Scooter lock assembly

Abstract

A lock assembly (1 Fig 1) for a scooter having a stem (3) comprising: a housing with a lock 9, a retainer 11 extending from and returning to the housing to form a retainer loop, and locking linkage 13

Description

Field 5 This disclosure relates to scooter lock assemblies. One illustrative implementation provides a scooter lock assembly for a two- or three-wheeled scooter. Human-powered variants of such scooters are also known as kick scooters, push scooters or y-shaped wiggle scooters; and electrically powered variants are often known as e-scooters. One illustrative retailer of such scooters is Micro Scooters Ltd, 110 Coast 10 Road, West Mersea CO5 8NA, United Kingdom (see Micro Scooters Ltd sell; amongst a large number of other models; a three-wheeled scooter known as the Mini Micro Eco Scooter, a two-wheeled variant known as the CLASSIC Micro Scooter, and an electric e-scooter known as the Merlin. The term "scooter" as used herein is intended to include all of the various 15 different types of scooter mentioned above, but not to include much higher powered e-Xt mopeds (such as the Govecs Schwalbe (see: : - or motor C\J scooters (such as the Vespa™ motor scooter) that typically require the rider to have a £yj motorcycle or driver's licence. 1— 20 Background CO Scooters of the type described above typically comprise a front axle that carries one or two wheels, a stem that is coupled to the front axle and carries a pair of handlebars towards an end of the stem remote from the front axle, one or two footplates on which a user stands in use, and a rear axle per footplate carrying one or two rear 25 wheels. Scooters of the type mentioned above have been particularly popular amongst children, and it is not unusual on school days to see a number of such scooters left outside school buildings. A problem associated with their popularity is that it is common for several children to have the same type of scooter, and as a result for a given child to 30 take the wrong scooter home with them at the end of the day. There is also, unfortunately, a propensity for scooters to be stolen. In light of the foregoing it is apparent that it would be beneficial if one could lockup a scooter outside school to prevent it from being taken, but children cannot generally be relied upon to remember to take a separate lock with them to school, and there is 35 also typically no easy way to couple a scooter to a lock. To address such issues we have previously supplied the Scoot Lock™ scooter lock (see www.scootlock.com). This scooter lock is configured to be attached to the stem of a scooter (so that it is always coupled to the scooter and cannot inadvertently be left at home), and includes a cable that can be deployed around a suitable structure (like a fence or bike rack, for example) and then locked into the main housing of the device. 5 Whilst our Scoot Lock™ scooter lock device has proven to be extremely popular for conventional scooters such as the aforementioned CLASSIC Micro Scooter which has a circular cross-sectional stem, there now exists such a variety of scooters with widely differing stem designs that it is not always possible to attach our previously proposed Scoot Lock™ scooter lock to the stem of the scooter. 10 Another issue with our previously proposed Scoot Lock™ scooter lock is that the relative proximity of the combination reset button and the lock sometimes led users to inadvertently reset the combination without wanting to do so. The scooter lock assembly disclosed herein has been devised with the foregoing in mind. 15 Summary In accordance with a presently preferred arrangement there is provided a scooter lock assembly as defined in Claim 1. The assembly may comprise a fastener that can be passed through the housing 20 and secured round the stem of the scooter. The lock coupling may be pivotally coupled to the locking linkage. In one implementation the retainer may be secured towards one end within the housing to provide a first securing point within the housing. The retainer securing mechanism may provide a second securing point within the housing. 25 The retainer securing mechanism may comprise first and second grippers, at least one of which may be moved relative to the other to grip the retainer passing therebetween. The adjuster may be moveable to drive said at least one gripper into engagement with the retainer. The adjuster may be moveable to draw said at least one gripper out of engagement with the retainer. 30 The lock may comprise a combination lock. Other features, aspects and advantages of the scooter lock assembly herein disclosed will be apparent from the following detailed description. Brief Description of the Drawings 35 Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic front elevation of a lock assembly of the type disclosed herein attached to the stem of a scooter; Fig. 2 is a schematic side elevation of the lock assembly shown in Fig. 1; 5 Fig. 3 is a schematic rear elevation of the lock assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic front elevation of the lock assembly shown in Fig. 1 with a lock coupling decoupled from a lock; Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, front and rear isometric views of a housing of the lock assembly; 10 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the housing shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is an underneath plan view of the housing shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; and Fig. 9 is a schematic depiction of certain internal components of the lock assembly disclosed herein. 15 Detailed Description Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is depicted a presently preferred embodiment of a scooter lock assembly 1. The assembly 1 is shown as having been secured to the stem 3 of a scooter, the foot plate 5 of which is also partly shown. 20 The lock assembly 1 comprises a housing 7 that includes a lock 9 - in this particular example a combination lock. The combination lock 9 is conventional in the way that it is constructed and operated, and as such will not be described in detail herein. Other types of lock are also contemplated, some of which will be described below. 25 The lock assembly 1 further comprises a retainer 11 that is used to couple the lock assembly to the stem 3 of a scooter in such a way that unauthorised decoupling of the lock assembly from the scooter is at least resisted, and preferably prevented. In use, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for example, the retainer 11 extends from the housing 7 (more specifically, from a wall of the housing that is uppermost when the lock assembly is 30 installed on a scooter), passes behind the stem 3 and back into the housing 7. The retainer can be secured at two points within the housing to form a loop that extends around the stem 3 in use, and in a preferred arrangement can only be released when the lock assembly has been opened. In a preferred arrangement, the length of retainer that extends from the housing 35 is adjustable (once a retainer securing mechanism has been disengaged) so that the lock assembly can readily be used with scooters having stems of different shapes and / or radii. This is an important and advantageous distinction from our earlier Scoot Lock™ scooter lock, which is only suitable for mounting to scooters having circular cross-section stems having one particular stem radius. The retainer, in an envisaged implementation, comprises a cable. In a 5 contemplated arrangement, the outer surface of the retainer is of a high-friction material, such as rubber, to resist sliding of the lock assembly up and down the stem in use. Referring again to Fig. 1, the lock assembly further comprises locking linkage 13 extending from the housing 7 (more particularly from a wall of the housing that is lowermost when the lock assembly is installed on a scooter). In a preferred 10 arrangement, the locking linkage comprises a length of cable. A free end 15 of the locking linkage is provided with a lock coupling 17 (shown best in Fig. 5) that a user can engage with the lock 9 once the linkage has been wrapped round a structure that the scooter is to be locked to. In the depicted implementation, the lock coupling is pivotally connected to the locking linkage to facilitate engagement of the coupling with the lock 9, 15 and to reduce stress on the housing 7 when the lock coupling is so engaged. In other arrangements, the pivot may be omitted. Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the lock assembly also comprises a fastener 19 that extends through a rear part of the housing (in a manner that will later be described) and fastens the housing of the lock assembly to the stem. Unlike the retainer, the 20 fastener 19 can be fastened or unfastened regardless of whether the lock assembly is locked (with the lock coupling secured in the lock as shown in Fig. 1) or unlocked (with the lock coupling disengaged from the lock as shown in Fig. 4). In one envisaged implementation, the fastener comprises a length of webbing that can be passed through the housing and opposite end regions secured together so 25 that the webbing surrounds the stem of the scooter. To facilitate this, one end region of the webbing may be provided with a first part of a two-part mechanical connector system, and the other end region of the webbing may be provided with a second part of the two-part mechanical connector system - preferably on the opposite side of the webbing to the side that carries the first part. The two-part mechanical connector 30 system could be a hook-and-loop coupling system, such as Velcro™. In another envisaged implementation, one end of the webbing may be bifurcated into first and second overlapping portions. Adjacent faces of the first and second overlapping portions each carry a first part of the aforementioned two-part mechanical connector system, and the other end of the webbing remote from the bifurcated end 35 carries a second part of the connector system on each surface of the webbing. In use, the inside surface of the end of the webbing that carries the second part of the connector system is first secured to the first overlapping portion around the stem, and then the second overlapping portion is secured to the outside surface of the end of the webbing that carries the second part of the connector system. This arrangement enhances the strength of the fastening around the stem of the scooter. 5 In either instance respective end portions of the fastener may be provided with lateral seams so that the user can more easily trim the length of the fastener to suit the scooter stem to which the lock assembly is being attached. Figs. 5 to 8 are various enlarged views of the housing 7 of the lock assembly. For clarity, in these figures we have omitted the retainer, the fastener and the locking 10 linkage. Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, the housing 7 functions as a mount for the lock 9. The lock 9, in this instance, comprises a plurality of combination wheels 21 that can be turned by a user to set a combination, lock and unlock the locking linkage. A recessed reset pin 23 is provided which, when pushed with the lock coupling of the locking linkage 15 disengaged, allows the combination wheels to be turned to set a new combination for the lock 9. The lock also includes a button 25 which, when pressed with the combination wheels set to show the combination for disengaging the lock coupling with the lock, allows the lock coupling of the locking linkage to be disengaged from the lock. Pushing the button 25 with the lock coupling removed from the lock also functions to set a new 20 combination in circumstances where the reset pin has been pushed. The lock 9 is conventional, and as such the internal structure of the lock and the way in which it works will not be described in detail. As depicted, the lock is orientated so that the reset pin is in a different face of the housing 7 to the face through which the lock coupling passes to engage with the lock 9. 25 This is advantageous, as compared to our previously proposed Scoot Lock™ scooter lock as it is less likely for users to accidentally press the reset pin when engaging the lock coupling with the lock. As mentioned above, the retainer is secured at two points within the housing to form a loop that extends around the stem 3 in use. Referring in particular to Figs. 7 and 30 8, a channel 27 is provided in the housing 7 for enabling the lock coupling of the locking linkage to be engaged with the lock 9. The channel 27 additionally provides a portal via which access can be had to an adjuster 29 for a retainer securing mechanism. The advantage of this arrangement is that when the lock coupling is secured in the lock, access to the adjuster 29 is obstructed and as a result the retainer securing mechanism 35 cannot be disengaged to allow the lock assembly to be removed from the stem of the scooter when the lock assembly is locked with the lock coupling secured in the lock. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the housing includes a generally C-shaped (in vertical cross-section) connector portion 31 that forms a passageway 33 for receiving the fastener 19. The connector portion 31 includes a face 35 that is adjacent the stem of the scooter when the housing is secured thereto. An elastomeric pad (not shown in the 5 drawings), for example of rubber, may be coupled (for example, adhered) to the face 35 of the connector portion to enhance frictional forces between the connector portion 31 and the stem, and thus make it less likely for the housing to slip up and / or down the stem when the lock assembly is coupled to the stem of a scooter. The elastomeric pad may be slightly tacky, and may be covered by a removeable release layer. An outer face 10 37 of the housing, opposite the face 35 of the connector portion 31, may be treated so as to be reflective (for example painted with reflective paint or by carrying a reflective sticker) so that visibility of a scooter to which the lock assembly is fixed is improved at night. As shown in Fig. 5, the housing 7 comprises a first portion 39 to which the 15 aforementioned connection portion 31 is attached, and a second portion 41 which provides the aforementioned outer face 37. In the preferred arrangement the first and second portions are brought together in the manufacture of the lock assembly and permanently secured to one another (for example by adhesive or by welding), so that the housing cannot easily be disassembled by nefarious third parties. 20 Referring now to Fig. 9, there is depicted a schematic elevation of the first portion 39 of the housing with the aforementioned second portion 41 omitted so that the internal components of the housing can readily be viewed. In Fig. 9, the majority of the retainer 11 and the locking linkage 13 (represented respectively by the dashed lines) have been omitted so that the internal components of the housing can more easily be viewed. 25 As shown in Fig. 9, the first portion is configured to provide a space in which the lock 9 can be fitted, whilst enabling access to be had to the aforementioned wheels, reset pin and button. The first portion 39 includes a peripheral wall 42 in which four ports are provided, a first port 43 and the channel 27 being provided in a part of the peripheral wall that will 30 be lowermost when the lock assembly is in use; a second port 45 and a third port 47 being provided in a part of the peripheral wall that will be uppermost when the lock assembly is in use. The second port 45 opens to internal structure 49 within the housing with which one end portion 51 of the retainer 11 (part of which is shown) can securely be engaged. 35 Internal walls of the housing that define the aforementioned portal 53 are funnel- shaped to assist users in engaging an appropriate tool (such as an alien key, for 10 15 20 25 30 35 example) with the adjuster 29. The adjuster is externally threaded and engaged with a block 54 that includes an internally threaded bore. An end portion of the adjuster 29 remote from the portal 53 is coupled to a first gripper 55 which is pivotally moveable about a peg 57 by winding the adjuster into and out of the block 54. A second gripper 59 having a gripping surface 61 extends inwardly from the peripheral wall 41 of the housing 7 at a position generally in the vicinity of a gripping portion 63 of the first gripper. In a contemplated arrangement the gripping surface 61 and the gripping portion 63 each comprise a toothed surface. As shown in Fig. 9, in this implementation the retainer and the locking linkage are a unitary component, in this instance a cable 65, with a portion of that component which extends from an uppermost surface of the housing in use forming the retainer 11 and a portion of that component which extends from a lowermost surface of the housing in use forming the locking linkage 13. With the first gripper 55 in the position depicted in Fig. 9, the cable 65 can be moved through the third port 47, through the housing 7 and through the first port 43 to vary the length of the retainer 11 and the locking linkage 13. In this instance, as the length of the retainer reduces, the length of the locking linkage increases - and vice versa. Once the retainer is of a desired length, and with the lock coupling 17 disengaged from the lock 9, the adjuster 29 can be wound into the block 54 by means of a suitable tool, such as an alien key. As the adjuster 29 is wound into the block 54, the first gripper 55 pivots about the peg 57 and the gripping portion 63 moves towards the gripping surface 61 of the second gripper 59 to clamp the cable 65 therebetween. In this position, movement of the cable out of the housing to increase the length of the retainer (as would be required to remove the lock assembly from a scooter) is resisted. As aforementioned, in this position the retainer is secured at two points within the housing -namely at the internal structure 59 and between the first and second grippers 55, 59. When the lock coupling of the locking linkage is engaged with the lock (as shown in Fig. 9), as it would be when the scooter to which the lock assembly is coupled is locked up, access to the adjuster 29 is obstructed, and as a consequence nefarious third parties are discouraged from unwinding the adjuster from the block to unclamp the cable 65 from between the grippers 55, 59. It is envisaged that the lock assembly will be supplied to users with the housing in the state depicted in Fig. 9. To fit the lock assembly to a scooter, a user need only pull the retainer until it is sufficiently long to allow the loop of retainer to be fitted over the handlebars of the scooter so that the stem lies within the retainer loop. Once the 30 12 24 housing is located at the desired height on the stem, the user pulls the locking linkage out of the housing to reduce the length of the retainer until the housing abuts against the stem. At this point the user then decouples the lock coupling from the lock and uses a suitable tool to screw the adjuster into the block to drive the two grippers together to 5 clamp the cable therebetween. The user can then couple the fastener around the stem (after having removed the optional release layer), following which the lock assembly is secured on the stem of the scooter ready for use. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the lock assembly detailed herein provides an effective means for locking up scooters, and also that the lock assembly 10 disclosed herein provides several advantages over our previously proposed Scoot Lock™ scooter lock. It will also be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of lock assembly have heretofore been described, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass 15 all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, whilst the lock assembly disclosed herein has a combination lock 9, any other type of lock could instead be employed. For example, instead of a combination lock with wheels, a combination lock with push-buttons could instead be 20 provided. It is also envisaged for the lock assembly to be provided with an electronic lock that interfaces wirelessly with a smartphone, for example via Bluetooth™ or other short-range wireless link, to enable the lock coupling to be disengaged from the lock. In this connection it is noted that some electric hire scooters require users to use an app on their smartphones to interact wirelessly with the scooter, and that app could also interact 25 with the lock assembly, or the lock assembly could be wirelessly controlled by the electric hire scooter controller.

Claims

1. A scooter lock assembly for a scooter having a stem, the scooter lock assembly comprising:5 a housing carrying a lock;a retainer comprising a cable extending from the housing at a first point and returning into the housing at a second point spaced from the first so as to form a retainer loop; andlocking linkage comprising a cable extending from the housing, the locking10 linkage having a lock coupling at a free end, the lock coupling being engageable with and disengageable from the lock;wherein:(i) the retainer and the locking linkage comprise respective parts of the same cable;15 (ii) the scooter lock assembly comprises a retainer securing mechanism2025provided within the housing, the retainer securing mechanism comprising an adjuster operable to reconfigure the retainer securing mechanism between (a) a configuration where the retainer securing mechanism resists adjustment of the retainer loop length, and (b) a configuration where the retainer securing mechanism permits adjustment of the retainer loop length to thereby enable the lock assembly to be fitted to a scooter with the stem between the housing and the retainer loop;(iii) a channel is provided in the housing for enabling the lock coupling to be engaged with the lock, and(iv) the channel provides a portal via which access may be had to the adjuster of said retainer securing mechanism, the arrangement being such that access to the portal and hence to the adjuster is obstructed when the lock coupling is engaged with the lock.

2. A scooter lock assembly according to Claim 1, further comprising a fastener that 30 can be passed through the housing and secured round the stem of the scooter.

3. A scooter lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock coupling is pivotally coupled to the locking linkage.35 4. A scooter lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaineris secured towards one end within the housing to provide a first securing point within the30 12 24housing.

5. A scooter lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the retainer securing mechanism provides a second securing point within the housing.

56. A scooter lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the retainer securing mechanism comprises first and second grippers, at least one of which can be moved relative to the other to grip the retainer passing therebetween.10 7. A scooter lock assembly according to Claim 6, wherein said adjuster is moveableto drive said at least one gripper into engagement with the retainer.

8. A scooter lock assembly according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein said adjuster is moveable to draw said at least one gripper out of engagement with the retainer.

159. A scooter lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said lock comprises a combination lock.

10. A scooter lock assembly according to Claim 9, wherein the lock comprises a 20 recessed reset pin which, when pushed with the lock coupling of the locking linkage disengaged from the lock, allows combination wheels of said combination lock to be turned to set a new combination for the lock.

11. A scooter lock assembly according to Claim 10, wherein said lock is orientated 25 so that the reset pin is in a different face of the housing to a face through which the lock coupling passes to enter the channel and engage with the lock.

Images