WO2018169422A1

WO2018169422A1 - Anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: WO2018169422A1
Application number: PCT/PL2018/000026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Wisniewski
Original assignee: Jan Wisniewski
Priority date: 2017-03-15
Filing date: 2018-03-15
Publication date: 2018-09-20
Also published as: PL420857A1

Abstract

The lock has a flexible security element in the form of a multi-row chain (1) connected to a lock (4) with a housing (5). Multi-row chain (1) consists of from three to ten parallel longitudinal rows of links (2). The links (1) are connected inseparably in a direction perpendicular to the length of the security element constituting the multi-row chain (1). The outer diameter (D) of the links (2) forming the multi-row chain (1) is from three to six millimetres.

Description

Anti-theft device

The subject of the invention is a lock protecting the vehicle against theft, in particular a single-track vehicle, e.g. a bicycle.

Known solutions of this type usually consist of a metal - rigid or flexible security element connected to a lock enclosed in a housing. In addition, also known are solutions where the security element is a chain.

The application No. US 4888967 A refers to a bicycle lock consisting of a lock body with a housing and a U-shaped latch rod which is inserted into the lock body.

The application No. US 4033160 A refers to a bicycle lock consisting of a lock in a C-shaped housing, equipped with a sliding mechanism that locks the wheel in the closed position.

The bicycle lock known from US patent application US 3808847 A is characterised in that the lock, enclosed in a housing, is attached to one end of the cable housed in an outer guard and the other end of the cable is inserted into the housing in the closed locked position.

The bicycle lock, known from US application 4126024 A, is characterised in that the lock, enclosed in a housing, is attached to one end of the cable housed in an outer guard and the other end of the cable is inserted into the housing in the closed locked position, and the cable in the open position is pulled inside the housing of the lock.

The patent application US 5018374 A refers to a clamp which uses a series of flat metal tracks with elongated openings connected in line by means of fastening elements (e.g. rivets).

Patent application No. US 3739609 A refers to a bicycle lock consisting of a vertical stand adapted for attaching to additional ground structures, an elongated element for securing the pedals or a bicycle frame and a system for securing the lock.

Among the mentioned solutions, the ones equipped with steel cables are particularly susceptible to cutting. Currently, the market share of less portable but robust solutions equipped with a U-shaped bar is growing. The growing popularity of this method of securing vehicles has resulted in the emergence of a theft method that exploits a rigid structure of the lock. The method involves cooling the bar with C02 extinguisher and then breaking it with the fire extinguisher when it becomes fragile as a result of stresses propagating through a relatively large mass of material. This problem also applies to the aforementioned solutions based on metal plates.

The essence of the safety lock according to the invention is the use of a safety element in form of a multi-row chain. The multi-row chain contains from two to forty parallel longitudinal rows of links, preferably three to ten parallel longitudinal rows of links. The individual links in longitudinal rows of links are connected inseparably to the links of adjacent rows of cells in a direction perpendicular to the length of the security element forming a multi-row chain. The outer diameter of the links forming the multi-row chain is from one to twenty millimetres, preferably from three to six millimetres.

The solution according to the invention, in addition to securing the vehicle against theft in a simple manner, offers an increased level of safety of the protected vehicle in relation to the overall weight of the device. The higher strength offered by the use of chain links connected not only in series, but also parallel, hardened in a preferred execution, and reinforced to the tool steel level in the most preferred execution, allows for a lightweight and space-saving protection, which is also highly resistant to theft. The small volume of individual links in the chain, joined simultaneously in series and in parallel, as well as a high level of ease of movement between the links, which allows dampening the pointed impacts on the system, makes the chain resistant to theft with the use of a C02 extinguisher. The object according to the invention may include a chain made of an alloy subjected to such treatments as quenching, colour case-hardening and other forms of metal strengthening, as well as, depending on the alloy, surface treatments, for example anodisation or galvanisation. The protection which uses a multi-row chain with links with round cross-sections, if equipped with a chain guard, should have a guard of uneven crosswise structure, e.g. from an artificial fabric with thick fibres to prevent the positioning of the cutting tools against which it would provide protection. The term diameter refers to the actual diameter in the case of round links and equivalent diameter in the case of links of different shapes. The equivalent diameter is four times the cross-sectional area swept by the outer edge of the link in the front view of the link divided by the perimeter of the outer edge of the link in the front view.

The anti-theft lock according to the invention is shown in an exemplary embodiment in the drawings. Fig. 1 shows the lock in front view, fig. 2 is the lock from fig. 1 in side view, fig. 3 is the lock from fig. 1 in top-down view, fig. 4 is a front view of the individual link of the lock from fig. 1 and fig. 5 is a fragment of the fastening chain of lock from fig. 1 in front view. Fig. 6 shows the variant of the lock from fig. 1 in a front view, fig. 7 is a fragment of the fastening chain from fig. 6 in a front view.

As shown in fig. 1 , the lock has a security element in form of a multi- row chain 1 consisting of seven longitudinal rows of links 2, wherein the links 2 in each row are connected to links 2 of two adjacent rows in a direction perpendicular to the length of the security element. The links 2 are connected inseparably, alternating four and three links 2 in each successive layer to form a multi-row chain. The links 2 have an outer diameter ID/ of four millimetres with a material thickness of one millimetre. The multi-row chain 1 is connected to the lock 4 together with the housing 5. The lock 4 is of the type to be opened with a key.

Fig. 6 shows the variant of the lock from fig. 1, with a multi-row chain 1 which is rolled over its length and connected to the combination lock 6 with the housing 7. The lock has a longitudinal array of seven rows of links 2 connected to links 2 of the adjacent rows in a direction perpendicular to the length of the security element, alternating four and three links in each successive layer. The links 2 have an outer diameter /D/ of four millimetres with a material thickness of one millimetre.

The operation of the system involves securing a vehicle, e.g. a single-track vehicle in such a way that cutting of a single chain element does not result in breaking of the security system. In addition, the large freedom of movement and the small thickness of the individual components make the system less susceptible to freezing aimed at breaking it by using material stresses. In turn, a steel wire, which can be used in the production of the system, can be hardened easily and without compromising its functionality, which is not possible with solutions that use a braided steel cable.

Claims

1. An anti-theft lock with a flexible security element in the form of a chain connected to the locking mechanism together with the housing, characterized in that the security element is a multi-row chain III, comprising from two to forty parallel longitudinal rows of links 111, preferably from three to ten parallel longitudinal rows of links 111.

1. A lock according to claim 1 characterized in that the outer diameter /D/ of links 111 forming the multi-row chain III is from one to twenty millimeters, preferably from three to six millimeters.