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EP-4574636-B1 - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR A CYCLE-TYPE VEHICLE, SUCH AS A BICYCLE, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

EP4574636B1EP 4574636 B1EP4574636 B1EP 4574636B1EP-4574636-B1

Inventors

  • Empereur, Yohann

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241216

Claims (11)

  1. Anti-theft device (1) for a two-wheeled vehicle (11), such as a bicycle, the device (1) comprising: - a bracket (2) comprising: - two elongated bars (4a, 4b) extending mainly along two coplanar axes (Xa, Xb), these two bars forming branches of the bracket (2), - a base (6) from which said bars (4a, 4b) extend, - a locking housing (3), where at least one of the two bars (4a, 4b) has at least one bulge and is mounted on the stirrup base (6) so that it can be rotated around the axis (Xa, Xb) along which it extends mainly, said bar (4a, 4b) having at least one bulge zone and thus being able to assume at least two positions, one corresponding to an extended configuration of the stirrup (2), the other corresponding to a retracted configuration thereof, the spacing between said bulge area of said bar and the other bar being maximum in the deployed position of the stirrup (2) and minimum in the retracted position of the stirrup (2), where the free ends of the bars (5a, 5b) are configured to be mutually engaged in the housing (3), characterized in that the free ends of the bars are configured to cooperate with the housing (3) so as to lock said housing (3) on the stirrup (2) on the one hand when the bars (4a, 4b) are in their position where the stirrup (2) is in the retracted configuration and, on the other hand, when the bars (4a, 4b) are in their position where the stirrup (2) is in the extended configuration.
  2. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bar (4a, 4b) rotates a quarter turn about the axis (Xa, Xb) along which it extends mainly to move from one of the two positions to the other of the two positions.
  3. Anti-theft device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the base (6) and/or the two bars (4a, 4b) are configured to allow angular separation of the axes (Xa, Xb) along which the two bars (4a, 4b) extend mainly when the housing (3) is not engaged on the free ends of the bars (5a, 5b).
  4. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the base (6) of the bracket (2) comprises two supports (61, 62) on which the two bars (4a, 4b) are respectively mounted, these two supports (61, 62) being articulated to form a hinge (6) allowing angular separation of the axes (Xa, Xb) along which the two bars extend by rotation around a third axis (Xc) perpendicular to the axes (Xa, Xb) along which the two bars (4a, 4b) extend.
  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the locking box (3) comprises ball locking means (8).
  6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the two bars comprises: - a first segment (40a, 40b) and a second segment (44a, 44b) collinear with the first segment (40a, 40b); - two connecting segments (41a, 41b, 43a, 43b); and - a third segment (42a, 42b) which defines a bulge between the first (40a, 40b) and second segments (44a, 44b), said third segment (42a, 42b) being parallel to and spaced from the respective axis (Xa, Xb) of the bar (4a, 4b), said third segment (42a, 42b) being connected on both sides to the first (40a, 40b) and second (44a, 44b) segments by the two connecting segments (41a, 41b, 43a, 43b) so as to form the bulge.
  7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the two bars are identical.
  8. Assembly (100) comprising: - an anti-theft device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7; and - a device (10) for attaching the anti-theft device (1) to a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, the fastening device (10) comprising a first support (9a) and a second support (9b) configured to receive the anti-theft device (1), in particular when the bracket (2) is retracted, the first and second supports (9a, 9b) each forming a point of attachment for the anti-theft device (1) to the bicycle, motorcycle, or similar vehicle, the anti-theft device (1) being fixedly connected to the fastening device (10).
  9. Two-wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, the vehicle comprising: - a frame (110); and - an assembly (100) according to claim 8, the assembly (100) being fixedly connected to the frame (110) by the fastening device (91a, 91b).
  10. Method for locking a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, using an anti-theft device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the following steps: - deploying (E11) the bracket (2) from a retracted position of the bracket (2); - placing (E12) the bracket (2) both on a fixed attachment element, such as a post, and on the bicycle, motorcycle, or similar vehicle; and - placing the locking housing (3) on the free ends (5a, 5b) of the bars (4a, 4b) of the bracket (2) and locking (E13) the anti-theft device (1).
  11. Method for unlocking a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, using an anti-theft device (1) in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the following steps: - unlocking and opening (E20) the anti-theft device (1); - removing (E21) the clamp (2) in which the vehicle (11) and a fixed attachment point, for example a post, are threaded; and - retracting (E22) the shackle (2) from a deployed position of the shackle (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to anti-theft devices, particularly for cycle-type vehicles, such as bicycles. STATE OF THE ART Some bicycle locks, in particular, are highly regarded for their security features. This is especially true of U-locks, which are typically a type of lock with a locking mechanism. However, despite their effectiveness and ease of installation, cyclists may be discouraged from using them due to their bulk. Because these locks are completely rigid, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to carry them without a storage solution. The user then adds an extra burden, for example, by carrying the lock in their bag or by loosely attaching it to the bike frame, causing it to swing from side to side due to inertial forces. A solution is proposed in the document US-4 918 951 presenting a cycle lock, particularly for bicycles, in which the lock is designed to reduce the size of the locking mechanism but not that of the shackle. The lock therefore always has a generally bulky shape for transport on a bicycle. Document US2015/013399A1 shows the preamble to claim 1. GENERAL STATEMENT One aim of this presentation is therefore to further reduce the bulk of rigid-structured locks, particularly the lock's shackle. A secondary objective is to enable the lock to be rigidly attached to the vehicle. To this end, according to the first aspect of this presentation, an anti-theft device for two-wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles, is proposed; the device comprises: a stirrup comprising: two long, slender bars extending mainly along two coplanar axes, these two bars forming branches of the stirrup, a base from which said bars extend, a locking mechanism, characterized in that at least one of the two bars has at least one bulge and is mounted on the stirrup base in such a way as to be able to be rotated about itself around the axis along which it extends principally, said bar having at least one bulge area and thus being able to take at least two positions, one which corresponds to a deployed configuration of the stirrup, the other which corresponds to a retracted configuration thereof, a spacing between said bulge area of said bar and the other bar being maximum in the deployed position of the stirrup and being minimum in the retracted position of the stirrup, and in that the free ends of the bars are configured to be mutually engaged in the housing and to cooperate with it so as to lock said housing onto the bracket on the one hand when the bars are in their position where the bracket is in retracted configuration and on the other hand when the bars are in their position where the bracket is in deployed configuration. Thus, thanks to the rotating bars, the user can bring them closer together to retract the shackle. The lock then has a less bulky profile. Furthermore, the bars can be moved to adjust the lock to any frame. The lock is then stopped bilaterally by the contact of the bars against the frame. The connection between the lock and the frame is therefore reinforced. In this application, "retract" means that the lock is capable of folding laterally. It is also said to be capable of retracting. Conversely, "deploy" means that the lock is capable of unfolding laterally. In other words, the bars of the shackle are able to move closer together or further apart by rotating around their axis. Therefore, the lock is not telescopic. It can be envisaged that the bar will make a quarter turn around the axis along which it extends principally to move from one of the two positions to the other of the two positions. It may be provided that the base and/or the two bars is/are configured to allow angular separation of the axes along which the two bars extend primarily when the housing is not engaged on the free ends of the bars. Thus, it is possible to further reduce the bulk of the lock by decreasing the spacing at its ends. Indeed, the shackle rarely surrounds the The bicycle has a fixed point along its entire length. Therefore, the spacing between the bars at its ends can be reduced. The bars are then spread apart when the fixed point and bicycle are inserted into the lock, and then brought together to close the lock. The lock then conforms locally to the bicycle and the fixed point, rather than along its entire length. It may also be provided that the base of the stirrup includes two supports on which the two bars are respectively mounted, these two supports being articulated to form a hinge allowing an angular separation of the axes along which the two bars extend by rotation around a third axis perpendicular to the axes along which the two bars extend. Thus, the base forms a hinge for the caliper. The caliper base can also be articulated by other means, notably by a ball joint or a bearing. It may be provided that the locking housing includes ball locking means. The ball locking means are also configured to hold the caliper in the housing. The lock's bulk is further reduced by decreasing the size of th