A steering column lock and a method of operating the steering column lock

Abstract

A steering column lock that comprises an electric s pindle motor (42) as an electrical drive means (41, 42). The steering column lock is configured for being integrated in a bicycle steering column at the end opposite a bicycle handlebars. The steering column lock comprises a first lock part (9; 9'), which is configured and dimensioned for being accommodated in the radial gap (8) between a steerer tube (4) and a head tube (3) of the bicycle steering column, and a second lock part (35; 35') configured and dimensioned for being arranged inside a steerer tube (4) of a bicycle steering column, and a drive shaft (41) that extends axially along the second lock part (35; 35').

Description

[0001]A steering column lock and a method of operating the steering column lock The present invention relates to a novel steering column lock comprising an electrical drive means and being configured for being integrated in a bicycle steering column at the end opposite a bicycle handlebars. The steering column lock comprises a first lock part, which is configured and dimensioned for being accommodated in the radial gap between a steerer tube and a head tube of the bicycle steering column, and a second lock part configured and dimensioned for being arranged inside a steerer tube of a bicycle steering column. An electric bike, often called an E-bike, offers a fast, easy and convenient way to drive around in an eco-friendly manner, so electric bikes are becoming an increasingly popular solution for bicyclists. The front fork of most electric bikes can be a rigid front fork but is usually a suspension fork designed to provide extra comfort to the rider. Electric bikes are very expensive, and it is important for the owner to be able to lock it properly when not in use. The applicant’s international patent application no. PCT / EP2022 / 068223 discloses a steering column lock for a bicycle, preferably an E-bike. This known steering column lock works by interlocking rotation of the steerer tube about its central axis in relation to the central axis of the head tube. In one embodiment of PCT / EP2022 / 068223 the means that serve for prevention of such relative rotation is a magnetic means. The steering column lock can lock the front wheel into a stable turned position, and blocks the handlebars from turning which makes riding the bicycle impossible. However, the many small components, that are to be arranged and co-operate inside the steerer tube, makes this known steering column lock expensive to manufacture and time-consuming and difficult to assemble and mount to the steering column of the bicycle. It is accordingly a main aspect of the present invention to provide an improved integrated or integratable steering column lock. In a further aspect of the present invention is provided a keyless steering column lock. In a further aspect of the present invention is provided an electric steering column lock. In a further aspect of the present invention is provided an integrated steering column lock that has a simple structure. In a further aspect of the present invention is provided an integrated steering column lock, wherein the installation of the steering column lock does not require drilling holes in the walls of any of the head tube and the steerer tube. The novel and unique features whereby these and other aspects are achieved according to the present invention consist in that the electrical drive means is an electric spindle motor, having a drive shaft that extends axially along the second lock part. Within the context of the present invention the term “axially” in relation to the steering column and the steering column lock refers to a longitudinal axis parallel or coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the steering column of the bicycle. The electric spindle motor with its drive shaft serves as a linear actuator that converts the rotary motion of the drive shaft into linear motion of some components of the second lock part. The electric spindle motor may e.g. act as a basic traveling-nut linear actuator with a long rotating drive shaft. The rotating drive shaft of an electric spindle motor is the spindle, which is driven directly by the electric spindle motor. As the electric spindle motor is compact it does not take up much space when integrated inside the steerer tube as a part of the second lock part. With its direct drive the speed and torque of the electric motor and spindle are the same, whereby friction losses, movement inaccuracies and / or wear can be reduced substantially and even avoided. Thus the electric spindle motor provides a very high level of efficiency and reliability to the steering column lock of the present invention. The first lock part may comprise a lower moveable lock means including an axially displaceable exterior magnet housing that has at least one exterior magnet, and an upper stationary lock means configured to engage the lower moveable lock means. The second lock part may comprise an axially displaceable interior magnet housing that has at least one interior magnet magnetically attractable to the at least one exterior magnet. In some angular rotated position about the axis of the steerer tube in relation to the head tube the at least one interior magnet can attract the at least one exterior magnet without being in physical contact, but in other such angular rotated position(s) there is no corresponding magnetic attraction between said at least one interior magnet and said at least one exterior magnet. Once the at least one interior magnet and the at least one exterior magnet are in magnetic attracting contact the axial position of the displaceable exterior magnet housing can be altered by moving the interior magnet housing, which moving can take place despite there is no physical contact between said exterior magnet housing and said interior magnet housing. So when e.g. the interior magnet housing is pushed upwards inside the steerer tube, the axially displaceable exterior magnet housing automatically comes along. Thereby the lower moveable lock means, which surrounds the steerer tube and is associated with the axially displaceable exterior magnet housing, can be brought in and out of engagement with the upper stationary lock means, which is arranged in a fixed position surrounding the steerer tube, due to a travel length of the electric spindle motor arranged above the lower moveable lock means, simply by moving the interior magnet housing a corresponding travel length by the action of the spindle motor. Preferably the drive shaft of the electric spindle motor can extend along a central axis of the second lock part so that the components of the second lock part does not skew and jam upon displacement, e.g. when the interior magnet housing is axially displaced. The steering column lock according to the present invention may comprise a control device configured for running a control program having at least an opening algorithm configured for controlling an opening procedure of the steering column lock and a closing algorithm configured for controlling a closing procedure of the steering column lock. This way manual interaction with the steering column lock can be substantially reduced. In a convenient embodiment the control device may comprise at least a stationary control device part comprising one or more electronic components selected from the group of a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit, a chip or a micro chip programmed with the opening algorithm and the closing algorithm of the control program. Optionally the stationary control device part may comprise a backing for the one or more electronic components, which backing may extend axially inside the steerer tube from the top of the electric spindle motor or from the top of a motor housing. The control device may further comprise that the stationary control device part comprises a stationary sensor means applied to a backing. Optionally the stationary sensor means can be provided attached to the backing. The backing can provide a solid anchoring surface for the stationary control device part. The backing can be a PCB that carries that electronic control means and runs the algorithms. The control device may further comprise at least a moveable control device part arranged in operative communication with the stationary control device part, and optionally having a moveable sensor means. The moveable control device part can e.g. comprise a rod having a lower end secured to the interior magnet housing and an opposite free upper end overlapping the stationary control device part in order to interact with said stationary control device part during operation of the steering column lock. To that aspect it may be preferred to arrange the backing e.g. on top of or protruding from the motor housing to be easy accessible for the moveable control device part so that the stationary sensor means and at a free upper end of the moveable sensor means can co-operate. The control program may further have a safety algorithm configured to prevent accidental locking of the steering column lock during riding the bike. The stationary sensor means may register the presence or no presence of the moveable sensor means and in response thereto the algorithms of the control program may provide input to the control device to keep the steering column lock unlocked or locked during riding or parking respectively. The control program may be configured to be in electronic operative communication with the rider via an external operating device. An expedient example of an external operating device is a smart phone or tablet provided with an application program (app) configured for operating the control program. Conveniently the lower moveable lock means may comprise a second ring-shaped lock part provided with the at least one exterior magnet arranged facing the second lock part, and having at least one second tooth that protrudes axially upright at an upper end, and the upper stationary lock means may comprise a first ring-shaped lock part having at least one first tooth that protrudes axially downwards towards the at least one second tooth. The lower moveable lock means moves up when subjected to a force applied to the interior magnet housing whereby the at least one second tooth engages in the gap between adjacent first teeth of the at least one first tooth, and as the position of the upper stationary lock means is fixed and stationary the first ring-shaped lock part is thereby being prevented from rotating about the steerer tube, and the steering column is placed in a locked mode. The exterior magnet housing may comprise an exterior tubular casing that accommodates the moveable second ring-shaped lock part reciprocatingly in relation to the first ring-shaped lock part. The first ring-shaped lock part may e.g. be made stationary by being secured inside an annular top rim part of the exterior tubular casing, which exterior tubular casing may be secured to the interior face of the head tube. In the alternative the first ring-shaped lock part with the exterior magnets may be secured directly to the head tube, and the second ring-shaped lock part then be held in its axial position by the magnetic force of the interior magnets. Preferably the exterior tubular casing that may enclose the upper stationary lock means and the lower moveable lock means may be of non-magnetic material. The exterior face of the exterior tubular casing can be glued to the interior face of the steerer tube, and / or a bottom part of the exterior tubular casing can be secured to e.g. a lower lock ring at the end of the steerer tube opposite the handlebars. In contrast to the steering column lock described in the applicant’s international patent application no. PCT / EP2022 / 068223, the second lock part of the present invention has no radially displaceable components, which makes the steering column lock according to the present invention less vulnerable to malfunction, not only because there is fewer parts, but also because the axial displacement becomes less critical because it is not dependent on aligning components of the second lock part into an axial position for a proper radially displacing action of such radially displaceable components. As the steering column lock of the present inventions has fewer parts it is also less expensive and easier than the older known steering column lock to manufacture, assemble, and to mount to a bike. Thus no parts of the second lock part are able to move in the radial direction along a diameter of the bicycle steering column, just along the longitudinal axis of said bicycle steering column. The second lock part may further comprise a double-flanged bushing that delimits a reciprocation space for the interior magnet housing. The reciprocation space of the double-flanged bushing is well-defined between an upper flanged bushing part that has an upper flange and a lower flanged bushing part that has a lower flange. A central tube part that connects said upper flange and said lower flange to each other may constitute a shaft for reciprocating said interior magnet housing axially in the reciprocation space by inserting said central tube part into a central shaft hole of the interior magnet housing. The central tube part may be hollow to also define a shaft bore for a drive shaft, thus for the spindle of the electric spindle motor. When the electric spindle motor rotates the spindle the double-flanged bushing are, depending on the direction of rotation, driven up or down along the spindle by the spindle’s engagement with the interior side of the central tube part. Accordingly, when the central tube part moves up or down the position of the upper flange and the lower flange of said double-flanged bushing is shifted up or down as the spindle rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise, or vice versa, e.g. depending on whether the spindle has right- handed threading or left-handed threading. The drive shaft may e.g. thus have an exterior threading and the shaft bore have a co-operating engaging interior threading. As the position of the drive shaft inside the steerer tube is stationary only the double-flanged bushing is moved by direct action of the electric spindle motor. However, as the central shaft hole of the interior magnet housing is free of threading said interior magnet housing can be pushed upwards by the lower flange and downwards by the upper flange when said flanges hit on the interior magnet housing. The double-flanged bushing may include the travelling-nut of the linear actuator, thus of the electric spindle motor. Other ways of moving the double- flanged bushing up and down on the drive shaft is within the scope of the present invention, e.g. ratchet mechanism. The steering column may comprise a first tubular sleeve that surrounds the drive shaft and is arranged to reciprocate along said drive shaft. The reciprocating movement may include that an upper edge of the first tubular sleeve is pushed manually in contact with and / or free of contact with either a part of the interior magnets that protrudes radially from the interior magnet housing, or in the alternative in contact with a circumferential rim of a lower interior magnet housing end part. The upwards manual moving of the first tubular sleeve may thereby trigger an electric switch to actuate the electric spindle motor to move said interior magnet housing upwards and into contact with the upper flange. The lower flange may fit inside the upper part of the first tubular sleeve to allow the upper edge of the first tubular sleeve to be free to hit on the interior magnets and / or hit on the circumferential rim of the lower interior magnet housing end part, and thereby facilitating the movement of the interior magnet housing upwards inside the reciprocation space towards the upper flange. So when the interior magnets or the circumferential rim of the lower interior magnet housing end part is hit by the upper edge of the first tubular sleeve an electric switch may be triggered to actuate the electric spindle motor to rotate the lower flange out of the first tubular sleeve upwards towards the bottom of the interior magnet housing whereby an inherent upwards force is applied to the exterior magnet housing to slide on the central tube part of the double-flange bushing to secure engagement of the at least one first tooth and the at least on second tooth of the first lock part. During the stroke of the electric spindle motor the upper flange may be moved towards a bottom of a motor housing that accommodates the electric spindle motor, and this position is the end stop of the travel of the stroke of said electric spindle motor that triggers the same or another switch to stop said electric spindle motor. A trigger mechanism may be provided for manually moving the first tubular sleeve upwards along its central longitudinal axis and thereby pushing the interior magnets that are mounted to the interior magnet housing, thus upwards inside the steerer tube. Advantageously the trigger mechanism protrudes below the steerer tube between opposite lower legs of the front fork to be close to the hand of the rider / user to reach, and to be easy to manipulate, e.g. by means of a trigger mechanism, but not to tamper with. A second tubular sleeve may be provided to accommodate the first tubular sleeve, which second tubular sleeve may have a cartridge housing configured to interact with the trigger mechanism. The cartridge housing may further be configured to interact with a cable lock means associated with the first tubular sleeve and with the cartridge housing, which cartridge housing may have a radially extending through-hole, which is configured for introducing of a tip of a cable lock means at least a distance into the first tubular sleeve. The cable lock means may comprise an L-shaped angle brace having - a bifurcated axial leg that delimits a clamp hole, - a radial leg that protrudes from the bifurcated axial leg, which radial leg has a central leg hole for receiving the drive shaft for the electric spindle motor, and optionally a wire spring having - a radial wire spring leg that extends through the radial leg of the bifurcated axial leg, and - opposite axial wire legs that extend along the bifurcated axial leg. In some embodiments the first tubular sleeve may have an angular cut-out section configured to receive a tip of the cable lock. The bifurcated axial leg that delimits a clamp hole may protrude from the angular cut-out section and the radial leg may protrude inside the first tubular sleeve. Within the context of the present invention the term “angular cut-out section” refers to a removed part of the circumferential wall of the first tubular sleeve. When the drive shaft for the electric spindle motor rotates the L-shaped angle brace can be moved up and down due to e.g. the threading of the drive shaft engaging the interior edge of the central leg hole. Thereby moves the L-shaped angle brace, e.g. upwards whereby the tip of the cable lock can be held firmly inside the lower part of the clamp hole by being backstopped by the wire spring. When the drive shaft for the electric spindle motor rotates in the opposite direction the L-shaped angle brace is moved downwards to relieve the clamping force of the wire spring and allow the tip of the cable lock to move into the upper part of the clamp hole wherefrom it can be withdrawn and later inserted again once needed. In a convenient embodiment the spindle, which is the drive shaft of the electric spindle motor, is a rod with a tapering exterior male thread, thus having a helical ridge delimiting a helical groove, with which exterior male thread the edge of the clamp hole engages to displace the L-shaped spring leaf. One or more axially extending guide rods may contribute in keeping the interior magnet housing, the double-flanged bushing part, the first tubular sleeve and the motor housing centered lengthwise axially in relation to each other, and to enforce the second lock part. To that aspect an upper rod end part may extend through respective opposite third guide holes of the lower flange, via opposite first guide holes of the interior magnet housing, out of opposite second guide holes of the upper flange and into a lower end of the motor housing above the upper flange. An opposite lower rod end may be located into respective opposite first sleeve holes of a first bottom end plate of the first tubular sleeve. The double- flanged bushing and the interior magnet housing can then slide along the guide rods when the drive shaft rotates said double- flanged bushing. Similarly the first tubular sleeve can slide up and down in response to actuating its upwards movement manually or by the action of the electric spindle motor, and allow said first tubular sleeve to return to its downwards position by the action of the electric spindle motor, in which returned position the first bottom end plate of the first tubular sleeve rests on the second bottom end plate of the cartridge housing. The invention further relates to a method of operating the steering column lock described above. The operation of the steering column lock starts when the steerer tube has been rotated about its central axis in relation to the central axis of the head tube, thus when the front wheel has been turned to one of the sides in relation to the frame of the bicycle being equipped with the steering column lock of the present invention. The locking and opening of the steering column lock may be controlled by a control device under the control of a control program having a suitable opening algorithm and a suitable closing algorithm. The movement of the tubular interior sleeve may e.g. actuate switch(es) (not shown) that starts / start the control program. The control device may be an integrated circuit, e.g. a small chip arranged on top of the electric spindle motor, and having suitable wiring extending to the switches and a power source. A rechargeable battery may serve as the power source, which can be provided above the spindle motor. The rechargeable battery may be charged via a suitable wiring to an USB port, which e.g. can be provided at the cartridge housing. Other arrangements of electronic components are foreseen within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the operation of the steering column lock may comprise a closing procedure comprising the steps of a) displacing the interior magnet housing (46) axially upwards to achieve the common displacing of the interior magnet housing (46) and the exterior magnet housing (23) to achieve engagement of the at least one first tooth (24a,24b) and the at least one second tooth (17), and thereby triggering a control device to run a closing algorithm of a control program, b) the closing algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor (42), whereby b1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in a first direction, and subsequently b2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device, and an opening procedure comprising the steps of c) displacing the interior magnet housing (46) axially downwards to achieve the common displacing of the interior magnet housing (46) and the exterior magnet housing (23) to achieve disengagement of the at least one first tooth (24a,24b) and the at least one second tooth (17), and thereby triggering a control device to run an opening algorithm of the control program, the opening algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor (42), whereby c1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in the opposite direction of the first direction thereby, and subsequently c2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device. In one embodiment of the present invention the method may include the in the closing procedure step b1) the electric spindle motor may rotate the drive shaft in a first direction until a moveable sensor means senses an upper stationary sensor of a stationary sensor means to thereby switch the rotation of the drive shaft off in step b2), whereby the steering column lock becomes locked. In the corresponding opening procedure the opposite takes place. In step c1) the electric spindle motor may rotate the drive shaft in the direction opposite the first direction until the moveable sensor means senses a lower stationary sensor of the stationary sensor means to thereby switch the rotation of the drive shaft off in step b2), whereby the steering column lock becomes unlocked. Thus the registration of the position of the moveable sensor means at either the upper stationary sensor or the lower stationary sensor defines the allowable and required travel of the interior magnet housing to lock or unlock the steering column lock These actuation of the spindle motor and rotations of the drive shaft may conveniently be controlled via Bluetooth instructions provided by the user / rider via an app provided with the control program. In another embodiment the operation of the steering column lock may comprise a closing procedure comprising the steps of a) displacing the first tubular sleeve axially upwards to achieve the common displacing of the interior magnet housing and the exterior magnet housing to achieve engagement of the at least one first tooth and the at least one second tooth, and thereby triggering a switch for a control device to run a closing algorithm of a control program, b) the closing algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor, whereby b1) the electric spindle motor rotates the drive shaft in a first direction thereby moving the double-flanged bushing upwards until the lower flange abuts the interior magnet housing, and subsequently b2) the rotation of the drive shaft is stopped by the control device, and an opening procedure comprising the steps of c) displacing the first tubular sleeve axially upwards to contact any of the interior magnets or the interior magnet housing, and thereby triggering the same switch or another switch for the control device to run an opening algorithm of the control program, wherein the opening algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor, whereby c1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in the opposite direction of the first direction thereby moving the double- flanged bushing downwards until the upper flange abuts the interior magnet housing and subsequently c2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device. The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing in which, Fig. 1a is a perspective view seen from the trigger mechanism and oblique from the side, of a fragment of a bicycle front fork with an integrated bicycle steering column lock according to the present invention shown in locked state, Fig. 1b shows the same in an un-locked state, Fig. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of a first lock part of the bicycle steering column lock, Fig. 3 is a perspective, partly exploded view, seen oblique from the side, of the lowermost parts of the first lock part being mounted about the steerer tube, Fig. 4 shows the same in assembled state, Fig. 5 is a perspective, exploded view, seen oblique from the side, of the components of the second lock part, which is to been inserted into the steerer tube, Fig. 6 shows the same in assembled state, Fig. 7 is a perspective, enlarged scale view of the interior magnet housing, seen oblique from above, Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII – VIII of fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a perspective, enlarged scale view of the interior magnet housing, seen oblique from below, Fig. 10 is a perspective, enlarged scale side view of a second tubular sleeve, Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line X – X of fig. 10, Fig. 12 is a perspective, enlarged scale side view of the second tubular sleeve seen slightly from below, Fig. 13 shows the same seen slightly from above, Fig. 14 is a perspective, enlarged scale, inclined side view of the first tubular sleeve seen slightly from below, Fig. 15 is a fragment of a sectional view of a mechanism for coupling a cable lock to the steering column lock, Fig. 16 shows, in a perspective view, an angle brace for the same, Fig. 17 is a fragment of the mechanism for coupling a cable lock to the steering column lock seen in perspective from a free tip of the cable lock, Fig. 18 is a perspective sectional view taken along line XVIII – XVIII in fig. 1 of an embodiment of a steering column lock in a “ready-to-lock” mode, Fig. 19 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line XIX- XIX in fig. 18, Fig. 20 corresponds to fig. 18 but with the steering column lock in a “close-manual” mode, Fig. 21 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line XXI- XXI in fig. 20, Fig. 22 corresponds to fig. 18 but with the steering column lock in a “close-save” mode, Fig. 23 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line XXIII- XXIII in fig. 22, and Fig. 24 corresponds to fig. 18 but with the steering column lock in an “open-save” mode, Fig. 25 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line XXIV- XXIV in fig. 22, Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a fragment of a modified trigger mechanism adapted for coupling a cable lock to and from the steering column lock, and for moving the interior housing up and down, Fig. 27 is a perspective sectional view taken along line XXVII- XXVII in fig. 26, Fig. 28 is a perspective sectional view taken along line XXVIII- XXVIII in fig. 26, Fig. 29 is a perspective sectional view, oblique from the side, of a fragment of a bicycle front fork with a modified embodiment of an integrated bicycle steering column lock according to the present invention shown in locked state, Fig. 30 is a perspective sectional view taken along line XXX- XXX in fig. 29, Fig. 31 is a perspective sectional view taken along line IXXX- IXXX in fig. 29, Fig. 32 is a sectional view taken along line XXXII – XXXII in fig. 29, which line is parallel to the diameter taken through the radially extending through-hole, which is provided for passage of the tip of the cable lock in the circumferential collar of the cartridge housing, Fig. 33 is a sectional view corresponding to the view of fig. 22 but taken along chord XXXIII – XXXIII in fig. 29, Fig. 34 shows in perspective the first ring-shaped lock part and the exterior tubular casing constructed as one unitary piece, Fig. 35 is a perspective sectional view taken along line XXXV – XXXV of fig. 34, Fig. 36 shows in perspective the second ring-shaped lock part and the lower tubular securing part constructed as one unitary piece, Fig. 37 shows the same inclined from below, Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the second lock part in locked position, and where the second lock part is provided with a modified cable lock means, and seen from the side opposite the cable lock, Fig. 39 shows the same from the cable lock, and Fig. 40 is an enlarged scale, perspective, exploded view of the modified cable lock means. For the purposes of better illustrating the bicycle steering column lock according to the present invention some components of said steering column lock and the head tube of the bicycle are shown as being transparent in the figures. Furthermore, some components are shown as being solid in the sectional views. This approach is made for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Transparent components need not be transparent, and “solid” components can be hollow, e.g. pipes of metal or plastic to reduce weight were appropriate. It is however to be understood that parts within magnetic attractive reach of the interior and exterior magnets, as will be described in further details below, cannot be and are not made of magnetic material. It is to be understood that non-magnetic materials are those materials that are not attracted by a magnet, that do not exhibit magnetic behavior, and are not capable to be magnetized by an external source. Non-magnetic materials for use in the present inventions include plastic materials, such including but not limited to fiber-reinforced plastics, e.g. Kevlar ^ for the tubes of the steering column, and any non- magnetic metals, such as aluminium. The design of the components, in particular the trigger mechanism and the trigger plate may be different than shown in the drawing. In some embodiments a trigger plate is not needed to actuate the steering column lock as this is done purely via an app on a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, via Bluetooth. Although a power source is not shown in the figures it should be understood that such a power source is provided in relation to the steering column lock, e.g. a rechargeable battery, e.g. inside the steerer tube above the steering column lock, or outside the steering column lock encapsulated in a cap or battery housing, e.g. arranged below the steering column lock in the vicinity of the crown member, or being arranged offset the steering column in the arch member or in one of the lower legs to be accessible from outside said steering column lock. Suitable (not shown) wiring connects the power source to any component that needs power for its operation. In the alternative the battery that drives the E-bike may be used instead of a separate battery to power the steering column lock. Figs. 1a and 1b are perspective views of a fragment of a front fork 1, e.g. a suspension front fork of an E-bike (not shown), in locked state and un-locked state, respectively. The front fork 1 has a steering column 2 comprising a head tube 3 and a steerer tube 4. The steerer tube 4 extends via a crown member 5 and an arch member 7 into two opposite lower legs 6a,6b. A radial gap 8 is delimited between the exterior face of the circumferential wall 4a of the steerer tube 4 and the interior face of the circumferential wall 3a of the head tube 3. According to the present invention the radial gap 8 is utilized to arrange a first lock part 9 about the steerer tube 4, as seen in figs. 2, 3 and 4. The first lock part 9, which is the lock part exterior to and surrounding the steerer tube 4, has a first ring-shaped lock part 10 and a second ring-shaped lock part 11 arranged in a exterior tubular casing 12 of non-magnetic material, such as a plastic casing. In the exemplary embodiment of a first lock part 9 the diameter of the exterior tubular casing 12, and optionally of one or both of the first ring-shaped lock part 10 and the second ring-shaped lock part 11, may reduce axially along the central axis of the front fork 1 towards the handlebars (not shown). Thus at least the second ring-shaped lock part 11 and the exterior tubular casing 12 may be more or less tapering to an extent to fit complementarily inside a correspondingly configured head tube 3 in the radial gap 8 towards the steerer tube 4. The annular top rim part 13 of the exterior tubular casing 12 may be further reduced to an exterior diameter d that leaves a clearance between the exterior tubular casing 12 and the interior face of the circumferential wall 3a of the head tube 3. As can be seen in fig. 2 the first ring-shaped lock part 10 is circumferentially nested inside the annular top rim part 13. To that aspect the first ring-shaped lock part 10 has an upper securing part 10a having spaced apart annular protrusions 14, in the present case four spaced apart annular protrusions 14, that fits to engage into correspondingly configured slots 15 in the annular top rim part 13 of the exterior tubular casing 12, whereby the first ring-shaped lock part 10 can be arranged firmly and anti-rotationally inside said annular top rim part 13 of said exterior tubular casing 2. As the exterior diameter of the annular top rim part 13 is reduced, a radial distance to the interior face of the head tube 3 is ensured, as well as the annular top rim part 13 provides an annular shoulder for the spaced apart annular protrusions 14. Due to this arrangement the first ring-shaped lock part 10 cannot displace axially because the exterior tubular casing 12 is also secured to the interior face of the head tube 3, e.g. by means of glue. A lower first circumferential edge part 16 of the first ring- shaped lock part 10 has a plurality of annularly spaced apart first teeth 17 that protrude axially downwards inside the exterior tubular casing 12, and serve as a first engagement means when the steering column lock is to be locked, as illustrated in fig. 1a. A plurality of first cavities 18 are delimited between said first teeth 17. The second ring-shaped lock part 11 comprises an upper circumferential tooth part 19 that has at least one second tooth 20 that protrude axially upright towards the first teeth 17, and is configured to engage a complementary first cavity 18 between adjacent first teeth 17. The upper circumferential tooth part 19 further has at least one securing pin 21 that protrudes opposite the at least one second tooth 20 axially downwards, and is configured to engage corresponding securing holes 22 in a lower tubular securing part 23 of the second ring-shaped lock part 11. In the present embodiment the number of securing pins 21 and securing holes 22 are, purely as an example, four. Any number of securing pins 21 and securing holes 22 is within the scope of the present inventions. When the securing pins 21 are inserted into the securing holes 22 the second ring-shaped lock part 11 and the lower tubular securing part 23 are secured to each other in a reliable anti- rotational manner. In an alternative embodiment the second ring-shaped lock part 11 and the lower tubular securing part 23 can be manufactured as a unitary unit. The upper circumferential tooth part 19 has, in the exemplary embodiment shown in figs. 2, 3 and 4, two sets 24a,24b of three adjacent second teeth 20, wherein said two sets 24a,24b are provided annular arranged diametrical opposite each other. Any number of second teeth 20 is however within the scope of the present inventions, and in a modified embodiment a plurality of spaced apart second teeth 20 can be arranged spaced circumferentially apart around the circumferential tooth part 19. The second ring-shaped lock part 11 is arranged in the exterior tubular casing 12 to be axially displaceable towards, as seen in fig. 1a, and away from the first ring-shaped lock part 10, as seen in fig. 1b, with a locking length adjusted to allow the first teeth 17 and the second tooth / teeth 20 to engage in locked state of the steering column lock and disengage in the un-locked state of the steering column lock. This locking length may e.g. be about 5 mm, preferably the locking length is at least the height of the second tooth / teeth 20. The depth of the first cavities 18 may preferably be at least as deep as the height of the second tooth / teeth 20. The exterior annular surface 25 of the lower rim part 26 of the lower tubular securing part 23 has a plurality of annularly spaced apart axially extending slide grooves 27 configured for accommodating a corresponding plurality of axially protruding slide legs 28 of a lower lock ring 29 arranged below the second ring-shaped lock part 11 inside the exterior tubular casing 12. The second ring-shaped lock part 11 is in axially sliding engagement with the lower lock ring 29 due to the slide legs 28 being adapted to slide in the slide grooves 27 of said lower tubular securing part 23 when said second ring-shaped lock part 11 undergoes an axial displacement during locking and un-locking of the steering column lock. Such axial displacement has a travel length shorter than a travel length at which the lower lock ring 29 and the lower tubular securing part 23 disengage, but sufficient for the first teeth 17 and the sets of second teeth 24a,24b to engage, e.g. at least a tooth length of any of the first teeth or second teeth. The lower lock ring 29 is secured to the steerer tube 4 at a bottom part 30 of the exterior tubular casing 12 to serve as a further means to prevent rotation of the second ring-shaped lock part 11 in relation to the steerer tube 4, but being rotational in relation to the head tube 3, and in view of the travel length of permitting only the aforementioned axial displacement of the second ring-shaped lock part 11 inside the exterior tubular casing 12. An annular interior face 29a of the lower lock ring 29 may have knurlings (not shown) that further serve to prevent said lower lock ring 29 from rotating about the steerer tube 4. The lower lock ring 29 may have a ring-shaped intermediate part 31, optionally with a steel insert, to add weight to the exterior tubular casing 12, which ring-shaped intermediate part 31 may have an annular exterior face having second knurlings (not shown) that further serve to prevent said exterior tubular casing 12 from rotating in relation to the lower lock ring 29. As seen best in figs. 2 and 3 the lower tubular securing part 23 has an interior annular surface 32 into which a plurality of annularly spaced apart interior cavities 33 is provided for mounting, e.g. by means of glue or screws, a corresponding number, optionally four, six or eight exterior magnets 34, such as neodymium magnets, whereby the lower tubular securing part 23 of the second ring-shaped lock part 11 serves as an exterior magnet housing. Figs. 5 and 6 show the second lock part 35 with a drive means 36, which second lock part 35 is arranged inside the steerer tube 4 opposite the handlebars (not shown). Figs. 5 and 6 further show an associated trigger mechanism 37 to actuate opening and closing of the steering column lock of the present invention, and a cable lock means 38 for manual coupling to said steering column lock. The second lock part 35 comprises a double-flanged bushing 39, which in the present embodiment is composed of an upper flanged bushing part 39a and a lower flanged bushing part 39b, that together delimit a shaft bore 40 for a drive shaft 41 of an electric spindle motor 42 of the drive means 36. The double-flanged bushing 39 has an upper central tube part 43a having an upper flange 44a and an opposite lower central tube part 43b having an opposite lower flange 44b. An interior magnet housing 46 is disposed axially aligned and axially displaceable between the upper flange 44a and the lower flange 44b. A reciprocation space 39a for the interior magnet housing 46 is delimited between said lower flange 44b and said upper flange 44a. The central tube parts 43a,43b extend axially aligned in-between said flanges 44a,44b and through a first central shaft hole 52 of the interior magnet housing 46 to serve as a slide shaft for the interior magnet housing 46. The height of the interior magnet housing 46 is shorter than the height of the reciprocation space 39a between said flanges 44a,44b, so that the interior magnet housing 46 can move up and down in said reciprocation space 39a. As seen best in figs. 7, 8 and 9 the interior magnet housing 46 can be a solid block body that has a plurality of annularly spaced apart exterior T-slots 47, in the present embodiment four exterior T-slots 47, at a lower interior magnet housing end part 48. An opposite upper interior magnet housing end part 49 has a free end surface 50. Exterior T-slots 47 serve to firmly accommodate a respective interior magnet 51, such as e.g. a neodymium magnet, that is selected to be magnetically attractable to and by the exterior magnets 34. The interior magnets 51 can e.g. be secured to the exterior T-slots 47 by means of strong glue or screws. In order to not interfere with the magnetic attraction between the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34, the interior magnet housing 46 is made of a non-magnetic material, such as e.g. plastic, which choice of material in figs. 5 – 9 is visualized by the interior magnet housing 46 being pale. When the interior magnets 51 is arranged in magnetic contact with the exterior magnets 34 the interior magnet housing 46 can displace the second ring-shaped lock part 11, which is exterior to the steerer tube 4, axially along and lengthwise due to the magnetic attraction between the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34. So when the interior magnet housing 46 is displaced axially upwards by the action of the electric spindle motor the steering column lock will be locked by some of the second teeth 24a,24b and first teeth 17 interlocking, whereby the steerer tube cannot turn. When the interior magnet housing 46 later is displaced axially downwards by the action of the electric spindle motor the second ring-shaped lock part 11 again comes along and the second teeth 24a,24b and first teeth 17 is driven out of interlocking engagement. When the steerer tube is placed in driving position the magnetic attraction between the interior magnets and the exterior magnets are interrupted and the steering column lock is un-locked, and the electric motor proceed to displace the interior magnet housing 46 out of magnetic attracting reach of the second ring-shaped lock part 11 to avoid that the interior magnets and exterior magnets accidentally snap into magnetic attraction during riding the bike. To provide for the smooth axial movement of the interior magnet housing 46 the first central shaft hole 52 of said interior magnet housing 46 receives the central tube part 43a,43b that delimits the shaft bore 40 of the double-flanged bushing part 39. The interior magnet housing 46 further has two opposite first guide holes 53 provided diametrically opposite each other along the perimeter of said interior magnet housing 46. Similarly, the upper flange 44a has two opposite second guide holes 54 provided diametrically opposite each other at the perimeter of said upper flange 44a, which opposite second guide holes 54are aligned with the first guide holes 53. The lower flange 44b has two opposite third guide holes 55 provided diametrically opposite each other at the perimeter of said lower flange 44b, which opposite third guide holes 55 are aligned with the first guide holes 53 and the second guide holes 54. Each of the opposite aligned first guide holes 53 of the interior magnet housing 46, opposite second guide holes 54 of the upper flange 44a, and opposite third guide holes 55 of the lower flange 44b receive a respective guide rod 56 that contributes in keeping the interior magnet housing 46 and the double-flanged bushing part 39 centered axially and structural stable. A respective guide rod 56 has an upper rod end 57 that extends through the respective opposite second guide holes 54 of the upper flange 44a and into a lower end of the motor housing 59 above the upper flange 44a, and an opposite lower rod end 60 is secured into respective opposite first sleeve holes 61 of a first bottom end plate 62 of a first tubular sleeve 63. The end 45 of the first tubular sleeve 63 opposite the first bottom end plate 62 is dimensioned to receive at least the lower tubular flange 45a, optionally to receive at least a small length of the lower interior magnet housing end part 48. On the one hand the first tubular sleeve 63 serves to protect the second lock part 35, however the first tubular sleeve 63 is also the component of the steering column lock that is used to manually switch on the electric spindle motor 42 to rotate its drive shaft 41, as indicated by double pointed arrow B in fig. 5, and thereby move the interior magnet housing 46 up and down in the reciprocation space 39a delimited between the upper flange 44a and the lower flange 44b. To that aspect the upper central tube part 43a and the lower central tube part 43b, which tube parts 43a,43b are either two separate parts arranged with their free ends contacting and joined to each other or an integral unit, serve as a slide rod that passes through the first central shaft hole 52 of the interior magnet housing 46. The rotating drive shaft 41 of the electric spindle motor 42 drivingly engage into the shaft bore 40 of the double-flanged bushing 39, whereby said double-flanged bushing 39 is moved upwards or downwards, to thereby move the interior magnet housing 46 when contacting any of the upper flange 44a or the lower flange 44b. The interior magnets 51 may protrude radially from the interior magnet housing 46, so that an upper edge 63a of the tubular sleeve 63 can engage said interior magnets 51 thereby triggering a switch (not shown) of an electric system (not shown) to actuate clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the drive shaft 41 of the electric spindle motor 42, and thus induce axial movement of the interior magnet housing 46. In response to actuation of the electric spindle motor 42 the first teeth 17, which are axially stationary, and the second teeth 20, which are axially moveably, can be brought in and out of engagement in a selected rotated position of the steerer tube 4 and the front wheel (not shown). A second tubular sleeve 64 has a cartridge housing 65 terminated by a second bottom end plate 68 opposite the tapered free end part 67. The cartridge housing 65 extends upwards via a tubular intermediate sleeve part 66 and ends in a tapered free end part 67. The tapering of the tapered free end part 67 may correspond substantially to the interior lengthwise narrowing of the steerer tube 4 in the upwards direction. As seen in e.g. fig. 1 the cartridge housing 65 extends outside the front fork 1 so that the trigger mechanism 37, which is connected to the cartridge housing 65, is easy accessible for being manipulated by the rider to apply an axially upward force to the first bottom end plate 62 of the first tubular sleeve 63. The tubular intermediate sleeve part 66 has a smaller exterior diameter than the exterior diameter of the cartridge housing 65, thereby exposing a circumferential collar 69, which provides an abutment face against the lower end of the steerer tube 4, to thereby provide a tight sealed connection there-between that cannot be tampered. In the assembled functional state of the steering column lock of the present invention the second tubular sleeve 64 accommodates the first tubular sleeve 63, and its associated parts. As seen best in the enlarged scale views of figs. 10 – 13 the second bottom end plate 68 of the cartridge housing 65 has a central hole 70 for receiving a locating pin 71 of a trigger plate 72 of the trigger mechanism 37. A free end 71a of the locating pin 71 engages the first bottom end plate 62 of the first tubular sleeve 63 to move said first tubular sleeve 63 upwards in response to the trigger plate 72 being pushed axially upwards. The locating pin 71 has a pin bore 73 for receiving a securing pin 74 that serves for assembling the trigger plate 72 and the second bottom end plate 68 of the cartridge housing 65. The securing pin 74 has a central hole 75 in the first bottom end plate 62 of the first tubular sleeve 63, to axially align said sleeves 63,64. Preferably the free tip 76 of the securing pin 74 is axially aligned and centered below the drive shaft 41. A first spring 77, which is provided around the locating pin 71, extends through the central hole 70 of the second bottom end plate 68 of the cartridge housing 65, and in contact with the exterior face of the first bottom end plate 62 of the first tubular sleeve 63. Thereby the trigger plate 72 becomes spring-biased against the spring force of the first spring 77, when the trigger plate 72 is actuated to displace the first tubular sleeve 63 up towards the interior magnet housing 46. The cartridge housing 65 further has a circumferential cartridge housing wall 78 having a radially extending through- hole 79 configured for passage of the tip 80 of a cable lock 81. As seen in fig. 14 the wall 82 of the first tubular sleeve 63 has an angular cut-out section 83 that follows a sector of a circle of the wall 82 of the first tubular sleeve 63 and extends from the first bottom end plate 62 a distance towards the upper edge 63a of the first tubular sleeve 63, which distance is shorter than the full length of the first tubular sleeve 63, but sufficiently long to allow a bifurcated axial leg 84 of an L-shaped angle brace 85 to protrude from the cut- out section 83 and a radial leg 86 to protrude inside the first tubular sleeve 63. The radial leg 86 of the L-shaped angle brace 85 has a central leg hole 87, through which the drive shaft 41 for the electric spindle motor 42 passes, wherein said drive shaft 41 rests spring-biased against the free tip 76 of the securing pin 74 by means of a second spring 88, as seen best in figs. 15 and 17. The bifurcated axial leg 84 has opposite axial leg parts 84a,84b that delimits a clamp hole 89. The opposite axial leg parts 84a,84b converge at their free ends to snap about and hold on to an inserted free tip 80 of the cable lock 81 in the locked position of the steering column lock when the interior magnet housing 46 is in an upper position, and in the event a cable lock 81 is also used as an additional means against theft in addition to the steering column lock. A U-bend wire spring 90 has opposite wire legs 90a,90b that protrude from the angular cut-out section 83 and extend along the exterior face of the bifurcated axial leg 84 along each of the opposite axial leg parts 84a,84b to apply a holding pressure to the free tip 80 of the cable lock 81 against the axial leg parts 84a,84b. The wire legs 90a,90b pass through the upper part of the axial leg parts 84a,84b whereby an upper radial U-bend section 90c can serve as a radial wire leg of the U-bend wire spring 90 that extends below the radial leg 86 of the L-shaped angle brace 85 to secure the wire spring 90 to the L-shaped angle brace 85. When the free tip 80 of the cable lock 81 is inserted into the clamp hole 89 the converging free ends of the U-bend wire spring 90 is placed in a holding recess 91 of said free tip 80 and the free ends of the wire legs 90a,90b define a narrowed clamp section 92 that places the free tip 80 under pressure by filling the remaining free space of the holding recess 91. As seen in fig. 11 upright support webs 93a,93b extend axially from the second bottom end plate 68 of the cartridge housing 65 and radially from the interior face 93 of the second tubular sleeve 64 to prevent the axial leg parts 84a,84b from deflecting away from each other when the free tip 81 of the cable lock 80 is inserted. The drive shaft 41 is arranged to rotate freely inside the central leg hole 87 when the electric spindle motor 42 rotates the drive shaft 41. To lock the steering column lock the drive shaft 41 of the electric spindle motor 42 may e.g. rotate clockwise whereby the interior magnet housing 46 moves the second ring-shaped lock part 11 upwards due to their magnetic attraction between the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34 whereby the first teeth 17 and the second teeth 20 are moved axially into locking engagement. To unlock the steering column lock again the drive shaft 41 of the electric spindle motor 42 rotates in the opposite direction, e.g. counter-clockwise, whereby the interior magnet housing 46 moves the second ring-shaped lock part 11 down again due to the magnetic attraction between the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34 whereby the first teeth 17 and the second teeth 20 are moved axially free of their locking engagement. The various modes and operation steps of the steering column lock are described in further details with reference to figs. 18 – 25. Figs. 18 and 19 show the steering column lock in a “ready-to- lock” mode before the front wheel of the bike has been turned, and thus before the steerer tube 4 has been rotated about its central axis. In the “ready-to-lock” mode the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34 are angularly offset, as shown in the sectional view of fig. 19. As seen in fig. 18 the interior magnet housing 46 is in a lower position in which it abuts the lower flange 44b of the double-flanged bushing 39. The lower flange 44b is inside the end 45 of the first tubular sleeve 63 opposite the first bottom end plate 62, whereby the upper edge 63a of the first tubular sleeve 63 can contact the bottom face of the interior magnet housing 46. In the “ready- to-lock” mode the tip 81 of the cable lock can be moved freely in and out of the bifurcated axial legs 84a,84b of the angle brace 85, and via the wire spring 90 into the clamp hole 89. The electric spindle motor is not driven in the “ready-to- lock” mode. The steering column lock is ready for starting the closing procedure. To start locking of the steering column lock of the present invention the rider turns the front wheel to the side thereby aligning the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34 in magnetic attraction, e.g. along overlapping radii of the respective magnet housings 23;46,. Then the rider performs step a) by pushing the trigger plate 72 upwards against the spring force of the first spring 77, and thereby also pushing at the first tubular sleeve 63. This pushing force moves the interior magnet housing 46 upwards inside the steerer tube 4, whereby the second ring-shaped lock part 11 also moves upwards so that the second teeth 24a,24b interlock and engage the first teeth 17. The steering column lock is now in the “close manual” mode seen in figs. 21 and 22. As the angle brace 85 is connected to the second tubular sleeve 64 and not to the first tubular sleeve 63 the angle brace 85 is not affected in step a). In the “close save” mode seen in figs. 22 and 23 the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34 are aligned as in the “close manual” mode, as illustrated best in fig. 23. The closing algorithm triggered in step a) has been completed during step b), in which the electric spindle motor 42 has rotated the drive shaft 41 whereby the double-flanged bushing 39 is moved so that the lower flange 44b abuts the lower face of the interior magnet housing 46. When the drive shaft 41 rotates it also actuates the linear movement of the angle brace 85 upwards so that the tip 80 of the cable lock becomes clamped between the converging free ends of the opposite axial leg parts 84a,84b of the bifurcated axial leg 84 of the angle brace at the bottom of the clamp hole 89. The free tip 80 is firmly hold in the narrowed lower clamp section 92 between the free ends of the wire legs 90a,90b. Once the lower flange 44b cannot move the interior magnet housing 46 further up inside the steerer tube 4 the position of the lower flange 44b prevents the first teeth 17 and the second teeth 24a,24b from disengaging. A properly positioned switch may close to identify the contact between the lower flange 44b and the lower face of the interior magnet housing 46, or a locking time defined by the closing algorithm for a certain travel length of the double-flanged bushing 39 can be used to secure the contacting position of the lower flange 44b. Then the rotation of the drive shaft 41 is stopped by a control device adapted to control the opening algorithm and closing algorithm. In the “close save” mode the tip 80 of the cable lock 81 cannot be pulled free, as the angle brace 85 is moved up by the drive shaft 41, and the front wheel of the bike cannot be turned into alignment with the frame of the bike due to the firm engagement between the second teeth 24a,24b and the first teeth 17. When the rider wants to use the bike he / she conducts the opening procedure of step c) and d) to move the interior magnet housing 46, the second ring-shaped lock part 11 and the angle brace 85 axially downwards again, as seen in figs. 24 and 25. Now the electric spindle motor 42 rotates the drive shaft 41 in the opposite direction whereby the double-flanged bushing 39 is moved so that the upper flange 44a abuts the upper face of the interior magnet housing 46. When the drive shaft 41 rotates it also actuates the linear movement of the angle brace 85 downwards whereby the tip 80 of the cable lock is moved axially up into the clamp hole 89 of the bifurcated axial leg 84 of the angle brace 85. Then, but optionally, the free tip 80 can be pulled out. For riding the bike fully removal of the cable lock 81 from the angle brace 85, optionally from the cartridge housing 65 as well, is not required, as the presence of the tip 80 through the clamp hole 89 has no impact on the turning of the steerer tube 4 and thus on the position of the front wheel (not shown). Once the upper flange part 44a cannot move the interior magnet housing 46 further down inside the steerer tube 4, as it hits the upper edge of the first tubular sleeve 63, the upper flange 44a, contacts the upper face of the interior magnet housing 46 and the lower flange 44b is moved inside the first tubular sleeve 63. In this position the second teeth 24a,24b and the first teeth 17 are driven out of engagement, and the rotation of the drive shaft 41 is stopped by the control device. A properly positioned switch may close to identify the contact between the upper flange 44a and the upper face of the interior magnet housing 46 to stop rotation of the drive shaft 41, or an opening time times out, which opening time is defined by the opening algorithm for the double-flanged bushing 39 to move a certain travel length of to secure the position of the upper flange 44a and move the interior magnet housing axially down. When the steering column lock of the present invention is in the “open save” mode and the rider turns the steerer tube 4, and thus the front wheel (not shown), the magnetic attraction between the interior magnets 51 and the exterior magnets 34 is broken as illustrated in figs. 24 and 25. The lowermost position of the second ring-shaped lock part 11 is defined by the stationary lower lock ring 29, as seen in figs. 18 and 24, that serves as the lower stop for the axial movement of the second ring-shaped lock part 11. In the “open save” mode the interior magnets 24a,24b of the interior magnet housing 46 is no longer held up by the exterior magnets 51 of the second ring-shaped lock part 11, and the interior magnet housing 46 drops down to rest on the lower flange 44b, and the steering column lock is now again in the “ready-to-lock mode. Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a fragment of a modified trigger mechanism 94 for coupling a cable lock 81 to and from the steering column lock according to the present invention. The interior structure of the modified trigger mechanism 94 is visualized by the cross-sectional views of figs. 27 and 28. The modified trigger mechanism 94 resembles the trigger mechanism 37, and it is adapted to replace said trigger mechanism 37. For like parts of the trigger mechanism, the cable lock and the steering column lock same reference numerals are generally used. The differences between said trigger mechanisms 37,94 are elaborated below. The modified trigger mechanism 94 has a modified second tubular sleeve 95 that accommodates a slightly modified first tubular sleeve 96. The modified second tubular sleeve 95 differs from the second tubular sleeve 64 in having a modified cartridge housing 97 that ends in an axially protruding cartridge housing extension 98, which has a smaller exterior diameter than the modified cartridge housing 97, and which is terminated by a modified second bottom end plate 99 opposite the tapered free end part 67. The cartridge housing extension 98 is dimensioned to fit into a trigger cap 100 of the modified trigger mechanism 94, which trigger cap 100 has a central trigger slot 101 that receives a trigger end 102a of a pivotable trigger 103 to axially displace the modified first tubular sleeve 96 as described above, which pivotable trigger 103 has an opposite actuation end 102b. The modified second bottom end plate 99 is configured with a central upright distance piece 104 that defines the distance to the first bottom end plate 62 of the modified first tubular sleeve 96. The central upright distance piece 104 is terminated by a third end plate 105 that has a first hole 106 for passage of the locating pin 71, which locating pin 71 also passes through the central hole 75 to further maintain axial alignment of the modified second tubular sleeve 95 that accommodates the slightly modified first tubular sleeve 96. The modified first tubular sleeve 96 has a tubular centering piece 107 protruding upright from the first bottom end plate 62 to receive the drive shaft 41 for maintaining the axial position of said drive shaft 41, in that said drive shaft 41 passes into the bore 108 of the tubular centering piece 107. The trigger cap 100 has a pivot bearing 109 arranged as a chord on the exterior perimeter of said trigger cap 100. In the present embodiment the pivot bearing 109 is arranged diametrically opposite the radially extending through-hole 79 in said modified cartridge housing 96, but other positions are within the scope of the present invention. A main pivot body 102c of the pivotable trigger 103 is assembled to the pivot bearing 109 by means of a pivot 110. A third spring 111 is inserted into the central upright distance piece 104 around the locating pin 71, thus below the drive shaft 41. As seen best in fig. 28 a retainer disc 112 at the end of the locating pin 71 facing the pivotable trigger 103 prevents the locating pin 71 from passing through the central trigger slot 101, due to the retainer disc 112 having a larger diameter than the width of the central trigger slot 101. When the actuation end 102b of the pivotable trigger 103 is pressed down, as indicated by arrow A in fig. 26, an actuation force in the opposite direction B, as seen in fig. 27, is applied to an upright nose 113 at the free end of trigger end 102a, to thereby apply a pressure to the locating pin 71 to move said locating pin 71 upwards to displace the first tubular sleeve 96 away from the central upright distance piece 104 against the spring force of the third spring 111. Once the spring force is relieved again the trigger end 102a returns to its initial position in the opposite direction of the direction indicated by arrow A. The function of the interior magnet housing, the exterior magnet housing and the L-shaped bearing bracket are the same as for the previous described embodiments. Fig. 29 is a perspective oblique side view of a fragment of a bicycle front fork with a modified embodiment of an integrated bicycle steering column lock shown in locked state. This embodiment of an integrated bicycle steering column lock corresponds to some extent to the previously described embodiments, and for like parts same reference numerals are used. The modified embodiment of an integrated bicycle steering column lock will be described below with references to figs. 29 – 39. As understood from the detailed figs. 34 – 36, the first lock part 9’ of the bicycle steering column lock of the modified embodiment of an integrated bicycle steering column lock differs in that the first ring-shaped lock part 10’ and the exterior tubular casing 12’ are constructed as one unitary piece, and in that the second ring-shaped lock part 11’, and also in that the lower tubular securing part 23’ are constructed as one unitary piece. Otherwise the first lock part 9’ is in general structured similar to the first lock part 9 seen in fig. 2, and it operates in the same way. Thus similarly thereto the lower tubular securing part 23’ of the second ring-shaped lock part 11’ serves as the exterior magnet housing 23 that has the at least one exterior magnet 34, which at least one exterior magnet 34 is not seen in figs. 29 - 36. Constructing a part as one unitary piece reduces molding steps and assembling steps, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies the overall structure of the first lock part 9’. As for the previous embodiments components that should not intentionally be magnetically attracted to e.g. the steerer tube 4 and to the head tube 3, or to any other unintended component that would obstruct the intended function of the modified bicycle steering column lock, are made of non- magnetic material or blocked from magnetic attraction to such unintended components. This way magnetic attraction to other components than intended, such as the interior magnets 51, is efficiently prevented. The second lock part 35’ of the modified steering column lock is seen in more details in figs. 38 and 39. The second lock part 35’ also has many features in common with the previously described embodiments and for like parts same reference numerals are used. The second lock part 35’ of the bicycle steering column lock of the modified embodiment of an integrated bicycle steering column lock differs in that it has no double-flanged bushing 39 that defines and delimits the reciprocation space 39a’. Instead the reciprocation of the interior magnet housing 46 takes place under the control of the control device. Said control device comprises a moveable control device part 114 in form of a rod 115 that protrudes on top of interior magnet housing 46, as seen best in figs. 32 and 33, axially aligned with the central axis of the steerer tube 4. The free upper end 116 opposite the interior magnet housing 46 has a moveable sensor means 117. The control device has at least a stationary control device part 118 comprising one or more electronic components selected from the group of a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit, a chip, or a micro chip. A printed circuit board may in itself constitute a backing 119 that extends axially inside the steerer tube 4 from the top of the electric spindle motor 42, which backing 119 provides a securing face for the required electronic components to operate the steering column lock, including a stationary sensor means 120, in the present embodiment consisting of an upper stationary sensor 120a and a lower stationary sensor 120b that defines the reciprocation distance 39a’ that the interior magnet housing 46 is allowed to travel, which reciprocation distance 39a’ corresponds to the reciprocation distance 39a of the previous embodiments. The moveable sensor means 117 are in this way arranged so that it can pass by the stationary sensor means 120 to actuate locking of the integrated steering column lock when reaching the upper stationary sensor 120a, and unlocking of the integrated steering column lock when reaching the lower stationary sensor 120b. The sensor means 117 can be any kind. Non-limiting examples include optical and mechanical sensors that sense based of a magnetic field. In an exemplary embodiment the control device may have a stationary sensor means 120 in form of one or more optical sensors on the backing 119, which backing is in form of a printed circuit board. Optical sensors may include a means that can send a small, often invisible beam that reflects on a special point, spot, sign or indicator on the moveable sensor means 117, such as the moveable sensor 117 on top of the rod 115. The beam can be reflected from said special point, spot, sign or indicator on the rod 115 back to the same optical sensor to be received by said same optical sensor to thereby signaling to the control device the upper position or lower position of the interior magnet housing 46, in response to which sending a signal to start or stop the electric spindle motor 42. An alternative system can be a magnetic system that works by placing a moveable sensor means 117 in form of one or two small magnets 117 at the free upper end of the rod 115. Two reed switches may serve at the upper sensor 120a and the lower sensor 120b, respectively. When the one or two small magnets are moved to meet the reed switches on the backing 119, e.g. a printed circuit board or a micro chip, or a backing provided with these electronic components, the electric spindle motor 42 gets activation signals from the control device. If the contact of a magnetic reed switch is open, electricity cannot flow, and no signals are send. The stationary sensor means 120 may thus comprise an upper sensor 120a and a lower sensor 120b of any suitable kind, between which the reciprocation distance 39a’ is defined. When the moveable sensor means 117 on the upper free end 116of the rod 115 is in the upmost position, as seen in e.g. fig. 33, the control program keeps the steering column locked with the least one second tooth 20 firmly engaged between first cavities 18 delimited between first teeth 17 of the first ring-shaped lock part 10’. The electric signals, which are issued as a response to determining the moveable sensor means 117’s position in relation to the upper sensor 120a or the lower sensor 120b, is registered and stored in a memory of the control device. So when the biker wants to either lock or unlock the steering column lock he / she activates the control device via an associated app to either run the opening algorithm or the closing algorithm. The opening algorithm of the control program rotates the spindle motor to move the interior magnet housing 46 down until the moveable sensor means 117 is sensed by the lower sensor 122 to unlock the steering column lock. In response thereto the Bluetooth connection to the operation device with the app is disconnected by a safety algorithm of the control program so that the closing algorithm of the control program not accidentally is actuated and locks the steering column lock during riding. The modified steering column lock has a modified cable lock means 123 that facilitates coupling of a free tip 81 of a cable lock 80. The modified cable lock means 123, which is seen in exploded view in fig. 40, is based on the same coupling principle as the cable lock means shown in figs. 15 – 17. As the modified steering column lock is entirely operated via an app on a mobile device a manual trigger mechanism with trigger plate is not needed, nor part of the modified cable lock means 123. The principle that the rotation of the drive shaft 41 of the spindle motor 42 is used to set the free tip 80 of the cable lock 81 free and locked, respectively, is the same as the principle described in respect of figs. 15- 17, wherein an L- shaped angle brace follows the movement of the electric spindle motor. The modified cable lock means 123 is situated at the bottom of the cartridge housing 65. The modified cable lock means 123 has a modified L-shaped angle brace 124 that has a radial leg 125 with a internally threaded central leg hole 126 surrounded by a support flange 127 with an internal threading threadingly engaging the exterior threading of the drive shaft 41, thus of the spindle, to move the modified L-shaped angle brace 124 up and down simultaneously with moving the interior magnet housing 46. The radial leg 125 extends at substantially right angle into a bifurcated axial leg 128 that has opposite axial leg parts 128a,128b that delimits a clamp opening 129 there between. The modified wire spring 130 has opposite axial wire legs 131a,131b that via an upper radial U-bend section 131c defines a U-bend shape that serves as the radial wire spring leg. The wire legs 131a,131b delimits a narrowed clamp section 132 in between their opposite free ends, and a clamp hole 133 above the narrowed clamp section 132. The U-bend section 131 protrudes from the plane of the opposite wire legs 131a,131b at an angle larger than 90°, to serve as a wire hook to hook directly, or via an intermediate hooking component 134 with a hook 135 to the modified L-shaped angle brace 124 in substantially same manner as described for the embodiments shown in figs, 15 – 17. The intermediate hooking component 134 are provided below the radial U-bend section 131c, and screwed thereto by means of a screw 136, to make said radial leg 125 dimensionally stable and able to resist deflections in response to driving the drive shaft 41, thus the spindle. Further the intermediate hooking component 134 has a internally threaded hook hole 134a to keep the drive shaft 41 centered, so that the steering column lock does not jam. The internally threaded hook hole 134a is axially aligned with the internally threaded central leg hole 126. The opposite bend transitions between the upper radial U-bend section 131c and the axial wire legs 131a,131b are situated in notches 137a,137b in the opposite axial leg parts 128a,128b, whereby the axial wire legs 131a,131b are situated on the face of the bifurcated axial leg 128 that faces the cable lock 81, and the upper radial U-bend section 131c hooks on the hook 135. As the intermediate hooking component 134 is screwed to the radial leg the upper radial U-bend section 131c is kept retained by the hook component 134, and thus confined in the angular space between the radial leg 125 and the bifurcated axial leg 128, so that the modified wire spring 130 cannot jump off its hooking engagement when the steering column lock operates. A cable lock housing 138 is delimited by a circumferential cable lock housing wall 139 with an access hole 140 for the cable lock 81. The access hole 140 is aligned with the clamp opening 129 and the clamp hole 133. A guide block 141 with a guide tube 142, which controls the position of the free end of the drive shaft 41, is arranged offset in the cable lock housing 138. The offset position of the guide block 141 delimits a free space 143 for entry and accommodation of the tip 80 of the cable lock 81. The guide block 141 has a spindle bore 139, axially aligned with the drive shaft 41, to receive a free end of said drive shaft 41 to control the central position of said drive shaft 41 when the steering column lock operates or is stationary. The circumferential cartridge housing wall 78 of the cartridge housing 65 has the radially extending through-hole 79, and opposite diode holes 144a,144b, for inserting illumination means, e.g. LED’s 145a,145b to visually signal to the rider whether the steering column lock is in locked or unlocked condition as an aid when using the app. The LED’s 145a,145b receive power via the fragmentary shown electric wires 146a,146b from the same power source as the spindle motor 42, It should be noted that although the steering column lock of the present invention is described above with reference to a bicycle, said steering column lock can be used with any vehicle having a similar gap, including but not limited to tricycles, four-wheeled cycles, cargo bikes, and handicap vehicles. Furthermore the steering column lock of the present invention can be used without the cable lock.

Claims

Claims 1. A steering column lock comprising an electrical drive means (41,42) and being configured for being integrated in a bicycle steering column at the end opposite a bicycle handlebars, which steering column lock comprises - a first lock part (9;9’), which is configured and dimensioned for being accommodated in the radial gap (8) between a steerer tube (4) and a head tube (3) of the bicycle steering column, and - a second lock part (35;35’) configured and dimensioned for being arranged inside a steerer tube (4) of a bicycle steering column, characterised in that the electrical drive means (41,42) is an electric spindle motor (42) having a drive shaft (41) that extends axially along the second lock part (35;35’).

2. A steering column lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the first lock part (9;9’) comprises a lower moveable lock means including an axially displaceable exterior magnet housing (23;23’) that has at least one exterior magnet (34), and an upper stationary lock means configured to engage the lower moveable lock means.

3. A steering column lock according to claim 2, characterised in that the second lock part (35;35’) comprises an axially displaceable interior magnet housing (46) that has at least one interior magnet (51) magnetically attractable to the at least one exterior magnet (34).

4. A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive shaft (41) of the electric spindle motor (42) extends along a central axis of the second lock part (35;35’).

5. A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in comprising a control device configured for running a control program having at least an opening algorithm configured for controlling an opening procedure of the steering column lock and a closing algorithm configured for controlling a closing procedure of the steering column lock.

6. A steering column lock according to claim 5, characterised in that the control device comprises at least a stationary control device part (118) comprising one or more electronic components selected from the group of a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit, a chip, or a micro chip, optionally the stationary control device part (118) comprises a backing (119) that extends axially inside the steerer tube (4) from the top of the electric spindle motor (42) or from the top of a motor housing (59) for the electric spindle motor (42), which backing (119) provides a securing face for the electronic components.

7. A steering column lock according to any of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the control device further comprises that the stationary control device part (118) comprises a stationary sensor means (120).

8. A steering column lock according to any of claims 6 or 7, characterised in that the control device further comprises at least a moveable control device part (114) arranged in operative communication with the stationary control device part (118), optionally on the second lock part (35’), and wherein the moveable control device part (114) has a moveable sensor means (117).

9. A steering column lock according to claim 8, characterised in that the moveable control device part (114) comprises a rod (115) having a lower end secured to the interior magnethousing (46) and an opposite free upper end (116) overlapping the stationary control device part (118), wherein the free upper end is provided with the moveable sensor means (117). 10.A steering column lock according to any of claims 5 - 9, characterised in that the control program further has a safety algorithm configured to prevent accidental locking of the steering column lock during riding the bike. 11.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims 5 - 10, characterised in that the control program is configured to be in electronic operative communication with an external operating device. 12.A steering column lock according to claim 11, characterised in that the external operating device is a smart phone or tablet provided with an application program (app) configured for running the control program. 13.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 12, characterised in further comprising that the lower moveable lock means comprises a second ring-shaped lock part (11;11’) provided with the at least one exterior magnet (34) arranged facing the second lock part (35;35’) and having at least one second tooth (24a,24b) that protrudes axially upright at an upper end. 14.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 13, characterised in that the upper stationary lock means comprises a first ring-shaped lock part (10;10’) having at least one first tooth (17) that protrudes axially downwards towards the at least one second tooth (24a,24b). 15.A steering column lock according to claim 14, characterised in that the exterior magnet housing (23;23’) comprises anexterior tubular casing (12;12’) that accommodates the second ring-shaped lock part (11;11’) reciprocatingly in relation to the first ring-shaped lock part (10;10’), which first ring-shaped lock part (10;10’) is secured inside an annular top rim part (13) of the exterior tubular casing (12;12’). 16.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second lock part (35) has no radially displaceable components. 17.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims 1 – 16, characterised in that the second lock part (35) further comprises a double-flanged bushing (39) that delimits a reciprocation space (39a) for the interior magnet housing (46). 18.A steering column lock according to claim 17, characterised in that the double-flanged bushing (39) is configured with an upper flanged bushing part (39a) that has an upper flange (44a), a lower flanged bushing part (39b) that has a lower flange (44b), and a central tube part (43a,43b) that connects said upper flange (44a) and said lower flange (44b) to each other and constitutes a shaft inserted into a central shaft hole (52) of the interior magnet housing (46) for reciprocation of said interior magnet housing (46) axially in the reciprocation space (39a), which central tube part (43a,43b) provides a shaft bore (40) for a drive shaft (41) of the electric spindle motor (42). 19.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in comprising a first tubular sleeve (63;96) reciprocatingly arranged in relation to the interior magnet housing (46), wherein reciprocating includes that an upper edge (63a) of the first tubular sleeve (63;96) moves in contact with and / or free of contactwith either a part of the interior magnets (51) that protrudes radially from the interior magnet housing (46,) or in the alternative in contact with and / or free of contact with a circumferential rim of a lower interior magnet housing end part (48) of the interior magnet housing (46). 20.A steering column lock according to claim 19, characterised in comprising a trigger mechanism (37;94) for manually moving the first tubular sleeve (63;96) upwards along the central axis of the first tubular sleeve (63;96) to push the interior magnets (51) upwards inside the steerer tube (4). 21.A steering column lock according to claim 20, characterised in that at least a part of the trigger mechanism (37;94) is configured to protrude below the steerer tube (4) between opposite lower legs (6a,6b) of a front fork (1). 22.A steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims 19 - 21, characterised in comprising a second tubular sleeve (64;95) that accommodates the first tubular sleeve (63;96) and has a cartridge housing (65;97) configured to interact with the trigger mechanism (37;94). 23.A steering column lock according to claim 22, characterised in that the cartridge housing (65;97) is further configured to interact with a cable lock means (38;97) associated with the first tubular sleeve (63;96) via a radially extending through-hole (79) in said cartridge housing (65;97), which radially extending through-hole (79) is configured for introducing of a cable lock means (38) at least a distance into the first tubular sleeve (63;96). 24.A steering column lock according to claim 23, characterised in that the cable lock means (38;97;123) comprisesan L-shaped angle brace (85;124) having - a bifurcated axial leg (84a,84b;128) that delimits a clamp hole (89;133), and - a radial leg (86;125) that protrudes from a bifurcated axial leg (84a,84b;128), which radial leg (86;125) has a central leg hole (87;126), for receiving the drive shaft (41) for the electric spindle motor (42), and optionally - a wire spring (90;130) having - a radial wire spring leg (90c;131c) that extends through or via the radial leg (86;125) of the bifurcated axial leg (84a,84b;128), and - opposite axial wire legs (90a,90b;131a,131b) that extend along the bifurcated axial legs (84a,84b;128). 25.A method of operating the steering column lock according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 24 comprises a closing procedure comprising the steps of a) displacing the interior magnet housing (46) axially upwards to achieve the common displacing of the interior magnet housing (46) and the exterior magnet housing (23) to achieve engagement of the at least one first tooth (24a,24b) and the at least one second tooth (17), and thereby triggering a control device to run a closing algorithm of a control program, b) the closing algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor (42), whereby b1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in a first direction, and subsequently b2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device, and an opening procedure comprising the steps of c) displacing the interior magnet housing (46) axially downwards to achieve the common displacing of the interior magnet housing (46) and the exterior magnethousing (23) to achieve disengagement of the at least one first tooth (24a,24b) and the at least one second tooth (17), and thereby triggering a control device to run an opening algorithm of the control program, the opening algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor (42), whereby c1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in the opposite direction of the first direction thereby, and subsequently c2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device. 26.A method according to claim 25, characterised in that in the closing procedure of step b1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in a first direction until a moveable sensor means (117) senses an upper stationary sensor (120a) of a stationary sensor means (120) to thereby switch the rotation of the drive shaft (41) off in step b2), whereby the steering column lock becomes locked. 27.A method according to any of claims 25 or 26, characterised in step c1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in the direction opposite the first direction until the moveable sensor means (117) senses a lower stationary sensor (120b) of the stationary sensor means (120) to thereby switch the rotation of the drive shaft off in step b2), whereby the steering column lock becomes unlocked. 28.A method of operating the steering column lock according to claim 25 comprises a closing procedure comprising the steps of a) displacing the first tubular sleeve (63;96) axially upwards to achieve the common displacing of theinterior magnet housing (46) and the exterior magnet housing (23) to achieve engagement of the at least one first tooth (24a,24b) and the at least one second tooth (17), and thereby triggering a switch for a control device to run a closing algorithm of a control program, b) the closing algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor (42), whereby b1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in a first direction thereby moving the double-flanged bushing (39) upwards until the lower flange (44b) abuts the interior magnet housing (46), and subsequently b2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device, and an opening procedure comprising the steps of c) displacing the first tubular sleeve axially upwards to contact any of the interior magnets or the interior magnet housing, and thereby triggering the same switch or another switch for the control device to run an opening algorithm of the control program, wherein the opening algorithm actuates the electric spindle motor, whereby c1) the electric spindle motor (42) rotates the drive shaft (41) in the opposite direction of the first direction thereby moving the double- flanged bushing downwards until the upper flange abuts the interior magnet housing and subsequently c2) the rotation of the drive shaft (41) is stopped by the control device.

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