier for the
shaft 60 of nipple 9 from theft tools, such as bolt cutters, and to block
access to screws 63 for
disassembly of the device during its application.
[0023] Thus there are many advantages to the device. Because of the manner
in which the
device attaches, it requires no invasive means to be engaged and is adaptable
to all forms of
helmets, such as open or closed faced, not requiring any particular elements
of modern helmets
such as safety straps and D-rings. The force applied to a helmet is adjustable
by the user as to
allow proper application to various types of materials and shaped. The fact
that it forms a loop
allows versatility to where the lock maybe applied on a vehicle or stationary
structure. The motor
vehicle requires no invasive modifications to apply the lock as do many
current security systems.
Due to its thick diameters and the none-cylindrical shape of its legs, the
embodiment of the device
cannot be removed by a typical bolt cutter used by common thieves. Its keyless
system raises
convenience to the user, having less to carry once the vehicle has been
stationed. Thanks to the
overall shape, the device can be applied with the simple dexterity of two
hands in a timely manner,
addressing the problem of some current helmet lock systems which are unwieldy
and difficulty to
manipulate.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION ¨ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT¨ FIGS. 11,12
and 13
[0024] There are various possibilities with regard to the components design
and shape as well
as the overall shape of the device, as illustrated in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12,
which presents perspective
views on one such alternative embodiment. Fig. 11A and Fig. 11B depict one
embodiment with
shorter legs 10 than the previous embodiment. Leg 10a is replaced with leg
10c, see Fig. 13C,
which consists of a member 72 with a hollow cylinder 80 sitting at its top. At
the end of the inner
side of member 72 sits a slot 70 for a suction cup 85 which could be made of a
soft material, such
as rubber, and just above cavity 70 sits a stopper 69. Hollow cylinder 80 has
an internal lip 78 on
its inner side and three holes 67 on its outer surface to apply a permanent
fastening element, such
as a rivet 90. Leg 10b is replaced with two components, hinge 79 and leg 10d.
Leg 10d, see Fig.
13A, consists of a member 73 which has at its end of its inner side a cavity
71 for a suction cup 85,
a cylindrical body 81 sitting at its top with a lateral opening 76 that forms
a groove with a hinge slot
75 hanging at its end. Hinge 79, see Fig. 13B, consists of a hollow cylinder
82 with an internal lip
77 on its inner side, three holes 68 on its outer surface to apply a permanent
fastening element,
such as a rivet 90, and a hinge slot 74 hanging from the bottom of hollow
cylinder 82.
[0025] Following, leg 10c assembles to handle 3 and anchor 8 in the same
manner leg 10a
does in previous embodiment. Handle 3 runs through the outer side of hollow
cylinder 80 so that lip
78 and lip 19 meet in a manner that has handle 3 protruding out from the inner
side of leg 10c.
Anchor 8 runs through hollow cylinder 80 in a manner where bar 26 runs through
borehole 18,
shaft 66 sits inside cavity 64 and holes 24 line up with the leg holes 67
allowing a fastening
element to be applied. Sleeve 12 is inserted into hollow cylinder 82 where lip
56 is in contact with
lip 77. Nipple 9 runs through the outer side of hollow cylinder 82 in a manner
where shaft 60 runs
through borehole 55 and borehole 43, screwing into threaded borehole 18 and
bar 26 of anchor 8
inserts into a rectangular cavity 62 running longitudinally through the center
of shaft 60. Holes 58
line up with the holes 68 allowing a fastening element to be applied. Hinge
slot 74 is aligned with
hinge slot 75 in a manner that allows a bolt 83 to be inserted through, see
Fig. 13B.
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OPERATION ¨ ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT ¨ FIGS. 6, 11 and 12
[0026] The manner of using this alternative embodiment of the locking
device is by inserting
an exposed bar or fixed structure within opening 76, and then closing opening
76 against hinge 79
by activating rotation of leg 10d from a pivot point created at bolt 83, where
hinge slot 74 and hinge
slot 75 are joined, clasping or clamping helmet 84 in between leg 10c and leg
10d, see figure 12.
Suction cups 85 act as protective surface contact agents as well as preventing
the lock from
slipping on the surface of helmet 84. Stopper 69 sits flat against the rim of
helmet 84, as does
hinge slot 74 and hinge slot 75. Helmet 84 itself blocks the device from
releasing any fixed
structure within opening 76. The clamping is done by rotating handle 3,
screwing on section 61 of
nipple 9 which acts as a tightening screw. As handle 3 is screwed on to nipple
9, lip 19 is pressed
against lip 78 effectively pulling leg 10c closer to leg 10d. Simultaneously,
nipple 9, which is
permanently fastened to hinge 79, also pulls leg 10d closer to leg 10c. Casing
27 blocks any direct
access to handle 3 and is allowed to freely rotate around the body of handle 3
through a tongue
and groove mechanism formed by tongue 29 and groove 22. In order to rotate
handle 3, key 4
must be in its most elevated position, known as the open position, see figure
6C, where shaft 53 is
in contact with slit 21 and key slot 42, in order to transfer rotation from
casing 27 to handle 3. If key
4 is in a lower state of elevation, known as the closed position, see figure
6A, shaft 53 does not
contact slit 21 or key slot 42, and freely rotates within cavity 20.
[0027] Notably, the elevation of key 4 is actuated by the two compression
springs 7 which
push off platform 45 into cavities 51. The level of elevation of key 4 is
dependent on the positions
of the four rings 6, marked by numerical values on each section 48. Key 4
elevates when the right
combination of numerals are put in and key holes 49 are aligned, allowing
shaft 52 to sit into key
holes 49, forming the open position. If the wrong combination of numerals are
put in, one or more
of rings 6 will not be aligned with each other, thereby keeping shaft 52
pushed down by the inner
edge of rings 6, forming the closed position. Rings 6 can be accessed by
opening 41 on top shell 1
to change their relative positions to each other, by pushing or rubbing,
causing them to rotate in
cavity 34 relative to casing 27. Once the device is appropriately tightened to
helmet 84, the user
simply pushes down on buttons 50, which manually depresses key 4, and rotates
rings 6 into
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misalignment, thereby returning the device to the closed position such that
the device can neither
be contracted nor detracted.
[0028] Moreover, retainer 5 acts as a method to fasten top shell 1 to
bottom shell 2, with
screws 63, forming casing 27, it also acts as a fixture to allow compression
springs 7 to apply a
force to key 4 off of platform 45. Sleeve 12 acts as a protective barrier for
shaft 60 of nipple 9 from
theft tools, such as bolt cutters, and to block access to screws 63 for
disassembly of the device
during its application.
[0029] To summarize, the alternative components of this embodiment allow
the device to
attach in a more focused manner, for vehicles that have less locational
options for locking, such as
handlebar with limited space for example. The shape of the device is also
rendered smaller, more
portable and aesthetically simpler.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0030] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to several
embodiments of the device,
the locking device provides a non-invasive and more reliable method of safely
locking a helmet to a
vehicle or fixed structure. It has increased resistance to typical theft tools
such as knives and bolt
cutters, and does not depend on the shape, integrated holes/openings or extra
features of the
helmet itself to be applied. It is easy to manipulate, timely to implement,
small enough to store
away and does not require a key, which overall increases a user's convenience.
[0031] While the above descriptions contain many specificities, these
should not be construed
as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the
presently preferred
embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible
within the teachings of
the various embodiments. For example, conventional spring components can be
replaced by
protruding elements integrated in the design of adjacent components, taking
advantage of the
elasticity of the material as a spring. Some components can be fused together
to reduce
component complexity and ease manufacturing, such as the nipple and sleeve or
the nipple and
leg. Many elements can be hollowed out to reduce weight of the entire device,
for example the
sleeve, could have the diameter of borehole increased in size, and the legs,
could have the inner
sides of their member grooved, to name a few. The mechanism can be altered by
adding a high
force compression spring to create the clamping effect and the rotation of the
handle on nipple can
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be used to compress the compression spring when disengagement of the clamp is
requested. Or a
high force extension spring can be run through, attaching and pulling legs
together, where the
rotation of the handle on the thread can push the extension spring and allow
disengagement of
clamp. The means for translation of the handle on the nipple could be changed
to an alternative
pulling force than the prescribed thread and screw method. Alternate shapes
can be implemented
in the design, such as wider or X-shaped legs or members, or protruding clamps
to replace the
opening or bar trap on the previously described alternative embodiment. The
prism shaped bar on
the anchor could be replaced with other polygonal bar shapes such as a
triangle or hexagon or
even an X-shape. Fastening elements can vary from the aforementioned rivets
and screws, such
as lock screws, welding, various types of cements, interference fits, etc.
Material selection of
components is not limited to the various types of existing metals, solid
plastics and carbon
composites for instance can also be implemented with success. The lock
mechanism designed to
prevent unauthorized access by users is not limited to combination rings, but
could be altered to be
activated by a traditional key system such as a pin tumbler method or other.
The pads designed to
be in contact with the helmet could be changed to suction cups to increase the
clamping effect of
the device. Many of the components could be increased or decreased in size
without effecting the
functionality of the device. Thus the scope of the invention should be
determined by the appended
claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.
