BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a helmet locking system for a motorcycle, scooter, bicycle or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a helmet locking system that includes: (i) a first expandable locking element that is securable within a bore defined by a handlebar end; (ii) a helmet defining a cavity with a constricted opening; and (ii) a second expandable locking element that can be expanded and captured within the aperture, by the constriction.

Various expandable locks are known. For instance:

US2005/0235710 “Branched wire lock”, US2008/0072633 “Security device” and NL1023912 describe a flexible cable including a pair of expandable locks, each of which expandable lock includes a locking element that is securable within slots; and

WO2010/001385 “Anti-theft devices for portable objects such as laptops” describes a rigid body that includes a pair of locking elements that are rotatable individually to lock the locking elements within slots.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking system that is particularly suited to secure a helmet to a handlebar end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a helmet locking system that includes: a helmet defining a cavity and a constriction at the mouth of the cavity; a body including: a resilient tubular member; means for compressing the tubular member, in use, to cause the tubular member to expand radially; a locking element that is movable between: an unlocked condition, in which the locking element is sized, shaped and oriented to be received into and removed from the cavity defined by the helmet, past the constriction; and a locked condition, in which the locking element is sized, shaped or oriented to be captured within the cavity defined by the helmet, oversized to pass the constriction; and means for moving the locking element from the unlocked condition to the unlocked condition, wherein, in use, the tubular member is expanded to secure the tubular member within a handlebar end; and the locking element (in the unlocked condition) is received within the cavity defined by the helmet and moved to the locked condition to secure the helmet to the handlebar end via the body.

Typically, the locking element includes first and second tabs that are hingedly movable relative to each other about a common axis.

Generally, the moving means includes: a nose that: is sized and shaped to be received within the cavity defined by the helmet, past the constriction; and is movable: from a first position, in which the nose protrudes beyond the first and second tabs; towards a second position, in which the nose moves radially in respect of the common axis, towards the first and second tabs; and means for biasing the nose towards the first position, wherein, in use, as the locking element is received within the cavity defined by the helmet, the nose abuts the wall of the cavity defined by the helmet, and further insertion of the locking element within the cavity causes the nose to move from the first position to the second position.

Preferably, the helmet locking system further includes links that translate movement of the nose from the first position to the second position to rotation of the tabs from the unlocked condition to the locked condition.

Typically, the helmet locking system further includes a cylinder lock that is operable with a key to cause the tabs to move from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.

Generally, the common axis of the first and second tabs is angularly offset relative to the axis of the tubular member by between 0 and 35 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a helmet locking system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the helmet locking system in Figure 1 , in an assembled condition;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the helmet locking system in Figure 1 , with the helmet secured to a handlebar end via the locking element; Figure 4 is a front view of the locking element in Figure 1 in an unlocked condition; and

Figure 5 is a front view of the locking element in Figure 1 in a locked condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 5, a helmet locking system 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes: a helmet 12 and a body 14.

The helmet locking system 10 is used to lock a motorcyclist’s I cyclists helmet 12 to a handlebar 16 end of a motorcycle I scooter / bicycle or the like (not shown).

The helmet 12 is a standard helmet, albeit that the helmet 12 defines a cavity 18 with a constricted opening 20. Put another way, the cavity 18 has a constriction 20 at the mouth of the cavity 18. Typically, the constriction 20 is in the shape of a slot (i.e. a linear, narrow, elongate opening to the cavity 12).

The body 14 includes: a resilient tubular member 22; means for compressing the tubular member 24; and a locking element 26.

The resilient tubular member 22 is right circular cylindrical, made of a polymeric material, and sized and shaped to be received within the bore defined by the handlebar 16 end (when not compressed).

The compressing means 24 comprises a nut (or other threaded formation) that extends axially through the tubular member 22 and compresses the tubular member 22 axially when tightened, thereby causing the tubular member 22 to expand radially. In use, when expanded radially, friction induced between the tubular member 22 and the bore defined by the handlebar 16 end prevents the body 14 from being removed from the bore defined by the handlebar 16 end.

The locking element 26 includes a pair of tabs 28 that are hingedly connected to each other about a common axis A-A. The tabs 28 are movable between: an unlocked condition shown in Figure 4, in which the locking element 26 is / tabs 28 are sized, shaped and oriented to be received into and removed from the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, past the constriction 20; and a locked condition shown in Figure 5, in which the locking element 26 is / tabs 28 are sized, shaped or oriented to be captured within the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, oversized to pass the constriction 20.

The locking element 26 is similar to what is commonly referred to as a scissor lock, wherein the tabs 28 are movable relative to each other between the locked and unlocked conditions. However, it will be appreciated that the locking element 26 could alternatively be similar to what is generally referred to as a Kingston (RTM) lock.

The locking element 26 further includes means 30 for moving the locking element 26 1 tabs 28 from the unlocked condition to the locked condition. The moving means 30 comprises a nose that is sized and shaped to be received within the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, past the constriction 20. The nose 30 is movable: from a first position shown in Figure 4, in which the nose 30 is substantially radially aligned (relative to the common axis A-A) with the tabs 28; towards a second position shown in Figure 5, in which the nose 30 moves radially towards the common axis A-A.

A biasing means (in the form of a spring) (not shown) biases the nose 30 towards the first position.

Links 32 connect the nose 30 to the tabs 28, translating: linear movement of the nose 30 from the first position to the second position; to rotation of the tabs 28 about their common axis A-A from the unlocked condition to the locked condition.

A cylinder lock 34, operable with a key (not shown) causes the tabs 28 to move from the locked condition to the unlocked condition (typically under a biasing force).

It will be appreciated that the common axis A-A of the tabs 28 is angularly offset (x) relative to the axis B-B of the tubular member 22 by between 0 and 35 degrees. In use:

• The tubular member 22 is inserted into the bore defined by the handlebar 16 end of a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter or the like.

• The compressing means 24 is actuated to compress the tubular member 22, thereby to expand the tubular member 22 radially and frictionally securing the tubular member within the bore defined by the handlebar 16 end.

• The locking element 26 (with the locking element 26 /tabs 28 in the unlocked condition) is inserted past the constriction 20 and into the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, by moving the helmet 12 towards the locking member 26.

• With the tabs 28 having passed beyond the constriction 20, the locking element 26 is further inserted into the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, causing the nose 30 to abut the cavity 18 wall and move from the first to the second position (against the bias of the biasing means (not shown)).

• The links 32 translate linear movement of the nose 30 from the first to the second position to rotation of the tabs 28 from the unlocked condition to the locked condition.

• With the tabs 28 in the locked condition, the locking element 26 I tabs 28 is captured within the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, being oversized to pass the constriction. This effectively locks the helmet 12 to the handlebar 16.

• To unlock the helmet from the handlebar 16, the key is inserted in to the cylinder lock 34 and turned. This permits the tabs 28 under the influence of a biasing force to move from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, and to escape the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12, past the constriction 20.

It will be appreciated that the helmet locking system 10 includes a novel combination of locks (i.e. the expandable tubular member 22 that locks within the bore defined by the handlebar 16 end, and the “expandable” I “scissor” tabs 28 that lock within the cavity 18 defined by the helmet 12) for securing a helmet 12 to the handlebar 16 end of a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter or the like.