Bike lock assembly

Abstract

A bike lock assembly (100), comprising a base portion (102) fixable to a support surface, a rear wheel support member (104) fixed to a rear region of the base portion for supporting a rear wheel of a

Description

The present invention relates to a bike lock assembly and in particular, but not exclusively, to a lock assembly for securely locking a bicycle in an upright orientation in a public environment. Conventional public bicycle racks typically include a horizontal rail fixed to the ground by vertical legs or to a wall and the user can lock their bicycle frame to the rail using their own conventional bike lock, such as a cable lock or U-lock. Another known public bicycle rack / lock is described in US9,381,964B and includes a vertically oriented housing and a locking bar which is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the housing and configured to engage through the frame and the spokes of the front wheel of the bicycle when in the locked position. However, these conventional bicycle racks / locks do not prevent both wheels being maliciously removed from the frame and / or the frame being removed from the wheels, and the frame and / or the front wheel can be damaged in use. It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a bike lock assembly for securely supporting and locking a bicycle in an upright orientation to a fixed structure and preventing the malicious removal of the wheels from the frame of the bicycle or vice versa. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bike lock assembly, comprising: a base portion fixable to a support surface; a rear wheel support member fixed to a rear region of the base portion for supporting a rear wheel of a bike; a front wheel support member coupled to a front region of the base portion and moveable from an open position to a closed position for supporting a front wheel of the bike; and a locking assembly for locking the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position, wherein the front and rear wheel support members are each configured to cover a respective wheel axle of the bike to prevent malicious removal of the wheels from the bike when locked in the bike lock assembly. Optionally, the moveable front wheel support member is rotatably mounted to the base portion by an elongate bar defining a pivot axis. Optionally, the pivot axis is oriented substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the base portion. Optionally, the bar comprises a recess for receiving a locking element of the locking assembly to lock the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position. Optionally, the recess comprises a bore extending partially into the bar and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the pivot axis. Optionally, the locking element is selectively translatable into or out of the recess and respectively between a locked position and an unlocked position by an actuator operably coupled to a controller. Optionally, the actuator comprises an electric motor or solenoid. Optionally, the fixed rear wheel support member and the moveable front wheel support member each comprise a pair of substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart elongate side plates locatable on respective sides of the respective wheel. Optionally, each wheel support member comprises a curved upper region connecting the opposed side plates together. Optionally, the side plates of the fixed rear wheel support member are angled upwardly and forwardly and the side plates of the moveable front wheel support member are angled upwardly and rearwardly. Optionally, the side plates of each wheel support member define an acute angle of around 55-60 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. Optionally, the curved upper region of the fixed rear wheel support member is angled upwardly and rearwardly and the curved upper region of the moveable front wheel support member is angled upwardly and forwardly. Optionally, the curved upper region of each wheel support member defines an obtuse angle of around 105-110 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. Optionally, a transition point between the curved upper region of each wheel support member and the respective side plates is vertically spaced by around 500mm from an undersurface of the base portion. Optionally, the apparatus comprises a fixed front wheel support member fixed to the front region of the base portion for supporting the front wheel of the bike and wherein the moveable front wheel support member moves between the open and closes positions with respect to the fixed front wheel support member. Optionally, the moveable front wheel support member at least partially overlaps the fixed front wheel support member when in the closed position to cover and protect the front axle. Optionally, the fixed front wheel support member is configured to support the front axle. Optionally, the fixed front wheel support member comprises a pair of substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart elongate side plates locatable on respective sides of the front wheel and each comprising a support surface for supporting a respective end region of the front axle. Optionally, each side plate of the fixed front wheel support member comprises a stop surface for engaging the front axle and preventing the front wheel being moved rearwardly through the fixed front wheel support member. Optionally, the fixed rear wheel support member and the moveable front wheel support member are mounted to a first side of the base portion for supporting and locking a first bike, and wherein the bike lock assembly comprises a second fixed rear wheel support member and a second moveable front wheel support member each mounted to a second side of the base portion opposed to the first side for supporting and locking a second bike. Optionally, the fixed rear wheel support member is opposed to the second moveable front wheel support member, and the moveable front wheel support member is opposed to the second fixed rear wheel support member. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of locking a bike in a bike lock assembly, comprising the steps of: supporting a rear wheel of a bike by a rear wheel support member fixed to a rear region of a base portion of a bike lock assembly, wherein a rear axle of the rear wheel is covered by the fixed rear wheel support member to prevent malicious removal of the rear wheel from the bike; moving a front wheel support member coupled to a front region of the base portion from an open position towards a closed position; supporting a front wheel of the bike by the moveable front wheel support member when in the closed position, wherein a front axle of the front wheel is covered by the moveable front wheel support member to prevent malicious removal of the front wheel from the bike; and locking the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position. Optionally, the method comprises: locating the front wheel of the bike in a fixed front wheel support member fixed to the front region of the base portion; and supporting the front axle of the front wheel on the fixed front wheel support member. Optionally, the method comprises moving the moveable front wheel support member at least partially over the fixed front wheel support member when in the closed position to cover and protect the front axle. Optionally, moving the moveable front wheel support member comprises rotating the same about a pivot axis defined by a spindle rotatably mounted to the base portion. Description of the Drawings Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a bike lock assembly according to certain embodiments of the present invention in an open and unlocked state; Figure 2 illustrates the bike lock assembly of Figure 1 in a closed and locked state; Figure 3 illustrates a base portion of the lock assembly; Figures 4a and 4c illustrate a rear wheel support member of the lock assembly; Figures 5a to 5c illustrate a fixed front wheel support member of the lock assembly; Figures 6a to 6c illustrate a moveable front wheel support member of the lock assembly; and Figure 7 illustrates a cover member for closing the base portion of the lock assembly. Detailed Description As illustrated in Figure 1, a bike lock assembly 100 according to certain embodiments of the present invention includes an elongate base portion 102 fixable to a horizontal support surface, such as a concrete substrate, to secure the assembly in a desired location. The bike lock assembly further includes a rear wheel support member 104 fixed to a first side of a rear region of the base portion 102 and a front wheel support member 106 fixed to the first side of a front region of the base portion 102 and longitudinally spaced from the rear wheel support member 104. A moveable front wheel support member 108 is pivotally coupled to the base portion 102 to be rotatable about a pivot axis from an open position to a closed position, and vice versa, with respect to the fixed front wheel support member 106. Figure 1 shows the moveable front wheel support member 108 in the open position and Figure 2 shows the moveable front wheel support member 108 in the closed position. A cover member 110 securely closes and protects the internal components housed in the base portion 102 from environmental conditions and malicious tampering, etc. Aptly, the various components of the lock assembly 100 are made from a corrosion-resistant metal material, such as a powder-coated steel or the like. As illustrated in Figure 3, the base portion 102 includes a substantially rectangular wall region 112 defining opposed first and second side walls 114,115, opposed first and second end walls 116,117, and is substantially open at its upper and lower sides. A right-angled bracket 118 is fixed, such as by welding, to the inner surface of each side wall 114,115 and proximal each end wall 116,117 to allow the base portion 102 to be securely fixed to a support surface by, for example, bolts. Alternatively, the base portion 102 may have a substantially closed base including apertures for directly fixing it to the support surface by bolts or the like. An open base desirably allows water or the like to escape under the wall region 112 if ingress into the base portion occurs, for example. A first circular aperture 120 is provided through the first side wall 114 and proximal to the first end wall 116. A first annular boss or collar 121 is fixed, such as by welding, the inner surface of the first side wall and surrounding the first aperture 120. A second annular boss or collar 122 is fixed, such as by welding, to the inner surface of the opposed second side wall 115 to be axially aligned with the first through aperture 120 in the first side wall 114. Similarly, a second circular aperture (not shown) is provided through the second side wall 115 and proximal to the second end wall 117, and an annular boss or collar 124 is fixed, such as by welding, to the inner surface of the second side wall 115 and around the second aperture, and also a further annular boss or collar 126 is fixed, such as by welding, to the opposed first side wall 114 to be axially aligned with the second through aperture in the second side wall 115. A selectively translatable and elongate locking element 128, such as a pin or bolt, is mounted proximal to each end wall 116,117 and between the side walls 114,115 such that an axis of the locking element 128 is orientated substantially perpendicularly to, and located substantially on the same plane as, the pivot axis defined by a respective pair of the bosses / collars. The locking element 128 is selectively translatable between a retracted (unlocked) position and a deployed (locked) position by way of suitable drive means 129, such as a motor or solenoid or the like, operably coupled to a controller. The locking element 128 forms part of a locking assembly 130 including inter alia the selectively controllable drive means for selectively moving the locking element 128 between the locked and unlocked positions. The locking assembly 130 is securely mounted between a pair of plates 132,133 which are fixed, such as by welding, between the first and second side walls 114,115. As illustrated in Figure 4a, the fixed rear wheel support member 104 include a base plate 134 and a pair of spaced apart and parallel side plates 136,137 extending upwardly therefrom which are connected at the upper ends by a curved upper portion 138. Aptly, the side plates and the curved upper portion are one piece of metal formed by folding, bending or the like. The side plates 136,137 are spaced apart by a distance, aptly around 200mm, to accommodate a variety of bicycle axle widths therebetween. As illustrated in Figure 4b, the rear wheel support member 104 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart rear flanges 140,141 each extending up a rear edge of a respective one of the rear side plates 136,137. The rear flanges 140,141 are laterally spaced apart from each other by a distance, aptly around 120mm, to accommodate a variety of bicycle tyre widths therebetween. The rear flanges are aptly an integral part of the rear side plates 136,137 and formed by folding. Alternatively, they may be separate elongate plates welded or the like to the side plates. Each rear flange 140,141 extends up the respective side plate by a sufficient distance to extend above and beyond the axle of a rear wheel located in the rear wheel support member 104 in use. The rear flanges 140,141 act as a stop to abut the rear axle when locating the rear wheel in the rear wheel support member in use, and also prevent access to the rear axle nuts or quick-release mechanism. As illustrated in Figure 4c, each rear side plate 136,137 extends upwardly and forwardly from the rear base plate 134 at acute angle of around 55-60 degrees with respect to the horizontal to a vertical height of around 510mm before it extends upwardly and rearwardly at an obtuse angle of around 105-110 degrees with respect to the horizontal. This arrangement provides support at the lower rear portion of the rear wheel and radially across the wheel towards the axle of the rear wheel before extending upwardly and rearwardly to terminate above the rear tyre. The rear side plates are therefore configured to cover the rear axle at substantially around point Ar when the rear wheel is located in the rear wheel support member 104 in use. Alternatively, the rear side plates may extend substantially vertically to support a central portion of the rear wheel and cover the rear axle. The rear wheel support member 104 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart projections 142,143 extending from the inner rear side plate 141 and proximal to the base plate 134. Each projection is around 60mm long and around 20mm in diameter. The projections provide space for efficiently locating or removing the cover member 110 on to or from the base portion 102. Each projection includes a threaded bore 144 for receiving a bolt to securely attach the rear wheel support member 104 to the base portion 102 and space the same therefrom such that it is longitudinally aligned with the front wheel support members 106,108. This arrangement allows the bolt heads fixing the rear wheel support member 104 to the base portion 102 to be located in the base portion 102 and inaccessible by an unauthorised person when the cover member 110 is securely attached and locked to the base portion 102 in normal use. The base plate 134 may include one or more holes 146 for bolting the rear wheel support member 104 to the support surface. As illustrated in Figure 5a, the fixed front wheel support member 106 includes a base plate 154 and a pair of spaced apart and parallel side plates 156,157 extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end region of each side plate 156,157 extends substantially horizontally from a front edge of the side plate by around 100mm before extending upwardly and rearwardly at angle of around 125 degrees with respect to the horizontal to terminate at the rear edge of the side plate at a point 158. The side plates are laterally spaced apart from each other by around 140mm and each include an inwardly extending flange 160,161 extending vertically from the base plate 154 along a rear edge of the side plate and up to the point 158 to define a vertical flange portion 162, down the angled edge to define an angle flange portion 163 and along the horizontal edge to define a horizontal flange portion 164. The opposed flanges 160,161 extend inwardly from the respective side plate by around 20mm and are spaced apart from each other by around 100mm to accommodate a front tyre of the bike therebetween. The height of the horizontal flange portion 164 is around 300mm from the base plate 154 such that the front axle of the front wheel of the bike sits on the horizontal flange portion 164 and in turn the fixed front wheel support member 106 acts as a bike stand to support the bike in an upright position whilst the bike is locked in the bike lock assembly 100 and when the bike is being locked or unlocked in / from the bike lock assembly 100. As illustrated in Figures 5b and 5c, the fixed front wheel support member 106 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart projections 172,173 extending from the inner side plate 157 and proximal to the base plate 154. Each projection is around 60mm long and around 20mm in diameter. Each projection includes a threaded bore 174 for receiving a bolt to securely attach the fixed front wheel support member 106 to the base portion 102 and space the same therefrom such that it is longitudinally aligned with the rear wheel support member 104. This arrangement allows the bolt heads fixing the fixed front wheel support member 106 to the base portion 102 to be located in the base portion 102 and inaccessible by an unauthorised person when the cover member 110 is securely attached and locked to the base portion 102 in normal use. The base plate 154 may include one or more holes 176 for bolting the fixed front wheel support member 106 to the support surface. As illustrated in Figure 6a, the moveable front wheel support member 108 includes a pair of spaced apart and parallel side plates 186,187 extending upwardly which are connected at their upper ends by a curved upper portion 188. Aptly, the side plates and the curved upper portion are one piece of metal formed by folding, bending or the like. The side plates 186,187 are spaced apart by a distance, aptly around 155mm, to accommodate the fixed front wheel support member 106 therebetween and a front axle located thereon in use and when the moveable front wheel support member 108 is in the closed position. A spindle such as a bar 190 extends from the inner side plate 187 through a hole in the outer side plate 186 and beyond the same by around 340mm. The bar 190 is fixed to the side plates 186,187 by for example welding and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the side plates. The bar is around 40mm in diameter and around 500mm long. The bar 190 includes a bore 192 partially extending into the bar by around 25mm and at a distance of around 135mm from the outer side plate 186. The bore 192 is sized to receive the leading end region of the locking element 128 when the moveable front wheel support member 108 is in the closed position and the bike lock assembly 100 is in a locked state. As illustrated in Figure 6b, the moveable front wheel support member 108 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart front flanges 210,211 each extending up a front edge of a respective one of the front side plates 186,187. The front flanges 210,211 are laterally spaced apart from each other by a distance, aptly around 95mm, to accommodate the front bike tyre therebetween when the moveable front wheel support member 108 is rotated towards the closed position and over the front wheel, as described further below. The front flanges 210,211 are aptly an integral part of the front side plates 186,187 and formed by folding. Alternatively, they may be separate elongate plates welded or the like to the side plates. Each front flange 210,211 extends up the front of the respective side plate by a sufficient distance to extend above and beyond the axle of the front wheel located on the fixed front wheel support member 106 in use. The front flanges 210,211 act as a stop to abut the front axle if the bike moves forward in the lock assembly when locked therein, and also prevent access to the front axle nuts or quick-release mechanism. As illustrated in Figure 6c, each front side plate 186,187 extends upwardly and rearwardly from its lower end at acute angle of around 55-60 degrees with respect to the horizontal to a vertical height of around 500mm before it extends upwardly and forwardly at an obtuse angle of around 105-110 degrees with respect to the horizontal. This arrangement provides support at the lower front portion of the front wheel and radially across the wheel towards the axle of the front wheel before extending upwardly and forwardly to terminate above the front tyre. The front side plates 186,187 are therefore configured to cover the front axle at substantially around point Af when the front wheel is located in the fixed and moveable front wheel support members 106,108 when the latter is in the closed position. Alternatively, the front side plates may extend substantially vertically to support a central portion of the front wheel and cover the front axle. As illustrated in Figure 7, the cover member 110 includes an elongate and rectangular frame 212 sized to fit over the rectangular wall region 112 of the base portion 102 such that the cover member externally overlaps the wall region of the base portion. Each side of the frame 212 includes at least one tamper proof bolt or lock 213 for engagement with a corresponding aperture 215 in the wall region 112 of the base portion 102 (see Figure 3) to allow the cover member 110 to be securely locked to the base portion 102 in normal use, whilst an authorised person to unlock and remove the cover portion when access to the base portion is required, such as to replace or maintain the locking assemblies or the like. The cover member 110 includes a domed upper region 214 welded to the frame to be aesthetically pleasing but the upper region could be substantially box-like or the like. The upper region 214 may aptly include a user interface for operably controlling the lock assembly 100, such as a touch screen or the like. For example, the user may login to a user account via the user interface on the lock assembly or remotely via a mobile device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, such as by inputting user ID details and a location identifier to allow the controller to identify the location of the lock assembly. Alternatively, an RFID tag or fob may be used to identify a user present at and wanting to use the lock assembly 100. Aptly, the moveable front wheel support member 108 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa, by the controller responsive to a user input via the user interface of the lock assembly or their mobile device. In response to a user input to lock the bike in the lock assembly after the user has correctly located the bike in the lock assembly, the moveable front wheel support member 108 is rotated about the pivot axis in a rearward direction from the open position (Figure 1) to the closed position (Figure 2) and over the front wheel and tyre of the bike. The moveable front wheel support member 108 may be manually rotated by the user or by a motor responsive to an input by the user via the user interface. The locking element 128 may then automatically be driven into the bore 192 of the bar 190 by the controller to lock the moveable front wheel support member 108 in the closed position. Alternatively, the locking element may be driven into the bore of the bar by the controller responsive to a further input by the user to place the lock assembly in a locked state. In this locked state, the bike is fully supported in both longitudinal and lateral directions and the bike is fully secured from being maliciously removed from the lock assembly. Furthermore, both axles of the bike are covered by the respective support member 104,108 of the lock assembly 100 to prevent unauthorised access to the axle nuts or quick-release mechanisms and any malicious attempt to remove the wheels from the frame or vice versa. In response to a user input to unlock the bike from the lock assembly, after identifying themselves as the owner of the bike to the controller, the locking element 128 is driven out of the bore 192 in the bar 190 and the moveable front wheel support member 108 is rotated about the pivot axis in a forward direction from the closed position (Figure 2) to the open position (Figure 1) either manually by the user or by a motor responsive to an input by the user via the user interface. The bike can now be lifted out of the front and rear wheel support members and away from the lock assembly. Alternatively, the moveable front wheel support assembly 108 may be configured to rotate forwardly to engage with or be proximal to the support surface, such as substantially parallel with the support surface, such that the bike can be wheeled forwards over the moveable front wheel support member 108 and clear of the lock assembly 100 without having to lift the bike from the lock assembly which could be difficult for relatively old or physically impaired users or the like. Aptly, the bike lock assembly 100 according to certain embodiments of the present invention may be single bike lock assembly to securely lock a single bike or, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it may comprise a pair of said bike lock assemblies arranged next to each other and oriented in opposed directions such that the handlebars of two neighbouring bikes do not clash when they are locked to the assembly. Such an arrangement also allows two different users to install and lock their bikes in the assembly, or unlock and withdraw their bike from the assembly, at the same time and from opposed sides of the assembly without getting in the way of each other. As an alternative to the locking assembly described above, a locking element may engage with an aperture in the inner side plate or both side plates of the moveable front wheel support member such that when the moveable front wheel support member is in the closed position, the locking element is moved outwardly in a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the spindle / bar 190 to engage in the aperture / s to lock the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position. The locking element may extend through the front wheel if an aperture is provided in each side plate of the moveable front wheel support member. Aptly, the locking element may also engage with an aperture in the inner side plate or both sides plates of the fixed front wheel support member to further secure the moveable front wheel support member when locked in the closed position. In its simplest form, the locking assembly may comprise an aperture in the outer side plate of the moveable front wheel support member and an aperture in the outer side plate of the fixed front wheel support member which align when the moveable front wheel support member is in the closed position and which can be used to fit a padlock to lock the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position. Certain embodiments of the present invention therefore provide a bike lock assembly for locking a bike in a public space, wherein the locked bike is supported in an upright orientation and the assembly is configured to prevent malicious removal of the bike from the assembly and the wheels from the frame of the bike or vice versa. The bike lock assembly does not rely on bars or the like extending through the wheels or frame of the bike which can undesirably damage the same, particularly the spokes. The bike lock assembly does not require the bike user / owner to use their own lock and according to certain embodiments of the present invention the bike lock assembly can be operated via an application executed on the user’s mobile device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The bike lock assembly may be configured for push bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorbikes without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bike lock assembly, comprising:a base portion fixable to a support surface;a rear wheel support member fixed to a rear region of the base portion for supporting a rear wheel of a bike;a front wheel support member coupled to a front region of the base portion and moveable from an open position to a closed position for supporting a front wheel of the bike; anda locking assembly for locking the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position,wherein the front and rear wheel support members are each configured to cover a respective wheel axle of the bike to prevent malicious removal of the wheels from the bike when locked in the bike lock assembly.

2. The bike lock assembly according to claim 1, wherein the moveable front wheel support member is rotatably mounted to the base portion by an elongate bar defining a pivot axis.

3. The bike lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pivot axis is oriented substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the base portion.

4. The bike lock assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the bar comprises a recess for receiving a locking element of the locking assembly to lock the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position.

5. The bike lock assembly according to claim 4, wherein the recess comprises a bore extending partially into the bar and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the pivot axis.

6. The bike lock assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the locking element is selectively translatable into or out of the recess and respectively between a locked position and an unlocked position by an actuator operably coupled to a controller.

7. The bike lock assembly according to claim 6, wherein the actuator comprisesan electric motor or solenoid.

8. The bike lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixed rear wheel support member and the moveable front wheel support member each comprise a pair of substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart elongate side plates locatable on respective sides of the respective wheel.

9. The bike lock assembly according to claim 8, wherein each wheel support member comprises a curved upper region connecting the opposed side plates together.

10. The bike lock assembly according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the side plates of the fixed rear wheel support member are angled upwardly and forwardly and the side plates of the moveable front wheel support member are angled upwardly and rearwardly.

11. The bike lock assembly according to claim 8, wherein the side plates of each wheel support member define an acute angle of around 55-60 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

12. The bike lock assembly according to claims 9 and 10, wherein the curved upper region of the fixed rear wheel support member is angled upwardly and rearwardly and the curved upper region of the moveable front wheel support member is angled upwardly and forwardly.

13. The bike lock assembly according to claim 12, wherein the curved upper region of each wheel support member defines an obtuse angle of around 105-110 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

14. The bike lock assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a transition point between the curved upper region of each wheel support member and therespective side plates is vertically spaced by around 500mm from an undersurface of the base portion.

15. The bike lock assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a fixed front wheel support member fixed to the front region of the base portion for supporting the front wheel of the bike and wherein the moveable front wheel support member moves between the open and closes positions with respect to the fixed front wheel support member.

16. The bike lock assembly according to claim 15, wherein the moveable front wheel support member at least partially overlaps the fixed front wheel support member when in the closed position to cover and protect the front axle.

17. The bike lock assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fixed front wheel support member is configured to support the front axle.

18. The bike lock assembly according to claim 17, wherein the fixed front wheel support member comprises a pair of substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart elongate side plates locatable on respective sides of the front wheel and each comprising a support surface for supporting a respective end region of the front axle.

19. The bike lock assembly according to claim 17 or 18, wherein each side plate of the fixed front wheel support member comprises a stop surface for engaging the front axle and preventing the front wheel being moved rearwardly through the fixed front wheel support member.

20. The bike lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixed rear wheel support member and the moveable front wheel support member are mounted to a first side of the base portion for supporting and locking a first bike, and wherein the bike lock assembly comprises a second fixed rear wheel support member and a second moveable front wheel support member each mounted to a second side of the base portion opposed to the first side for supporting and locking a second bike.

21. The bike lock assembly according to claim 20, wherein the fixed rear wheel support member is opposed to the second moveable front wheel support member, and the moveable front wheel support member is opposed to the second fixed rear wheel support member.

22. A method of locking a bike in a bike lock assembly, comprising the steps of: supporting a rear wheel of a bike by a rear wheel support member fixed to a rear region of a base portion of a bike lock assembly, wherein a rear axle of the rear wheel is covered by the fixed rear wheel support member to prevent malicious removal of the rear wheel from the bike;moving a front wheel support member coupled to a front region of the base portion from an open position towards a closed position;supporting a front wheel of the bike by the moveable front wheel support member when in the closed position, wherein a front axle of the front wheel is covered by the moveable front wheel support member to prevent malicious removal of the front wheel from the bike; andlocking the moveable front wheel support member in the closed position.

23. The method according to claim 22, comprising:locating the front wheel of the bike in a fixed front wheel support member fixed to the front region of the base portion; andsupporting the front axle of the front wheel on the fixed front wheel support member.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising moving the moveable front wheel support member at least partially over the fixed front wheel support member when in the closed position to cover and protect the front axle.

25. The method according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein moving the moveable front wheel support member comprises rotating the same about a pivot axis defined by a spindle rotatably mounted to the base portion.18

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