Bicycle Lock Mounting Bracket With Anti-Rattle Retention Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle lock mounting brackets face issues with ease of use, reliability in securing the lock, and rattling during riding, necessitating improvements for secure and stable lock attachment.

Innovation Solution

A mounting bracket with a housing, movable arms, a pinion, a latch, and a manual actuator, allowing for secure locking and easy release of a bicycle lock, featuring a biasing mechanism to maintain the lock in a seated position and prevent rattling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional mounting brackets are used to secure a bicycle lock, then the lock can be mounted to the bicycle frame, but the lock rattles during riding and is not reliably secured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of lock securingVSAvoidrattling of lock
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket employs movable arms that can dynamically adjust their position between extended and retracted states. The arms move from an extended position during mounting to a retracted position during riding, adapting the bracket's structure to different operational phases to eliminate rattling while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket changes its geometric parameters by altering the position of the arms. When the arms are retracted against the bicycle frame, they change the spatial configuration of the mounting structure, creating a rigid assembly that prevents lock movement and rattling during bicycle operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the arms are held in a fixed secured position, then the lock is reliably retained, but the bracket is difficult to operate for mounting and removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretention of lock in seated positionVSAvoidease of mounting and removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arms are pre-biased toward the retracted position through spring mechanisms, automatically preparing the bracket for secure retention once the lock is inserted. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual adjustment during operation, maintaining reliability while simplifying the mounting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket uses spring-loaded arms that automatically move into the retracted position to secure the lock without requiring additional user action. The system serves itself by using the insertion of the lock to trigger the arms' movement, thereby securing the lock reliably while keeping the operation simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the arms are extended outward for easy lock insertion, then the lock can be easily mounted, but the lock is not securely retained and may pivot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of lock insertionVSAvoidsecurity of lock retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The arms dynamically transition from an extended state during insertion to a retracted state for retention. This dynamic movement allows the bracket to provide both easy access for mounting and secure retention during riding, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring mechanism pre-positions the arms in a state ready to secure the lock immediately upon insertion. The arms are biased to move inward automatically, providing beforehand the securing action needed to prevent lock pivoting and ensure reliable retention right from the start of the mounting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bracket effectively secures the lock to the bicycle frame, preventing rattling and facilitating easy removal, enhancing user convenience and security.

Implementation Method 1

an arm biasing mechanism configured to bias the arms toward the outer positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a latch operable to selectively retain the arms in the inner positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

a pinion engaged with the rack gears and correlating movement of the arms such that the arms move in unison with one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRack and Pinion: Rack and Pinion

Data Source

PatentEP4025479B1Bicycle lock mounting bracket
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 SCHLAGE LOCK CO LLC
  • EP4025479B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4025479B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4025479B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

An exemplary mounting bracket is configured for releasably securing a bicycle lock to a bicycle, and generally includes a housing, a pair of opposing arms, a pinion, a latch, and a manual actuator. The arms are movably mounted to the housing for movement between inward positions and outward positions, and each arm includes a rack gear. The pinion is engaged with each rack gear and correlates movement of the arms such that the arms move with one another between the outward positions and the inward positions. The latch has a latching position in which the latch is operable to maintain the arms in the inward position, and has an unlatching position in which the arms are free to move from the inward position to the outward position. The manual actuator is operable to move the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position.