BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The invention generally pertains to locking systems for securing vehicles such as bicycles, motor scooters, and the l to stationary structures, in order to prevent theft when the vehicles are left unattended by the rider.

In particular, the invention pertains to tubular or cham storageable flexible cable-type locking systems for securing bicycles, motor scooters, and like vehicles, to stationary structures, in order to prevent theft of the vehicle.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art:

Older types of locks for securing bicycles have been padlocks which have an elongated clasp which interlocks the spokes of the bicycle wheel with portions of the frame of the bicycle; however, this type of locking system could not deter theft from one who was disposed to lifting the bicycle into a vehicle to carry it away.

More recent types of locks for securing bicycles are cable-type locks which are anchored to a part of the frame of bicycle and have a cable of adeguate length to be secured arou a stationary structure such as a tree, post or the support mem of a bicycle rack at the location where the bicycle is to be left. The locks so provided are elongated flexible cables whic carry locking elements on its opposite ends, and which can be extended through the frame and around a stationary structure, the ends locked together to secure the bicycle to the structur

In cable locking systems having the cable secured to some tubular or chamber part of the bicycle frame, such as the handlebar, it is necessary to use a key during the procedure o locking-up the bicycle to a stationary structure, and it is, a necessary to use a key for unlocking the bicycle. Further, th rider must also use a key to simply remove the cable from a tubular structure of the bicycle frame, such as the handlebar. These cable locking systems, which reguire freguent usage of a key make it more difficult and time consuming to attach a remove the bicycle from a stationary structure.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple cable vehicle locking system or device that allows a vehicle suc as a bicycle to be more quickly secured to a stationary structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cable vehicle locking system which does not require a key, during the procedure of locking _^ _a vehicle, such as a bicycle, to a stationary structure. A yet further object of the invention is to provide a cable vehicle locking system which does not require the use of a key t remove the cable from a tubular part of the bicycle frame, such as the handlebar, prior to the procedure of locking-up the vehicle to a stationary structure without the use of a key. These and other objects and advantages of the invention wil become more apparent in the detailed description and accompanyin drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment is illustrated in the drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a view of a phallic-headed cable of two equal lengths swaged together at one end to form a folded cable length which forms part of the locking device.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the lock and its internal mechanisms.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bicycle locked -to a stationary structure, and an enlarged view in perspective of the lock attached to a portion of the bicycle frame.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; wherein the loc is attached to clamps fastened by means of a bolt and nut to par of the frame (not shown) of a bicycle.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isolated view in perspective of the slidin latch plate taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the lock and its internal mechanisms with the two-part head portion of the folded cable locked into the inner body of the lock portion of the cable vehicle locking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In referring to the drawings, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the cable 1 is composed of two equal lengths of steel all cables swaged together at one end (la) to form a folded length cable (lb).

Affixed to each of the spread apart cable ends are identi halves (lc) of a missile shape or phallic head plug (Id). Whe folded together cable 1 is permitted to be slid either in storageable arrangement inside tubular chamber handlebar 2 in non-key removable manner, or phallic head plug (Id) is permitt to be inserted in key removable locking engagement in the inne body of the lock, as shown in the locking mechanism of FIG. 6. FIG. 2 depicts locking mechanism (10), comprised of inner body (11), which accommodates lock plug cylinder (12). The ou housing (13) of said locking mechanism receives sliding latch plate (14), which is held down, biased or tensioned by spring (15). Sliding latch plate (14) and spring (15) are protected o safe guarded against potential drilling or cut-through by inse plate (16), which is made of a hardened steel alloy. When out housing (13) receives inner body (11) and the two pieces are fastened together by well known or conventional means, the loc is formed. An opening (17), in the lock receives cable end pl (Id), which then engages the sliding latch plate in the arc (a formed by radius 30a of FIG. 5 and forces it upwardly out of t way in a direction opposing spring (15). After cable end plug (Id) is inserted enough to pass a portion of the diameter of t phallic head into arc (a) and raise sliding latch plate (14), encircled groove of lesser diameter of the end plug becomes aligned with the portion of the circle formed by arc (b) of th sliding latch plate when spring (15) abruptly becomes unoppose The two halves comprising the cable end plug (Id) are then secured inside of the lock, as shown in FIG. 6.

In order to release cable end plug (Id) from the lock, sliding latch plate (14) from the groove in the cable end plug. This is accomplished by inserting a key into lock plug cylinder (12) in a direction opposite from and above the direction in which the cable end plug is inserted. When the inserted key (n shown) is turned, cam (18) lifts sliding latch plate (14) away

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from the groove and in the direction opposing spring (15). The end plug is then free, and can be removed from the lock. The outer cylinder part of lock plug cylinder (12) is prohibited fr turning freely by retaining pin (19) , which allows the plug portion of (12) to turn independent of the cylinder portion, thereby allowing cam (18) to rotate.

Retaining pin (19) also prohibits lock plug cylinder (12) from being removed from inner body (11) after the lock componen are assembled and fastened together. When the cable end plug i removed from the lock opening and the key inserted into lock pl cylinder (12) is no longer being rotated in a direction opposin spring (15), spring (15) is unopposed and sliding latch plate (14) and cam (18) are returned to their positions of rest.

FIG. 3 depicts a bicycle secured to a stationary structure after the cable (16) in the spread apart position has been pass around the structure, and folded into a length of cable to alig the two identical halves of the plug, which is locked by insertion into the lock, which is attached to the bicycle frame by the clamps (20), which are fastened together by means of bol (21) and nut (22), as shown in FIG. 4.

The sliding latch plate component of the lock is shown in FIG. 5. In the operation of the cable locking device, the dual radii portions (30a) and (30b) of the lower semi-circular open portion of the latch plate (30) are of particular importance. The shape of dual radius portions (30a) and _. (30b) allow cable head plug (Id) to push the sliding latch out of the way in an upwardly direction against spring (15). The radius (30a) of ar (a) is formed from center point A, whereas the radius (30b) of arc (b) is formed from center point B. A circle formed from th center point B is approximately 40% larger than a circle formed from the radius from point A that inscribes arc (a). Putting i another way. the radius from a midpoint which forms the semi-circle is less than the radius from the same point that forms the arc. When the cable end plug is inserted to pass a portion of the diameter of the head into arc (a) of the semi-circular opening and raise the sliding latch plate, the encircled groove of lesser diameter of the end plug becomes aligned with the portion of the circle formed by arc (b) of the sliding latch plate, thereby allowing quick locking to take pla

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as shown in FIG. 6 without the aid of an auxiliary, such as a key.

In order to release cable head plug (Id) from the locked position shown in FIG. 6, a key is required. The key (not sh is inserted into the opening of the lock plug rototable cylin (40) from a direction opposite from the direction in which th head plug is inserted and rotated until the cam affixed there lifts the sliding latch plate from the groove in a direction opposing the spring. While the non-key locking cable device for vehicles has described by reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that many variations can be made in the invention device, without departing from the invention scope.

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