The present invention relates to an anti-theft mechanism for a bicycle. Bicycles, including both push-bikes and motorbikes, are notoriously prone to theft. Many types of bicycle lock have been proposed in order to reduce the possibility of bicycle theft, but to date none have proven particularly effective.

The present invention seeks to address this issue.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti- theft mechanism for a bicycle having a front wheel characterized in that the anti-theft mechanism comprises a rod having a longitudinal axis, the rod being moveable along its longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position wherein the rod is mechanically linked to a stand of a bicycle such that when the stand is extended the rod is in its second position and when the stand is retracted the rod is in its first position and the rod may be releasably locked in its second position. By linking extension of a bicycle stand to movement of the rod into its second position the bicycle is more difficult to steal as the stand can prevent movement of the bicycle.

In one embodiment:

i) in its first position the rod does not interfere with steering the front wheel of the bicycle; and

ii) in its second position the rod prevents the front wheel from being steered in at least one direction;

iii) the rod may be releasably locked in its second position.

By arranging the rod such that it hinders the steering of the bicycle when extended the bike is even more difficult to steal. Preferably the rod is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle.

By having the rod substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle the rod may be substantially housed within the bicycle when the rod is in its first position.

Preferably in its first position the rod is substantially housed inside the bicycle. By housing the rod inside the bicycle when the anti-theft mechanism is not in use the aesthetics of the bicycle are maintained and the rod is less prone to weathering and dirtying.

Preferably the rod is mechanically linked to a stand of a bicycle such that when the stand is extended the rod is in its second position and when the stand is retracted the rod is in its first position.

In one embodiment the rod may be locked in its second position by a lock housed inside the bicycle.

By housing the lock inside the bicycle the anti-theft mechanism can be more difficult to defeat as the lock is more difficult to tamper with.

In one embodiment the rod may locked in its second position by a lock positioned outside of the bicycle.

By positioning a lock outside of the bicycle the lock may act as a visible deterrent to thieves. In that embodiment the rod may be locked in its second position by attaching a padlock to the rod such that the rod may not be moved out of its second position. In some embodiments the anti-theft mechanism may comprise a locking bar to which the rod may be attached such that the rod may not be moved out of its second position. Preferably the locking bar is moveable between a first position wherein the locking bar is substantially housed within the bicycle and a second position in which the rod may be attached to the locking bar.

Preferably the rod and the locking bar are substantially parallel.

Preferably the rod may be attached to the locking bar by means of a linkage.

Preferably the linkage is moveable between a first position wherein it is substantially housed within the rod or the locking bar and a second position wherein it connects the rod and the locking bar.

Preferably the linkage may be locked in the position where it connects the rod and the locking bar by means of a padlock. In some embodiments the locking bar may be attached to the rod such that they move simultaneously.

By moving the rod and locking bar simultaneously less effort is required to operate the anti-theft mechanism.

In some embodiments the rod and the locking bar may be formed in one piece.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which :

Figure 1 is a side of view of a bicycle comprising an anti-theft mechanism made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, with the anti-theft mechanism disengaged; Figure 2 is the bicycle of Figure 1 with the anti-theft mechanism engaged; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bicycle of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first side of the locking mechanism of the anti-theft mechanism showing a linkage housed in the rod;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from a second side of the locking mechanism of the anti-theft mechanism showing a linkage housed in the rod;

Figure 6 is a perspective view from a second side of the locking mechanism of the anti-theft mechanism showing a linkage being moved into a position Figure 7 is a perspective view from a second side of the locking mechanism of the anti-theft mechanism showing a linkage in position where it may be locked in place;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the bicycle of Figure 2 showing the longitudinal axis of the bicycle;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a bicycle showing a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the embodiment of figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, in a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a bicycle 1 , with an anti-theft mechanism 2. The anti-theft mechanism comprises rod 3, locking bar 4 and linkage 5.

Rod 3 is an elongate metal member that is substantially housed within the body 6 of bicycle 1 . Rod 3 may be solid to enhance security or may be hollow to reduce weight, or a combination of the two. For example, it may comprise a hollow section that is housed inside the body of the bicycle and a solid section that is located outside the bicycle when the anti-theft mechanism is in use.

Rod 3 is moveable along its longitudinal axis between a first position shown in figure 1 and a second position, shown in figure 2. Other than being moveable along its longitudinal axis, rod 3 is held in a substantially fixed position relative to bicycle 1 , i.e. rod 3 can only move back and forth along its longitudinal axis. In the first position rod 3 does not interfere with the movement of front wheel 7 of bicycle 1 .

In the second position rod 3 protrudes into the turning area of wheel 7, preventing the rear 8 of wheel 7 from being moved past rod 3. Thus in use the bicycle may only be steered to the right. It will be apparent that the rod could be positioned on the other side of the wheel such that it could only be steered to the left. As can be seen from figure 3, when front wheel 7 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A of the bicycle, as shown in Figure 8, such that if the bicycle were to move it would move directly forward, and when rod 3 is in its second position, rod 3 lies alongside wheel 7. Thus rod 3 is horizontally offset from longitudinal axis A of the bicycle.

Rod 3 comprises a proximal end 13 and a distal end 14.

Stand 9 is pivotally attached to rod 3 near the proximal end 1 3 of rod 3. When stand 9 is in a retracted position, as shown in Figure 1 , rod 3 is in position 1 . When stand 9 is retracted and rod 3 is in its first position it is possible to ride and steer the bicycle.

When stand 9 is extended, as shown in Figure 2, rod 3 is in its second position. When stand 9 is extended and rod 3 is in its second position it is not possible to ride and steer the bicycle.

As stand 9 moves from its retracted position to its extended position, rod 3 moves from its first position to its second position and vice versa. Rod 3 may be locked in its second position. When rod 3 is locked in its second position, because stand 9 is pivotally attached to rod 3, stand 9 is locked in its extended position. It will be apparent that rod 3 could be locked in position 2 in many different ways, however, in the present embodiment a locking bar 4 is employed.

Locking bar 4 runs parallel to rod 3. Locking bar 4 comprises a proximal end 15 and a distal end 16. Locking bar 4 is attached at its proximal end 1 5 to rod 3 via crosspiece 10. Cross piece 10 provides an angled link between locking bar 4 and rod 3, but it is not necessary that the link between locking bar 4 and rod 3 be angled. Locking bar 4 lies vertically beneath the longitudinal axis A of bicycle 1 and subsequently locking bar 4 extends in the plane of the wheels of the bicycle when the wheels are aligned.

Locking bar 4 moves between a first position where it is substantially housed within the body 6 of bicycle 1 and a second position where it is extended towards the front wheel 7 of bicycle 1 .

Because rod 3 and locking bar 4 are attached and therefore move simultaneously, when rod 3 is in its first position locking bar 4 is in its first position and when rod 3 is in its second position, locking bar 4 is in its second position.

However, locking bar 4 does not extend far enough to interfere with the movement of front wheel 7 even when rod 3 is extended to its maxi mum in its second position.

In proximity to its distal end 14, rod 3 houses linkage 5. Linkage 5 is substantially elongate and comprises central channel 1 2 that runs through linkage 5.

Linkage 5 is pivotally and slidably attached to rod 3 by means of pin 1 1 that passes through channel 12. Thus, as shown in figures 5 to 7, linkage 5 may be rotated around pin 1 1 and slid horizontally past pin 1 1 as pin 1 1 passes along channel 12. Locking bar 4 comprises a recess 17 in proximity to its distal end 16. Recess 17 is positioned such that when linkage 5 is substantially perpendicular to rod 3, one end of linkage 5 can be inserted into recess 1 7.

Locking bar 4 comprises holes 18 and 1 9 positioned above and below recess 17.

Linkage 5 is therefore moveable between two main positions, a first position where linkage 5 is substantially housed within rod 3 as shown in figure 5, and a second position wherein linkage 5 bridges rod 3 and locking bar 4 as shown in figure 7. Linkage 5 may be locked in its second position by passing the hasp of a padlock through hole 1 8, channel 12 and hole 1 9 and locking the padlock.

Thus linkage 5 may be used lock rod 3 to locking bar 4. When linkage 5 is locked to locking bar 4 neither rod 3 nor locking bar 4 may be retracted to their first positions. Thus it is not possible to move rod 3 such that front wheel 7 may be turned and steered.

In use, stand 9 is extended from its retracted position as shown in figure 1 to its extended position as shown in figure 2, and simultaneously rod 3 and locking bar 4 are extended towards the front wheel 7 of the bicycle and eventually to their second positions.

When the stand has been erected, and referring to figures 5 to 7, the user may swivel linkage 5 around pin 1 1 such that it is perpendicular to rod 3 as shown in Figure 6. The user may then slide linkage 5 through rod 3 bridging the gap between rod 3 and locking bar 4 to reach the position shown in figure 7. The user may then lock linkage 5 in place by passing a padlock through hole 1 8, channel 12 of linkage 5 and hole 19 and locking the padlock.

It is then impossible for rod 3 and locking bar 4 to be retracted. Consequently it is not possible to retract stand 9. Thus it is not possible to steal the bicycle. If a thief were to attempt to defeat the anti-theft mechanism they would either need to cut the padlock, which would be very difficult to reach, being positioned between the front wheel and the chassis, or cut the locking bar, which would be extremely difficult.

It will be apparent that more than one rod could be used to hinder movement of front wheel 7. In the present embodiment only a single wheel-hindering rod has been used as this results in a lightweight anti-theft mechanism. It would be possible to position a rod on either side of front wheel 7 such that it could not be turned in either direction. If such an arrangement were used it would be necessary to align front wheel 7 with the gap between the rods as the rods were extended. It would also be possible to position more than one rod on each side of the wheel. Such rods could be of approximately equal lengths or of differing lengths. Any linkage could be positioned such that it can connect two rods without the wheel of the bicycle interfering.

In other embodiments rod 3 could be positioned such that wheel 7 must be turned to the right or the left in order for rod 3 to be extended, i.e. rod 3 could be positioned approximately vertically beneath the bicycles longitudinal axis A such that it extends in the plane of the wheels of the bicycle when the wheels are aligned.

It must of course be appreciated that the term 'bicycle' is not intended to simply mean a push bike, but is intended to cover all forms of two wheeled vehicle, especially motorbikes and scooters.

It will be appreciated that there are many possible ways to lock the rod in it second position. A lock may be positioned inside the body of the bicycle, particularly with motorbikes or scooters, the lock perhaps being releasable with the main key that operates the bike's ignition, or an auxiliary key. The rod and stand could be automatically locked in position upon erection of the stand. In the present embodiment it is rod 3 upon which the lock acts, and stand 9 is subsequently prevented from moving. It will be appreciated that a lock could act upon stand 9 thus subsequently preventing rod 3 from moving. Also, instead of having a locking bar and linkage, rod 3 could simply comprise a hole through which a padlock may be inserted.

It will also be appreciated that the rod, locking bar and linkage may also be brightly coloured, or comprise some form of markings so as to act as a warning signal to potential thieves that the bicycle has the anti-theft mechanism.

Turning to a second embodiment of the invention, and referring to figures 9 and 10, the arrangement of the first embodiment is modified in that the rod does not interfere with the movement of the front wheel of the motorcycle. Thus the locking of the rod such that it cannot be retracted into the housing of the bicycle prevents retraction of the bicycle stand from its extended position.

In the second embodiment rod 20 is mechanically linked to stand 21 . Rod 20 is not long enough to interfere with movement of front wheel 22. Locking bar 23 is provided in a similar manner to the first embodiment of the invention. Also linkage 24 is housed in rod 20 in a similar manner to the first embodiment. In the second embodiment respective distal ends 25, 26 of rod 20 and locking bar 23 terminate at around the same point along the longitudinal axis of the bicycle.

Evidently most of the comments regarding the first embodiment of the invention (other than those comments relating to restricting movement of front wheel 7) apply to the second embodiment of the invention.