Dual-Lock Bicycle Stand Coupling for Anti-Carry Theft Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle theft prevention systems are either ineffective against carrying away or require complex infrastructure and high maintenance costs, lacking a simple, secure, and cost-effective solution for bicycle rental systems.
Innovation Solution
An anti-theft device comprising a bicycle with a control unit, frame lock, and coupling actuation unit, which includes authentication and actuation modules to securely lock the bicycle to a stationary stand using a frame lock and coupling mechanism, allowing manual or automated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frame lock is used to block wheel rotation, then the bicycle is secured against wheel theft, but the bicycle can still be carried away
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into two independent but complementary components: a frame lock that secures the bicycle frame and a wheel lock that blocks wheel rotation. This segmentation allows each component to address specific theft vectors, making it significantly harder for thieves to carry away or steal the bicycle compared to using a single locking mechanism.
2Reliability
If fixed bicycle racks with authentication systems are used, then theft prevention is improved, but infrastructure complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bicycle is equipped with an autonomous control unit that manages authentication and locking operations independently. The control unit contains embedded authentication credentials and can verify user authorization without requiring external communication infrastructure. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex fixed racks with integrated authentication systems, reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
Authentication credentials are pre-loaded into the control unit during bicycle manufacturing or initialization. This preliminary action allows the bicycle to perform authentication locally without requiring real-time communication with central servers or fixed rack systems, thereby simplifying the infrastructure while maintaining secure access control.
3Device complexity
If manual locking operations are required, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical locking operation is replaced with an automated electromechanical system. The control unit automatically actuates the frame lock and wheel lock mechanisms based on authentication results, eliminating the need for users to manually operate complex locking procedures. This substitution maintains system simplicity while dramatically improving ease of operation through automated authentication and locking.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an anti-theft assembly having double security, comprising a bicycle (1), a stationary bicycle stand (2), and a coupling actuation unit (3). The bicycle (1) comprises a control unit (4), a frame lock (5) and a bicycle-side coupling portion (6). The control unit (4) is designed to produce a security state control command. The frame lock (5) comprises a frame lock connection module (8), a drive element (9) and a blocking element (10). The frame lock connection module (8) is designed to receive the security state control command and to produce a setting command from the security state control command. The drive (9) is connected to the frame lock connection module (8) and is designed to receive the setting command and to mechanically actuate the blocking element (10). The bicycle-side coupling portion (6) is designed to be coupled to a stand-side coupling portion (11). The stationary bicycle stand (2) comprises a stand-side coupling portion (11), which is designed to interlockingly couple the bicycle-side coupling portion (6). The coupling actuation unit (3) comprises a coupling actuation connection module (12), an actuator (13) and a locking element (14). The coupling actuation connection module (12) is designed to receive the security state control command and to produce an actuating command from the security state control command. The actuator (13) is connected to the coupling actuation connection module (12) and is designed to receive the actuating command and to mechanically actuate the locking element (14).