Automatic cycle storage system

• US 7,726,160 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JCDecaux SA (JCDecaux Group)
• Original Assignee: JCDecaux SA (JCDecaux Group)
• Inventors: Zeferino, Emmanuel, Gagosz, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A
• Application Number:
  US11/676,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 70/30, 70/49, 70233-236, 703/89, 248551-553, 211/5
• US Class Current: 70/233
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2003/005 Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/00 Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/00 Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles fittings for preventing or indicating use or theft of vehicles in general B60R; general features of locks E05B
• 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: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/483 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5872 For cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5881 Stands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7768 Key-removal preventing

Abstract

An automatic cycle storage system comprising a plurality of cycles, each of which carries a locking member designed to be received in a keeper of a locking station. Each cycle includes an anti-theft cycle lock which, when it is in the position in which it immobilizes the cycle, prevents the cycle from being locked to a locking station.

Claims

1. An automatic cycle storage system comprising:

a plurality of cycles, each of which carries a locking member; and

a plurality of fixed locking stations each of which is provided with at least one keeper adapted to receive the locking member of one of the cycles and

said automatic cycle storage system being characterized in that each cycle has an anti-theft cycle lock which, when it is in the position in which it immobilizes the cycle, prevents the cycle from being locked to the locking station, the anti-theft cycle lock includes a flexible tie that extends between a first end that is secured to the cycle and a second end that is secured to a rigid pin which is adapted to be locked in a socket secured to the cycle when the anti-theft cycle lock immobilizes the cycle, the socket being disposed so that the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock extends substantially horizontally while preventing the cycle from being locked to the locking station when said pin of the anti-theft cycle lock is engaged in said socket.

2. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1, in which the socket is in the vicinity of the locking member and is disposed so that the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock extends substantially horizontally on the same side as the locking member when said pin of the anti-theft cycle lock is engaged in said socket.

3. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1, in which the socket is disposed towards the front relative to the locking member in the insertion direction in which said locking member is inserted into the keeper.

4. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1, in which the socket is provided in a box that carries the locking member and that is secured to the cycle.

5. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1, in which the cycle also has a key lock operated by a key and enabling the key to be extracted from the key lock only when the key is in a predetermined angular position, the key lock also having a latch that is mounted to move with the key and that is adapted to co-operate with the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock when the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock is engaged in the socket, the latch also being adapted to co-operate with the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock so that said key is in said predetermined angular position only when the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock is locked in the socket.

6. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 5, in which the latch is adapted to penetrate into said socket when said key is in the predetermined position, said latch being urged resiliently towards a locking position corresponding to said predetermined angular position of the key, the socket also including a slidably mounted blocking member that is urged towards a rest position in which said blocking member prevents the latch from reaching said locking position, said blocking member being adapted to be pushed back by the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock while enabling said pin of the anti-theft cycle lock to co-operate with the latch.

7. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 5, in which the pin of the anti-theft cycle lock is provided with a side recess adapted to receive the latch.

8. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 5, in which the key lock is surrounded at least partially by a key-cover wall that projects towards the keeper and that is adapted to mask the key when the cycle is locked to the locking station.

9. An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1, in which the keeper is adapted to prevent the anti-theft cycle lock from being placed in a position in which it immobilizes the cycle when said cycle is locked to the locking station.