CN101305145A

CN101305145A - Locking system with hidden keyed access

Info

Publication number: CN101305145A
Application number: CNA2006800419752A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 琳达·扬
Original assignee: Pinhead Components Inc
Current assignee: Pinhead Components Inc
Priority date: 2005-09-15
Filing date: 2006-09-15
Publication date: 2008-11-12
Also published as: CA2519843C; CA2519843A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a locking system that is more secure and theft resistant than traditional key and cylinder systems. A hidden locking system is provided where access to the locking mechanism is hidden from view and cannot be rotated or engaged by screwdrivers, pens or other common tools. In another aspect the present invention provides one combination key that operates a primary and all related secondary locking systems on an object such as a bicycle. In a further aspect the present invention provides lockup in applications where large and bulky key and cylinder systems are not possible or practical .

Description

Locking system with hidden keyed access

Technical field

The present invention relates to have the locking system that concealed key enters (keyed) passage, unless with special coding key, this passage can not engage or rotate.This locking system can be used in various lockings application scenario, but in comprising the show business of bicycle particularly suitable.

Background technology

Known various key and closing cylinder fixed system wherein lock cylinder and expose, and make to insert key, opening device.By slender body is inserted in the cylinder bore, this system can more easily be pried open or be tinkered with.Recent findings, even also can open some known locking systems with pen.

The object of top point firmly disclosed also damage key and cylinder systems in the cylinder bore easily.Key and cylinder systems are big and heavy, are unpractiaca in the many application that do not have the space such as bicycle quick one class therefore.

Therefore need a kind of more firm and can prevent the locking system that the thief steals than traditional key and cylinder systems.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a kind of more firm and can prevent the locking system that the thief steals than traditional key and cylinder systems.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a kind of locking system of hidden keyed access, wherein the admission passage of locking mechanism is hiding invisible, and can not use screwdriver, pen or other general tools to rotate or joint.

In another aspect, the invention provides a kind of key combinedly, it can make such as the main secondary locking system works relevant with other on the object of bicycle one class.

In aspect another, the invention provides big and heavy key and cylinder systems can not or unpractiaca application scenario in locking.

Description of drawings

Represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the partial side planar view of cross section of main locking system that does not have the U-shaped lock form of hidden keyed access of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the partial side planar view that has according to the cross section of the U-shaped lock of Fig. 1 of an embodiment of hidden keyed access of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the enlarged perspective of an end of the U-shaped lock of the Fig. 2 in the key insertion hidden keyed access;

Fig. 4 is the lateral view of cross section of the hidden keyed access of key and the key locking system that do not have Fig. 3 of engaging;

Fig. 5 is the lateral view of cross section of hidden keyed access of the locking system of Fig. 3 of engaging of key and key;

Fig. 6 is the phantom drawing of the auxiliary component locking system of bicycle headset form;

Fig. 7 for bicycle locking skewer (not shown) on the schematic diagram of the anti-anti-POG of the tinkering with packing ring that uses according to invention of tinkering with that nut is used in combination;

Fig. 8 is the plan view that has according to the cross section of another embodiment of the bicycle lock of snap close of the present invention and lock housing body;

Fig. 9 is the phantom drawing of the key that uses with the bicycle lock of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is the magnification fluoroscopy schematic diagram of lock housing body of bicycle lock of Fig. 8 of unprotect housing.

The specific embodiment

Though the present invention can use in various application scenarios, with reference to the embodiment of U-shaped lock explanation that can be used for locking various objects, particularly bicycle.Fig. 1 represents an embodiment of U-shaped lock.Be designated as 1 U-shaped lock generally and form, in end 3, the 4 insertion cylindrical tubes or lock body 5 of this snap close by U-shaped snap close 2.In lock body 5, pipe 6 in locking mechanism comprises, it can be by key turns, from latched position to lockset position of coupler or opposite, so that be locked in snap close 2 in the lock body 5 or open snap close in lock body 5.On one end 8 of interior pipe 6 end plug 7 is arranged, and passive plug 9 is arranged on the other end 10.Utilize compression spring 12 or other suitable offset assemblies that driver 11 is departed from, do not contact with passive plug 9.Driver 11 has outstanding axle 13, and this size and dimension can be coupled in the corresponding hole 14 on the surface 15 of passive plug 9.Though other shapes also can, in Fig. 1, the cross section of the hole 14 on outstanding axle 13 and the passive plug 9 is a hexagon.The surface 16 away from axle 13 of driver 11 has the key access to plant, and it can engage with rotary driver 11 with key.In an illustrated embodiment, this key access to plant comprises the knurled nut 17 that is connected with driver 11.In Fig. 1, linkage is that nut 17 is screwed on the driver 9, and rivets with driver 9.The nonreentrant surface 18 of nut 17 preferably has the otch 19 that at least two pivot centers with nut 17 separate.The position of otch 19, size and dimension can engage around the matching parts on the special key (not shown) of its rotational with making nut and driver.Otch 19 and key are preferably at United States Patent (USP) 6,341, the type described in 927.

In order to make the U-shaped lock work of Fig. 1, can a key combined (not shown) insert in the nut 17 and and engage with nut 17, feasible ledge on the key engages with otch 19 on the nut 17.As mentioned above, nut 17 is fixed on the side of driver 11.Utilize weak compression spring 12 that driver 11 is floated in lock body 5.Unless promote driver 11 abreast with its axis, otherwise the axle 13 on the driver 11 can not engage with the hole 14 in the passive plug 9.On the pipe 6, pipe 6 can rotate with passive plug 9 in making in passive plug 9 was welded on." D " hole that two clamping snap closes 2 are arranged on interior pipe 6, and snap close 2 can pass to an opposite side.Interior pipe 6 also turns limited angles, and remains on the appropriate location by lock pin 20.End plug 7 is welded on the other end of interior pipe 6, and the space of clamping torsionspring 21 is arranged.Torsionspring 21 is clamped between end plug 7 and the end cap 22.

Rotate passive plug 9 and can unclamp snap close 2.Around nut 17, be provided with nut end cover 23.Wire rings 24 remains on end cap 22 and nut end cover 23 on the appropriate location.

In the embodiment of U-shaped shown in Figure 1 lock, coaxial enter nut 17 or other key accesss to plant are uncrossed.In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, nut 17 is dented in nut end cover 22, enters from the side preventing.In order to prevent unhinderedly coaxial nut 17 or other key accesss to plant of entering, shown in Fig. 2 to 5, the invention provides surround the key access to plant according to an embodiment of the invention be the exterior circular column housing of nut in this case.By the key access to plant is stashed, can not directly enter, unless with the key of coding of coupling, can not engage with this key access to plant or rotate it.Though Fig. 2 to 5 locking system that has concealed key access to plant of the present invention that expression is locked in conjunction with U-shaped, this concealed key access to plant can use in other lockings are used.For example, can be useful on the locking head device that is held in place with wheel and/or the locking fork that is held in place of seat and/or with handlebar and/or the locking fork on vehicle frame on the bicycle.According to the present invention, can provide a kind of key combined, the main locking device (for example U-shaped lock) that bicycle is remained on the fixed object (for example bicycle rack) locks and opens, and can also lock and open other part secondary locking systems (for example locking fork, head device etc.) on the bicycle.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 to 5, of the present invention being characterized as, match each other with the convex combination nut that positive engagement is provided and the key access to plant of the key combined form of spill.Convex combination nut is dented in the protectiveness housing be cannot see with stashing.In order to make lock work, must at first key be inserted by the narrow groove on protectiveness housing side.Then, key is inserted towards combination nut, to form reliable joint.Can not enter or invisible, the therefore more difficult locking mechanism of prying open or tinkering with by providing, the present invention is great improvement to prior art.

Can find out that referring to Fig. 2 to 5 structure of U-shaped lock 30 and U-shaped shown in Figure 1 are phase-locked together.In Fig. 2 to 5, the key access to plant of combination nut 51 (being label 17 among Fig. 1) form is contained in the shell body 52.Combination nut 51 is preferably United States Patent (USP) 6,341, the type described in 927.Two otch that the workpiece of combination nut 51 preferably is at least on the surface of combination nut 51 and separates with axis of rotation.The position of otch, size and dimension can engage with the matching parts on the special key of its rotational nut.Shell body 52 has columniform outer wall 53 and end wall 54.Cylindrical outer wall 53 and end wall 54 are hidden the workpiece of combination nut 51, make them cannot see and prevent to use general tool to engage and rotate this nut with combination nut 51.In cylindrical outer wall 53 and end wall 54, form narrow groove 55.Housing 52 can have any shape, but is cylindrical in the embodiment shown, and size form can with the tip engages of the lock body of U-shaped lock.In other were used, the size and dimension of housing 52 can change, so as with this application adaptation.(see Fig. 3-5) in the embodiment shown, key 56 has the main part 57 that has recessed composition surface 58, and this recessed composition surface 58 has the ledge 59 of coding, can with size, shape and the location matches of otch 60 on the combination nut 51.Axle 61 stretches out from composition surface 58 opposite surfaces 62 main part 57 and recessed.Be installed in rotationally on the free end 63 of handle 64 at axle 61 of axle on 61 around fulcrum.The size of axle 61 can cooperate with groove 55.At first key 56 is inserted by the groove in shell body 52 55, key is inserted towards combination nut 51, the active engagement of formation and combination nut 51, key 56 can make lock work.

Fig. 6 represents another locking applicable cases, at this moment can use the identical key that uses in main locking system (being the U-shaped lock), removes the auxiliary component locking system of locking bicycle head device form.Head device 100 is used for handlebar is remained on bicycle.One end 101 of head device 100 is equipped with clamping element 102, and it can be fastened on the main body 103 of head device 100, and the handlebar (not shown) is remained in the recess 104 that forms between the end 101 of head device 100 and the clamping element 102.The other end 105 of the main body 103 of head device 100 can be connected head device with bicycle frame.Be provided with top cover or housing 106 around the upright opening 107 in the end 105 of the main body 103 of head device 100.The key access to plant of screw 108 forms with convex-head 109 and thread spindle 110 is dented in top cover 106, and its axle 110 passes hole 107 and is screwed in the bicycle frame (not shown), and head device is remained on the appropriate location.The convex-head 109 of screw 108 is preferably United States Patent (USP) 6,341,927 described types.Two otch 118 that the workpiece that allows screw 108 to rotate preferably is at least on the surface that is located at convex-head 109 and separates with the axis of rotation of screw.For as described in the U-shaped lock, the position of otch, size and dimension can engage with the matching parts that makes nut on the special key of its rotational as above.Otch can use and the phase-locked combination together of above-mentioned U-shaped, therefore can use identical key.The head of screw 108 is formed dented, make to be difficult to enter in the screw with general tool.Packing ring 111 has that dangle and outwardly directed contact pin 112.Packing ring 111 (" POG " packing ring) is placed between the recess 113 of the head of screw 108 and top cover 106, and contact pin 112 is packed in the groove 114 and second groove 115 in the bar 116 on the end 105 of head device 100 of top cover 106.Contact pin 112 on the packing ring 111 can prevent when rotating screw 108 that top cover from rotating.The sidewall of top cover 106 can extend, and end wall can make hiding locking system identical with the locking system described in Fig. 2 to 5.

The head device of Fig. 6 provides compactness, the lightweight head device locking system that can adapt with the bicycle designs of standard.Can only be with the screw assemblies of the convex-head of the key turns of coupling/reverse by using, head device of the present invention has overcome the shortcoming of prior art.Characteristics of the present invention are that the lid that groove is arranged that has recessed center cavity is arranged.When being installed in latched position, combination bolt convex head is dented in the center cavity of the lid that groove is arranged, and can prevent from like this to enter with instrument or other sharp article that can be used for prying open or take out screw assemblies.There is the lid of groove also can prevent to use the monkey wrench (trade name is " Gator " spanner) of pin formula.The periphery that groove is arranged of lid makes this pin spanner engage with lid, can prevent that like this screw assemblies from rotating.Another characteristics of the present invention can prevent relatively rotating between lid that groove is arranged and bicycle headset bar for the POG packing ring.This can prevent have the lid of groove itself to take off lock by rotation.

There is the lid of groove to insert in the bicycle headset bar this.Then the POG packing ring is inserted with in the recessed cavity of lid of groove.Again screw assemblies is inserted and is fastened on the bicycle headset bar, take off from bicycle frame preventing.There is the center cavity of the lid of groove to form, can prevents that like this object such as the point of screwdriver one class from obtaining the inlet port at the screw assemblies subfacies around the recessed protectiveness housing of the periphery of convex-head combination bolt.The characteristics of POG packing ring are that tangential pin components is arranged, and it can cooperate with the groove that the groove lid is arranged with the gap of head device bar, relatively rotates to prevent it.Screw assemblies is screwed in and is fastened on the head device bar, to form the key combined effective locking system that just can not open that does not use coupling.

Use with U-shaped phase-locked with key and another example of the auxiliary component locking system of head device be illustrated among Fig. 7.Have the modification 120 of the POG packing ring of two upright tangential contact pin 121 or pin components, as shown in Figure 7, can be used in U.S. Patent No. 6,341, other of the anti-securing member of tinkering with of type described in 927 are introduced for reference here in using.Fig. 7 represents to have the use that bicycle quick locks the POG packing ring 120 of fork (not shown).Two upright tangential legs 121 or contact pin can prevent to use monkey wrench (trade name is " Gator " spanner) the twist-lock nut 122 of pin form.Locking fork on the bicycle quick can be packed in the groove 123 on the bicycle frame 124.Slide on the end of POG packing ring 120 and the locking fork beyond the traditional packing ring/partition 125,126 on each side of POG packing ring 120 is extending out to bicycle frame 124 together.The flange that dangles 127 on the POG packing ring 120 can cooperate with the groove 123 on the bicycle frame, rotates to prevent POG packing ring 120.Again will be in U.S. Patent No. 6,341, the anti-lock nut 122 of tinkering with of type described in 927 is fastened on the screw tip of locking fork.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, can use and have free-ended any snap close and remove to lock various objects.Now at length with reference to accompanying drawing, the bicycle U-shaped lock 240 of the snap close 210 that Fig. 8 represents to comprise that two ends can engage with lock housing body 220 with unclamping.As following more prove absolutely, the end 211,212 of snap close 210 has inside groove 211, this groove 211 engages with left side block 231 and the right block 232 in latched position.When being connected with lock housing body 220, snap close 210 is locked in bicycle quick and/or framework on the anchor post (for example bicycle rack of standard).

Lock housing body 220 has two sides, snap close aspect-oriented 221 and key aspect-oriented 222.In an illustrated embodiment, lock housing body 220 is expressed as rectangle, but other shape and size are all within the scope of the invention.As shown in figure 10, two lock cylinders 280,281 are arranged on snap close aspect-oriented 221, each lock body holds the corresponding terminal 211,212 of snap close 210, as Fig. 8 the most clearly represents.

As Figure 10 the most clearly shown in, lock housing body 220 comprises endosome 230, this endosome comprises key access to plant 224 again on its key aspect-oriented 222.Endosome 230 is made of relative to each other two connecting rods 233,234 on diameter, and each connecting rod is having stop links 231,232 and on end 272,273

spanner surface

235 and 236 arranged at each on each opposing ends 270,271.Two connecting

rods

233 and 234 are connected to each other by its

spanner surface

235 and 236, and each spanner surface is connected with 239 with the tooth 237 of each face.Tooth 237 and 239 all is installed on the disk 238 that can see among Fig. 8.The bottom of disk 238 is connected with drivable linkage (for example nut shaft 281), and this nut shaft is being adorned knurled nut 250 on its far-end 254.Nut 250 has the apparent surface 256 of protruding end face 255 peace.Nut 250 has at least one otch 252 on its convex surface, and is adorning spring 253 in the cavity of nut 250.

Can find out referring to Fig. 9, be provided with key 300.Key 300 has handle 310, plug 330 and the t oblique crank Z 320 that connects handle 310 and plug 339.Embodiment shown in the reference can find out, even in the place of axle formation handle itself, also can use the key 300 that only has matching parts 330 and certain form handle.T oblique crank Z 320 can pivot around the pivot screw 340 that the t end that makes axle 320 is connected with handle 310, thereby when operation key 300 and locking system 340 flexibility is arranged.Matching parts 330 is a spill, has at least one and give prominence to the protrudent pin 331 that also can insert in the otch 352 with same size, interval and position outside the concave surface of matching parts 330, to guarantee reliable interaction.

For bicycle U-shaped lock 340 work that make Fig. 8, key shown in Figure 9 300 inserted in the nut 350 and with it by the key access to plant engages, make pin 331 and otch 352 interlockings, and fix this nut with matching parts 330.Behind the joint, when key turn left and at snap close on the direction of side 321 during plus-pressure, static and extension state is compressed spring 353 from it simultaneously, and axle 351 rotates around its vertical axis, and disk 339 is turned left along its horizontal axis.Then, tooth 337 and 338 each corresponding wrench faces 335 and 336 of pulling, the result spurs each connecting rod 333 and 334 mutually in opposite directions.When connecting rod 333 and 334 is pulled mutually in opposite directions, in its corresponding stop links 331 and 332 also is pulled to, in lock cylinder, forms opening and unclamp the inside groove 311 of snap close 310.After unclamping inside groove 311, the end of snap close 310 can freely slide and portal outer and enter the release position.On the contrary, key 300 turns right stop links 331 and 332 is wedged in the inside groove 311, and the end that locks snap close 310 in lock housing body 320 is securely gone forward side by side into closing/latched position.

As shown in Figure 8, the device that matching parts 330 is entered in the nut 350 is uncrossed.Nut 350 is recessed in nut end cover 360, directly enters to prevent from key towards side 322.Like this, key 300 just can not engage or rotating nut 350 accordingly, therefore than more difficult the tinkering with of the disclosed lock of prior art.In order to make 340 work of bicycle U-shaped lock, must insert key 300 by key towards the narrow groove in the side 322 from the side at lock housing body 320.After the insertion, key 300 can insert towards nut 350, forms reliably and securely to engage.

In order to stop the thief to cut off snap close 310 simply and unclamp fixing object, preferred snap close 310 is made by firm incorrosive metal material, and this material even use crowbar etc. can not easily destroy.

Though describe various preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that under the condition of the scope that does not depart from spirit of the present invention or appended claims and can change.

Claims

1. a locking system has by rotating key lock in the key access to plant that inserts on the locking mechanism and the locking mechanism of opening, and wherein the key access to plant is hidden and cannot see.

2. locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein this key access to plant is contained in the protectiveness housing, and this protectiveness housing prevents to utilize general tool to engage and rotate this device with the key access to plant.

3. locking system that is used for bicycle, it has key-operated main bicycle frame lock and is used for the one or more key-operated auxiliary lock of bicycle assembly parts, one of them key-operated this main bicycle frame lock and one or more key-operated auxiliary lock.

4. as claim 1, each described locking system in 2 or 3, wherein this locking system comprises the U-shaped lock, this U-shaped lockset has the snap close that inserts the U-shaped in the lock cylinder and can rotate to lock and to open the interior pipe of snap close in lock body, an end of pipe has the key access to plant in described, and described key access to plant can engage with key to rotate described interior pipe.

5. locking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein this key access to plant comprises the knurled nut of the basal surface with protruding end face peace, described basal surface can be connected with interior pipe drivingly; Wherein, the protruding end face of this knurled nut has the otch that at least two pivot centers with described knurled nut separate.

6. as claim 4 or 5 described locking systems, the protectiveness housing of wherein adorning the key access to plant has outer wall and end wall, this outer wall and end wall are hidden the workpiece of key access to plant, they be cannot see, and prevent to engage and rotate this key access to plant with this key access to plant with the coaxial key access to plant that directly enters of instrument; Wherein, in this outer wall and end wall, form groove, key can be inserted from the side, push then with the key access to plant and engage.

7. locking system as claimed in claim 6, wherein key has the main part that has recessed composition surface, the ledge that has coding on this recessed composition surface with the key access to plant on size, shape and the location matches of otch; And wherein, relative with this recessed composition surface, axle stretches out from the surface of this main part, and on this free end, handle is installed on this axle pivotally; Wherein, this size can cooperate with the outer wall of protectiveness housing and the groove in the end wall.

8. locking system comprises:

Locking mechanism can lock and open by the key that rotates in the key access to plant that inserts on the locking mechanism;

Endosome, it is in the cavity of the described locking mechanism with two connecting rods, and each connecting rod has stop links at each far-end, and utilizes linkage to link together at its near-end;

Wherein said key access to plant is hidden and cannot see, and is contained in the protectiveness housing, and this protectiveness housing prevents to utilize general tool and key access to plant to engage and make this key access to plant to rotate; Described key access to plant also comprises the knurled nut of the basal surface with nicked protruding end face peace;

Described key has the main part with recessed matching parts, and this matching parts has the ledge of coding, with size, shape and the location matches of described otch on the described key access to plant;

Described lower surface utilizes axle to be connected with described endosome drivingly;

It also comprises having the U-shaped lock that inserts the U-shaped snap close in the described endosome; With

Described axle stretches out from the surface of the described endosome vertical with described recessed matching parts.

9. a locking system is anti-tinkers with securing member, and what comprise the securing member of threaded central aperture with band longitudinal axis and anti-lock nut of tinkering with and prevent from not authorize enters to rotate the device of this lock nut; Prevent that wherein the device that does not enter with the twist-lock nut from being packing ring with being allowed to, it is installed in above the threaded central aperture below the described lock nut, and described packing ring has the tangential flange of one or more risings, with this lock nut that enters that prevents from not authorize.

10. locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least two otch stretch in the end face of smooth circle of lock nut; It is characterized in that described each otch has sidewall parallel with described longitudinal axis and the base plate vertical with described longitudinal axis, described base plate is the border along first side with described sidewall, but does not have the border along second side; Described sidewall has from described centre bore in first that general radial direction is stretched out with at the second portion of circumferencial direction roughly; Wherein, along described second portion, the distance from described sidewall to described centre bore increases in the direction of leaving described first; And wherein, the flat part that described base plate comprises and the described first of described sidewall is contiguous and at described flat part and the sloping portion between the described end face.