This invention relates to a security device for securing an object such as a bicycle to another object such as a bicycle stand or rack or a post or railings.

Background of the invention Numerous security devices are known and commercially available for preventing the theft of bicycles. Such devices typically comprise a chain, cable or elongated D-shaped bar arrangement that can be looped or fitted round a frame member and/or wheel of the bicycle and a fixed installation such as a bicycle stand, post or railing and then locked to prevent removal of the bicycle. Most existing security devices can be removed by thieves fairly quickly simply by cutting through the chain, cable or bar using readily available tools such as bolt cutters and hacksaws. Attempts to increase resistance to theft by increasing the thickness of the metal used to form the chain links bars, or by using harder forms of steel, have had only limited success and, in general, it is typically possible to cut through the chain or metal bar of a bicycle lock inside a minute.

Various devices having improved resistance to unauthorised removal have been proposed.

US patent application US2012042700 discloses a security locking device comprising an elongate flexible strap and a lock; the elongate flexible strap incorporating a flexible metallic portion; a synthetic fibre based portion; and a polymeric portion; wherein the flexible synthetic fibre based portion has a greater tensile strength than the other two portions; and the polymeric portion has a greater elasticity than the other two portions.

German patent application DE4216595C discloses a theft prevention device for bicycles and other objects. The device comprises a strap which may include metal reinforcing elements.

US patent US6199412 discloses a lockable tie down strap for securing various loads to such objects as vehicles and boats. The lockable tie down strap is stated to be preferably constructed of a tubular webbing with steel cables running through the body of the webbing to prevent cutting of the strap. US patent application US2003164009 discloses a strap lock comprising a flexible strap which is stated to be preferably woven from strands of metal and high strength polymer. Straps having a similar construction are also disclosed in US2012321409A Japanese patent application JP2009154731A discloses an anti-theft device for a motorcycle which comprises a plurality of metal rod-shaped members.

US patent application US201 1219826A discloses a security strap which may comprise a textile, nylon, polypropylene or polyester material and metal reinforcing elements such as metal strands or braided wire rope. European patent application EP2733287A discloses an anti-theft device comprising a hollow textile strap containing metal reinforcing elements.

US patent application US2013042446A disclose a strap that can be used to attach bicycles to a bicycle carrier, the strap being formed from a rubber or polymeric material and having a metal core. US patent application US2010043186A discloses a security strap which can be formed from nylon, polypropylene or polyester webbing reinforced with metal wired rope or flat woven steel webbing.

US patent US8776570 discloses a security device for a bicycle, the security device comprising an elastically deformable U-shaped member which can be placed about the frame and/or wheels of a bicycle and the ends of the U-shaped member locked together to prevent removal of the bicycle.

Many of the above security devices are of complex construction and would be unlikely to provide a great deal of protection against bolt cutters, hacksaws and other heavy duty cutting tools commonly used in bicycle theft. Furthermore, many of the above security devices are either quite heavy or bulky and are therefore not ideally suited to being carried by a cyclist.

Thus, there remains a need for a security device for preventing, or providing improved resistance to, the theft of bicycles, which is of lightweight construction whilst not sacrificing strength, and which can readily fit into a back-pack or other bag or container of the type carried by bicycles or cyclists. The Invention

The present invention provides a security device which is relatively light in weight, can readily be folded into a compact shape for carrying in a back pack and provides enhanced resistance to removal by conventional cutting tools. Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a security device for tethering two or more objects together, the security device comprising a flexible strap having two ends; the two ends having means for securing the ends to each other or to other objects; wherein the flexible strap is of layered construction and comprises a plurality of layers formed by separate flexible elongate flat strips. The security device can comprise a lock which enables the two ends to be secured together to form a loop.

Thus, in one particular embodiment, the invention provides a security device for tethering two or more objects together, the security device comprising a flexible strap having two ends and a lock for releasably locking the flexible strap in a closed loop configuration; wherein the flexible strap is of layered construction and comprises a plurality of layers formed by separate flexible elongate flat strips.

The flexible strap is of layered construction and comprises a plurality of layers formed by separate flexible elongate flat strips. Each of the flat strips has two ends: a first end and a second end. The first ends of the strips are connected together at one end of the flexible strap whereas the second ends of the strips are connected together at the other end of the strap. In between the two ends of the strap, the flat faces of adjacent strips are in contact with each other but the strips are free to slide over one another. Thus, typically, the strips are not connected to each other except at the two ends of the strap. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the flat strips may be connected at locations between the two ends of the strap provided that the ability of the flat strips to slide over one another is not

substantially impaired.

The flexible strap comprises a plurality of layers formed by separate flexible elongate flat strips. By way of example, the flexible strap may comprise three or more flat strips. More particularly, the flexible strap may comprise at least four flat strips, or at least five flat strips, or at least six flat strips, or at least seven flat strips. In total, the strap may comprise up to twenty flat strips, more typically up to fifteen flat strips, or up to twelve flat strips, or up to ten flat strips. In particular

embodiments, the strap is formed from (i) four to fifteen flat strips; (ii) five to twelve flat strips; or (iii) six to ten flat strips. In one specific embodiment, the strap is formed from seven, eight or nine flat strips. In another specific embodiment, the strap is formed from eight flat strips.

The flat strips are flexible and should therefore be thin enough to allow bending and folding of the strap. For example, when the strips are formed from a metallic material such as steel (e.g. stainless steel), the strips may each have a thickness in the range from 0.075-0.125 mm, for example from 0.09 to 0.1 1 , more particularly approximately 0.1 mm.

The flat strips are typically made from a metallic material such as steel, preferably stainless steel. The grade of stainless steel is one which provides the flat strips with sufficient flexibility and resilience that they can be folded to give folds having a radius of less than 20 mm, and more typically less than 15 mm at the thicknesses given above, without undergoing permanent deformation or a significant degree of work hardening. For example, stainless steel flat strips having a thickness in the range set out above may have a fold radius as low as 8mm. Examples of grades of steel suitable for use in forming the flat strips are austenitic chromium - nickel SAE steel grades 302 and 304. The flat strips can be, for example, from 20-80 mm in width, more usually from 30- 70 mm in width, or from 40-60 mm in width, and in particular approximately 50 mm in width.

The flat strips can vary considerably in length, depending on the desired length of the strap for use in a particular application. However, by way of example, the flat strips can be from 0.4-1.5 metres in length, or from 0.5- .4 metres in length, or from 0.6-1.0 metres in length.

The two ends of the strap have means for securing the ends to each other or to other objects. Thus, the two ends of the strap can be secured to each other to form a closed loop, or two or more straps can be secured together to form a longer strap. In a further embodiment, one end of the strap can be secured to one object and the other end of the strap can be secured to another object. The nature of the securing means will depend on the use to which the security device is to be put. Thus, for example, one or both ends can be provided with a lock. If the security device is intended to be used in the form of a closed loop, then a single lock may be provided for securing the two ends of the strap together.

Where the strap is intended to form a closed loop, the individual flat strips may be of different lengths in order to prevent gaps being formed between the strips as the strap is formed into a loop. Thus, the lengths of the strips may decrease incrementally from the outermost flat strip in the loop to the innermost strip in the loop. The sizes of the increments required will depend on the length of the strap but, by way of example, the lengths of the strips can decrease by increments of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm for a strap having a length in the range from 0.8 metres to 1 .6 metres. The increments are chosen so that, when the strap is formed into a loop, the individual flat strips are in close contact with one another, and there are substantially no gaps between the strips along the length of the strap. When the strap is in an unlocked, flat form, it may be folded, e.g. in half and then half again, or in alternate serpentine directions, so that it occupies the minimum space without creating tension in the strips. Means (e.g. a tie made, for example, from a strip of Velcro®) may be provided for holding the strap in a folded configuration.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a security device as defined and described herein wherein the security device is held in a folded configuration, for example by a tie (e.g. a tie formed from a strip of Velcro®).

In one embodiment, the security device of the invention comprises a lock for releasably locking the flexible strap in a closed loop configuration. The lock may comprise a lock housing attached to one end (e.g. a first end) of the strap, and the other end of the strap (e.g. the second end) may have a lock-engaging structure that enables the end of the strap to be lockably secured to the lock housing. For example, the lock-engaging structure may comprise a tang that is received in a recess in the lock housing, the tang being configured to interact with a locking element within the lock housing to lock the tang in place. The locking element may be, for example, a plunger or locking rod that can move into or out of a hole or similar formation in or on the tang to releasably lock the tang in place.

The flat strips may be immovably fixed to the lock and/or the lock housing so that the strips do not move relative to the lock. The flat strips may be held at each of the first and second ends thereof between pairs of reinforcing plates which serve to stiffen the ends of the strap and facilitate connection to the lock.

The tang may be defined by a shaped region of an end (e.g. the first end) of the strap. The shaped region may comprise shaped ends of the flat strips held between correspondingly shaped ends of the reinforcing plates, when present.

The reinforcing plates provide strengthening to the tang and increase the thickness of the tang (for example to a thickness in the range from 1 .4 to 1.8 mm, e.g.

1.6mm) to prevent flexing at the point where the tang engages with the locking element. Where a lock is attached at one end of the strap, the flat strips and reinforcing plates (when present) may be held together by virtue of being clamped between two components of the lock. For example, the lock can comprise a base plate and a lock housing which are secured together by fastening means such as rivets, security bolts or screws; the flat strips and reinforcing plates being clamped firmly between the base plate and lock housing.

Alternatively, when a lock is attached at one end of the strap, the reinforcing plates may be omitted at that end of the strap and the flat strips held together by virtue of being clamped directly between two components of the lock.

At the other end of the strap, the reinforcing plates and flat strips may together form a lock engaging structure such as a tang. In order to hold the lock engaging structure (e.g. tang) together when not engaging the lock, the reinforcing plates and flat strips can be fastened together by means of rivets, bolts or other fastening means passing through holes in the flat strips and reinforcing plates. When the two ends of the strap are secured together by the lock, the reinforcing plates and ends of the flat strips are held together by the locking element and cannot be separated even if the rivets, bolts or other fastening screws are removed.

The lock housing can be permanently attached to one end of the strap, or the lock can be configured to allow the lock housing to be removed from the strap by an authorised person. Thus, each of the first and second ends of the strap can be provided with means for removably locking the said ends to the lock housing. By way of example, both ends of the strap can be provided with tangs or other lock-engaging elements and the lock housing can be provided with means for lockably engaging the tangs or other lock-engaging elements at the ends of the strap.

The plurality of flat strips may be enclosed within a flexible protective sleeve formed from, for example a polymeric material or a fabric, e.g. a woven fabric. In a particular embodiment, the flexible protective sleeve is formed from a fabric woven from polymeric fibres. The material from which the flexible protective sleeve is formed typically has high abrasion and tear resistance. For example, the protective sleeve may be formed from fibres of a polyamide material such as the "nylon" material sold under the trade mark "Cordura". The flexible protective sleeve provides the strap with even more resistance to cutting. In the event that an attempt is made to cut through the strap with the flexible protective sleeve in place, the flat strips will tend to slide beneath the sleeve making it difficult for any cutting tool to grip the strips. In addition, the fibres or other material from which the sleeve is formed will tend to foul or interfere with the blades of any cutting tools thereby further increasing the difficulty in cutting through the strap. By forming the sleeve from a tough abrasion resistant material, the length of time taken to cut away the sleeve to reveal the flat metal strips is increased. If the sleeve is removed, the thinness of the flat metal strips means that it can be difficult to separate them to cut them individually. Therefore, even it does ultimately prove possible to cut through the strap, the greatly increased length of time that would be required to do so is likely to prevent opportunistic theft and is likely to encourage thieves to find easier targets.

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a security device for tethering two or more objects together, the security device comprising a flexible strap having two ends; the two ends having means for securing the ends to each other or to other objects; wherein the flexible strap is of layered construction and comprises at least four layers formed by separate flexible elongate flat strips, wherein the flat strips are of different lengths and each have a thickness in the range from 0.075-0.125 mm. In this embodiment, where the strap is intended to form a closed loop, the individual flat strips are of different lengths in order to prevent gaps being formed between the strips as the strap is formed into a loop. Thus, the lengths of the strips typically decrease incrementally from the outermost flat strip in the loop to the innermost strip in the loop.

Further aspects and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the claims appended hereto and the apparatuses illustrated in the drawings and described below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security device according to one embodiment of the invention in a folded configuration.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the security device of Figure 1 but with the outer fabric cover removed and the strap shown in shortened form.

Figure 3 is an exploded view corresponding to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 in partially dismantled form.

Figure 5 is a schematic side sectional elevation through the lock of the security device according to Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the base plate for the lock and the end plates for the strap of the security device shown in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of a security device according to a further

embodiment of the invention with the outer fabric cover removed and the strap shown in shortened form.

Figure 8 is an exploded view corresponding to Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a schematic side sectional elevation through the lock of the security device according to Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 10 is an exploded view of the base plate, lock housing and steel strips of the security device shown in Figures 6 to 10.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will now be illustrated but not limited by reference to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings Figures 1 to 10.

As shown in Figure 1 , a security device according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a lightweight flexible strap 2 having ends that can be secured together by means of a lock 4 set into a lock housing 16. The flexible strap 2 has a flexible outer cover in the form of a sleeve 6 formed from a polyamide having a high tear and abrasion resistance such as the grade of "nylon" available under the trade mark Cordura®. As shown in Figure 1 , the strap 2 is sufficiently flexible to enable it to be folded for stowage in, for example, a back pack carried by a cyclist. In the configuration shown in Figure 1 , the two ends of the strap have been disconnected and the strap has been folded in half and then in half again and a Velcro® tie 8 wrapped around the strap to hold it in its folded configuration.

Figures 2 to 6 show a security device of the invention with the outer sleeve removed. As can be seen from the drawings, the inner core of the strap has two ends A and B, one of the ends (end A) having a lock housing 16 mounted thereon. The inner core comprises a plurality (eight in the case of the particular embodiment illustrated) of elongate flexible metal strips 9 formed from stainless steel (e.g. SAE grades 302 or 304). The stainless steel strips can be, for example, approximately 0.1 mm thick and 50 mm wide. The stainless steel strips are not bonded together but are gathered and held together at the two ends A and B between pairs of stainless steel reinforcing plates 12, 13 and 10, 1 1 respectively.

The stainless steel reinforcing plates are shown in more detail in Figure 6. The reinforcing plates 12 and 3 are attached to a base plate 14 and the lock housing 16. The reinforcing plates 12, 13 each have a generally D-shaped recess 12a, 13a and a pair of holes 12b, 13b. At end A, the ends of the stainless steel strips 9 are shaped to conform to the shape of the reinforcing plates 12, 13 and are each provided with a pair of holes that are aligned with the holes 12b, 13b in the reinforcing plates. The base plate 14 has three holes 14a, 14b and 14c. The outer holes 14a and 14c are aligned with, and are of the same diameter as, the holes 12b and 3b in the reinforcing plates and the holes in the ends of the stainless steel strips 9. The central hole 14b is of a smaller diameter and is sized so as to accommodate the plunger 38 of the lock 4. The manner in which the ends of the steel strips 9, reinforcing plates 12, 13, base plate 14 and lock housing 16 are secured together can be seen more clearly in Figure 5. Thus, the ends of the steel strips 9 are sandwiched between the two reinforcing plates 12, 13 and are held in place by threaded security bolts 18 which extend through the aligned holes in the base plate 14, reinforcing plate 13, ends of the steel strips 9 and reinforcing plate 12 and are screwed tightly into a threaded bore in the lock housing 16. An adhesive applied to the threads of the bolts before assembly helps prevent removal of the bolts. Removal of the security bolts 18 is further prevented by virtue of ballbearings 20 which are press-fitted into recesses 22 in the heads of the two security bolts. The ballbearings cannot be removed and provide resistance to any attempt to drill out the bolts.

The lock housing 16 is formed by machining a block of aluminium or other metal such as steel. As an alternative to machining the lock housing from a block of metal, the lock housing can be formed as a casting, although this is less preferred because a machined housing will tend to be stronger than an equivalent casting. Although the lock housing can be made from steel or from other metals or alloys, aluminium is preferred because of its lightness. The lock housing has a central bore 24 with counterbores 26, 28 at either end. A barrel 30 of a lock is mounted in the central bore 24 so that a key-receiving head 32 of the lock sits in the upper counterbore 26 and a threaded end 34 of the barrel 30 protrudes into the lower counterbore 28. The barrel 30 of the lock is held in place by means of the nut 36 which is screwed tightly on to the threaded end of the barrel 30. A rotatable plunger 38 extends out of the barrel 30. Turning a key (not shown) in the lock causes the plunger 38 to rotate and move up or down along its axis so that it can extend into the hole 14b in the base plate at the lower limit of its movement and can be retracted into the counterbore 28 at the upper limit of its movement.

At end B of the inner core of the strap, the ends of the steel strips 9 are

sandwiched between the reinforcing plates 10 and 1 1 and held together by means of a rivet 40 passing through aligned holes 10b and 1 b in the reinforcing plates and holes (not shown) in the ends of the steel strips 9. The edges of the reinforcing plates 10 and 1 1 and the end edges of the steel strips 9 are shaped so that they complement and fit into the profiles of the reinforcing plates 2, 13 and end edges of the steel strips at end A. The edges of the plates 10 and 1 1 and the end edges of the steel strips together form a tang 42 which fits snugly into the D-shaped recess 12a, 13a of end A. The tang 42 has a hole 44 which, when the two ends of the strap are connected together, is aligned with the hole 14b in the base plate 14.

In order to connect the two ends A and B of the strap together to form a loop, the tang 42 is inserted into the gap between the base plate 14 and the lower surface 16a of the lock housing 16 so that the tang sits snugly in the D-shaped recess 12a, 13a and the hole 44 is aligned with hole 14b in the base plate. A key (not shown) is then inserted into the head 32 of the lock and rotated thereby rotating the plunger 38 and causing it to move down through the hole 44 in the tang 42 and into the hole 14b in the base plate. The two ends of the strap are then fastened securely together. Even if the rivet 40 is removed from the end B of the strap, the ends of the strips 9 and their associated reinforcing plates 10 and 1 1 remain securely anchored in the lock.

In order to separate the two ends of the strap, the key is rotated in the opposite direction thereby causing the plunger 38 to be retracted through the hole 44 and into the upper counterbore 28 of the lock housing. The tang 42 is thus disengaged from the plunger and the strap end B can be pulled away from the lock housing.

Figures 7 to 10 show an alternative security device of the invention with the outer fabric sleeve removed.

In this embodiment, the stainless steel strips 109 are held together at end A between base plate 1 14 and lock housing 116, without intervening reinforcing plates. The stainless steel strips 109 are held together at end B between a pair of stainless steel reinforcing plates 1 10 and 1 1 1. Base plate 1 14 is substantially rectangular in shape with rounded corners and has a raised portion 15 with a complementary profile to the ends of steel strips 109. The steel strips 109 and the raised portion 1 15 of base plate 1 14 each have a generally D-shaped recess. At end A, the ends of the stainless steel strips 109 are shaped to conform to the shape of the base plate 1 14 and are each provided with a pair of holes that are aligned with the holes 1 14a, 1 14c in the base plate. The base plate 1 14 has an additional third hole 1 14b. The outer holes 1 14a and 1 14c are aligned with, and are of the same diameter as, the holes in the ends of the stainless steel strips 109. The central hole 1 14b is of a smaller diameter and is sized so as to accommodate the plunger 138 of the lock 104. The manner in which the ends of the steel strips 109, base plate 1 14 and lock housing 1 16 are secured together can be seen more clearly in Figure 10. Thus, the ends of the steel strips 109 are sandwiched between base plate 1 14 and lock housing 1 16 and are held in place by threaded security bolts 1 18 which extend through the aligned holes 1 14a, 1 14c in the base plate 1 14, and the ends of the steel strips 09, and are screwed tightly into a threaded bore in the lock housing 1 6. An adhesive applied to the threads of the bolts before assembly helps prevent removal of the bolts. As an alternative to being threaded, the sides of the security bolts may be smooth to give a tight interference fit between the bolts 1 18 and an unthreaded bore in the lock housing 116. The heads of the bolts are flush with the base plate to prevent removal of the security bolts.

As in the first embodiment, at end B of the inner core of the strap, the ends of the steel strips 109 are sandwiched between the reinforcing plates 1 10 and 1 1 1 and held together by means of rivets 140 passing through aligned holes in the reinforcing plates and holes in the ends of the steel strips 109. The edges of the reinforcing plates 1 10 and 1 1 1 and the end edges of the steel strips 09 are shaped so that they complement and fit into the profiles of the base plate 1 14 and end edges of the steel strips at end A. The edges of the plates 10 and 1 and the end edges of the steel strips together form a tang 42 which fits snugly into the D-shaped recess of end A. The tang 142 has a hole 144 which, when the two ends of the strap are connected together, is aligned with the hole 1 14b in the base plate 1 14.

The security devices illustrated in the Figures can be used to tether a movable object such as a bicycle to a fixed installation such a bicycle stand, post or railings. It has been found that the multi-leaved strap resists cutting with hacksaws, bolt cutters, shearing tools such as snips and other tools commonly used in theft.

Attempts to cut through the straps by using cutting but non-shearing tools such as bolt cutters are prevented or resisted because the individual metal leaves making up the strap slide over one another and bend thereby absorbing the pressure applied by the bolt cutter. If shearing tools are used to attempt to cut through the strap, the individual leaves slide over one another and twist so that they become caught between and snag the blades of the tool. If hacksaws or similar sawing tools are used, the leaves flex and distort, causing the blade to be gripped between the leaves thereby preventing or making it more difficult for the saw to be moved and to cut the metal. In each case, the presence of the tough fabric outer cover increases the difficulty in cutting through the strap, the fibres of the fabric acting to clog the teeth or blades of the cutting tools. If the outer cover is cut away to reveal the multi-leaved core, and attempts are made to separate and cut the individual metal leaves, the thinness of the metal strips makes it difficult to separate them and can be sufficiently sharp to cut the fingers of a person attempting to cut the strap in this way.

One advantage of the security devices of the invention is that they are light in weight and can readily be folded into a compact shape as shown in Figure 1 . Therefore, the security devices of the invention can easily be carried in a back-pack or other bag or container used by cyclists.

A further advantage of the security devices of the invention is their ease of manufacture. The flat metal strips can be die cut from a continuous strip of stainless steel; and the reinforcing plates for the ends of the metal strips, and the base plate for the lock housing, can readily be laser cut from stainless steel plate.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations could be made to the apparatus shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, the two ends of the strap are joined end to end. However, they could be joined in a side-by-side manner by means of a lock housing having both ends of the strap attached to the same side of the housing. Alternatively, two or more straps can be connected end to end to provide a strap of greater length. In another variation, the strap can be provided at both ends with locking elements for connecting the ends to other objects. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.