Apparatus, systems, and methods for rotating lock cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12012167-B2
Application number	US-201916389839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2019
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

The disclosed apparatus may include a rotating locking cable and anchor for a lock for wheeled objects, including wheeled vehicles. A rotating locking cable and anchor may securely fasten a lock and/or a component of a lock, such as a pin, to a wheeled vehicle without impeding a user's ability to lock and unlock the lock. In some embodiments, a rotating locking cable may rotate along multiple axes in order to facilitate easy mobility of a pin between a lock and a pin holster. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a lock component comprising a pin, wherein, in a locked state of the apparatus, a part of the lock component is secured in a lock housing such that a cantilevered portion of the pin, when in contact with a wheel of a wheeled vehicle, limits rotation of the wheel, and wherein, in the locked state of the apparatus, a proximal portion of the pin is supported by the lock housing and a distal portion of the pin comprises a free end that is externally unsupported; and
a cable comprising a first end that attaches to the lock component and a second end that attaches to a mounting point on the wheeled vehicle, wherein the second end of the cable rotates relative to the mounting point about a longitudinal axis of the cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the cable rotates relative to the mounting point about both the longitudinal axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation different from the longitudinal axis of rotation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second axis of rotation is afforded by the mounting point rotating relative to the wheeled vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of rotation is afforded by the cable rotating relative to the mounting point.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable rotates relative to the mounting point around an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a surface of the wheeled vehicle to which the mounting point is coupled.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable rotating relative to the mounting point is enabled by a crimp fitting that couples the cable to a cable component that is coupled to the mounting point.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cable housing, a first part of which is coupled to the cable and a second part of which is coupled to the mounting point, wherein the first part is substantially perpendicular to the second part.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a combination of a length of the cable and a flexibility of the cable enable the cable to form a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree bend.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the cable relative to the mounting point facilitates locking the wheeled vehicle to a stationary object via the cable when the lock component is in contact with the wheel of the wheeled vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the cable relative to the mounting point facilitates locking the wheeled vehicle to stationary objects comprising a variety of physical orientations that comprise horizontal orientations, vertical orientations, and diagonal orientations.

12. A system comprising:
a lock component comprising a pin, wherein, in a locked state of the system, a part of the lock component is secured in a lock housing such that a cantilevered portion of the pin, when in contact with a wheel of a wheeled vehicle, limits rotation of the wheel, and wherein, in the locked state of the system, a proximal portion of the pin is supported by the lock housing and a distal portion of the pin comprises a free end that is externally unsupported; and
a cable comprising a first end that attaches to the lock component and a second end that attaches to a mounting point on the wheeled vehicle, wherein the first end of the cable rotates relative to the lock component about a longitudinal axis of the cable.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the cable rotating relative to the lock component is enabled by a crimped fitting that is coupled to the first end of the cable.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the lock component further comprises a handle, wherein the crimped fitting is disposed within the handle, and wherein the handle is coupled to the lock component.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a holster for the lock component into which the lock component can be inserted while attached to the cable, wherein a length of the cable extending between the lock component and the mounting point forms an arc when the lock component is inserted into the holster.

16. A method of assembling an apparatus comprising:
coupling one end of a cable to a mounting point provided on a surface of a wheeled vehicle such that the cable rotates relative to the mounting point about a longitudinal axis of the cable;
coupling another end of the cable to a lock component comprising a pin; and
securing, in a locked state of the apparatus, a part of the lock component in a lock housing such that a cantilevered portion of the pin, when in contact with a wheel of the wheeled vehicle, limits rotation of the wheel,
wherein, in the locked state of the apparatus, a proximal portion of the pin is supported by the lock housing and a distal portion of the pin comprises a free end that is externally unsupported.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, in a locked state of the apparatus, the pin extends into a first side of the wheel, wherein the free end of the pin is contained within a width of the wheel.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting point is disposed on a plane passing through a circumferential perimeter of the wheel.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein, in an unlocked state of the apparatus, the lock component is secured in a holster, the holster disposed parallel to the plane passing through the circumferential perimeter of the wheel, wherein a length of the cable extending between the lock component and the mounting point forms an arc.

Assignees

• Lyft Inc

Inventors

• Luedtke Peter Rex
• Rosenkranz Andrew Paul

Classifications

• B62H2005/008

  Arrangements or adaptations for supporting U-locks on cycles · CPC title

• G07F17/0057

  for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs (car rental G07B15/00) · CPC title

• B62J50/21

  intended to provide information to rider or passenger · CPC title

• B62J15/00

  Mud-guards for wheels · CPC title

• B62H5/145

  by means of removable bolts · CPC title