WO2021148817A1

WO2021148817A1 - Mounting assemblies

Info

Publication number: WO2021148817A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/050162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil Anthony Barron
Original assignee: Zeal Innovation Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-24
Filing date: 2021-01-25
Publication date: 2021-07-29
Also published as: EP4093660A1; GB2592348B; GB202001045D0; GB2592348A

Abstract

An assembly (54) for mounting a security device on a bicycle frame comprises a bracket (8) having a support (26) for the device on one side and first and second parallel shoulder elements (28) on the opposite side for alignment against a component of the frame. The shoulder elements respectively define first and second slots (6, 10) with the bracket (8) opposite side. A flexible strap (2) has an end secured behind the first element relative to the second element and extends through the first slot (6). A first section (4) of the strap (2) extends around the cross section of the elongate component once, and through the second slot (10) away from the first slot. A second section (12) of the strap (2) extends around the cross section again, but in the opposite direction, over the first section (4) where it can be secured to hold the bracket (8) on a the elongate component. The securement may be on the outer surface of the first section (4) or on the bracket (8), but the strap may have a third section (14) which extends over the bracket (8) and the support (26) for securement on the outer surface of the strap second section (12) while also serving to retain a security device in the support (26)

Description

Mounting Assemblies

This invention relates to mounting assemblies, and particularly to such assemblies for mounting a security device on an elongate component of for example, the frame of a vehicle. Such assemblies are commonly used for mounting locks on bicycle frames. Examples are described in European Patent No. 2069595; US Patent Nos. 8,851,348 and 9,079,626, and US Patent publication No. 2013/0015219A, all incorporated by reference. Another is disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 2695 803A also incorporated by reference.

The present invention seeks to provide a simple means by which a security device can be mounted on a vehicle or more particularly an elongate component of a vehicle such as the cross bar or other frame element of a bicycle. According to the invention an assembly for mounting a security device on an elongate component of known cross section, comprises a bracket having a support for the device on one side and first and second parallel shoulder elements on the opposite side for alignment against the component. The shoulder elements respectively define first and second slots with the bracket opposite side. A flexible strap has an end secured behind the first element relative to the second element and extends through the first slot. Its securement can be for example, by attachment to itself to form a loop around a rod or rung defining the first slot, or by wedging or otherwise anchoring it behind the first slot. A first section of the strap has sufficient length to extend from the first slot around the cross section of the elongate component once, and through the second slot away from the first slot. A second section of the strap is of sufficient length to extend around the cross section, but in the opposite direction, over the first section. Securement of the second section over the first section holds the bracket in place on the elongate component. The extent to which the second section extends round the cross section may vary and as described below, it may be secured in a number of ways. The assembly will normally be provided with the strap sections in place, with the user needing to withdraw the strap from the second slot before mounting the bracket on an elongate component as described herein.

The strap in assemblies of the invention is normally a continuous length of flexible material, such as a web or weave of natural or synthetic yarn; for example polyester yarn. As will become clear, its respective surfaces may bear other materials to support its function, as well as decoration and identification. It is typically 2 to 5cms wide, and has a length of up to 60cms to mount a bracket on the crossbar of a bicycle frame of 2 to 4cms diameter. The dimensions for the bracket will of course match, with its length normally being a little longer than the diameter or lateral dimension of the cross bar or other component upon which it is to be mounted. The requisite length of the strap does not have to be precise, so long as it is sufficient to enable it to be secured around the component. In an assembly according to the invention the second strap section can be secured over the first section by appropriate means; for example on the outer surface of the first strap section; on the bracket, or by means of a third strap section which, with the second section, extends over the bracket and is secured on the bracket or the outer surface of the first section adjacent the second slot. In the first example securement may be along some or substantially all of the outer surface of the first section and can be adjacent one or both of the first and second slots. In the second example securement can be in a friction buckle attached directly or indirectly to the bracket through which the second section is drawn, tightened and clamped. In the third example the third section can also serve as or in addition to an existing mechanism for holding a security device on or in the support therefor on the bracket. Where surfaces of the respective strap sections engage it is preferred that such engagement is maintained by hook and loop fasteners of the kind available under the registered Trademark VELCRO. This has the advantage of enabling the second section to be secured after being pulled tight without being restricted to a particular point of securement. A similar benefit can be achieved using a friction buckle. Attachment of the inner surface of the strap second section to the outer surface of the strap first section secures the path of the respective strap sections and assists in their alignment. It will be appreciated that the securement means described may be used individually or in combination.

The bracket in an assembly of the invention will normally have a recess between the shoulder elements for creating space between the bracket and a said elongate component upon which it is mounted. The purpose of this is to ensure that there is no direct contact between the bracket and the component upon which it is mounted by virtue of the strap material as it leaves the first slot and reaches the second slot. With this objective, the shoulder elements preferably have rods or rungs extending between the shoulder elements under which the slots are formed, located at the boundary of the bracket shoulder elements. The bracket is typically a moulded plastics body that can be reinforced with glass fibre for example. Preferred plastics are polypropylene and polyamide, with or without reinforcement.

In order to improve the stability of the mounted bracket the strap first section in an assembly of the invention can be formed or provided with an adherent internal surface for engagement with the external surface of the elongate component upon which it is mounted. This can typically comprise rubber or rubberised strips on the internal surface.

To further assist in the alignment of the strap around the elongate component the bracket may include a body portion defining a channel for receiving a suitably long second strap section in alignment with its path at the conclusion of its path around an elongate component on which the bracket is mounted. Such a channel may be formed with inwardly directed projections on one or both opposite sides for retaining the second strap section in the channel. The support for a security device forming part of the bracket in an assembly according to the invention typically forms an opening or slot for receiving an element of the device. Its cross section can be matched to the device or part thereof that is to be received. For example, if the device includes an element of square or rectangular cross section such as the locking strap described in our PCT publication No. WO2016/193750, incorporated by reference, the recess or slot may have parallel sides. If it includes an element with a circular or other cross section, the bracket can be flexible or incorporate a hinge, enabling it to open to receive the element and then close around it. As described above, a third strap section or a separate mechanism such as a clip or latch may serve to hold the element (device) on the bracket. It will be understood then, that the recess or slot on the bracket can be shaped to match any security device element including the lock unit thereof.

A method according to the invention of installing a security device mounting assembly of the kind described above comprises extending the strap such that its first section passes from the first slot away from the second slot and around the component; through the second slot in a direction away from the first slot; and then such that the second section passes around the component in the opposite direction, and over the first strap section. Of course the method may include the step of first feeding the strap through the first slot, but the assembly will normally be provided with the respective end of the strap already in place. It may be secured in the first shoulder element, preferably immediately behind the first slot, or by attachment to itself. The second section is then secured to hold the bracket on the component with the first strap section passing between each shoulder element and the component. The second section is preferably secured by attachment to the outer surface of the first section adjacent the first slot; to the bracket itself, or to the outer surface of the first section adjacent the second slot, or any combination these, but other forms of securement may be used.

It will be appreciated that as the strap is pulled in the first pass through the second slot the force drawing the bracket to the component is twice the tension in the strap itself. Once mounted then, the bracket is very firmly lodged on the component. The component is typically part of a frame, of a bicycle or motorcycle for example, with another component proximate thereto. If this is the case, then if desired a second assembly may be mounted on that other component, holding a second bracket for receiving another section of a security device and providing additional support therefor.

When practising the method of the invention the first strap section can be pulled tight round the elongate component in a first pass before its second section is extended around the component in a second pass when it is preferably attached to the outer surface of the first strap section as described above. If it is of sufficient length it can then be installed in a channel formed in a body portion of the bracket to align the strap with its path around a the elongate component. With a third section as described above, it can enclose the bracket and the element of a security device supported therein.

As noted above the elongate component referred to is typically part of the frame of a vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle. The invention does therefore extend to such a component or a vehicle upon which an assembly of the invention is mounted.

The invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an end view of an assembly according to the invention as it would appear installed on an elongate component (not shown) of for example, a bicycle frame;

Figure 2 is an end perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1 with the strap partially unwound;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bracket of the assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figures 4A-D illustrate the procedure for mounting a locking device on the frame of a bicycle using two assemblies of the invention; and

Figures 5A-C illustrate the use of a bracket having a different form of support for a security device.

The assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a strap 2 with a first section 4 extending in a first pass from a first slot 6 formed in a bracket 8 (Figure 3) anticlockwise around an elongate component (not shown) in the space X into a second slot 10 in a direction away from the first slot. The strap is secured behind the first slot 6 by being folded or otherwise enlarged to create a wedge. In some embodiments it can be secured by a rivet or other permanent means. In others it can be folded back on itself around a rod (see Figure 3) defining the first slot 6, like a hem, and attached to itself, for example by a hook and look fastening, stitching or riveting. From the second slot a second section 12 extends clockwise in a second pass back around the component and over the bracket 8 where it may be secured to hold the assembly in place. Flowever, and as shown in Figure 1 , in the embodiment illustrated the strap has a third section 14 which continues in a third pass from the bracket and over the second section 12 to which it is attached. When the assembly is used it will be appreciated that as the strap is pulled in a first pass through the second slot the force drawing the bracket to the component is twice the tension in the strap itself. It follows therefore that, notwithstanding friction between the component and the strap, the force required to hold the strap and prevent it loosening is half the force that holds the bracket and component in place.

The strap 2 is a woven fabric and the internal surface (as shown in Figure 1 ) of the first strap section is formed with elongate lines indicated at 16 of woven rubber or rubberised yarns to create an adherent surface that contacts the elongate component when the first strap section is wound round the elongate component. Of course such an adherent surface can be created by other means such as patches. However it is preferred to have the adherent surface only on the one face of the strap to facilitate its feeding through the slots 6 and 10.

In order to hold the second strap section 12 aligned with the first section 4 in its second pass around the elongate component, a hook and loop material 18 is attached to its inner surface to match a complementary material 20 on the outer surface of the first strap section on its first pass around the elongate component. A hook and loop material 18 is also attached to the inner surface of the third strap section 14 and at least an outer section of the second strap section 12 where it is engaged by the third section 14. In practice this means that continuous lengths of hook and loop material can be attached to the one face of the strap 2 that forms the outer surface of the first section 4; the inner surface of the second section 12, and the inner surface of the third section 14.

The third section 14 of the strap 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 can be omitted if the bracket has a separate mechanism for retaining a security device. In such embodiments the second section 12 can terminate at any point along the path of the first section 4 provided it can be secured to the outer surface of the first section for example by the means described above. Alternatively, it can extend to and be secured directly to the bracket 8.

The bracket, best shown in Figure 3, is a moulded plastics body 8 with a base 22 flanked by walls 24. The walls are shaped to form an opening or slot 26 for receipt of a security device (not shown) on one side and two rods or rungs 28 are formed on the opposite side that respectively form the slots 6 and 10 over the base 22. The walls 24 define a channel 30 along the side of the bracket for receipt of the second strap section 12 as shown in Figure 1. The channel walls can be formed with projections 34 or other devices to retain the strap in the channel which can extend around the base for receipt of an extended second section 12, or the third strap section if included, or both. Whether or not the third strap section is included, the bracket body 8 may be formed with catches or a latch mechanism (not shown) to hold a security device in the opening or slot 26. On the opposite side of the bracket the walls 24 are shaped to form a recess 32 between the rods 28 that form the slots 6 and 10. The opening or slot illustrated at 26 has parallel sides and is therefore suitable for receiving the locking strap or belt of a security device which strap or belt has a generally rectangular cross section. Such a device is disclosed in our PCT publication No. WO2016/193750 referred to above.

As can be seen from Figure 1 the recess 32 and the first strap section prevent direct contact between the bracket body 8 and an elongate component upon which it is mounted. The location of the rods or rungs 28 is important in this respect. As can be seen from Figure 3, the rods or rungs are aligned with the boundaries of the walls 24 at the edges of each recess, and this ensures that the thickness of the first strap section is between the bracket and the component. The assembly enables its bracket to be quickly and easily mounted or dismounted from an elongate component, and can be used with elongate components in a wide range of dimensions. In this sense it is universal in its application.

Figure 4A to 4C illustrate a method according to the invention of mounting a bracket with a support for a security device on an elongate component. The bracket 36 is similar to the bracket 8 of Figure 3, but the support for the security device takes a different form. One end of the strap 38 is attached to the bracket behind the first slot as described with reference to Figure 1 , drawn through the first slot and then away from the second slot 42 and around the component 44 in a first section 46. It is then fed through the second slot 42 in a direction away from the first slot under the rod or rung 46, and back over the component 44 in a second section 48 which is secured to the outer surface of the first section by for example a hook and loop fastening mechanism as described above. The strap 38 does not have a third section, but terminates at the end of its second section 46 at 50 as shown.

The bracket 36 of the installed assembly in Figure 4C is shown supporting a security device such as a bicycle lock having a locking strap or belt 52 of substantially rectangular cross section of the kind referred to earlier. To accommodate this, the bracket has an opening or slot with substantially parallel sides as described above.

In this embodiment, the locking strap or belt is not held in the support by a third assembly strap section, but by a gate 54 preferably coupled to the bracket body by a hinge. A simple catch or latch holds the gate closed, but can be easily released when the device is needed. Of course, a longer strap with a third section can be used, which could extend around the support and the gate to be attached to the bracket or the outer surface of the second strap section.

Figure 4D shows how two assemblies according to the invention can be used to mount a security device on the frame of a bicycle. Each assembly 54 is broadly of the kind described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and located respectively on the cross bar and upright components of the bicycle frame to receive different parts of the locking strap or belt of the device. Figure 5A shows a bracket of an assembly according to the invention with another means of holding a security device in the support on one side of the bracket. The bracket has walls 56 between with rods or rungs 58 defining first and second slots on its opposite side as in the brackets of Figures 3 and 4. On its one side the bracket walls extend to define an enlarged opening with a gate 60 coupled to a hinge 62.

The gate closes against the end of the bracket between the walls 56, and can be held in that position by a catch (not shown) engaging the base 64 of the bracket. Figure 5B shows the installation of an element 66 of a security device in the enlarged opening, and Figure 5C shows the gate closed around it. It will be appreciated that the enlarged opening does not have to be an exact match to the device element, and the device can have a degree of flexibility to accommodate variation. For example, an opening having a diamond cross section of the kind shown can accommodate an element of circular cross section.

While different embodiments of the invention have been described with different features, it will be understood that features of one particular embodiment can be adopted in the others.

Claims

Claims:

1. An assembly for mounting a security device on an elongate component of known cross section, comprising a bracket having a support for a said device on one side and first and second parallel shoulder elements on the opposite side for alignment against a said component, which elements respectively define first and second slots with the bracket opposite side; a flexible strap having an end secured behind the first element relative to the second element and extending through the first slot, the strap having a first section of sufficient length to extend around said cross section once, and to extend through the second slot away from the first slot, and a second section of sufficient length to extend around the cross section in the opposite direction over the first section, and means for securing the second section.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the end of the strap is secured behind the first element relative to the second element by being attached to itself.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the end of the strap is secured in the first shoulder element immediately behind the first slot.

4. An assembly according to any preceding Claim wherein the opposite side of the bracket has a recess between the shoulder elements for creating space between the bracket and a said elongate component upon which it is mounted.

5. An assembly according to any preceding Claim wherein the strap first section has an adherent internal surface for engagement with the external surface of a said elongate component.

6. An assembly according to Claim 5 wherein the adherent internal surface comprises rubber.

7. An assembly according to any preceding Claim wherein the second strap section is of sufficient length to extend around a said elongate component and engage the bracket.

8. An assembly according to Claim 7 wherein the bracket includes a body portion defining a channel for receiving the second strap section in alignment with its path around a said elongate component.

9. An assembly according to any preceding Claim wherein the strap first section has an outer surface adapted for attachment to the inner surface of the strap second section to secure it thereto.

10. An assembly according to any preceding Claim wherein the second strap section has sufficient length to extend over the bracket, and the means for securing the second section comprises a third strap section extending from the second section for attachment to the outer surface of the second section.

11. An assembly according to Claim 9 wherein the support for a said security device forms a slot for receiving same, and wherein the path of the third strap section to the outer surface of the second section closes the slot to retain a said security device therein.

12. An assembly according to any of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises hook and loop fasteners on respective surfaces of the strap sections.

13. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 10 wherein the bracket includes a mechanism for holding a security device thereon.

14. An assembly according to Claim 13 wherein the mechanism is a latch mechanism.

15. A method of installing a security device mounting assembly on an elongate component, the assembly comprising a bracket having a support for a security device on one side and first and second parallel shoulder elements on the opposite side, which elements respectively define first and second slots with the bracket opposite side; and a strap for attaching the bracket to the component, which strap has first and second sections, wherein an end of the first strap section is secured in the first slot behind the first element relative to the second element, the method comprising extending the strap such that its first section passes through the first slot and then in a direction away from the second slot around the component, and through the second slot in a direction away from the first slot; and then such that the second section passes around the component in the opposite direction, and over the first strap section, and securing the second section to hold the bracket on the component.

16. A method according to Claim 15 wherein the opposite side of the bracket has a recess between the shoulder elements which creates a space between the bracket and the elongate component.

17. A method according to Claim 15 or Claim 16 wherein the thickness of the first strap section is sufficient to preclude contact between the bracket shoulder elements and the elongate component.

18. A method according to any of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the strap first section has an adherent internal surface which engages the external surface of a said elongate component to reinforce attachment of the bracket thereto.

19. A method according to any of Claims 15 to 18 including the step of attaching the second strap section to the outer surface of the first strap section as it passes thereover.

20. A method according to any of Claims 15 to 19 wherein the strap has a third section extending from the second section and over the bracket, the method including the step of attaching the third section to the outer surface of the second section.

21. A method according to Claim 19 or Claim 20 wherein the mechanism attaching the strap sections comprises hook and loop fasteners on the respective strap surfaces.

22. A method according to any of Claims 15 to 21 including the step of installing the strap second section in a channel formed in a body portion of the bracket to align the strap with its path around a the elongate component.

23. A method according to any of Claims 15 to 22 wherein the elongate component is part of the frame of a vehicle.

24. A method according to Claim 23 wherein the vehicle is a bicycle.

25. A method according to any of Claims 15 to 24 including the step of installing a security device on the assembly bracket and holding it thereon.

26. A method according to Claim 25 wherein the device is held on the bracket by a latch mechanism.

27. A method according to Claim 25 wherein the support for a said security device forms a slot for receiving same, and wherein the strap has a third section extending from the second section, the method including the step of attaching the third section to the outer surface of the second section, the path of the third strap section to the outer surface of the second section closing the slot to retain a said security device therein

28. An assembly mounting a bracket for supporting a security device on an elongate component of known cross section, the bracket having a support for a said device on one side and first and second parallel shoulder elements on the opposite side for alignment against a said component, which elements respectively define first and second slots with the bracket opposite side, the assembly including a flexible strap having a first section with an end secured behind the first element relative to the second element and extending through the first slot, the first section extending around said cross section once, and through the second slot away from the first slot, and a second section extending around the cross section in the opposite direction over the first section, and being secured over the first section.

29. An assembly according to Claim 28 wherein the elongate component is part of a frame of a vehicle.

30. An assembly according to Claim 29 wherein the frame is a bicycle frame.