Method and apparatus for securing a movable item to a structure
DCFirst Claim
1. An electronic locking system for removably securing a bicycle to a structure, the electronic locking system comprising:
- first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the bicycle and the structure and being engageable together in a lockable position; and
a securing assembly for securing said first and second connecting members together when engaged in the lockable position, said securing assembly comprising;
a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member;
a locking aperture defined in the second connecting member, said locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position, wherein the movable locking member, when in said unlocked position, is in a retracted position, thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the bicycle into the locking position with the structure;
an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and second connecting members and a locked position wherein the movable locking member protrudes from the retracted position to engage the locking aperture;
position detecting means mounted to one of said first and second connecting members for detecting a positioning of said first and second connecting members in said lockable position; and
electronic control means operatively coupled to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position and from the locked position to the unlocked position when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position,wherein said electronic control means is adapted to selectively actuate said actuator to move said movable locking member from said unlocked position to said locked position upon detection by the position detecting means of said positioning of said first and second connecting member in said lockable position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic lock for removably securing a movable item to a structure, the electronic lock comprising first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the movable item and the structure and being engageable together in a lockable position; and a securing assembly for securing the first and second connecting members together when engaged in the lockable position, the securing assembly comprising a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member, a locking aperture defined in the second connecting member, the locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position; an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and second connecting members and a locked position wherein the movable locking member engages the locking aperture, and electronic control means for controlling selective actuation of the movable locking member.
47 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electronic locking system for removably securing a bicycle to a structure, the electronic locking system comprising:
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first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the bicycle and the structure and being engageable together in a lockable position; and a securing assembly for securing said first and second connecting members together when engaged in the lockable position, said securing assembly comprising; a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member; a locking aperture defined in the second connecting member, said locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position, wherein the movable locking member, when in said unlocked position, is in a retracted position, thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the bicycle into the locking position with the structure; an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and second connecting members and a locked position wherein the movable locking member protrudes from the retracted position to engage the locking aperture; position detecting means mounted to one of said first and second connecting members for detecting a positioning of said first and second connecting members in said lockable position; and electronic control means operatively coupled to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position and from the locked position to the unlocked position when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position, wherein said electronic control means is adapted to selectively actuate said actuator to move said movable locking member from said unlocked position to said locked position upon detection by the position detecting means of said positioning of said first and second connecting member in said lockable position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electronic locking system for removably securing a bicycle to a structure, the electronic locking system comprising:
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an elongated male connector fixedly mounted to the bicycle and comprising a locking aperture; a female connector fixedly mounted to the structure and adapted for removably receiving therein the elongated male connector; a securing assembly associated to the female connector, the securing assembly comprising; a movable locking member displaceable between an unlocked position for allowing the female connector to receive therein the elongated male connector and a locked position, wherein the movable locking member, when in said unlocked position, is in a retracted position, thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the bicycle into the locking position with the structure; an actuator for causing displacement of the locking member between the unlocked position and the locked position; position detecting means mounted to one of said bicycle to a structure for detecting a positioning of said first and second connecting members in said lockable position; and electronic control means coupled to the actuator for controlling displacement of the locking member between the unlocked position and the locked position; wherein when the elongated male connector is received in the female connector, the electronic control means controls the actuator for causing the locking member to displace towards the locked position and to engage the locking aperture, thereby securing the elongated male connector in the female connector; wherein said electronic control means is adapted to selectively actuate said actuator to displace said movable locking member from said unlocked position to said locked position upon detection by the position detecting means of said positioning of said first and second connecting member in said lockable position.
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29. A method for removably securing a bicycle to a structure, the method comprising:
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providing an electronic locking system for removably securing the bicycle to the structure, the electronic locking system comprising; first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the bicycle and the structure and being engageable together in a lockable position; and a securing assembly for securing said first and second connecting members together when engaged in the lockable position, said securing assembly comprising; a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member, wherein the movable locking member, when in an unlocked position, is in a retracted position, thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the bicycle into the lockable position with the structure; a locking aperture defined in the second connecting member, said locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position; an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between the unlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and second connecting members and a locked position wherein the movable locking member engages the locking aperture; and electronic control means operatively coupled to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position and from the locked position to the unlocked position when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position; monitoring a positioning of said first and second connecting members in said lockable position; engaging the first and second connecting members together in the lockable position; and upon detection of said positioning of said first and second connecting members in said lockable position, actuating the locking member to the locked position so that the locking member engages the locking aperture, thereby securing said bicycle to said structure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A kit for removably securing a bicycle to a structure, the kit comprising:
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first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mountable to a respective one of the bicycle and the structure and being engageable together in a lockable position; and a securing assembly for securing said first and second connecting members together when engaged in the lockable position, said securing assembly comprising; a movable locking member operatively associatable to the first connecting member; a locking aperture defined in the second connecting member, said locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position, wherein the movable locking member, when in said unlocked position, is in a retracted position, thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the bicycle into the locking position with the structure; an actuator operatively couplable to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and second connecting members and a locked position wherein the movable locking member protrudes from the retracted position to engage the locking aperture; position detecting means mounted to one of said first and second connecting members for detecting a positioning of said first and second connecting members in said lockable position; and electronic control means operatively couplable to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position and from the locked position to the unlocked position when the connecting members are engaged together in the lockable position; wherein said electronic control means is adapted to selectively actuate said actuator to move said movable locking member from said unlocked position to said locked position upon detection by the position detecting means of said positioning of said first and second connecting member in said lockable position.
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Specification