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US4676080A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Locking article for cycle accessories

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-03-07
•
Granted: 1987-06-30
•
Expires: 2006-03-07
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Abstract

Abstract An article which can be used cooperatively with a padlock for locking an accessory with a hole within its body such as the typical bicycle helmet, has a flexible cable loop with a stop permanently attached to it. The loop can be bent to allow it to enter the accessory hole and the stop is too large to pass through the hole without permanently distorting either the stop or the hole. The padlock is then used to attach the portion of loop passed through the hole to a convenient permanent fixture.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward Schwarz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 11:04
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; E05B73/0005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/437; Y10T70/483; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5013

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
An article for locking an accessory having an aperture of predetermined size in its body in cooperation with a separate padlock device, comprising: (a) a flexible cable loop made of a material relatively difficult to cut and whose ends enter and are permanently joined by a clinched press sleeve fitting, which loop can be made to pass through the aperture in the accessory; and (b) a stop retained permanently on the loop by the clinched press sleeve fitting, said stop so large as to not pass through the aperture in the accessory, so that the padlock device may be locked to the portion of the flexible loop of the article when the loop is passed through the aperture in the accessory, and to a permanent fixture whereby theft of the accessory may be impeded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 134 words
An article for locking an accessory having an aperture of predetermined size in its body in cooperation with a separate padlock device, comprising: (a) a flexible cable loop made of a material relatively difficult to cut and whose ends enter and are permanently joined by a clinched press sleeve fitting, which loop can be made to pass through the aperture in the accessory; and (b) a stop retained permanently on the loop by the clinched press sleeve fitting, said stop so large as to not pass through the aperture in the accessory, so that the padlock device may be locked to the portion of the flexible loop of the article when the loop is passed through the aperture in the accessory, and to a permanent fixture whereby theft of the accessory may be impeded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 59 words
The article of claim 2 wherein the cable ends both enter the same end of the press fitting and the stop includes a rigid plate having a hole through which the cable ends pass, said hole being so small as to prevent the press fitting from passing through it without substantial distortion of the plate or the press fitting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The article of claim 2 wherein the plate comprises a washer having a central hole of dimensions smaller than the diameter of the press fitting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The article of claim 3, wherein the washer O.D. is about 11/2 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The article of claim 3, wherein the washer hole is approximately circular with a hole diameter of from about 1/4 to 5/16 inches and the cable diameter is approximately one half that of the hole diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The article of claim 2 wherein the cable ends both pass through the hole in the rigid plate from the same side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 111 words
In combination, (a) an accessory having an aperture of predetermined dimensions in its body; (b) a locking article having a flexible cable loop which is passed through the aperture in the accessory, and a stop including a clinched press fitting on the loop and a rigid plate retained permanently on the loop by the clinched press fitting, said plate being too large to pass through the accessory a aperture without damage to the accessory or the stop; and (c) a locking device having a locking element, which locking element secures the loop of the locking article passed through the aperture to an external fixture, whereby the accessory is secured against theft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 111 words
In combination, (a) an accessory having an aperture of predetermined dimensions in its body; (b) a locking article having a flexible cable loop which is passed through the aperture in the accessory, and a stop including a clinched press fitting on the loop and a rigid plate retained permanently on the loop by the clinched press fitting, said plate being too large to pass through the accessory a aperture without damage to the accessory or the stop; and (c) a locking device having a locking element, which locking element secures the loop of the locking article passed through the aperture to an external fixture, whereby the accessory is secured against theft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein the rigid plate includes an area having a hole and wherein the cable loop ends pass through the rigid plate's hole, and the stop further includes a clinched press fitting on the loop retaining the rigid plate on the cable loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the cable loop has two ends which both pass through the rigid plate and into the press fitting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein the two ends of the cable pass through the rigid plate from the same side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein the two ends of the cable enter the press fitting from the same end.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3002780A Cited
US3581531A Cited
US3798934A Cited
US4003228A Cited
US4212175A Cited
US4418550A Cited
US4546627A Cited
US4526125A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-06-29 1990-12-29 1991-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-29 1994-12-29 1995-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-29 1998-12-29 1999-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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