TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention is based on a device for storing bicycles. Said invention is especially based on a bicycle rack that includes a support and a holder for locking the bicycle in the support. In particular, the invention is based on a locking device for a bicycle rack.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

In public areas, one common form of bicycle rack is a rack that, in one way or another, holds a bicycle upright. In particular, such racks usually include two parallel supports made of formed iron wire. The bicycle's front wheel is positioned between these. It is then up to the bicycle user to lock the bicycle, either by locking the bicycle itself or by locking the bicycle to/in the rack. It is also common to lock not only the bicycle itself, but also to lock it to/in the rack.

In certain public areas, bicycle racks that have locks are provided. The majority of these bicycle racks are of a design where the bicycle's frame is locked in a rack against which the bicycle is leant. There are also rental systems that employ this principle.

US 2007/0220933 (Gagosz) discloses a storage system for rental bicycles. The system includes a number of upright pillars to which bicycles are locked. The system's role is to ensure that a rented bicycle cannot be returned without the knowledge of the rentee. To this end, each bicycle in the system includes an anti-theft lock with which the bicycle can be locked to a fixed object during a temporary stop.

US 4830167 (Lassche) discloses another locking device for bicycles. The locking device's role is to provide locking of a bicycle simply by inserting the bicycle in the rack. This disclosed locking device includes a holder for receiving a bicycle wheel and, to take care of the locking itself, a number of arms and rollers. Amongst other things, the device includes a roller that operates in a vertical plane but acts on a pair of arms that lock the wheel in a horizontal plane. This disclosed locking device is a complicated design. Locking is accomplished with a rotary movement.

There is a need for a bicycle rack in which bicycles can be easily stored and locked.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to indicate ways for bringing about a method and a device for storing and locking bicycles.

Said purpose is achieved by: the invention's use of a bicycle rack having the special characteristics set out in the characterisation section of independent claim 1 ; and, by a procedure having the special

characteristics set out in the characterisation section of independent procedure claim 7. Advantageous designs are set out in the

characterisation sections of the dependent claims.

In the invention, by positioning the tyre of a spoked wheel in a bicycle rack and forcing said tyre against the bicycle rack, the cyclist causes the bicycle to be locked to/in the bicycle rack. In the invention, the bicycle rack includes a support and a locking device. The locking device comprises: a single holder with an opening for receiving the wheel; a rotatable bar that, in a locking position, closes the opening; and, a displaceable bolt that locks the bar in its locking position. In one design, said bar includes a "finger" that, acted on by an object such as a bicycle wheel that is moved into the opening, turns from an open, rest position to a closed, locking position. When unlocking (via a key lock, coin lock or payment system) the locking device, the bolt is pulled back. This releases the bar and enables it to take up its rest position when the cyclist moves the wheel in the opposite direction out of the support. The support is then ready to store a new bicycle.

The support contains two basically parallel guides between which the wheel is positioned and also between which there is a locking device. The latter includes: a holder that encloses the wheel on three sides; and, a rotatable bar that closes the fourth side (by being swung down between the spokes) and which can be locked by a bolt. In one design, the holder comprises two basically parallel, U-shaped plates between which the bar operates. The parallel plates are firmly attached to each other and form a U that has a "head" and two "arms". The distance between said arms is adapted to the width of the wheel that is to be locked. The bar is rotatably journalled in one of the arms and can be swung so that it comes In between the plates of the second arm. The bar is locked by its movement being prevented by a displaceable bar provided on the second arm.

In the invention, the bar includes a finger (attached to the bar) . When the locking device is open and the bar is in its rest position, the finger blocks the opening between the arms. When a wheel is moved into the holder and contacts the finger, this latter swings away, thereby rotating the bar into a position between the spokes (and behind the wheel's rim). When the finger reaches its innermost position, the bar has come to its locking position and the bolt can be slid in so that the bar cannot be rotated back. The bicycle is then locked to/in the rack. In one design of the invention, the bar and the finger include the same, single L-shaped plate. This can be likened to an angle iron and it has its axis of rotation where bar and finger meet. The bolt pushes through at least one of the arm's plates. In its simplest form, the bolt is equivalent to the shackle of a padlock. In one design of the invention, the bolt includes a stationarily located pin that, at the moment of locking, is inserted through one or both of the arm's plates. In this design, the pin is mechanical and is actuated by a key or a coin- payment system. In another design, the bolt includes an armature of an electromagnet. When there is no current flowing through the

electromagnet, the bolt is "active", i.e. the armature (or its extension) blocks the bar. Acted on by an electric current, the electromagnet pulls the armature towards itself and "opens" the bolt by the armature (or its extension) being pulled out of the hole (or holes) in one of the holder's arms. This releases the bar. With an electromagnetic bolt, the bicycle rack can be used in conjunction with a payment system or a rental system in which the bolt is released after payment (e.g. by a payment card or an SMS message).

At unlocking, the bolt is pulled back. The bar can then once again move freely. The bicycle wheel is pulled out by the cyclist. This turns the bar back to a start or rest position, the finger taking up its start position (in which it blocks the opening in the locking device). The bicycle rack is now ready to receive a new bicycle. To ensure that it takes up its rest position, the bar is, in one design, equipped with a spring device. The spring force of this latter drives the bar to its rest position.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the purpose is achieved by a bicycle rack that contains a support and a locking device for receiving a spoked wheel, the locking device including : a holder that encloses the wheel on three sides; and, a rotatable bar that closes the fourth side (by being turned to a position between the spokes) and which can be locked with a bolt. In one design of the invention, the bar includes a finger that, acted on by the wheel's movement into the locking device, brings the bar into its locking position.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the purpose is achieved by a procedure for locking a spoked wheel in a bicycle rack that contains a support and a locking device that includes a bar with a finger, the wheel being pushed forward so as to bring it into contact with the finger, the finger being turned by continued pushing of the wheel and the bar being thereby turned to its locking position and a bolt being activated to lock the bar in its locking position.

DETAILS OF THE FIGURES

The invention is explained more closely through design descriptions that refer to the attached drawings set out below.

Fig. 1 is a bicycle wheel locking device (as per the invention) that contains a holder, a rotatable bar and a bolting device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the locking device with the bar in its locking position.

Fig. 3 is a section of the locking device with the bar in its rest

position. Fig. 4 is a bicycle rack with two supports and the appertaining locking devices.

Fig. 5 is a bicycle rack (as per the invention) arranged for bicycle

rentals.

DESCRIPTION OF DESIGN EXAMPLES

A locking device (1) as per the invention is shown in figs. 1 - 3. The locking device includes a holder (2), a bar (3) and a bolting device (4) to lock the bar in its locking position. In the illustrated design, the holder includes a first (5) and a second (6) parallel plate, between which the bar (3) operates. The holder is shaped as a U with a head (7), a first arm (8) and a second arm (9). An opening (11) for receiving a round object such as a spoked wheel is formed between the arms. The first plate (5) and the second plate (6) are, as shown in the illustrated design, firmly attached to each other by a number of screwed/bolted joints (20). However, other joints (e.g. welded) can also be imagined here. The holder is attached to the bicycle rack by a welded joint.

The bar includes a finger (10) that, in the illustrated design, is

integrated with the bar (3) to form a "set square" or an L-shape. The bar is joumalled in the first arm (8) and can rotate around a shaft (A). The shaft is located where the bar (3) and the finger (10) meet. The journalling point is such that the finger is barely visible in the opening (11) when the bar has reached its locking position (fig. 3). In one design (fig. 2), the holder includes a spring device (14), the spring force of which actuates the bar to take up its rest position.

When a round object such as a bicycle wheel is moved into the opening (11), it eventually contacts the finger (10). With continued forward pushing of the object, the finger is turned inwards and to the side. This causes the bar that is integrated with the finger to turn outwards behind the object. When the object has reached the holder's head, the finger has been fully turned to the side and the bar has been brought to its locking position (in which it encloses the back of the object). In this locking position, the bar is bolted by the bolting device. In the

illustrated design, the bolting device includes an electromagnet (12) and the electromagnet's armature (13) forms the bolt itself. In one design, the bolt can be a long pin, the displacement of which is actuated by a key.

As per the invention, the bicycle rack can be extended by a number of storage places for bicycles. Fig. 4 shows a bicycle rack (15) with two storage places for bicycles. The individual racks are here fixed to a framework (16) that is firmly fitted to the ground. Each rack contains two basically parallel supports (17). In this design, each support includes two bent pipes that are fixed to the framework. Additionally, a locking device is welded to each support. In a further design (see fig. 5), the bicycle racks are integrated with a control unit (18) for bicycle rentals. In the illustrated design, the system comprises five racks (as per the invention) and a control unit in a common framework. To aid understanding, a wheel (19) has been drawn schematically in one of the racks. The electromagnetic locking devices work in conjunction with the control unit. This contains a payment device. When the control unit registers a payment, the relevant electromagnetic bolt is actuated and the selected rack is unlocked. Payment can be by coin, payment card, SMS message or any other payment method. In the illustrated rental system, a power supply (which may include a battery) is provided. In the illustrated design, the wiring is run through the pipes of the framework that connects the racks and the payment device. The invention is not limited to the illustrated designs. Consequently, the invention idea also includes the possibility of the locking device being used for all sorts of objects with a round part that can be moved into the locking device's opening. One example of such an object is a road barrier or similar.