Lock formed by a strand, for securing objects

Abstract

A closure for a strand lock having a securing strand, a locking pin with a latch, and a locking housing defining a receptacle for the locking pin is provided with a rotatable coupling element on the locking pin. Rotation of the coupling element secures the latch in the housing.

Claims

1. A securing strand (3; 51; 71) for securing objects, wherein the securing strand is substantially composed of textile fibers, and wherein the textile fibers are present as a textile fabric selected from the group consisting of a braided fabric and a woven fabric; the securing strand comprises at least three said textile fabrics, and at least one of said textile fabrics is a braided fabric; and said textile fabrics are arranged such that said braided fabric forms a core of the securing strand; and a metallic layer is disposed between a pair of said textile fabrics; wherein the metallic layer is a member of the group consisting of metal wires, a metallic foil, and textile fibers with a metallic coating.

2. The securing strand (3; 51; 71) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the textile fibers comprise aramid and/or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWP).

3. The securing strand (51) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one electrical conductor (67) is disposed in the securing strand (51), and that alarm means which trigger an alarm when the electrical conductor (67) is severed are provided.

4. The securing strand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing strand has a sheathing.

5. The securing strand (3; 51; 71) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sheathing includes abrasive materials.

6. The securing strand (3; 51; 71) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sheathing comprises a plastics material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, an acrylic, silicone, and combinations thereof.

7. The securing strand (3; 51; 71) as claimed in claim 4 wherein the securing strand has a printable sheathing.

8. The securing strand (3; 51; 71) as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sheathing is UV-impermeable.

9. A securing strand (3; 51; 71) for securing objects, wherein the securing strand is composed of textile fibers, characterized in that the textile fibers are present as a textile fabric selected from the group consisting of a braided fabric and a woven fabric; the securing strand comprises at least three said textile fabrics and at least one of said textile fabrics is a braided fabric; said textile fabrics are arranged such that said braided fabric forms a core of the securing strand; and wherein a metallic layer is disposed between each textile fabric.

10. The securing strand as claimed in claim 9 wherein the metallic layer is aluminum foil.

11. The securing strand (3; 51; 71) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metallic layer is a member of the group consisting of metal wires, a metallic foil, and textile fibers with a metallic coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the strand lock according to the invention as per a first preferred design embodiment in a first view;

(2) FIG. 2 shows the construction of the securing strand according to the invention, as per FIG. 1;

(3) FIGS. 3a, 3b show the closure of the strand lock according to the invention as per FIG. 1, in an opened state;

(4) FIG. 4 shows the closure of the strand lock according to the information as per FIG. 1, in the locked state;

(5) FIG. 5 shows the strand lock according to the invention as per a second preferred design embodiment, in the opened state;

(6) FIG. 6 shows the strand lock according to the invention as per FIG. 5, in the locked state;

(7) FIG. 7a shows the strand lock according to the invention as per a third preferred design embodiment, in the opened state; and

(8) FIG. 7b shows the strand lock of FIG. 7a in the locked state.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) The strand lock 1 according to the invention as per a first preferred design embodiment is illustrated in a purely schematic manner in various views in FIGS. 1 to 4, wherein individual inboard elements for a better understanding are depicted in a partially transparent manner.

(10) It can be seen that the strand lock 1 has a securing strand 3 (which is encircling but for reasons of clarity is only partially shown) according to the invention, and a closure 5 according to the invention, which is fastened to the former, wherein the closure 5 has a locking housing 7 and a locking pin 9.

(11) It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the securing strand 3 according to the invention has substantially only textile fibers 10, specifically the fiber Dyneema® (an UHMW-PE, for example SK38 or SK78) by the DSM N.V. company, said fibers in each case being woven to form braided fabrics. A braiding core 11 herein is composed of braided Dyneema® fibers that is surrounded by an aluminum foil 13. Both form the core of the braided fabric 15 which is likewise braided from Dyneema® fibers. The braided fabric 15 in turn is surrounded by an aluminum foil 17, all this forming the core of the braided fabric 19 which is likewise braided from Dyneema® fibers. This braided fabric 19 is surrounded by a sheathing 21 from silicone or other plastics mixed with granite powder or other abrasive materials.

(12) As is illustrated in FIG. 2, wire wrappings 23, 25 can be provided alternatively or additionally to the aluminum foils 13, 17. Depending on the desired resistance, only one or two of the three braided fabrics 11, 15, 19 shown can also be used. More than three braided fabrics can also be used.

(13) The overall properties of the securing strand 3 can be positively influenced when the braided fabrics have dissimilar properties. For example, the braided fabrics 11, 15 should have a high tensile resistance and the braided fabric 19 should have a high cutting strength such that the securing strand 3 as an entity cannot be destroyed from the outside by cutting and the like, and also not by elongating.

(14) The closure 5 according to the invention is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 3 to 4. It can be seen that the locking housing 7 has a receptacle 27, which is not rotationally symmetrical, for the locking pin 9 which is configured in a corresponding manner and is thus introducible into the receptacle 27 in a rotationally secured manner. The shape in the exemplary embodiment proposed is that of a locking cylinder, the cross section of the locking pin 9 thus being that of a keyhole.

(15) The locking pin 9 has a pivotable latch 29 which can be pivoted in a manner perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the locking pin 9. Moreover, a coupling element 31 which in turn is connected to the securing strand 3 is disposed on the locking pin 9.

(16) The coupling element 31 in relation to the locking pin 9 has a conditional freewheel feature of such a type that an arbitrary rotation of the coupling element 31 about a locking pin 9 is possible in both directions in a first operating state. The coupling element 31 in a second operating state is fixedly coupled to the locking pin 9 such that a rotation of the coupling element 31 acts directly on the latch 29 which on account thereof can be activated.

(17) Switching of the two operating states can be performed by arbitrary keys, wherein in the exemplary embodiment illustrated a digital key which is transmitted by a transponder 32 to a corresponding receiving, evaluating and activating unit (not shown) in the interior of the coupling element 31 is preferably used. The description of the precise mechanical implementation of the conditional freewheel feature is dispensed with since the latter is known from transponder-activated locking systems in the sector of door security, for example by the SimonsVoss Technologies GmbH company. The particular design by way of which such a system becomes employable in the cable-lock sector in the first place is novel herein.

(18) The power supply to the receiving, evaluating and activating unit is performed by way of at least one DC current source (not shown) which is disposed in the interior of the coupling element 31. Access to this DC current source is by way of the end face 33 of the coupling element 31 which in the locked state (cf. FIG. 4) is covered by the locking housing 7 such that the access is protected from manipulation.

(19) It can be seen in FIG. 3b that the receptacle 27 in the locking housing 7 has a groove 35 which in terms of the location and dimensions thereof is configured such that the latch 29 of the locking pin 9 in the case of the strand lock 1 being locked in the state shown in FIG. 4 can be pivoted into the groove 35.

(20) The fastening of the securing strand 3 to the locking housing 7 and to the locking pin 9 is performed in that the locking housing 7 and the locking pin 9 each have eyelets (not shown) which are surrounded in terms of braiding by and adhesively bonded to the securing strand 3. Sleeves 37, 39 which are adhesively bonded to the securing strand 3 and to the locking housing 7 or to the locking pin 9, respectively, are disposed above these eyelets. Epoxy resins are suitable for adhesive bonding, and so-called prepregs in the form of aramid or carbon fibers, or hybrid fibers, respectively, are preferably used for the production of the sleeves. Since the locking housing 7 and the locking pin 9 per se are composed of a high-tensile and resilient steel or the like, a strand lock 1 as a whole is obtained which corresponds to all security requirements which for bicycles, for example, are established in the technical guidelines TR 3422 “Empfehlenswerte bewegliche Fahrrad-Schlösser, Anforderungen an Sicherheit and Gebrauchstauglichkeit; Prüfverfahren” (“Recommended portable bicycle locks, requirements in terms of security and usability; test method”) of the ADFC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club e.V.—General Bicycle Club of Germany).

(21) The strand lock 1 according to the invention is now operated as follows. The strand lock 1 in the state illustrated in FIG. 4 is locked and cannot be opened. The locking pin 9 in relation to the locking housing 7 is secured against rotation, and the closure 5 by way of the engagement of the latch 29 in the groove 35 is locked. A rotation of the coupling element 31 in relation to the locking housing 7 is possible by virtue of the conditional freewheel feature (cf. also FIG. 1).

(22) In the authentification of the owner (not shown) of the strand lock 1, said owner in a first step with the aid of the transponder 32, for example in a wireless manner or a similar remote transmission, transmits an authentification signal which is read and identified as being correct by the receiving, evaluating and activating unit (not shown) in the interior of the coupling element 31, on account of which said receiving, evaluating and activating unit switches off the freewheel feature and instead fixedly couples the latch 29 to the coupling element 31.

(23) On account thereof, in a second step, the latch 29 can be removed from the groove 35 by the user by rotating the coupling element 31 in relation to the locking housing 7, on account of which the locking pin 9 can be retrieved from the locking housing 7 and the closure 5 can be opened. Subsequently, the object (not shown) that was originally secured by the strand lock 1 can be freely availed of again.

(24) In order for the object to be secured again, the locking pin 9 in a third step is reintroduced into the locking housing 7, and the closure 5 is thus closed (cf. FIGS. 3a, 3b), and the latch 29 by rotating the coupling element 31 in relation to the locking housing 7 is moved into the groove 35 (cf. also FIGS. 1 and 4). In a fourth step, the conditional freewheel feature with the aid of the receiving, evaluating and activating unit is switched on again by activating the transponder 32 again, on account of which the strand lock 1 is securely locked until the latter is unlocked again with the aid of the transponder 32.

(25) The freewheel feature in this example is switched in each case by means of the transponder 32, such that after the strand lock 1 following unlocking and opening as described above can be directly locked again without activating the transponder 32 once more, since the freewheel feature is still switched off.

(26) By contrast however, when unauthorized unlocking and non-locking due to the fourth step being neglected is to be prevented, it can alternatively be provided that the conditional freewheel feature is automatically switched on after a specific time period, for example after 3 to 5 seconds, upon activation of the transponder 32.

(27) It can optionally also be provided that the user can switch between these two variants, for example by way of a switch on the transponder 32, or by way of a specific combination of activations of the transponder 32.

(28) In order for the locking and unlocking procedure to be facilitated, it is provided that the groove 35 extends in only one direction and also only at a specific angle, for example 90° (cf. FIG. 3b), such that the latch 29 can be pivoted in only one direction, and has a detent such that any unintentional unlocking of the closure 5 is prevented.

(29) In the exemplary embodiment proposed, the locking pin 9 has a cross section similar to that of a keyhole. However, other cross sections that are not rotationally symmetrical, for example triangular or rectangular cross sections, which prevent a rotation of the locking pin 9 in relation to the locking housing 7 are also possible.

(30) Alternatively thereto, a locking pin having a circular cross section in the form of a cylinder could however also be used when the one or the plurality of latches which can also be present in the form of balls or rollers can be pivoted out of said cylinder. Such design embodiments are known from chamber closures with ball mechanisms in repeating rifles, for example. In this case, the groove should be configured in a 360° encircling manner, and the closure 5 is locked in that the coupling element 31 is rotated in relation to the locking pin 9. A corresponding face for the engagement of the locking pin 9 must thus be provided.

(31) The strand lock 50 as per a second preferred design embodiment is illustrated in a purely schematic manner in various views in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein individual inboard elements for a better understanding are depicted in a partially transparent manner.

(32) It can be seen that this strand lock 50 is again composed of a securing strand 51 and a closure 53, wherein the closure 53 has a locking housing 55 and a rotationally symmetrical locking pin 57. The locking pin 57 has an encircling groove 59. In the closed state of the closure 53 (cf. FIG. 6), when the locking pin 57 is introduced into a corresponding cylindrical receptacle 61, locking of the closure 53 can be performed by bolts 63 which, activated by a transponder 65, are introduced into the groove 59.

(33) In the case of this design embodiment, a displacement of bolts 63 is provided by a respective drive (not shown, for example by a motor in the interior of the locking housing 53), such that rotation by hand is dispensed with.

(34) Moreover, an encircling electrical conductor 67 is disposed in the securing strand 51, and alarm means (not shown) which trigger an alarm when the electrical conductor 67 is severed are provided.

(35) The strand lock 70 according to the invention as per a third preferred design embodiment is illustrated in a purely schematic manner in varous views in FIGS. 7a and 7b, wherein individual inboard elements for a better understanding are depicted in a partially transparent manner.

(36) It can be seen that this strand lock 70 is again composed of a securing strand 71 and a closure 73, wherein the closure 73 has a locking housing 75 and a rotationally symmetrical locking pin 77. The locking pin 77 has an encircling groove 79. In the closed state of the closure 73 (cf. FIG. 7b), when the locking pin 77 is introduced into a corresponding cylindrical receptacle (not shown), locking of the closure 73 can be performed by a bolt 81 which, activated by a transponder 83, is introduced into the groove 79. A display 85 signals whether the closure 73 is locked.

(37) In the case of this design embodiment, only the displacement of one bolt 81 is thus provided, and the closure 73 is configured in a one-sided manner such that the strand lock 70 could be diposed in a stationary manner, for example on a frame of a bicycle (not shown).

(38) Alliteratively hereto, it could also be provided that the closure 73 is configured so as to be separate from the one end 87 of the securing strand 71. This end 87 could be fixedly connected to the frame of a bicycle, for example, on account of which the locking housing 75 that is disposed on the frame by way of the frame would be connected indirectly to the end 87.

(39) Furthermore, a roll-up mechanism (not shown) of the usual type could also be provided for the securing strand 3, 51, 71 such that the strand lock 1, 50, 70 becomes more easy to handle.

(40) It has become obvious from the illustration above that a highly resilient strand lock 1 which can be operated in a very simple and uncomplicated manner is provided by the present invention, said strand lock 1 herein in comparison to known cable locks being distinguished by a high degree of flexibility and a low weight.

(41) In as far as not stated to the contrary, all features of the present invention can be combined with one another freely and independently of other features. The features that are described in the description of the figures can also be combined with the other features, in particular with the features in the claims, in as far as not stated to the contrary, as features of the invention. For example, the intermediate layers 13, 17, or else the sheathing 21 or the wire wrappings 23, 25 do not have to be used, and only two or three braided fabrics 11, 15, 19 that lie in one another could be used. Herein, features of the subject matter can also be used in a reworded form as method features, and method features can be used in a reworded form as features of the subject matter.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(42) 1 Strand lock 3 Securing strand 5 Closure 7 Locking housing 9 Securing pin, locking pin 10 Textile fibers 11 Braided fabric core 13 Aluminum foil 15 Braided fabric 17 Aluminum foil 19 Braided fabric 21 Sheathing 23, 25 Wire wrappings 27 Receptacle for the locking pin 29 Latch 31 Coupling element 32 Transponder 33 End face of the coupling element 31 35 Groove 37, 39 Sleeves 50 Strand lock 51 Securing strand 53 Closure 55 Locking housing 57 Locking pin 59 Groove 61 Receptacle for the groove 59 62 Bolt 65 Transponder 67 Electrical conductor 70 Strand lock 71 Securing strand 73 Closure 75 Locking housing 77 Locking pin 79 Groove 81 Bolt 83 Transponder 85 Display