Two-wheeler lock having an alarm function

Abstract

A lock having an alarm function for a two-wheeler comprises a lock body and a securing hoop movable relative to the lock body between a securing position for securing the two-wheeler and an open position for releasing the two-wheeler. The lock body has a locking mechanism to selectively lock the securing hoop to the lock body in the securing position, and further comprises an alarm device for outputting an alarm signal. The locking mechanism can selectively be moved into an unlocked position, a locked position, or an alarm activation position, with the securing hoop being released for a movement into the open position in the unlocked position, with the securing hoop located in the securing position being locked at the lock body in the locked position, and with the alarm device being activated or being able to be activated by moving the locking mechanism into the alarm activation position.

Claims

1. A lock having an alarm function for a two-wheeler, comprising a lock body and a securing hoop that is movable relative to the lock body between a securing position to secure the two-wheeler and an open position to release the two-wheeler, wherein the lock body has a locking mechanism to selectively lock the securing hoop at the lock body in the securing position, and wherein the lock body furthermore comprises an alarm device for outputting an alarm signal, wherein the locking mechanism can selectively be moved into an unlocked position, a locked position, or an alarm activation position, with the securing hoop being released for a movement into the open position in the unlocked position, with the securing hoop located in the securing position being locked at the lock body in the locked position, and with the alarm device being activated or being able to be activated by moving the locking mechanism into the alarm activation position, wherein the alarm activation position forms a further locked position, wherein the alarm device is deactivated in the locked position, and wherein in the further locked position the securing hoop located in the securing position is locked at the lock body and the alarm device is activated, wherein the locking mechanism has two latches, wherein the securing hoop has a first hoop end and a second hoop end, of which each has a first locking recess and a second locking recess, wherein in the locked position of the locking mechanism one of the two latches engages into the first locking recess of the first hoop end and the other one of the two latches engages into the first locking recess of the second hoop end, and wherein in the further locked position of the locking mechanism the one of the two latches engages into the second locking recess of the second hoop end and the other one of the two latches engages into the second locking recess of the first hoop end.

2. A lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism has a lock cylinder that is rotationally actuable by means of a key.

3. A lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein the lock cylinder has a cylinder housing and a cylinder core rotatably supported in the cylinder housing, wherein the locked position of the locking mechanism corresponds to a first rotational position of the cylinder core, wherein the alarm activation position of the locking mechanism corresponds to a second rotational position of the cylinder core, and wherein the unlocked position of the locking mechanism corresponds to a third rotational position of the cylinder core.

4. A lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the key can be introduced into the cylinder core and removed from the cylinder core in the first rotational position of the cylinder core and in the second rotational position of the cylinder core.

5. A lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein the two latches are drivable by means of the lock cylinder.

6. A lock in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lock cylinder is coupled to the two latches via a deflection device that deflects a rotational movement of the lock cylinder into a linear movement of the two latches.

7. A lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism has an electric motor.

8. A lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the two latches are drivable in opposite senses to one another by an actuation of the locking mechanism in a first direction of rotation, and wherein the two latches are also drivable in opposite senses to one another by an actuation of the locking mechanism in a direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

9. A lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lock has a position detector that is configured to determine whether the locking mechanism is in the alarm activation position.

10. A lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alarm device has at least one of the following components: an electrical energy source for the energy supply of further components of the alarm device; an acceleration sensor or a vibration sensor; an evaluation and control circuit; an acoustic and/or optical signal generator; and/or a radio transmission unit for the wireless transmission of an alarm signal.

Description

FIGURES

(1) The invention will be explained only by way of example in the following with reference to the Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded representation of an embodiment of the two-wheeler lock in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the locking mechanism being in an unlocked position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the locking mechanism being in a first locked position; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the locking mechanism being in an alarm activation position that simultaneously forms a second locked position.

DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a two-wheeler lock 10 in accordance with the invention having an alarm function. The two-wheeler lock 10 comprises a lock body 22 and a securing hoop 12 that can in particular be produced from metal. The securing hoop 12 of this embodiment is rigid and of U shape and has a first end 14 and a second end 16 that can be introduced into the lock body 22. At its first end 14, the securing hoop 12 has a first locking recess 18 at the front side shown in FIG. 1 and a second locking recess 20 at the rear side (not visible in FIG. 1). At its second end 16, the securing hoop 12 has a second locking recess 20 at its front side and a first locking recess 18 at its rear side. The first and second locking recesses 18, 20 can each cooperate with a locking mechanism 40 to lock the securing hoop 12 at the lock body 22.

(7) The lock body 22 comprises a tubular housing 26 that can in particular be formed from metal. The housing 26 has a first end 28 and a second end 30 at its longitudinal side. A respective access opening 32 is formed at the ends 28, 30 and an inner space 34 of the housing 26 is accessible via it. In an alternative embodiment, one of the access openings 32 can also be closed; in this case the housing 26 forms a cylinder open at one side. At the peripheral side, the housing 26 has introduction openings 24 close to its respective ends 28, 30. The ends 14, 16 of the securing hoop 12 can be led through the introduction openings into the inner space 34 of the housing 26 to close the two-wheeler lock 10 and to lock the securing hoop 12 at the lock body 22.

(8) The inner space 34 of the housing 26 accommodates the locking mechanism 40 and an alarm device 60. The locking mechanism 40 comprises a lock cylinder that can be rotationally actuated by an associated key 42 and that has a cylinder core 44; it furthermore comprises a drive prolongation 46, a first latch 50, and a second latch 52. The cylinder core 44 is rotatably supported in a cylinder housing 45. The lock cylinder can, for example, be configured as a disk tumbler cylinder having a plurality of disk tumblers, which makes a configuration possible in which the key 42 can be removed from the cylinder core 44 in two different rotational positions in particular offset from one another by 180°.

(9) The lock cylinder is coupled to the first latch 50 and to the second latch 52 via the drive prolongation 46 to drive the latches 50, 52 to make an unlocking movement or a locking movement. The securing hoop 12 can hereby be released for a movement into an open position in an unlocked position of the locking mechanism 40 and the securing hoop 12 located in the closed position can be locked at the lock body 22 in a locked position. The drive prolongation 46 is arranged between the cylinder core 44 of the lock cylinder and the latches 50, 52 and acts as a deflection device that deflects a rotational movement of the cylinder core 44 into a linear movement of the latches 50, 52. In the specific embodiment, the drive prolongation 46 has a plurality of eccentrically arranged pins 48 that can engage into corresponding guide paths 54 of the first and second latches 50, 52 to move them laterally on a rotational movement of the cylinder core 44.

(10) The alarm device 60 comprises an acceleration sensor, not shown, or a vibration sensor and a position detector 62 for determining the position of the locking mechanism 40. The position detector 62 can, for example, have a magnetic field sensor, a magnetic switch (e.g. a reed switch), or a contact switch. In the specific embodiment, the position detector 62 in particular determines a position of a permanent magnet 64 arranged at the first latch 50. It moves on an actuation of the locking mechanism 40 and on a corresponding movement of the first latch 50 relative to a magnetic field sensor or to a magnetic switch of the position detector 62, whereby a change of the magnetic field strength is effected at the magnetic field sensor or at the magnetic switch. The measured value of the magnetic field strength is used to determine the position of the permanent magnet 64 and thus the position of the first latch 50 relative to the position detector 62. In other embodiments, further permanent magnets can be provided that can, for example, be connected to the second latch 52 to also detect the position of the second latch 52. However, embodiments are also conceivable that dispense with permanent magnets 64 to determine the position of the first latch 50 and/or of the second latch 52 by means of the position detector 62, for example by using a contact switch. Such a contact switch can, for example, cooperate with an elevated portion at one of the latches 50, 52 or with a cam of the drive prolongation 46.

(11) The alarm device 60 further comprises an energy source 66, e.g. one or more commercial batteries and/or electrically rechargeable batteries, an evaluation and control circuit, an acoustic and/or optical signal generator, e.g. a loudspeaker and/or a light emitting diode, and/or a radio transmission unit for the wireless transmission of an alarm signal (not shown).

(12) The first end 28 and the second end 30 of the housing 26 are each closed by a first closure 70 and by a second closure 72. The first closure 70 is a substantially semicylindrical carrier body. The carrier body is introduced with shape matching along a cylindrical periphery into the access opening 32 of the housing 26 formed at the first end 28 of the housing 26. The first closure 70 has a first securing section 74 having an introduction opening 76 that is aligned with one of the introduction openings 24 of the housing 26 in an assembled state of the first closure 70 in which the first closure 70 closes the first end 28 of the housing 26. Laterally offset from the first securing section 74, the first closure 70 comprises the cylinder housing 45 that forms a receiver 78 in the carrier body in which the cylinder core 44 is supported.

(13) The alarm device 60 is substantially arranged in the second closure 72 of the housing 26. The second closure 72 is introduced with shape matching into the access opening 32 of the housing 26 formed at the second end 30 of the housing 26. The second closure 72 is formed as a substantially cylindrical body that releasably closes the second end 30 of the housing 26 in an assembled state. Along its periphery, the second closure 72 has a second securing section 80 having an introduction opening 82 that aligns with one of the introduction openings 24 of the housing 26 in the assembled state of the second closure 72. The second closure 72 is secured in a force fitting manner against an accidental release from the housing 26 in the assembled state by at least one permanent magnet 84 (two in the case shown), said permanent magnets being arranged at an outer side of the second closure 72 and being able to enter into a magnetic connection with the material of the housing 26.

(14) The first end 28 and the second end 30 of the housing 26 are surrounded by a respective protective envelope 86 at the outer side. The protective envelopes 86 have introduction openings 88 that align with the introduction openings 24 of the housing 26. The protective envelopes 86 can be formed as a cap and can, for example, be produced from a flexible material, in particular plastic. To enable access to the inner space 34 of the housing 26, the protective envelopes 86 are releasable, i.e. they can be removed from the housing 26 or pulled onto the housing 26 by a light pulling or pushing.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the locking mechanism 40 being in an unlocked position. In the view shown, the housing 26 and the protective envelope 86 have been removed to illustrate the locking mechanism 40. In the unlocked position, neither the first latch 50 nor the second latch 52 of the locking mechanism 40 is in engagement with the first and second locking recesses 18, 20 of the securing hoop 12. The securing hoop 12 is thus released for a movement into the shown open position in which its two ends 14, 16 are completely released from the lock body 22. The alarm device 60 is not activated in the unlocked position of the locking mechanism 40.

(16) Starting from the unlocked position, the cylinder core 44 can be rotationally actuated by means of the key 42 selectively into a first direction of rotation or into a second direction of rotation opposite thereto. The unlocked position thus forms a center position for the actuation of the lock cylinder to selectively move the locking mechanism 40 or the lock cylinder into a different position. The lock cylinder or the lock core 44 can be moved into a first rotational position, corresponding to a first locked position, by a rotational actuation in the first direction of rotation (cf. FIG. 3). The lock cylinder or the core cylinder 44 can equally be moved into a second rotational position, corresponding to a second locked position, by a rotational actuation in the second direction of rotation (cf. FIG. 4).

(17) In this respect, the first rotational position, the second rotational position, and the third rotational position (corresponding to the center position of the cylinder core 44) can each be offset from one another by 90°. In other words, the first rotational position of the cylinder core 44 can be offset by an angle of 90° with respect to the third rotational position, with the second rotational position of the cylinder core 44 being able to be offset by an angle of 90° with respect to the third rotational position and by an angle of 180° with respect to the first rotational position. A clear, easily visible distinguishing of the different rotational positions hereby results for a user to be able to operate the locking mechanism 40 without error. However, different angles of rotation and different orders of the rotational positions are also possible.

(18) On an actuation of the locking mechanism 40 by a rotational actuation of the key 42, the first latch 50 and the second latch 52 are driven, in respective opposite senses to one another, both in the first direction of rotation and in the second direction of rotation. Despite a different direction of actuation of the locking mechanism 40, a similar movement, in opposite senses to one another, of the first and second latches 50, 52 is thus provided, with the user being able to select a desired locked position by the direction of actuation. In this respect, the movement in opposite senses of the first and second latches 50, 52 is effected by the drive prolongation 46 of the lock cylinder whose pins 48 engage into the guide paths 54 of the first and second latches 50, 52 to move them laterally in opposite senses on a rotational actuation of the lock cylinder 44.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, with the locking mechanism 40 being in the first locked position. The securing hoop 12 adopts the closed position, with its first end 14 engaging into the introduction opening 76 of the first closure 70 and its second end 16 engaging into the introduction opening 82 of the second closure 72. In the first locked position, the first latch 50 is in engagement with the first locking recess 18 of the first end 14 of the securing hoop 12, while the second latch 52 is in engagement with the (rear) first locking recess 18 of the second end 16 of the securing hoop 12. The securing hoop is thus mechanically secured in the lock body 22 in the first locked position. The alarm device 60 is also not activated in the first locked position of the locking mechanism 40.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, with the locking mechanism 40, however, being in the second locked position that simultaneously corresponds to an alarm activation position of the locking mechanism 40. The key 42 is rotated by 180° with respect to the rotational position in accordance with FIG. 3. In the second locked position, the first latch 50 is in engagement with the second locking recess 20 of the second end 16 of the securing hoop 12, while the second latch 52 is in engagement with the (rear) second locking recess 20 of the first end 14 of the securing hoop 12. If the locking mechanism 40 is in the second locked position, a detection signal corresponding to the position of the first latch 50 is generated in the position detector 62, said detection signal being able, for example, to be forwarded to the evaluation and control circuit of the alarm device 60 to activate the alarm device 60. This activation of the alarm device 60 can take place directly or with a time delay, for example to enable the ending of a locking process for the authorized user. The securing hoop 14 is thus mechanically secured to the lock body 22 in the second locked position of the locking mechanism 40 and is additionally protected from possible manipulations by the activated alarm device 60.

(21) By activating the alarm device 60, the alarm device 60 can be changed into a monitoring operation in which the alarm device 60 constantly checks whether an impermissible positional change or another movement has taken place on the basis of the signals of the acceleration sensor or vibration sensor and, for example, of a comparison with a respective threshold value. In the positive case, the alarm device 60 outputs an acoustic and/or optical alarm signal. Provision can be made in this respect that first a pre-alarm signal is output, with a main alarm signal only being output after the elapse of a main alarm delay interval and as a result of a further detected positional change, said main alarm signal, for example, being able to be louder than the pre-alarm signal.

(22) By actuating the locking mechanism 40 by means of the associated key 42 for the purpose of locking the securing hoop 12, the user can thus not only bring about a desired mechanical locking, but can also simultaneously and in a simple manner select whether the alarm device 60 should be activated or not. To selectively activate the alarm device 60, the locking mechanism 40 is moved by means of the associated key 42 into an alarm activation position that is provided in addition to an unlocked position and a locked position of the locking mechanism 40.

(23) In this respect, the key 42 can be introduced into the cylinder core 44 and removed from the cylinder core 44 in three different positions of the cylinder core 44, namely in the first locked position (alarm device 60 deactivated), in the second locked position (alarm activation position), and in the unlocked position. Two different positions of the locking mechanism 40 can hereby be selected in which the associated key 42 can be removed from the lock cylinder with the alarm device 60 being deactivated in the one position and with the alarm device 60 being activated in the other position.

(24) In the above-explained purely mechanical embodiment, the locking mechanism 40 comprises a lock cylinder that is rotatably actuable by an associated key 42 and that has a cylinder core 44 and a drive prolongation 46. With an electromechanical embodiment, the lock cylinder could, for example, be replaced with an electric motor that can in particular have a reducing gear and an associated control device and that can drive the drive prolongation 46 to make a rotational movement. This can take place, for example, on the basis of an encoded control signal that is transmitted by the authorized user by means of a radio remote control unit. The authorized user can also indirectly select or control an activation state of the alarm device via the locking mechanism by moving the locking mechanism into an alarm activation position in such an embodiment.