US4044577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-theft device for portable apparatus
Assignee: LOCK A BIKE Inc
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Filing: 1976-09-09
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-09-09
Abstract
Abstract An automatic anti-theft device or lock is secured to a support of a portable apparatus to secure the apparatus against theft. The lock has two mating halves secured together to form a shatter-proof casing. One casing half includes a hollow spindle integral with the inside wall of the casing half, a retractile reel mounted on the spindle with a cable secured at one end thereto and wrapped around the reel. The second free end of the cable extends through one wall of the casing. The second casing half mounts a lock mechanism having a rotatable lock member which extends into the spindle when the casing halves are joined. The free end of the cable includes a lock cylinder which aligns with the rotatable lock member when it is inserted into the first casing half, and is secured by the rotatable lock member. The first casing member includes a slidable latch which is spring-biased to a first position to engage and latch the reel against rotation. The latch may be moved against the spring bias when the free end of the cable is not engaged in the casing to allow the reel to move and the cable to be extended or retracted. When the cable is at the desired extended position, the latch is released to secure the reel and the lock cylinder is inserted into the casing which prevents the latch from being moved from the first position. The cable is secured around some immovable object before it is inserted into the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert F. Horlacher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:21
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; E05B73/0005; E05B73/0011; B; B62; B62H; B62H5/00; B62H5/003; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/437; Y10T70/483; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5872; Y10T70/5876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An automatic locking device adapted to be operably mounted on a support wwhich is rigidly formed with a bicycle or like portable instrument for releasably securing said instrument against theft, said locking device comprising: i. a substantially enclosed casing; ii. a spindle secured within said casing and having retractile reel means mounted thereon; iii. said reel means including a flexible cable having one end secured thereto and a protruding second free end extending through said casing, and means for automatically retracting said cable when it is extended from said casing; iv. latch means supported on said casing for latching said reel means against movement in a first position, and for releasing said reel means for movement in a second position; v. said free end of the cable arranged to be engaged through said casing with said latch means in said first position; and vi. lock means supported on said casing for releasably locking said free end of the cable in said casing and concurrently preventing movement of the reel means and latch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An automatic locking device adapted to be operably mounted on a support wwhich is rigidly formed with a bicycle or like portable instrument for releasably securing said instrument against theft, said locking device comprising: i. a substantially enclosed casing; ii. a spindle secured within said casing and having retractile reel means mounted thereon; iii. said reel means including a flexible cable having one end secured thereto and a protruding second free end extending through said casing, and means for automatically retracting said cable when it is extended from said casing; iv. latch means supported on said casing for latching said reel means against movement in a first position, and for releasing said reel means for movement in a second position; v. said free end of the cable arranged to be engaged through said casing with said latch means in said first position; and vi. lock means supported on said casing for releasably locking said free end of the cable in said casing and concurrently preventing movement of the reel means and latch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said means for automatically retracting said cable include coil spring means engaged at one end to said spindle and at a second end to said reel means for tensioning said reel means just sufficient to automatically retract said extended cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said casing includes two mating casing parts, a first part having said spindle secured on the inside of one wall thereof; and a second part includes said lock means supported in one wall thereof opposite said spindle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said mating casing parts, said spindle, said reel means and said latch means are formed from non-shatterable polycarbonate material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said reel means include teeth spaced around the periphery thereof; and said latch means include mating projections to engage said teeth in said first latch position to latch said reel means and said cable in any desired position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 5 wherein: said latch means include a projection which bars said free end of said cable from being engaged through said casing when said latch means is in said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said spindle includes an opening aligned with an opening in said casing through which said free end of said cable is engaged; said lock means include means for engaging said free end of said cable, extending towards said opening in said casing, when said free end is engaged through said casing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said extending means for engaging include a rotating T-member aligned with said opening in said casing; and said free end of said cable includes means having a hollow portion with a transverse slot disposed across a closed end of said hollow portion and alignment means for aligning said slot with said T-member when said free end is engaged through said casing to insert said T-member through said slot into said hollow portion to lock said free end in said casing when said T-member is rotated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said reel means include teeth spaced around the periphery thereof; and said latch means include mating projections to engage said teeth in said first latch position to latch said reel means and said cable in any desired position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 9 wherein: said latch means include a projection which is aligned with said casing opening in said first position abutting said free end of said cable when said free end is engaged through said casing, said projection movable into said opening to release said cable in said second position, only when said free end is withdrawn from said casing; and means for biasing said latch means toward said first position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said means for automatically retracting said cable include coil spring means engaged at one end to said spindle and at a second end to said reel means for tensioning said reel means just sufficient to automatically retract said extended cable; said casing includes two mating casing parts; a first casing part having said spindle secured on the inside of one wall thereof and having an opening aligned with an opening in said spindle; a second casing part having said lock means supported in one wall thereof and said lock means including means for engaging aligned with and extending towards said opening in said first casing part, for engaging said free end of said cable when said free end is engaged through said opening in said first casing part; and said latch means mounted in said first casing part and including first means for engaging said reel means in said first position and abutting said free end of said cable when it is engaged through said opening in said first casing part, and second means extending into said first casing opening to move said latch means to said second position only when said free end of said cable is removed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
193 words
An automatic locking device adapted to be operably mounted on a support which is rigidly formed with a bicycle or like portable instrument for releasably securing said instrument against theft, said locking device comprising: i. a substantially enclosed casing including a first and a second mating casing parts; ii. a spindle secured within said first casing part and having retractile reel means mounted thereon; iii. said reel means including a flexible cable having one end secured thereto and a protruding second free end extending through said casing, and means for automatically retracting said cable when it is extended from said casing; iv. latch means supported on said first casing part for latching said reel means against movement in a first position, and for releasing said reel means for movement in a second position; v. said free end of the cable arranged to be engaged through an opening in said first casing part with said latch means in said first position; and vi. lock means supported in said second casing part for releasably locking said free end of the cable in said casing and concurrently preventing movement of the reel means and latch means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
193 words
An automatic locking device adapted to be operably mounted on a support which is rigidly formed with a bicycle or like portable instrument for releasably securing said instrument against theft, said locking device comprising: i. a substantially enclosed casing including a first and a second mating casing parts; ii. a spindle secured within said first casing part and having retractile reel means mounted thereon; iii. said reel means including a flexible cable having one end secured thereto and a protruding second free end extending through said casing, and means for automatically retracting said cable when it is extended from said casing; iv. latch means supported on said first casing part for latching said reel means against movement in a first position, and for releasing said reel means for movement in a second position; v. said free end of the cable arranged to be engaged through an opening in said first casing part with said latch means in said first position; and vi. lock means supported in said second casing part for releasably locking said free end of the cable in said casing and concurrently preventing movement of the reel means and latch means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said mating casing parts, said spindle, said reel means and said latch means are formed from non-shatterable polycarbonate material; and said means for automatically retracting said cable include coil spring means engaged at one end to said spindle and at a second end to said reel means for tensioning said reel means just sufficient to automatically retract said extended cable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said spindle includes an opening aligned with said opening in said first casing part through which said free end of said cable is engaged; said lock means include means for engaging said free end of said cable, extending towards said openings, when said free end is engaged through said openings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said extending means for engaging include a rotating T-member aligned with said openings; and said free end of said cable includes a hollow portion with a transverse slot disposed across a closed end of said hollow portion and alignment means for aligning said slot with said T-member when said free end is engaged through said openings to insert said T-member through said slot into said hollow portion to lock said free end in said casing when said T member is rotated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said reel means include teeth means spaced around the periphery thereof; said latch means include mating projection means to engage said teeth means in said first position to latch said reel means and said cable in any desired position; and means for biasing said latch means toward said first position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said latch means include bar means which are aligned with said casing opening in said first position abutting said free end of said cable when said free end is engaged through said opening, said bar means movable into said opening to release said cable in said second position only when said free end is withdrawn from said opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |