LOCK

Abstract

A lock, in particular for an electric bicycle, includes a locking mechanism that has a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece. The lock includes a blocking device, including a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position, in which the latch is blocked in its latched position, and a release position in which the latch is movable into its unlatched position, and a reception unit for receiving a release signal by which the adjustment of the blocking element into the release position can be brought about. A locking system may include at least one such lock.

Claims

1. A lock comprising a locking mechanism that has a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece, and a blocking device, the blocking device comprising: a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position, in which the latch is blocked in its latched position, and a release position in which the latch is movable into its unlatched position; and a reception unit for receiving a release signal by which the adjustment of the blocking element into the release position can be brought about.

2. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter-piece is an energy store or a component of an energy store, or a bolt of a frame lock or of a brake disk lock, or a closing hoop or a catch of a case lock.

3. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking device comprises an actuator for adjusting the blocking element.

4. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reception unit is configured for a wireless signal reception.

5. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking device comprises an authentication module for authenticating a received release signal.

6. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism has an actuation mechanism that provides a manual movement of the latch into the unlatched position.

7. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the actuation mechanism transmits a translatory actuation movement to the latch.

8. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the actuation mechanism transmits a rotary actuation movement to the latch.

9. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein, in order to block the latch in the latched position, the blocking element is brought into engagement with the locking mechanism.

10. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein an adjustment of the blocking element between the blocking position and the release position comprises a linear movement of the blocking element.

11. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein an adjustment of the blocking element between the blocking position and the release position comprises a rotational movement and/or a translational movement of the blocking element.

12. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch engages, in its latched position, into a recess of the energy store or of the counter-piece.

13. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch is brought from the latched position into the unlatched position against a restoring force of a spring.

14. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein an apparatus has an emergency release mechanism for unlocking the locking mechanism when the blocking element is in the blocking position.

15. The lock in accordance with claim 14, wherein the emergency release mechanism comprises a lock cylinder for an unlocking of the locking mechanism by way of a key.

16. The lock in accordance with claim 14, wherein the emergency release mechanism comprises a coupling device that is connected between the blocking device and the latch and that allows a movement of the latch when the emergency release mechanism is actuated and when the blocking element is in the blocking position.

17. A locking system, comprising at least one lock, the at least one lock comprising: a locking mechanism that has a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece, a blocking device, the blocking device comprising: a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position, in which the latch is blocked in its latched position, and a release position in which the latch is movable into its unlatched position, and a reception unit for receiving a release signal by which the adjustment of the blocking element into the release position can be brought about; an energy supply; and a central unit.

18. The lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein the energy store or the component of an energy store, the bolt of a frame lock or of a brake disk lock, or the closing hoop or the catch of a case lock, in each case are of an electric bicycle.

19. The lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the actuator is one of an electromechanical actuator and an electromagnetic actuator.

20. The lock in accordance with claim 4, wherein the reception unit comprises at least one of a Bluetooth module, an RFID module, and a WLAN module.

21. The lock in accordance with claim 9, wherein the blocking element is brought into engagement with an actuation mechanism, a handle, a torque transmission element, and/or the latch.

22. The lock in accordance with claim 10, wherein the linear movement of the blocking element is brought about along a longitudinal axis of the blocking element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] The invention will be described in the following purely by way of example with reference to a possible embodiment and to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a lock in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lock of FIG. 1 with an inserted energy store;

[0052] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a locking mechanism of the lock of FIG. 1 in the region of a latch;

[0053] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a lock in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0054] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a lock in accordance with a third embodiment in the region of a blocking element;

[0055] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lock in accordance with a fourth embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a lock in a latched position in accordance with a fifth embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 7B is a further perspective view of the lock in accordance with FIG. 7A in the latched position;

[0058] FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the lock in accordance with FIG. 7A in an unlatched position;

[0059] FIG. 7D is a further perspective view of the lock in accordance with FIG. 7A in the unlatched position;

[0060] FIG. 8 is an embodiment of a locking system; and

[0061] FIG. 9 is a further embodiment of a locking system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] A first embodiment of a lock, namely an apparatus 10 for securing an energy store 12 (see FIG. 2), in particular for an electric bicycle (not shown), is shown in FIG. 1. With the apparatus 10 shown, an energy store 12 should in principle be fastenable to the electric bicycle in a manner secure against loss and theft, wherein the energy store 12 should be removable from the apparatus 10 by an authorized user, for example, to perform a charging process.

[0063] The apparatus 10 has a locking mechanism that has a latch 14 that is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, as is indicated by an arrow 16. In the latched position shown in FIG. 1, the latch 14 is extended so that it can cooperate with the energy store 12 in a manner securing it. As can be recognized in FIG. 2, in the latched position, the latch 14 engages into a corresponding recess 18 (shown by dashed lines) of the energy store 12 and thus blocks a removal of the energy store 12 from the apparatus 10.

[0064] The latch 14 is preloaded by a spring 19 that urges it into the latched position (see FIG. 3). A movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position thus takes place against the restoring force of the spring 19. Thus, the energy store 12 can, for example, be latched into the apparatus 10 in that the latch 14 is urged back so far against the restoring force of the spring 19 by the energy store 12, which is inserted in the direction of the arrow 20 (see FIG. 3), by way of a chamfered cam surface 22 until the latch 14 can engage into the recess 18 of the energy store 12, whereupon the latch 14 is in turn brought back into the latched position, as is shown in FIG. 2, by the spring 19.

[0065] To remove the energy store 12 from the apparatus 10, the latch 14 is movable into the unlatched position. For this purpose, the locking mechanism has actuation mechanism 24 for a manual movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position (FIG. 1). The actuation mechanism 24 comprises a handle 26 and a torque transmission element 28 for transmitting a torque from the handle 26 to the latch 14. In the embodiment shown, the handle 26 is configured as a rotary handle that is rotationally fixedly connected to the torque transmission element 28. Here, the torque transmission element 28 is designed as a cylinder that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis Z by way of the rotary handle 26, as is indicated by the arrow 29 in FIG. 1.

[0066] An eccentric element 30 is connected between the torque transmission element 28 and the latch 14, as is shown in FIG. 3, to transmit a torque from the handle 26 or from the torque transmission element 28 connected thereto. A square opening 32 in the eccentric element 30 serves for the reception of a shaft 33 arranged along the longitudinal axis Z of the torque transmission element 28 (FIGS. 1, 2) and ensures that a rotation of the torque transmission element 28 is transmitted to the eccentric element 30, whereby a linear movement of the latch 14 along the arrow 16 between the latched position and the unlatched position can be brought about. Thus, the locking mechanism of the apparatus 10 for securing an energy store 12 can be manually actuated by a turning at the handle 26 without the use of a key being necessary.

[0067] Furthermore, the apparatus 10 comprises a blocking device 34 comprising a blocking element 36 (FIG. 1). The blocking element 36 is adjustable in the direction of the arrow 38 between a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position, the blocking element 36 is configured to block the locking mechanism in its locked state so that a movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position is impossible. For this purpose, in its blocking position, the blocking element 36 is in engagement with the locking mechanism or with at least a part of the locking mechanism.

[0068] In FIG. 1, a pin-like blocking element 36 is shown that can be brought into engagement with the torque transmission element 28 of the locking mechanism. For this purpose, the torque transmission element 28 has an opening 40 into which the pin-like blocking element 36 can engage in the blocking position so that a rotation of the torque transmission element 28 and thus of the handle 26 is prevented. Thus, a manual actuation of the locking mechanism is impossible and the latch 14 is blocked in the latched position. Alternatively or additionally, the blocking element 36 can be brought into engagement with the handle 26 to block the locking mechanism in its locked state.

[0069] If in FIG. 1 the blocking element 36 is moved along the direction of the arrow 38 so far out of the opening 40 of the torque transmission element 28 that it moves out of engagement with the locking mechanism and a rotation of the torque transmission element 28 is possible again, the blocking element 36 is in its release position. The latch 14 can now be moved back into the unlatched position by the actuation mechanism 24.

[0070] To adjust the blocking element 36, the blocking device 34 comprises an electromechanical actuator 42, here an electric motor. In the present embodiment, the adjustment of the blocking element 36 between the blocking position and the release position comprises a linear movement of the blocking element 38 along a longitudinal axis of the blocking element 36 represented by the arrow 38. The conversion of a rotational movement of the electromechanical actuator 42 into a linear movement of the blocking element 36 can, for example, be achieved by way of a spindle drive or a rack and pinion drive, wherein the principles of such drives are known and are therefore not stated in detail here.

[0071] The adjustment of the blocking element 36 into the release position by the actuator 42 can be brought about by a release signal. To receive the release signal, the blocking device 34 has a reception unit 44. In accordance with the embodiment shown, the reception unit 44 is configured for a wireless signal reception. For this purpose, it can selectively comprise one or more modules for a wireless reception and/or transmission of data, for example a Bluetooth module, an RFID module, or a WLAN module. The blocking device 34 additionally has an authentication module 46 for authenticating a received release signal. In the present embodiment, the authentication module 46 is integrated into the reception unit 44. The reception unit 44 is thus configured to exchange electronic keys with a mobile end device of a user, for example by way of WLAN, Bluetooth, and/or RFID.

[0072] The mode of operation of the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 can also be integrated in a lock 100, such as a frame lock or a case lock. This equally applies to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of an apparatus 10 that is similar in large parts to the first embodiment from FIG. 1. The apparatus 10 in accordance with the second embodiment also comprises a blocking device 34 comprising a blocking element 36 that is adjustable in the direction of the arrow 38 between a blocking position, as shown in FIG. 4, and a release position. In contrast to the first embodiment, in order to block the locking mechanism, i.e. in order to prevent a movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position, the blocking element 36 is, however, not brought into engagement with the actuation mechanism 24 of the locking mechanism, but rather with the latch 14 itself.

[0074] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the torque transmission element 28 of a third embodiment of an apparatus 10 that is likewise largely in agreement with the first embodiment of FIG. 1. However, in the present embodiment, the blocking element 36 is rotatably arranged to block the locking mechanism by way of an electric motor 42. FIG. 5 shows the blocking element 36 in its release position in which a rotation of the torque transmission element 28 and thus a movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position are possible. The blocking element 36 shown in cross-section here can be pin-like or disk-shaped and, in the latter case, it can, for example, have the shape of a quarter circle or semicircle. An adjustment of the blocking element 36 between the release position shown and the blocking position comprises a rotational movement of the blocking element 36 along the direction of the arrow 38. Due to the rotation, the blocking element 36 is rotated into a gap-shaped opening 40 of the torque transmission element 28 corresponding thereto. In this situation, a rotation of the torque transmission element 28 about its longitudinal axis Z is prevented by the blocking element 36 and the locking mechanism is blocked in the latched position.

[0075] FIG. 6 shows an apparatus 10 in accordance with a fourth embodiment. The apparatus 10 corresponds in large parts to the first embodiment of FIG. 1. In addition, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 6 has an emergency release mechanism 48 that also allows an unlocking of the locking mechanism when the blocking element 36 is in the blocking position. Thus, an energy store 12 can even be removed from the apparatus 10 when the regular adjustment of the blocking element 36 into the release position is not supposed to work, for example, if there is a malfunction of the blocking device 34 or if the authentication of an authorized user is not possible, for example because the user does not have his mobile end device at hand for transmitting a release signal or the battery of the mobile end device is empty.

[0076] The emergency release mechanism 48 has a lock cylinder 50 that allows a mechanical and manual unlocking of the locking mechanism by way of an associated key and thereby also functions independently of a power supply of the actuator 42. To enable a movement of the latch 14 by the emergency release mechanism 48 even though the blocking element 36 is in the blocking position, the latch 14 has to be decoupled from the blocking device 34. For this purpose, the emergency release mechanism 48 shown here has a coupling device 52.

[0077] In accordance with the embodiment shown, the coupling device 52 comprises two coupling elements 54, 56. The first coupling element 54 is connected between the latch 14 and the torque transmission element 28 and is thus connected into the effective line between the latch 14 and the blocking device 34. During the regular use of the apparatus 10 by way of the actuation mechanism 24, said first coupling element 54 connects the latch 14 to the torque transmission element 28 and thus allows the transmission of a torque from the handle 26 to the latch 14. The first coupling element 54 is additionally configured to separate the latch 14 from the torque transmission element 28 on the actuation of the emergency release mechanism 48. Since the torque transmission element 28 is blocked by the blocking element 36 in the embodiment shown, the separation of the latch 14 from the torque transmission element 28 enables a movement of the latch 14 even though the blocking element 36 is in the blocking position. Thus, an unlocking of the locking mechanism and a removal of the energy store 12 from the apparatus 10 can take place non-destructively even if the blocking element 36 blocks the locking mechanism in the latched position.

[0078] A second coupling element 56 is connected between the lock cylinder 50 and the latch 14. It is configured to connect the latch 14 to the lock cylinder 50 on the actuation of the emergency release mechanism 48 so that the latch 14 can be moved into the unlatched position by way of a key. On the regular actuation of the apparatus 10, the lock cylinder 50 is separated from the latch 14 by the second coupling element 56 so that a movement of the latch 14 can take place independently of an actuation of the lock cylinder 50.

[0079] The coupling device 52 can in particular be designed such that the second coupling element 56 is generally open and the first coupling element 54 is coupled in. If a suitable key (not shown) is inserted into the lock cylinder 50 of the emergency release mechanism 48, the first coupling element 54 is opened and the second coupling element 56 is coupled in so that an unlatching of the latch 14 by way of the emergency release mechanism 48 can take place.

[0080] FIGS. 7A-D represent a fifth embodiment of an apparatus 10 for securing an energy store, wherein the mode of operation of the locking mechanism and of the blocking device 34 of this apparatus 10 can equally be used in a lock 100.

[0081] The apparatus 10 in accordance with the fifth embodiment also comprises a blocking device 34 having a pin-like blocking element 36 that is linearly adjustable along its longitudinal axis between a blocking position shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and a release position shown in FIGS. 7C, 7D. An electromechanical actuator 42 is in turn provided to adjust the blocking element 36.

[0082] The apparatus 10 further comprises a locking mechanism having a latch 14. A movement of the latch 14 from its latched position in accordance with FIGS. 7A, 7B into its unlatched position in accordance with FIGS. 7C, 7D takes place in the fifth embodiment by way of actuation mechanism comprising a push button 58. Thus, in contrast to the first embodiment, the latching or unlatching of the latch 14 is not produced by a rotational movement, but by a translational movement of the actuation mechanism. To convert a pressure on the push button 58 into a movement of the latch 14, the latch 14 is guided by way of pins 62 in a slotted part 60 that is arranged obliquely to the press-in direction of the push button 58 and that is formed in a frame 64 that surrounds the latch 14 and that is connected to the push button 58. As is indicated in FIG. 7A, a linear press-in movement of the push button 58 along the arrow 66 is converted by the slotted part 60 into a linear movement of the latch 14, oriented perpendicular thereto, along the arrow 68 into its unlatched position. The push button 58 is preloaded by way of a spring 59 into its non-pressed-in position that corresponds to the latched position of the latch 14.

[0083] In accordance with the fifth embodiment, in order to prevent an unintentional movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position, the blocking element 36 is brought into engagement, in the latched position, with both the latch 14 and the push button 58, specifically with a recess 65 in the frame 64 connected to the push button 58. A pressing in of the push button 58 and a movement of the latch 14 into the unlatched position are thus effectively prevented.

[0084] If the blocking element 36 is moved into its release position by the actuator 42 (FIGS. 7C, 7D), it is no longer in engagement with the latch 14 and the frame 64 so that a pressing in of the push button 58 and an unlatching of the latch 14 are possible.

[0085] FIG. 8 schematically shows a locking system 70 comprising a lock 100; a reception unit 44; an energy supply 74; and a central unit 76. The central unit 76 can be formed by an on-board computer of an electric vehicle, in particular of an electric bicycle. A user of the electric vehicle can generate an opening or closing command for the lock 100 at the central unit 76. For this purpose, the user, for example, has to authenticate himself at the central unit 76 or transmit a secret code to the central unit 76. For example, the central unit 76 can already automatically perform a user authentication via the exchange of electronic keys with a smartphone of the user when the user approaches the electric vehicle with the smartphone. On a successful authentication, the central unit 76 can be activated and a display of the central unit 76 can in particular be switched on. To open or close the lock 100, the input of a closing command on the display of the central unit 76 can take place. For this purpose, a secret code for the lock 100 can be requested, for example by way of a PIN input on the display. However, it is also possible to dispense with the inquiry about the secret code so that the secret code so-to-say corresponds to the positive user authentication by way of which access to the central unit 76 itself has been enabled.

[0086] If the authentication is successful or the transmitted secret code is correct, the central unit 76 forwards the opening or closing command, for example in the form of a release signal for adjusting the blocking element 36 into the release position, to the reception unit 44. For this purpose, a signal line 78 is provided in accordance with FIG. 8. Alternatively, a wireless transmission of the release signal to the reception unit 44 can also be provided.

[0087] In response to the release signal received from the central unit 76, the reception unit 44 activates the actuator 42 via a control line 80 to adjust the blocking element 36 into the release position. The reception unit 44, the lock 100, and the central unit 76, which is configured as an on-board computer, are supplied with energy by the common energy supply 74.

[0088] Instead of the lock 100, an apparatus 10 for securing an energy store 12 can also be provided. In this case, the energy supply 74 can be formed by the energy store 12 itself or can be supplemented by it.

[0089] FIG. 9 shows a locking system 70 comprising two locks 100; and an apparatus 10 for securing an energy store that are controllable members of a common central unit 76. The locks 100 are a frame lock and a case lock. The apparatus 10 for securing an energy store and the locks 100 are each merely shown schematically and can generally be different types of electrically actuable locks, in particular based on the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. The locks 100 and the apparatus 10 each have a separate reception unit 44 that is configured to receive a control command, for example a release signal, relating to the respective lock 100 or to apparatus 10 from the central unit 76 and to forward it to the actuators 42 of the locks 100 or of the apparatus 10.

[0090] The locks 100, the apparatus 10, the reception unit 44, and the central unit 76 have a common energy supply 74 in the form of a battery that is arranged spatially separate from the consumers and that is connected to the consumers via supply lines. Alternatively, the energy supply 74 can be the energy store 12 to be secured by the apparatus 10.

[0091] At the central unit 76, an individual opening or closing command can be generated for each of the locks 100 or for the apparatus 10, for example through a user input on a display of the central unit 76. In the provided embodiment, a common secret code is provided for all the locks 100 and for the apparatus 10. The secret code is transmitted by the user to the central unit 76. The central unit 76 then enables the input of locking or opening commands for each lock 100 or for the apparatus 10 on its display, wherein the secret code is not requested again each time.

[0092] Alternatively, after the input of the secret code by the central unit 76, a release signal can be transmitted directly to the reception unit 44 of the locks 100 or of the apparatus 10. Alternatively or additionally, a respective separate secret code can be provided for some or each of the locks 100 or for the apparatus 10.

[0093] On the completion of the use, access to the locks 100 and to the apparatus 10 is blocked so that repeat locking or opening commands or release signals can only be generated after a repeat input of the secret code. The blocking of access can, for example, take place after the elapse of a certain period of non-use of the electric vehicle and/or through a user input on the display.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0094] 10 apparatus [0095] 12 energy store [0096] 14 latch [0097] 16 movement of the latch [0098] 18 recess of the energy store [0099] 19 spring [0100] 20 insertion of the energy store [0101] 22 cam surface [0102] 24 actuation mechanism [0103] 24 handle [0104] 28 torque transmission element [0105] 29 rotation of the torque transmission element [0106] 30 eccentric element [0107] 32 square opening [0108] 33 shaft [0109] 34 blocking device [0110] 36 blocking element [0111] 38 adjustment of the blocking element [0112] 32 opening [0113] 42 electromechanical actuator [0114] 44 reception unit [0115] 46 authentication module [0116] 48 emergency release mechanism [0117] 50 lock cylinder [0118] 52 coupling device [0119] 54 first coupling element [0120] 56 second coupling element [0121] 58 push button [0122] 59 spring [0123] 60 slotted part [0124] 62 pin [0125] 64 frame [0126] 65 recess for the blocking element [0127] 66 press-in direction of the push button 58 [0128] 68 direction of movement of the latch into the latched position [0129] 70 locking system [0130] 74 energy supply [0131] 76 central unit [0132] 78 signal line [0133] 80 control line [0134] 100 lock [0135] Z longitudinal axis of the cylinder