Link chain and frame lock system for a bicycle

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a link chain according to the preamble of claim 1 for securing a two-wheeler, as is known, for example, from EP 1 834 864 A1.

[0002] Furthermore, DE 20 2016 101 782 U1 describes a frame lock system for a two-wheeler with a frame lock having a locking bolt which is movable between a closed position for blocking a spoked wheel of a two-wheeler and a release position for releasing a spoked wheel, wherein the frame lock further comprises a clamp receptacle for receiving the free end of a clamp.

[0003] Furthermore, frame lock systems are known in which the locking bolt is not designed as a round bar movable on a circular path, for example according to DE 102 52 080 A1, but as a locking bar pivotable about an axis between a closed position and a release position, see for example DE 103 58 300 A1.

[0004] Such frame lock systems can have a link chain, and in particular a round link chain, by means of which a bicycle to be secured can be additionally secured to a fastening object, such as a lamppost, in order to protect it against theft. For this purpose, a chain loop can be formed using the link chain, which surrounds the fastening object by passing the block of the chain through a threading element, such as a ring or loop according to DE 103 58 300 A1, at the other end of the chain. The free end of the block, which is attached to or engages with the first chain link at the first or free end of the link chain, can then be inserted into the block receptacle of the frame lock and secured therein by means of the lock mechanism.

[0005] In order to protect the two-wheeler to be secured by means of the link chain, and in particular its frame, from damage and paint chipping caused by the relatively solid chain and its clamp, not only the link chain or its chain links are usually enclosed by a protective sheath or tube; rather, the handle end of the clamp opposite the free end of the clamp, including the first chain link, is often also enclosed by an essentially wooden cylindrical protective sleeve made of a relatively rigid plastic material in order to prevent unintentional damage to the two-wheeler to be secured by the clamp.

[0006] Due to the fact that the protective sleeve surrounds not only the handle section but also the first link of the link chain, the first chain link is essentially held in axial extension of the block by the protective sleeve, even when this or the free end of the block is secured in the block receptacle of the frame lock. The first chain link therefore protrudes to a certain extent laterally from the two-wheeler and consequently represents a certain obstacle for the rider of the two-wheeler. In particular, the rider of the two-wheeler can collide with their heels or shoe heels while riding against the protruding first chain link, since the same can also be secured in the block receptacle when the locking bolt is in the release position.

[0007] Apart from that, the first chain link protruding to the side of the two-wheeler also represents a certain obstacle when the two-wheeler is secured to a fastening object by means of the chain, since in this case the rider of the two-wheeler can get caught on the first chain link, especially in confined spaces.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a solution to the problem described above without this being at the expense of the protective function of the protective sleeve.

[0009] According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a link chain having the features of claim 1 and in particular in that a protective sleeve surrounding the handle section is fastened to the handle section of the block, said protective sleeve having a first end facing the free end of the block and a second end facing away from the first end of the sleeve and facing the chain, wherein the sleeve has at least one slot which extends from the second sleeve end in the direction of the first sleeve end to beyond the opening formed in the handle section of the block.

[0010] The at least one slot can cancel out the chain-stiffening effect of the sleeve, which ensures that the first chain link is always held substantially axially with the block. Rather, the at least one slot can ensure that the first chain link can move substantially freely relative to the block, and in particular, can be angled by extending through the slot from the opening formed in the handle portion of the block.

[0011] Since the at least one slot extends from the second sleeve end in the direction of the first sleeve end up over the opening formed in the handle section of the clamp, the first chain link can thus move substantially freely in the opening formed in the handle section of the clamp without rubbing against the sleeve, thereby ensuring that the first chain link can extend out of the sleeve through either one or the other slot, depending on the orientation of the clamp.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the link chain will now be discussed below. Further embodiments may also be apparent from the dependent claims, the description of the figures, and the drawings.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the sleeve can have two opposing slots that extend from the second sleeve end towards the first sleeve end. The first chain link can thus be angled in different directions relative to the block. This in turn allows the free end of the block to be inserted into the block receptacle of the frame lock in any orientation and secured therein, since the chain then rotates the block due to gravity into a position in which the two slots lie essentially vertically one above the other, so that the first chain link can extend out of the sleeve through the lower of the two slots.

[0014] According to yet another embodiment, the at least one slot can have a clear width that essentially corresponds to the nominal thickness of the first chain link. This also ensures that the first chain link can move freely relative to the block, as is desirable so that the first chain link can be angled relative to the block.

[0015] According to yet another embodiment, the protective sleeve can extend over the entire length of the handlebar portion of the clamp. The clamp thus has a kind of padding in the area of ​​its handlebar portion, which can prevent damage to the bicycle in the desired manner if the clamp, with its handlebar portion, strikes the bicycle frame, for example.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a frame lock system with a link chain of the type explained.

[0017] In the following, the invention will now be described purely by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1a and 1b show an embodiment of a frame lock system, wherein the locking bolt designed as a round bar is in the closed position and in the release position, respectively; Fig. 2 shows the first end of a round link chain according to the invention in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 shows the clamp at the first end of the link chain according to Fig. 1 in a side view; and Fig. 4 a side view of the Fig. 2 visible sleeve.

[0018] Fig. 1a shows, in a partially cutaway front view, the basic structure of an exemplary embodiment of a frame lock. This frame lock is mounted, for example, on the rear fork of a bicycle (not shown in the figures). There, the frame lock allows the rear spoked wheel of the bicycle to be locked to prevent unauthorized use of the bicycle.

[0019] The frame lock has a housing with a base section 11, to which a bearing leg 13 and a receiving leg 15 of the housing are connected. The bearing leg 13 and the receiving leg 15 together essentially form a horseshoe shape and enclose a locking area 17 of the frame lock. Part of the rear wheel extends into this locking area if the frame lock is mounted on the rear fork of a bicycle, as explained.

[0020] Arranged within the base section 11 is a locking cylinder 19, which is coupled to a locking bolt 21, designed here as a bar bolt. The locking cylinder 19 and thus the locking bolt 21 can be operated using a key 23.

[0021] Furthermore, a substantially hollow-cylindrical block receptacle 25 is formed within the base section 11. The free end 71 of a block 27 of a link chain 29, which is provided with an annular groove 31 at its free end 71, projects into this. The front end of the free end 71 of the block 27 bears against an ejection spring 32, which is permanently fastened, for example welded or riveted, to the front side of the block receptacle 25. The link chain 29 has a plurality of chain links arranged in a row (not shown), which can be surrounded by a protective sheath or hose. At its end facing away from the block 27, the link chain 29 has a threading element, which can be rigid or flexible, in particular, and which generally has a circumferentially closed opening through which the block 27 can be passed.The threading element can be designed, for example, as a ring or a loop, as is known from DE 103 58 300 A1. By guiding the end of the link chain 29 having the clamp 27 through the threading element, the link chain 29 can in turn form a closed chain loop, which can, for example, be placed around a stationary fastening object (e.g., a lamppost), while the clamp 27 is locked to the frame lock. This can, for example, prevent the bicycle to which the frame lock is attached from being carried away without authorization.

[0022] A clamp bolt 33 engages in the clamp receptacle 25 and there in the annular groove 31 of the clamp 27. The clamp bolt 33 is preloaded by a compression spring 35 along a preload direction 37.

[0023] Inside the bearing leg 13 there is a locking bolt 39, designed here as a round bracket. Fig. 1a In the closed position of the locking bolt 39 shown, one end of the locking bolt 39 protrudes into the base section 11, and the other end extends transversely through the locking area 17, so that its tip is received within the receiving leg 15. A handle 41 is permanently attached, for example, welded, to the locking bolt 39. The handle 41 protrudes from the bearing leg 13 through a lateral guide slot (not visible in the figures).

[0024] At the end of the locking bolt 39 extending along the base section 11, specifically on the inside of the locking bolt 39, a release recess 43 is formed. A coupling hook 45 of the clamp bolt 33 rests against this release recess 43. Adjacent to the release recess 43 with respect to a closing direction 47, the locking bolt 39 has a retention protrusion 49 which ultimately corresponds to the regular material thickness of the locking bolt 39, but is offset in height relative to the release recess 43 with respect to the pretensioning direction 37 of the clamp bolt 33. The transition between the release recess 43 and the adjacent retention protrusion 49 forms an inclined positive guide section 51.

[0025] At the end of the locking bolt 39 projecting into the base section 11, a locking groove 53 is also formed, into which the bar bolt 21 engages. Furthermore, this end is connected to a tension spring 55, which preloads the locking bolt 39 against the closing direction 47.

[0026] The frame lock shown is also provided with stiffening surfaces 57. Furthermore, connecting rivets 59 are shown, which connect an upper and a lower housing part (not shown in detail in the figures).

[0027] The Fig. 1a The frame lock shown generally serves to selectively block the spoked wheel located in the locking area 17, namely by the locking bolt 39 passing through the locking area 17 and thus running between two adjacent spokes of the spoked wheel.

[0028] In order to release a spoked wheel that has been blocked in this way, the locking bolt 39 is Fig. 1a shown closed position, counter to the closing direction 47, into a release position. For this purpose, the locking cylinder 19 is rotated using the key 23. This rotational actuation is converted - for example via an eccentric coupling - into a sliding movement of the locking bolt 21, so that the bar bolt 21 is pulled out of the locking groove 23 of the locking bolt 39. The tension spring 55 pulls the thus released locking bolt 39 towards the receiving leg 15, so that the locking bolt 39 releases the locking area 17.

[0029] Fig. 1b shows in a completely cutaway front view the frame lock in the thus assumed release position of the locking bolt 39. If the locking bolt 39 is subsequently to be moved back into the closed position, the locking bolt 39 is moved by means of the handle 41 against the tensile force of the tension spring 55 in the closing direction 47. In the thus assumed closed position, the locking bolt 39 is secured by the bar bolt 21 again engaging in the locking groove 53. In this case - deviating from the simplified illustration according to Fig. 1a - an automatic locking of the bar latch 21 must also be provided.

[0030] In addition to the explained blocking of the locking area 17, the Fig. 1a and 1bThe frame lock shown in the drawing secures or fixes the clamp 27 to the frame lock. This allows the bicycle to be secured, for example, to a fastening object such as a lamp post using the link chain 29. For this additional security function, the clamp 27 is moved while the locking bolt 39 is in the closed position according to Fig. 1a is inserted into the cock receptacle 25 along an insertion direction 61. At the end of this insertion process, the cock 27, with its conical front end, briefly displaces the cock bolt 33 against the pretensioning direction 37, and the pressure of the ejection spring 32 must be overcome. As soon as the cock 27 has been fully inserted into the cock receptacle 25, the cock bolt 33 snaps back into the cock receptacle 25 due to the compressive force exerted by the compression spring 35 and thus engages the annular groove 31.

[0031] The clamp bolt 33 is now in its closed position, and the clamp 27 is fixed within the clamp receptacle 25. This engagement of the clamp bolt 33 in the clamp receptacle 25 is possible because, in the closed position of the locking bolt 39, the coupling hook 25 of the clamp bolt 33 can enter the release recess 43 of the locking bolt 39.

[0032] As soon as the locking bolt 39 is moved from the closed position according to Fig. 1a into the release position according to Fig. 1b is moved, the coupling hook 45 is retracted along the inclined guide section 51 counter to the pretensioning direction 37 and subsequently held in the retracted position on the retention elevation 49 of the locking bolt 39. As a result, the clamp bolt 33 also disengages from the annular groove 31 of the clamp 27 and is thus in its release position. In this state, the ejection spring 32 ensures that the clamp 27 is at least partially forced out of the clamp receptacle 25 counter to the insertion direction 61. The clamp 27 can now be removed from the clamp receptacle 25.

[0033] If the locking bolt 39 is subsequently moved from the release position according to Fig. 1b back to the closed position according to Fig. 1a is transferred, the coupling hook 45 moves along the positive guide section 51 back into the release recess 43, whereby the compression spring 35 moves the clamp bolt 33 back into its closed position. The clamp 27 can now be secured again in the clamp receptacle 25 in the manner explained.

[0034] Thus, the clamp 27 can only be secured in the clamp receptacle 25 if the locking bolt 39 is completely closed, as in Fig. 1a This prevents the user of the frame lock from merely securing the block 27 to the frame lock and forgetting to also close the locking bolt 39.

[0035] Although the clamp 27 can be removed from the Fig. 1a and 1bThe frame lock system shown can only be secured in the closed position of the locking bolt 39 in the clamp receptacle 25; however, the frame lock system can also be modified so that the clamp 27 can be secured in the clamp receptacle 25 both in the closed position and in the release position of the locking bolt 39, as is the case with the embodiment according to Fig. 2 DE 102 52 080 A1 is the case, to which explicit reference is hereby made.

[0036] In the following, with reference to the Fig. 2 bis 4 the design of the link chain 29 in the area of ​​its first end, where the clamp 27 is located, is discussed.

[0037] According to the above explanations, the block 27 has a free end 71 which is designed to be received by the block receptacle 25 and secured therein, for which purpose the annular groove 31 serves, into which the block latch 33 engages in the closed or released position. At the end facing away from the free end 71, the block 27 forms a gripping section 73, in the region of which the block 27 can be grasped by a user to insert its free end 71 into the block receptacle 25. In the region of the gripping section 73, an opening 75 is formed through which the first chain link 77 of the link chain 29 extends, whereby the block 27 engages with the first chain link 77 and is thus secured thereto.

[0038] Again Fig. 2 can also be removed, the handle portion 73 of the clamp 27 is surrounded by a substantially hollow-cylindrical protective sleeve 79 made of a permanently elastic plastic material. To secure the protective sleeve 79 to the handle portion 73, the latter has a circumferential annular groove 81 which receives an annular projection 83 formed along the inner circumference of the protective sleeve 79, whereby the protective sleeve 79 is positively secured to the handle portion 73 of the clamp 27. In addition, the protective sleeve 79 can be secured by means of a retaining ring 87, which is fitted into an annular groove 85 formed on the outer circumference of the protective sleeve 79.

[0039] If the protective sleeve 79 had a closed or uninterrupted circumferential wall, the first chain link 77 would always be held and aligned by the protective sleeve 79 such that it extends essentially in axial alignment with the block 27. To counteract this or to enable the first chain link 77 to be pivoted or angled relative to the block 27, the invention provides that the protective sleeve 79 has one and preferably two slots 89, which extend from the second end 93 of the protective sleeve 79 facing the chain 29 in the direction of the first end 91 of the protective sleeve 79 facing the free end 71 of the block 27. The first chain link 77 can thus be pivoted through one of the two slots 89 and thus angled relative to the block 27 (see Fig. 3 ), so that the first chain link 77 no longer represents an obstacle protruding laterally from a two-wheeler when the clamp 27 is secured with its free end 71 in the clamp receptacle 25 of a frame lock.

[0040] How best to represent the Fig. 2 can be removed, the two slots 89 extend from the second sleeve end 93 in the direction of the first sleeve end 91 up to over the opening 75 formed in the handle portion 73 of the clamp 27, whereby it can be ensured that the first chain link 77 can move essentially freely relative to the clamp 27. In order to further improve the freedom of movement of the first chain link 27, the two slots 89 also have a clear width that essentially corresponds to the nominal thickness of the first chain link 77. Bezugszeichenliste

[0041] 11Base section 13Bearing leg 15Receiving leg 17Locking area 19Locking cylinder 21Bail bolt 23Key 25Bolt receptacle 27Bolt 29Link chain 31Ring groove 32Ejection spring 33Bolt bolt 35Compression spring 37Pre-tension direction 39Locking bolt 41Handle 43Release recess 45Coupling hook 47Closing direction 49Retaining elevation 51(first) positive guide section 53Locking groove 55Tension spring 57Stiffening surface 59Connecting rivet 61Insertion direction 71Free block end 73Grip section 75Opening 77First chain link 79Protective sleeve 81Ring groove 83Ring projection 85Ring groove 87Retaining ring 89Slot 911th sleeve end 932nd sleeve end

Claims

1. A link chain (29) for securing a two-wheeler by means of a frame lock, said link chain (29) comprising a plurality of chain links, wherein the link chain (29) has, at a first end, a first chain link (77) which is in engagement with a bolt (27), for which purpose the first chain link (77) engages through an opening (75) which is formed at a grip section (73) of the bolt (27) facing away from the free end (71) of the bolt (27), characterized in that the link chain (29) has, at a second end facing away from the first end, a thread-through element which is designed such that the bolt (27) can be guided through it to form a chain loop; and in that a protective sleeve (79) surrounding the grip section (73) is fastened to the grip section (73) of the bolt (27) and has a first end (91), which faces the free end of the bolt (27), and a second end (93), which faces away from the first end (91) of the sleeve (79), wherein the sleeve (79) comprises at least one slot (89) which extends, starting from the second sleeve end (93), in the direction of the first sleeve end (91) up to and over the opening (75) formed in the grip section (73) of the bolt (27).

2. A link chain according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (79) has two mutually oppositely disposed slots (89) which extend, starting from the second sleeve end (93), in the direction of the first sleeve end (91).

3. A link chain according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that the at least one slot (89) has a clearance which corresponds to the nominal thickness of the first chain link (77).

4. A link chain according to at least one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective sleeve (79) extends over the total length of the grip section (73) of the bolt (27).

5. A frame lock system for a two-wheeler, comprising: a frame lock having a locking bolt (39) which is movable between a closing position for blocking a spoke wheel of a two-wheeler and a release position for releasing a spoke wheel; and a link chain (29), wherein the frame lock further has a bolt receiver (25) for receiving the free end (71) of the bolt (27), characterized in that the link chain (29) is configured in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 to 4.