Locking mechanism with anti-rotation function

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism with anti-rotation. The locking device includes a shackle having a body portion and legs extending therefrom, each having a foot portion at a distal end thereof, a tubular housing having an internal cavity and a first opening spaced apart on one side of its wall, the openings adapted to receive the foot portion of the leg in the shackle retaining position, and a mechanism for locking the foot portions in the retaining position. Each foot portion has an anti-rotation portion of a non-circular cross section, and a plate retained within the housing cavity having a matching opening of a non-circular cross section is aligned with each of the respective first openings for receiving the anti-rotation portion of the foot portion in the shackle retaining position, two sides of the plate engaging an inner wall of the housing to limit said rotation of said foot portion about its axis. Each shackle leg typically has a tip portion at a distal end of the foot portion, and in some embodiments, the wall of the tubular housing has a second opening in the wall aligned opposite the first opening.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to locking mechanisms, particularly, but not exclusively, to hoop locks, also known as D-locks or U-locks, of the type used to secure bicycles and motorcycles. Such locks have a shackle with legs that are received and locked within a housing, for example to secure the bicycle to a permanent structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Hoop locks have been used for some time and have been very successful. Examples are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,372,019, 5,398,529, and 7,389,659, which are incorporated by reference, as well as European Patent Nos. 3,183,405 and 3,584,394. Reference is also made to European Patent No. 3,707,325, which discloses another shackle lock construction. These patents are specifically directed to the provision of features that prevent, or at least limit, rotation of the legs of the shackle within the hoop lock when retained within the lock housing. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is directed to an improved locking structure for preventing or limiting such rotation.

[0004] In accordance with the invention, a locking device includes a shackle having a body portion and legs extending therefrom, each having a foot portion at a distal end thereof, a tubular housing having an internal cavity and a first opening spaced apart on one side of its wall, the openings adapted to receive the foot portions of the legs in the shackle retaining position, and a mechanism for locking the foot portions in the retaining position. Each foot portion has an anti-rotation portion of a non-circular cross section, and a plate retained within the housing cavity having a matching opening of a non-circular cross section is aligned with each of the respective first openings for receiving the anti-rotation portion of the foot portion in the shackle retaining position, two sides of the plate engaging an inner wall of the housing to limit said rotation of said foot portion about its axis. Each shackle leg typically has a tip portion at a distal end of the foot portion, and in some embodiments, the wall of the tubular housing has a second opening in the wall aligned opposite the first opening. With these features, the tip portion extends into or through the second opening in the shackle retaining position. When the shackle leg does not have a tip portion, the foot portion is received into or through the first opening to engage the anti-rotation portion into a matching opening in the body within the housing, and thus the foot portion can extend toward the opposite side of the housing without engaging it.

[0005] It should be understood that the cross-section of the foot portion beyond the anti-rotation portion, including the tip portion if included, cannot exceed the cross-section of the anti-rotation portion.

[0006] The cross section of the tubular housing is usually substantially circular, although this is not required. Polygonal cross sections, such as square or rectangular, can be used, and in some embodiments this can simplify the installation and / or positioning of one or more plates, for example between two parallel sides. However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, at least the internal cross section is circular, and each plate has a lateral dimension that coincides with the inner diameter of the housing.

[0007] There may not be an exact match between the cross-section of each anti-rotation portion and the respective opening of the aligned plate. In the context of the present application, the match must be sufficient to prevent or substantially prevent rotation of the anti-rotation portion in the respective opening. This may be achieved, for example, by the respective cross-sections having only two parallel sides. The same applies to the engagement of the plate or plates with the housing inner wall, where a free fit may be sufficient as long as rotation is limited. However, in some embodiments, the plate or plates may be permanently attached to the housing wall.

[0008] Separate plates with matching non-circular openings can be aligned with each first opening for receiving the anti-rotation portion of the foot portion, although in some embodiments a single plate body has both matching non-circular openings. This can simplify installation of the plate body, but uses space that can be used to accommodate a locking mechanism unit. In a preferred embodiment, the or each plate body is accommodated in such a locking mechanism unit. The or each plate engages or abuts against the inner wall of the tubular housing to prevent its rotation. However, the or each plate may be fixed separately within the housing. The cross-section of the anti-rotation portion of the foot portion and the matching opening of the body can take any suitable form. In a preferred form, it has two parallel sides created by cutting out of the foot portion of the respective leg, although a single cut out portion may be sufficient. Of course, other more complex cross-sections can be used.

[0009] In a variation of the invention, only one of the leg portions may have an anti-rotation portion, and a plate having only one opening of matching cross section is held within the housing, with the other leg foot attached or mounted within the housing by other means such as a hinge or angled bracket that prevents or inhibits rotation relative to it.

[0010] Locking mechanisms used in the present invention are typically located within the housing cavity with access to a key or code located either between the second openings or at the ends of the housing. A typical mechanism has a deadbolt movable within the housing to engage a groove or notch in a foot portion of one or each leg. An anti-rotation portion of each foot may be located adjacent to the groove or notch, thereby facilitating operation of such a locking mechanism. In embodiments of the present invention in which each foot portion extends to a tip portion, it is preferred that the anti-rotation portion be between such groove or notch and the tip portion. Suitable locking mechanisms are disclosed in the patent specifications referenced above.

[0011] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of a locking mechanism according to the present invention, with the locking mechanism omitted. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an alternative cross-section of the anti-rotation portion of the leg foot. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an end view of the tubular casing of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 shows the end of the shackle leg with the anti-rotation plate mounted thereon. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 shows how the anti-rotation body can be held in a unit within the tubular housing of the device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The device shown in Figure 1 is a hoop lock having two legs 4 from which a shackle 2 extends. The ends of the legs 4 form foot portions 6 which extend through a first opening 8 into a tubular housing 10 of circular cross section which contains a locking mechanism (not shown). Each foot portion 6 has a groove or notch 12 formed therein and has an anti-rotation portion 14 and a tip portion 16, as better shown in Figure 5. Disposed within the housing 8 is a body in the form of a plate 18, each of which has an opening which coincides with the opening in the anti-rotation portion 14 of the respective foot portion.

[0014] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the cross-section of the anti-rotation portion 14 and the opening of the plate 18 have parallel long sides aligned with the housing 8. The spacing between these long sides substantially coincides with the inner diameter of the housing 8, so that each plate 18 can only be located on the diameter of the housing as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, only the axial position of each plate in the housing and its orientation need to be established to hold it in place. Rotation about the axis of the foot portion received therein is prevented or limited by the housing wall. It will be understood that only the parallel sides of the anti-rotation portion 14 and the opening of the plate 18 must coincide. Of course, the spacing between the other sides may be different, provided that the opening can accommodate the anti-rotation portion. FIG. 3 shows the anti-rotation portion 14 of the plate 18, in which the cross-section of the anti-rotation portion 14 and the opening of the plate 18 have straight converging sides 20. It should be noted that in each case, the cross-section of the anti-rotation portion 14 is within the cross-section of the foot portion 6. Indeed, in each illustrated embodiment, the anti-rotation portion is formed by a cut portion of the foot portion 6.

[0015] Although the illustrated embodiment includes two plates 18 for limiting rotation of the foot portion 6, it will be appreciated that a single plate having two openings could also be used. Such a plate could be part of a locking mechanism located within the housing 10.

[0016] 1, tip portions 16 protrude through second openings 22 in the wall of housing 10. The cross section of each tip portion 16 is smaller than the cross section of the respective anti-rotation portion 14, and is shown as being circular. Tip portions 16 need only fit through second openings 22 to aid in aligning foot portions 6 across housing 10, although a tighter fit would be more reliable.

[0017] A device according to the invention includes a locking mechanism, usually entirely within the tubular housing of the device. Figure 6 shows how such a mechanism 24 can be accommodated within the housing 10 of the device shown in Figure 1. The mechanism is a tubular structure that fits within the housing 10 and has a cutout portion 26 in which a plate 28 seats. The plate 26 has openings aligned with first (8) and second (22) openings for receiving the foot portion (6) and tip portion (16) of the shackle leg 4. The locking mechanism extends substantially the length of the housing 10 to hold the plate 26 in the portion 24 aligned with the first and second openings of each pair of housing walls. Figure 1 shows a keyhole 30 for operating such a locking mechanism.

[0018] The components of the apparatus according to the invention are normally metal, typically steel, although other suitably reinforced and / or hardened materials may be used. The components are usually painted or coated or enclosed in protective plastic covers for ease of handling.

Claims

1. A locking device comprising: a shackle having a main body and legs extending therefrom, each having a foot portion at its distal end; a tubular housing having an internal cavity and a first opening spaced apart on one side of its wall, the opening being adapted to receive the foot portions of the legs in the shackle holding position, and each foot portion having a non-circular cross-section anti-rotation portion; a plate within the housing cavity having a matching non-circular cross-section opening aligned with each of the first openings for receiving the anti-rotation portions of the foot portions in the holding position, the two sides of the plate engaging with the inner wall of the housing to restrict the rotation of the foot portions around their axes; and a mechanism for locking the foot portions in the holding position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each leg portion has a tip portion at the distal end of the foot portion, the wall of the tubular housing has a second opening in the wall that is aligned opposite to the first opening, and the tip portion extends into the second opening in the shackle holding position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a deadbolt that is selectively movable within the housing to engage with a groove extending laterally in the foot portion of the shackle leg.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the anti-rotation portion is located between the tip portion and the groove.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cross-section of the tip portion of each leg is smaller than the cross-section of the foot portion.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cross-section of each leg foot and tip portion is circular.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a single plate has two matching openings aligned with a foot opening for receiving the anti-rotation portion of the foot portion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separate plate is aligned with each foot opening for receiving the anti-rotation portion of each foot portion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate or two sides of each plate engage with the inner housing wall.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plate or each plate has two parallel sides that engage with the inner wall of the housing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plate or each plate has a maximum transverse dimension substantially equal to the inner diameter of the housing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate or each plate is fixed within the housing.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is a unit disposed within the housing cavity, and the plate or each plate is housed within the locking mechanism unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-circular cross-sections of the anti-rotation portion and the plate having parallel sides.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the anti-rotation portion is entirely located within the cross-section of the foot portion.

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