Cycle management system with locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723399-B2
Application number	US-201615230195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2016
Priority date	Aug 5, 2015
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

An object management system and locking mechanism and method, such as may be used in a bicycle rental station. The system comprises a plurality of docking stations and a terminal connected to the docking stations by a network. At least one of the docking stations includes the locking mechanism for locking a connecting member secured to a bicycle or other object. The locking mechanism comprises a locking receptacle configured to receive the connecting member; a movable member positioned in the locking receptacle, the movable member having a lockable position and an unlockable position; and a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member is configured to secure the movable member, the movable member is configured to secure the connecting member, and the locking member is configured to rotate to switch between the locked position and unlocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking mechanism for locking a connecting member secured to an object, the locking mechanism comprising:
a locking receptacle having an opening with sloped walls leading into a slot configured to receive the connecting member and guide the connecting member into a predetermined position as the connecting member is pushed into the locking receptacle, the connecting member comprising a triangular portion and a projection extending from the triangular portion, the projection comprising a first edge and a second edge, opposite the first edge of the projection, wherein the sloped walls are configured to engage the triangular portion and the slot is configured to receive the projection;
a movable member positioned in the locking receptacle, the movable member configured to rotate between a lockable position and an unlockable position and the movable member comprising a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge of the movable member; and
a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position,
wherein:
the locking member is configured to secure the movable member when the movable member is in the lockable position and the locking member is in the locked position,
the movable member is configured to secure the connecting member when the movable member is in the lockable position while the connecting member is disposed within the locking receptacle,
the locking member is configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the movable member to switch between the locked position and the unlocked position, and
movement of the movable member positions the second edge of the movable member adjacent the second edge of the projection when the movable member is in the lockable position.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein:
the movable member is configured to rotate from the unlockable position to the lockable position based on force applied by the connecting member to the movable member.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein:
the locking member comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a tab.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 3 , wherein:
the tab is configured to be in a path of rotation of the movable member when the locking member is in the locked position, and
the tab is configured to be out of the path of rotation of the movable member when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein:
the locking member comprises a cylindrical shaft configured to axially rotate to switch between the locked position and the unlocked position.

6. The locking mechanism of claim 2 , wherein:
the movable member is configured to be out of a path of displacement of the connecting member when the movable member is in the unlockable position,
the movable member is configured to be in the path of displacement of the connecting member when the movable member is in the lockable position, and
the locking mechanism comprises a portion of a bicycle rental station configured to receive the connecting member.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 6 , wherein:
the force applied by the connecting member to the movable member comprises force applied by the first edge of the projection against the first edge of the movable member, and
a ratio of a first distance to a second distance is between 3 to 1 and 7 to 1, the first distance being from the axis of rotation of the movable member to a point of contact between the locking member and the movable member, the second distance being from the axis of rotation of the movable member to a point of contact between the connecting member and the movable member.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein:
the connecting member comprises an aperture configured to not engage with the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is positioned to secure the connecting member,
the object comprises a bicycle, and
the locking mechanism comprises a portion of a bicycle rental station, the bicycle rental station including a user interface configured to receive input from a user to control a bicycle rental transaction.

9. A method for operating a locking mechanism on a structure to lock an object to the structure, the method comprising:
receiving a connecting member attached to the object in a locking receptacle of the locking mechanism, the connecting member comprising a projection having a first edge and a second edge, opposite the first edge of the projection;
rotating a movable member from a first position to a second position due to force applied by the first edge of the projection against a first edge of the movable member, wherein the movable member comprises a second edge opposite the first edge of the movable member, and rotation of the movable member positions the second edge of the movable member adjacent the second edge of the projection when the movable member is in the second position; and
displacing an additional member into a position adjacent the movable member at which the additional member blocks rotation of the movable member from the second position toward the first position, wherein
the projection extends from a first portion of the connecting member,
displacing the additional member comprises rotating the additional member about an axis perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the movable member,
the first position comprises an unlockable position,
the second position comprises a lockable position, and
a ratio of a first distance to a second distance is between 3 to 1 and 7 to 1, the first distance being from the axis of rotation of the movable member to a point of contact between the additional member and the movable member, the second distance being from the axis of rotation of the movable member to a point of contact between the connecting member and the movable member.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
at least a portion of the movable member is C-shaped,
the position adjacent the movable member at which the additional member blocks the rotation of the movable member comprises a locked position,
the structure comprises a bicycle rental station including a user interface,
the object comprises a bicycle, and
the method further comprises:
receiving, via the user interface, input from a user to control a rental of the bicycle;
receiving, from a terminal connected to the bicycle rental station, a signal indicating the rental of the bicycle;
displacing the additional member into a position at which the additional member is out of a path of rotation of the movable member; and
rotating the movable member from the second position to the first position.

11. An object management system comprising:
a plurality of docking stations; and
a terminal connected to the plurality of docking stations by a network,
wherein at least one of the plurality of docking stations comprises:
a key reader configured to read a key; and
a locking mechanism for locking a connecting member secured to an object, the locking mechanism comprising:
a locking receptacle configured to receive the connecting member, the connecting member comprising a first portion and a projection extending from the first portion, the projection comprising a first edge and a second edge, opposite the first edge of the projection;
a movable member positioned in the locking receptacle, the movable member configured to rotate between a lockable position and an unlockable position and the movable member comprising a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge of the movable member; and
a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein:

the locking member is configured to secure

Assignees

• Lyft Inc

Inventors

• Assénat Raphaël
• Bettez Jean-Sébastien

Classifications

• B62H2003/005

  Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental · CPC title

• B62H3/00 Primary

  Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles (cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H) · CPC title