The present invention relates to a security device, more particularly to a device for securing a vehicle such as a bicycle to a fixed object to prevent theft of the vehicle.

Vehicles such as bicycles are often parked in insecure areas, leaving the bicycles open to theft or vandalism. Further, elements of the bicycle, such as wheels or lights can be easily removed and stolen. Bicycle locks are commonly used to prevent such theft. Known locks include the looping of a chain or other cable through part of the bicycle and the securing of the chain around a fixed object such as a railing or lamppost by means of a padlock. Other commonly used locking devices include the use of a preformed metal loop, for example a C-lock (also known as a U-lock or U-bar) or a D-lock, which may be secured in position by an integral locking mechanism.

EU law stipulates that bicycles must be fitted with front and rear lights at all times so as to provide illumination and thereby increase bicycle visibility. Known bicycle lights are generally easily removable from the bicycle and these relatively expensive items are thus easily lost or stolen. US Patent No 6,109,770 discloses a locking system including a locking steel strip connected to both the front and rear lights of the bicycle, the lights being interengageable so as to lock together. In use of the bicycle, the front and rear lights are fixed to appropriate front and rear fixing points, and the locking strip extends between the lights and is retained to the bicycle frame. To lock the bicycle, the lights and strip are disengaged from the bicycle, and looped around a fixed object. The lights are interengaged to lock the vehicle to the railing. Whilst very effective at locking the bicycle and protecting the lights, such locking system may be cumbersome to transport and may in some situations interfere with bicycle operation.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device for a vehicle that reduces the disadvantages referred to above.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a security device for a vehicle comprising: a lock part, and a first light part and a second light part that serve in use as front and rear lights, said lock part, first part and second part being interengageable to form a single unit for stowing purposes, and said first part and said lock part being disengageable from one another so that the lock part can perforin a desired function of locking the bicycle, and said first part can be mounted as a separate item to perform its lighting function.

Preferably the vehicle is a bicycle, tricycle, minibike, scooter, motorbike or the like.

The security device in accordance with the invention may be secured to the vehicle at a convenient point when in the single unit configuration, for example the rear light fixing point, behind the vehicle seat. The security device may be secured to the vehicle in any appropriate manner. For example it may be permanently secured or moulded to the vehicle or a part thereof, e.g. a saddle. Alternatively a holster type bracket or other mounting bracket may be affixed to the vehicle, at any convenient location, and the security device in its single unit configuration may be clipped or slid onto or into the holster.

In the case where the lock part is a cable lock, with the two ends interengageable to lock together, one end containing the lock barrel may be permanently secured, for example in the rear light part, so that the lock part remains in the stowed position when the front light part is removed and fixed to the front of the bicycle. Further the two ends of the cable lock may be interengaged by threading through an aperture in the front light part, so that when the ends of the cable lock are locked together, the front and rear light parts are locked to the cable lock in the single unit configuration. For the purposes of this specification, the term cable lock includes any elongate flexible member such as a cable, wire, chain or strip that has interengageable lock structures at its free ends.

In the case where the lock part is a D-lock, with a rigid U-shaped arm with free ends that fit into a locking bar, the locking bar may be secured to or integral with one of the light parts, for example the rear light part. When the U shaped arm is secured in the locking bar, one or more ends may extend through one or more apertures in the front and/or rear light parts and this may serve to lock the parts together.

The front and rear light parts may be secured together in any convenient manner. For example they may have interengaging grooves and ribs for sliding interengagement, or a snap fit connection that enable the parts to be clipped together..

A key lock element may be provided for locking the first and second parts together subsequent to interengagement.

The device may comprise one or more on/off buttons to activate and deactivate the light parts. The buttons for the respective front and rear light parts may be positioned so that, in the single unit configuration, the buttons are concealed, to prevent tampering. The first and second light parts may include light sources of any available type, e.g.LEDs, halogen bulbs, incandescent bulbs. Each light part may be battery powered and may include an insert unit comprising a battery compartment and head unit that mounts the light source and protective cap and lens. The removable units of each light part may be identical so that they may be interchanged so that both the first light part and second light part may each serve either as a front light or rear light

The device may also comprise additional light sources, for example, light sources that indicate a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In one preferred embodiment, further light sources may be provided along the length of the lock part, for example along the cable of a cable lock or on the U-shaped arm of a D-lock.

The security device according to the invention may alternatively or in addition be employed to protect other items or accessories that are liable to theft, for example helmets, cycle computers, water bottles, pumps, saddle bags.

The device may comprise an alert system comprising a horn, bell or other sound-producing means, which may be sounded by a user of the vehicle to highlight the presence or approach of the vehicle. The device may comprise a system for the detection of tampering with the device. The system may be one that detects movement of the device, means of effecting such detection being well known to those skilled in the field. For example, when the device is moved by a preset force, two balances, preferably composed of metal-, may become displaced so as to come into contact with each other thus completing an electric circuit and sending a signal to sound an alarm, for example a visual and/or aural alarm.

The device may include a display screen to display information to the user of the vehicle. For example, the display screen may include such features as a satellite navigator, mileometer, a speedometer, a temperature indicator, a clock and a stopwatch. Buttons may preferably be provided for activation and deactivation of the alert system, tamper detection system, and display screen features. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a button that simultaneously activates the light sources, alert system and display screen features when the vehicle is in operation and performs the reverse when the vehicle is to be secured (i.e. when the device is in the secured arrangement) .

Preferably the device includes a power source for powering illumination of the light sources and/or the alert system, and display screen features. Preferably the power source is one or more batteries. The batteries may be rechargeable and may be recharged by mains or solar power means. Alternatively, where the vehicle is a bicycle or other pedal driven vehicle, the batteries may be recharged through the use of a dynamo.

Accordingly in a more general aspect of the present invention there is provided a security device for a vehicle, comprising a lock part, a first part, and a second part, said first part including electrically powered means for performing a desired function, said lock part, first part and second part being interengageable to form a single unit for stowing purposes, and said second part including means for affixing the single unit to the vehicle, and said first part being disengageable from said second part and said lock part so that the lock part can perform a vehicle locking function, and said first part can be mounted as a separate item to perform its desired function.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the following drawings , wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a security device of the invention assembled as a single unit, an inset showing how the device may be secured to a bicycle; Figures 2A to 2D are side, front and rear views of the device showing the front and rear light parts secured together;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device showing the rear light part and the cable lock part;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts of the security device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the front light part in a partially assembled condition as a housing unit and an insert unit comprising battery compartment and head unit;

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the barrel of the cable lock mounted in the rear light part, and the front light part as a separated item;

Figures 7A and 7B are schematic views showing the front light part in position for fixing to a mounting bracket, and when mounted to the mounting bracket;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front light part mounting bracket; and

Figures 9A to 9D are front, rear side, and bottom views of a second embodiment of the invention with the lock part comprising a D- lock

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown an illuminating security device 10 assembled as a single unit for stowage purposes, and comprising a front light part 12, a rear light part 14, and a cable lock part 16. A mounting bracket 18 secures the device 10 to a bicycle 20 (see inset to Figure 1) . The device may for example be affixed to the seat pillar, down tube, rear wheel stay, or handlebars of the bicycle 20.

Referring to Figure 4, the component parts of the front light part 12, rear light part 14 and cable part 16 are shown. Front light part 12 has a housing 22 of semicircular cross section, and a front circular face 23. Housing 22 has a lug 24 at its base having a circular aperture 25. A groove section 26 is provided at the top of the housing, and is described in more detail below The housing receives an insert unit 28 that has a battery compartment 30 for mounting batteries 32, and a head unit 34 that mounts a card 36 that mounts an array of LEDs. A finger operable control button 38 is mounted to the rear of head unit 34, and registers with an aperture (not shown) in face 23. A retaining clip 39 is provided for holding and for releasing unit 28 within the housing 22.Protective caps and lens 40 are provided for screwing onto head unit 34. Rear light part 14 comprises a housing 50 having a front circular face 51, and an upper part 52 of semicircular cross section with a projecting rib 53. Rib 53 has a depending outer edge for engaging in groove 26. Face 51 has an aperture 55 for registering with a light control button (not shown) . A lower part 54 of the housing is hollowed to receive the lock barrel 80 of the cable lock. A circular aperture 56 in the side of lower housing part 54 receives the free end of the cable lock. A spigot 58 receives a rotatable locking flap 60 that is bolted to the spigot by a bolt 62. The rear of housing part 54 has a boss 64 for receiving an end of mounting bracket 18. The upper part of housing 52 receives an insert unit 64 that includes battery compartments 66, and has a circular head unit 68 for mounting an array of LEDs 70. Protective caps and lens 72 are provided for screwing onto head unit 64. A light control button (not shown) is mounted to the rear of head unit 64 for registering with aperture 55. A lower guard flap 74 fits over the open end of lower housing portion 54, and has an aperture 76 for providing access to a keyhole 84 of cable lock 16.

Cable lock part 16 has a lock barrel 80 with a keyhole 84 for receiving a key 86 (see Figure 1) . The free end 82 of the cable lock fits within a circular aperture of the lock barrel.

In the assembled condition, lock barrel 80 is moulded within housing part 54. The component parts 66-76 of the rear light part are secured within housing 52, and the flap 60 is bolted to spigot 58. The component parts 28 - 40 of the front light part are assembled into housing 22. As shown in Figure 5, front light part 12 consists of two parts - housing 22 and insert unit 28. Rear light unit 14 also consists of two parts, and the insert units are of identical construction so that they may be interchanged if it desired to reverse the roles of the light parts (for example if the assembled unit is mounted at the front of the bicycle) .

It may be seen in Figure 5 that groove section 26 comprises an inner recess 42 and an outer lip 44. Front and rear light parts are interconnected by clipping housing 22 onto housing part 50 by means of interengaging rib 53 and groove 26. When aligned, apertured lug 24 is snapped into recess 57, by a rotation of housing 22 relative to housing 50 The two parts may then be retained in position by rotating flap 60 over lug 24, as shown in Figure 1.

The free end 82 of cable lock 16 may then be inserted through registering apertures 25, 56, into the aperture 88 of the lock barrel. By locking the free end 82 into the lock barrel 80, a locking together of the three separate parts of the security device, assembled as a single unit, is achieved. The single unit may then be mounted in any of the positions shown in Figure 1 to bicycle 20. It will be observed that in the single unit configuration, front and rear control buttons 38, are inaccessible to prevent tampering.

In use of the bicycle 20, the cable lock may be unlocked by means of key 86, and when the free end 80 is removed, the two lights may be separated, firstly by rotating flap 60 to a disengaged position, and then partly rotating housing 22 from housing 50 to release lug 24 from recess 57, and then to disengage rib part 53 from groove section 26. The front light part may then be mounted on a handlebar-mounting bracket 90, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Bracket 90 has a rib 92 similar to rib 53 of rear housing part 50, for receiving the section 26 of the front light part 12. A projecting strip 94 is arranged to engage within flange 24. Bracket 90 has a mounting clip 96.

The rear light part remains secured to the bicycle, and the free end 82 of the cable may be reengaged within the lock barrel for stowage purposes. Both the front and rear lights may be switched on by means of their control buttons 38 that are now accessible.

To secure the bicycle following use and on arrival at the destination, the buttons 38 are depressed to deactivate the lights. The front light part is detached from the front light-mounting bracket (Figure 7) . The free end 82 of the cable lock is released from the lock barrel 80 and may be passed through a suitable part of the vehicle (for example through the spokes of a wheel) and around a fixed object such as a railing or lamppost.

The front light part 12 is engaged with the rear light part 14 in the manner described above. The free end 80 of the cable lock is passed through registering apertures 56 and 25 in the front and rear light parts, and into the lock barrel 80. Thus the bicycle is secured against theft, and also the front light part, rear light part and lock part are locked together as a single unit by the locking of the cable lock. The buttons 38, 55 are not accessible when the light sources 14,16 are thus engaged. The light sources 14,16 thus remain secured to the bicycle so as to prevent their theft and obviate the need to remove them from the bicycle and store them when the bicycle is not in operation.

Referring to Figure 9 showing a second embodiment of the invention, a D-lock part 100 has a U shaped arm 102 whose free ends fit within a locking bar 104. Locking bar 104 is formed integrally with a housing of a rear light part 106. A front light part 108 has a housing of counterpart form to that of housing 106, so that the two housing are interconnected across a line 110. The inner surfaces of the two housings are recessed at 111 so as to provide an aperture 112 in the assembled housings, through which the end of U shaped arm 102 may be inserted. As shown in figure 9B a keyhole 114 of the lock is accessible from one end of the locking bar. The other end of the locking bar has a mounting pillar 116 for connection to a fixing point on the bicycle. In use, the front light part 108 is removed and affixed to the front of the bicycle. The rear light part 104, together with locking bar 104 is affixed to the rear of the bicycle. To lock the bicycle the rear light is removed from its fixing point, and the D-lock is employed to lock the vehicle in a convenient manner.