Locking device

• US 7,661,280 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trevor Adrian Weyland
• Original Assignee: Trevor Adrian Weyland
• Inventors: Weyland, Trevor Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US12/287,954
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/18, 70/19, 70/30, 70/49, 702/33, 224/425, 224/935
• US Class Current: 70/233
• 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: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/409 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/435 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/483 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5872 For cycles

Abstract

One embodiment of a locking device of the type for motorcycle helmets having a cable (50) which is fastened at one end to the device, and which passes though the face of the helmet and is detachably secured in the locking device to releasably secure the helmet. The active locking element of the lock (44), when in locked position, secures the cable (50) and acts to deny access to the fastener (36) securing the device to the motorcycle handlebars, so as to resist removal of the device from the handlebars. The cable (50) is flexible, has permanently formed spiral convolutions and is partially held in place by the concave shape of the device. The device can be used to secure helmets, jackets or other items, and, in various embodiments, it can be used to lock a vehicle or item to a fixed object to deter theft of the vehicle or item. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Claims

1. A locking device, comprising:

a. a lock housing shaped in part to form a concave arc and formed of two or more mating sections, having a lock section and one or more supplementary sections, which are secured together to or around an object,

b. a cable receiving bore extending into said lock section,

c. a fastener receiving bore aligned with and extending said cable receiving bore through said lock section and into said supplementary sections,

d. a threaded fastener for fixedly attaching all said sections of said lock housing to or around said object,

e. a lock mechanism that is mounted in said lock section and incorporates an active locking element,

f. a flexible cable having plural permanently formed spiral convolutions formed therein to reduce the length of said cable that is permanently secured at one end to said lock section, and

g. a passive plug-in element that is secured to the other end of said cable and is adapted to enter said cable receiving bore and to releasably interlock therein with said active locking element,

whereby said cable is partially held in place by said concave arc of said lock housing, and forms a closed retaining loop, and said active locking element acts both to secure said cable in said lock housing and to deny access to said fastener so as to resist removal of said locking device from said object.

2. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said object is a motorcycle handlebar.

3. The locking device of claim 1 wherein one of said supplementary sections is incorporated in and part of a motorcycle handlebar, motorcycle triple clamp, bicycle frame or bicycle seat post clamp.

4. A method of securely attaching a lock to an item to be locked to an object, comprising:

a. providing a lock housing shaped in part to form a concave arc and formed of two or more mating sections, having a lock section and one or more supplementary sections,

b. providing a cable receiving bore extending into said lock section,

c. providing a fastener receiving bore aligned with and extending said cable receiving bore through said lock section and into said supplementary sections,

d. providing a threaded fastener,

e. inserting said threaded fastener through said cable receiving bore and securing said threaded fastener into said fastener receiving bore,

f. providing a lock mechanism that is mounted in said lock section and incorporates an active locking element,

g. providing a flexible cable having plural permanently formed spiral convolutions formed therein to reduce the length of said cable that is permanently secured at one end to said lock section,

h. providing a passive plug-in element that is secured to the other end of said cable, and

i. inserting said passive plug-in element into said cable receiving bore to releasably interlock therein with said active locking element,

whereby said cable is partially held in place by said concave arc of said lock housing, and said active locking element acts both to secure said cable in said lock housing and denies access to said fastener so as to resist removal of said locking device from said item to be locked.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said object is a motorcycle handlebar.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein one of said supplementary sections is incorporated in and part of a motorcycle handlebar, motorcycle triple clamp, bicycle frame or bicycle seat post clamp.

7. A locking device, comprising:

a. a lock housing shaped in part to form a concave arc and formed of two or more mating sections, having a lock section and one or more supplementary sections, which are secured together to or around an object,

b. a cable receiving bore extending into said lock section,

c. a fastener receiving bore aligned with and extending said cable receiving bore through said lock section and into said supplementary sections,

d. a threaded fastener for fixedly attaching all said sections of said lock housing to or around said object,

e. a flexible cable having plural permanently formed spiral convolutions formed therein to reduce the length of said cable that is permanently secured at one end to said lock section,

f. a passive plug-in element that is secured to the other end of said cable and is adapted to enter said cable receiving bore, and

g. locking means housed within said lock section for releasably locking said passive plug-in element within said cable receiving bore,

whereby said cable is partially held in place by said concave arc of said lock housing, and forms a closed retaining loop, and said locking means acts both to secure said cable in said lock housing and to deny access to said fastener so as to resist removal of said locking device from said object.

8. The locking device of claim 7 wherein said object is a motorcycle handlebar.