Security system for bicycles, ski racks and coat racks

• US 4,920,334 A
• Filed: 04/24/1989
• Issued: 04/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dean R. Devolpi
• Original Assignee: Dean R. Devolpi
• Inventors: DeVolpi, Dean R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/341,837
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/571, 340/572, 340/542-543, 361/172
• US Class Current: 340/568.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2003/005 Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/04 involving forked supports of brackets for holding a wheel B62H3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/003 using chains or cables chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18

Abstract

A security system for bicycles, ski racks and coat racks which includes a control in which a user can place a specific code for the specific lock which is to be used after which a free end of the cable can be passed through the device to be secured such as a bicycle, coat or a pair of skis and then inserted into the receptacle which locks. The security system includes an alarm when the cable carries either an electrical, a fibre optic or a pneumatic line such that if the cable is severed by a thief that an alarm system will instantly be actuated so as to prevent the theft. The user can release the cable by entering the known code when the article is to be removed which allows the one end of the cable to be unlocked from its holding socket.

Claims

1. A locking system comprising, a holding member, a flexible locking cable with its first end attached to said holding member and adapted to be passed through an article which is to be locked to said holding member, the second end of said cable formed with a locking shoulder, a pair of locking jaws attached to said holding member and said second end of said cable insertable therein to lock said jaws behind said shoulder, a flexible conduit means which extends through said cable from said first to said second end, an energy transmitter connected to one end of said flexible conduit, and an energy sensor coupled to the other end of said flexible conduit to detect when said cable and flexible conduit are severed, including a micro-controller connected to said locking jaws to lock and unlock them, including a solenoid connected to said locking jaws and to said micro-controller and including an alarm connected to said micro-controller and said energy sensor connected to said micro-controller.

2. A locking system according to claim 1 wherein said energy transmitter transmits light energy.

3. A locking system according to claim 1 wherein said energy transmitter transmits electrical energy.

4. A locking system according to claim 1 wherein said energy transmitter transmits fluid.

5. A locking system according to claim 1 including a control unit connected to said micro-controller and provided with a keypad into which a locking code can be entered for storage in said micro-controller.

6. A locking system according to claim 5 including an EEPROM connected to said micro-controller.

7. A locking device according to claim 5 including a coin acceptor connected to said control unit to enable it.