CA2954875A1 - Locking device for articles - Google Patents

Abstract

One embodiment of an improved "non-invasive", "bolt cutter resistant", adjustable locking device that clamps the outer casing of an article or helmet and is detained to a permanent structure such as a bar or post. By rotating a casing (27) and a handle (3), concealed within casing (27), a user activates a screw system to tighten, clamp and restrain the helmet by controlling the distance between two legs (10). This is done by a threaded shaft or nipple (9) which is affixed to one leg (10) and handle (3) pulling a second leg (10) as it is rotated on the thread of nipple (9). Handle (3) can only be rotated by casing (27) when a key (4) is in a position to transfer motion from casing (27). Otherwise casing (27) freely rotates about handle (3) and does not change the relative distance between the legs (10). When attached to an article or helmet the device forms a locked loop which can be wrapped around a fixed structure to prevent theft. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Description

Patent Application of Alexander K. Matta for TITLE: LOCKING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES
BACKGROUND ¨ FIELD
[0001] This application relates to a device for locking an article to a fixed structure, more specifically to an improved method of locking a helmet to a vehicle or post.

[0002] In many countries, laws have enforced the wearing of safety helmets for various vehicles, such as, but not limited to, motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), scooters, etc. These safety helmets can range in cost from $50 to $1,500 and therefore warrant being guarded against theft. Many riders use such vehicles for their daily commute and, once they arrive at their destinations, are left with a choice of either leaving their helmets unsecured with their vehicles or carrying them about with them. Carrying around a helmet can be quite an inconvenience as they are bulky, awkward to manipulate and transport comfortably, and leaves a person with only one hand free to perform activities. Helmets left unsecured with the vehicle are often stolen by thieves for profit, personal use or just to create trouble and damage to the rider's property.

[0003] Additionally, there are now laws that prevent the alteration of a safety helmet by end users, such as drilling a hole for example, in any way in order to maintain the safety integrity of the protective equipment. Consequently, this type of law has made prior methods of locking a helmet obsolete.

[0004] Modern safety helmets consist of a hard "impact-resistant" outer shell and a protective inner lining usually consisting of polystyrene and a strap with a D-shaped ring for securing the helmet to a user's head. A full face helmet has a cavity for inserting a user's head, a large face hole for viewing outwards, and a strap with a D-shaped ring. An open face helmet consist only of a shell that sits on the top of a user's head, with no face covering or hole in its body, and a strap with a D-shaped ring.

BACKGROUND - PRIOR ART

[0005] Previous devices have attempted to address the problem of helmet theft. European Patent 2327614 Al to Merighi (2011) and US Patent 7,159,423 B to Mrdeza (2007) describes and claims devices that have a lock body permanently installed to the handlebar of a motorcycle to safe guard a helmet, which is accomplished by means of securing a ring on the tie band of the helmet to its lock body. This prior art has three disadvantages of some magnitude.
First, they are adapted specifically for incorporation with the handle bar and thus lack versatility.
Second, they require invasive action to be installed upon the motor vehicle. Third, they do not secure the shell of the helmet to the machine, but merely the attached fastening strap, which can be easily cut by a common pocket knife.

[0006] Another common helmet locking method used is with steel cables locks. One example of this can be seen in US Patents 7,661,280 B1 to Weyland (2010), which consists of a lock body affixed to the handlebar by means of a lock bolt or screw and a steel cable.
The cable can be looped through a hole in a helmet then have its end engaged to the lock body.
This device has several disadvantages. First, it lacks locational versatility on the motorcycle. Second, it requires that the helmet have a pre-existing hole in order for the cable to be looped through. Third, the steel cables are vulnerable to typical shears or bolt cutters used by common thieves. Lastly, it has an aesthetically unappealing look on the motor vehicle. Another example of this type of lock is US
Patent 8,087,270 B1 to Gruver (2012), which consists of steel cables that are weaved together to form a net or cage to surround or bag a helmet. The ends of the steel cable each form a loop which can then be locked by means of a standard lock. Once again the vulnerability of the steel cables to shears and bolt cutters proves to be a disadvantage which is also true of the standard bolt lock that is used in conjunction to secure the ends of the cable. This device is also quite awkward to manipulate and time consuming to implement correctly, reducing its all-around convenience factor.

[0007] US Patents 4,096,715 (1978) and 4,118,960 (1978), both to Lipschutz, are two helmet locking devices that work similarly to each other. They are both lock bodies which are fastened to the handlebars of a motorcycle by means of a lock screw and engage the helmet by means of gripping the edge or rim of the helmet. These devices however still carry the disadvantage of positional versatility on a vehicle and the added flaw of damaging the helmet through invasive means. The former applies pressure to the fragile polystyrene inner lining component of the helmet whereas the latter grips by means of a toothed element which also can pierce both the lining and outer shell of the helmet.

[0008] US Patent 3,882,700 to Dunlap (1975) is a helmet locking device that works by means of telescoping in order to apply pressure to the inner walls of a helmet. The device locks by means of bolt and key, is U-shaped and once applied to the helmet forms a looped that can be secured against a fixed bar structure on a motor vehicle. One major disadvantage to this device is the pressure applied to the fragile polystyrene inner lining component of the modern helmet. The device would quickly render the helmet unusable by law after a few applications. Another is in its manipulation and application, requiring the user to awkwardly pull both ends of the device to sufficiently apply enough pressure for the device to secure against the helmet, rendering it inefficient and a strain to use every time you disembark from the vehicle.

[0009] US Patent 6,116,064 to Driscoll (2000) consists of a semi-spherical form to encase a helmet and straps to tighten it down to the motorbike. Two disadvantages exists in this device.
First, the straps are vulnerable to cutting tools such as knives and shears.
Second, not all helmet-requiring motor vehicles have a suitable shape to apply the device and those that do risk being damaged by it, for example on a fender.

[0010] Some prior art, such as US Patent 5,531,364 to Buis (1996) and China Patent 101,559,796 A to Qiang (2009), are examples of devices that require the lock bodies to be bolted directly to the surface of a motorcycle in order to be used. These means are very invasive and unappreciated by the motorcycle-driving community.

[0011] Other prior art, such as US Patent 4,274,271 to Todd (1981) and South Korean Patent 20,130,075,868 A to Yoo Jae (2013), are examples of devices that require invasive and permanent attachment to the helmet itself. Both aesthetically non-pleasing and not allowed in some countries by law.

[0012] The device in which this application relates seeks to resolve the disadvantages of prior art stated above. Thus several advantages are: an increase in positional versatility; non-invasive means of application resulting in no damage to a helmet or motor vehicle;
secures the shell or body of a helmet instead of the fastening strap; resistant to typical theft tools like shears and bolt cutters; adaptable to all types of helmets as it does not require a hole or loop on helmet to be integrated; easy to manipulate saving handling time and physical strain; and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY

[0013] In accordance with one embodiment a locking device comprising of a lock body including generally parallel legs at one pair of corresponding ends by means of an adjustable length handle in which a locking mechanism operable to releasably lock a relative separation distance between said legs.

[0014] The handle comprising a handle assembly with a threaded borehole, a shaft comprising a threaded section coupleable with the threaded borehole, a casing positioned concentrically about handle assembly and independently rotatable about the handle assembly, and a transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to the handle assembly.
The transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to the handle assembly is enabled by a lock mechanism.

DRAWINGS - FIGURES
Fig 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the locking device in the open or extended position.
Fig 2 is an action view of one embodiment of the locking device inclosing or locking a safety helmet.
Fig 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the locking device.
Fig 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the locking device.
Fig 5 is a partially sectioned view applied to select components of an embodiment of the locking device in order to view internal workings.
Fig 6A to 6C shows floating images of a key, some combination rings and a handle, components that form a locking mechanism of one embodiment of the locking device.
Fig 7A to 7D shows front and perspective views of casing components of the locking device.
Fig 8 shows a perspective view of a retainer component of one embodiment.
Fig 9 shows a perspective view of a key component of one embodiment.
Fig 10 shows a perspective view of a nipple component of one embodiment.
Fig 11 is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of the locking device in the extended and contracted positions.
Fig 12 is an action view of one alternative embodiment of the locking device inclosing or locking a safety helmet to a handlebar.
Fig 13 to 16 are perspective views of alternate components of one embodiment of the locking device.

DRAWINGS - REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 top Shell 2 bottom shell 3 handle 4 key 5 retainer 6 ring 7 spring 8 anchor 9 nipple leg 11 pad 12 sleeve 13 shaft like lock body 14 member 15 hollow cylinder 16 lip 17 hole 18 borehole 19 lip 20 cavity 21 slit 22 groove 23 base plate 24 hole 25 cavity 26 bar 27 casing 28 cavity 29 tongue 30 cavity 31 section 32 wall 33 half-borehole 34 cavity 35 wall 36 half-borehole 37 cavity 38 screw hole 39 slot 40 square cut 41 opening 42 key slot 43 borehole 44 screw holes 45 platform 46 curved surface 47 notches 48 section 49 key hole 50 button 51 cavity 52 shaft 53 shaft 54 shaft 55 borehole 56 lip 57 base plate 58 hole 59 cavity 60 shaft 61 section 62 cavity 63 screw 64 cavity 65 stopper 66 shaft 67 hole 68 hole 69 stopper 70 cavity 71 cavity 72 member 73 member 74 hinge slot 75 hinge slot 76 opening 77 lip 78 lip 79 hinge 80 hollow cylinder 81 cylindrical body 82 hollow cylinder 83 bolt 84 helmet 85 suction cup 86 screw hole 87 screw hole 88 concave cavity 89 screw 90 rivet DETAILED DESCRIPTION ¨ FIRST EMBODIMENT ¨ FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 [ow 5] One embodiment of this locking device is illustrated in Fig. 1 (perspective view), Fig. 3 (exploded view) and Fig. 5 (section view). The device has two cantilevers, jaws or legs 10, made of a rigid material such as a metal, for example steel or aluminum, attached at both ends of a shaft-like lock body 13. Each leg 10 consist of an extended member 14 with a hollow cylinder 15 sitting at its top. At the end of the inner side of member 14 sits a slot 39 for a pad 11, which could be made of a soft material such as rubber. Just above slot 39 sits a platform or stopper 65. Hollow cylinder 15 has an internal lip 16 on its inner side and three holes 17 on its outer surface to apply a permanent fastening element, such as a rivet 90.
[0016] As shown in Fig. 6, a shaft, knob or cylindrical handle 3 comprises an internally threaded borehole 18 at its core, an external lip 19 at one of its ends, a longitudinal cylindrical cavity 64 located at the end of borehole 18, a hollowed out cavity 20 located at its opposite end, a rectangular slit 21 taken out from the surface of the hollowed out cavity 20, and a groove 22 running around its diameter located in between both ends of its body. Handle 3 runs through the outer side of hollow cylinder 15 so that lip 16 and lip 19 meet in a manner that has handle 3 protruding out from the inner side of leg 10a. An anchor 8 consisting of a circular base plate 23 having the same diameter as the inner diameter of hollow cylinder 15a, three holes 24 lining up with the leg holes 17a, three cavities 25 on inner side of base plate 23 each adjacent to holes 24.
Additionally extending from the center of the inner side of base plate 23 is a short cylindrical shaft 66 followed by a long polygonal or prism shaped bar 26. Anchor 8 runs through the outer side of hollow cylinder 15 in a manner where the bar 26 runs through borehole 18, shaft 66 sits inside cavity 64 and holes 24 line up with the leg holes 17a allowing a fastening element to be applied, such as a rivet 90.
[0017] Moving forward, handle 3 sits inside grooved sections of a top shell 1 and a bottom shell 2 that together form a cylindrical casing 27. Top shell 1 and bottom shell 2, see Fig. 7, are made up of multiple inner sections consisting of semi-circular cavities and thick semi-circular walls.
Starting from one end of bottom shell 2, there is a small semi-circular cavity 28b ending at a tongue 29b, which itself ends at a length slightly smaller than groove 22 on handle 3, followed by semi-circular cavity 30b that is large enough to fit section 31 of handle 3, in turn met with a wall 32b with a concentric half-borehole 33b at its center, followed by another semi-circular cavity 34b ending at a wall 35b with a concentric half-borehole 36 at its center, also met with two internally threaded longitudinal screw holes 38b, ending finally with a semi-circular cavity 37b. Top shell 1 is made up of identical sections to bottom shell 2 with a few variances.
Similarly, starting from one end of top shell 1, there is a small semi-circular cavity 28a ending at a tongue 29a which itself ends at a length slightly smaller than groove 22 of handle 3, followed by semi-circular cavity 30a which is large enough to fit section 31 of handle 3, in turn met with a wall 32a with a concentric half-borehole 33a at its center, followed by another semi-circular cavity 34a ending at a wall 35a which has two internally threaded longitudinal screw holes 38a and ending finally with a semi-circular cavity 37a. The variances of top shell 1 to bottom shell 2 are as follows;
where wall 35b has half-borehole 36, wall 35a has a longitudinal centered half square cut 40 of side length greater or equal to the diameter of half-bore 36; a cross shaped opening 41 centered over cavity 34a; a longitudinal rectangular cut or key slot 42.
[0018] Furthermore, casing 27 is held together by a retainer 5, see Fig. 8, in the form of a small shaft with a center borehole 43 and four screw holes 44, which mate with screw holes 38 using four screws 63. Screw holes 44a mate with screw holes 38a and screw holes 44b mate with screw holes 38b. Retainer 5 has a prism-shaped platform 45 extending longitudinally from one side, above borehole 43 and between screw holes 44a, which hovers over cavity 34b. A curved surface 46 lies underneath platform 45 of radius equivalent to borehole 43.
Platform 45 runs through four rings 6 that have ten notches 47 that form ten sections 48. Each section 48 on ring 6 is adorned or marked with a numeral, such as 0 to 9. A key hole 49 lies centered underneath one random section 48 for each ring 6. Rings 6 are placed adjacent and concentrically together in cavity 34. A key 4, see Fig. 9, consists of two prism-shaped buttons 50 with cavities 51 at their underbelly, attached together by a prism shaped shaft 52 and a second prism shaped shaft 53 protruding from one button 50 at one end. Key 4, see Fig. 5, is placed longitudinal inside opening 41 just above platform 45 with shaft 52 containing and running through rings 6 with shaft 53 facing handle 3. Two springs 7 are placed individually inside cavities 51 of key 4 and sit upon platform 45.

[0019] Finally, as can be seen in Fi.,7.= 3, a sleeve 12 consists of a cylindrical shaft 54 with a concentric borehole 55 running completely through its body and an outer lip 56 at one end. Sleeve 12 is inserted into hollow cylinder 15b where lip 56 is in contact with lip 16b. A nipple 9, see Fig.
10, consists of a circular base plate 57, of diameter equal to the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder 15b, three cavities 59 on inner side of base plate 57 each adjacent to three holes 58, a long cylindrical shaft 60 extending from the center of the inner side of base plate 57 with a threaded end section 61. Nipple 9 runs through the outer side of hollow cylinder 15b in a manner where shaft 60 runs through borehole 55 and borehole 43, screwing into threaded borehole 18. Bar 26 of anchor 8 inserts into a rectangular cavity 62 running longitudinally through the center of shaft 60. Holes 58 line up with the leg holes 17b allowing a fastening element to be applied.
OPERATION ¨ FIRST EMBODIMENT ¨ FIGS. 2,5, and 6 [0020] The manner of using the first embodiment of the locking device is by clasping or clamping a helmet 84 in between two legs 10, see figure 2, where pads 11 act as protective surface contact agents and platforms 65 sit flat against the rim of helmet 84, all of which together form a loop which can be wrapped around a fixed body, such as a bar or post.
This is done by rotating handle 3 on threaded section 61 of nipple 9 which acts as a tightening screw components.
As handle 3 is screwed on to nipple 9, lip 19 is pressed against lip 16a effectively pulling leg 10a closer to leg 10b. Simultaneously, nipple 9, which is permanently fastened to leg 10b, also pulls leg 10b closer to leg 10a. Casing 27 blocks any direct access to handle 3 and is allowed to freely rotate around the body of handle 3 through a tongue and groove mechanism formed by tongue 29 and groove 22. In order to rotate handle 3, key 4 must be in its most elevated position, hereby known as the open position, see figure 6C, where shaft 53 is in contact with slit 21 and key slot 42, in order to transfer rotation from casing 27 to handle 3. If key 4 is in a lower state of elevation, hereby known as the closed position, see figure 6A, shaft 53 does not contact slit 21 or key slot 42, and freely rotates within cavity 20.
[0021] In this case, the elevation of key 4 is actuated by the two compression springs 7 which push off platform 45 into cavities 51. The level of elevation of key 4 is dependent on the positions of rings 6, marked by numerical values on each section 48. Key 4 elevates when the right combination of numerals are put in and all four key holes 49 are aligned, allowing shaft 52 to sit inside all four key holes 49, forming the open position. If the wrong combination of numerals are put in, one or more of rings 6 will not be aligned with each other, thereby keeping shaft 52 pushed down by the inner edge of rings 6, forming the closed position. Rings 6 can be accessed by opening 41 on top shell 1 in order to change their relative positions, by pushing or rubbing, causing them to rotate in cavity 34 relative to casing 27. Once the device is appropriately tightened to helmet 84, the user simply pushes down on buttons 50, which manually depresses key 4, and rotates rings 6 into misalignment, thereby returning the device to the closed position such that the device can neither be contracted nor detracted.
[0022] Given that retainer 5 acts as a method to fasten top shell 1 to bottom shell 2, see Fig. 3 and 5, with screws 63, forming casing 27, it additionally acts as a fixture to allow compression springs 7 to apply a force to key 4 off of platform 45. Sleeve 12 acts as a protective barrier for the shaft 60 of nipple 9 from theft tools, such as bolt cutters, and to block access to screws 63 for disassembly of the device during its application.
[0023] Thus there are many advantages to the device. Because of the manner in which the device attaches, it requires no invasive means to be engaged and is adaptable to all forms of helmets, such as open or closed faced, not requiring any particular elements of modern helmets such as safety straps and D-rings. The force applied to a helmet is adjustable by the user as to allow proper application to various types of materials and shaped. The fact that it forms a loop allows versatility to where the lock maybe applied on a vehicle or stationary structure. The motor vehicle requires no invasive modifications to apply the lock as do many current security systems.
Due to its thick diameters and the none-cylindrical shape of its legs, the embodiment of the device cannot be removed by a typical bolt cutter used by common thieves. Its keyless system raises convenience to the user, having less to carry once the vehicle has been stationed. Thanks to the overall shape, the device can be applied with the simple dexterity of two hands in a timely manner, addressing the problem of some current helmet lock systems which are unwieldy and difficulty to manipulate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ¨ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT¨ FIGS. 11,12 and 13 [0024] There are various possibilities with regard to the components design and shape as well as the overall shape of the device, as illustrated in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, which presents perspective views on one such alternative embodiment. Fig. 11A and Fig. 11B depict one embodiment with shorter legs 10 than the previous embodiment. Leg 10a is replaced with leg 10c, see Fig. 13C, which consists of a member 72 with a hollow cylinder 80 sitting at its top. At the end of the inner side of member 72 sits a slot 70 for a suction cup 85 which could be made of a soft material, such as rubber, and just above cavity 70 sits a stopper 69. Hollow cylinder 80 has an internal lip 78 on its inner side and three holes 67 on its outer surface to apply a permanent fastening element, such as a rivet 90. Leg 10b is replaced with two components, hinge 79 and leg 10d.
Leg 10d, see Fig.
13A, consists of a member 73 which has at its end of its inner side a cavity 71 for a suction cup 85, a cylindrical body 81 sitting at its top with a lateral opening 76 that forms a groove with a hinge slot 75 hanging at its end. Hinge 79, see Fig. 13B, consists of a hollow cylinder 82 with an internal lip 77 on its inner side, three holes 68 on its outer surface to apply a permanent fastening element, such as a rivet 90, and a hinge slot 74 hanging from the bottom of hollow cylinder 82.
[0025] Following, leg 10c assembles to handle 3 and anchor 8 in the same manner leg 10a does in previous embodiment. Handle 3 runs through the outer side of hollow cylinder 80 so that lip 78 and lip 19 meet in a manner that has handle 3 protruding out from the inner side of leg 10c.
Anchor 8 runs through hollow cylinder 80 in a manner where bar 26 runs through borehole 18, shaft 66 sits inside cavity 64 and holes 24 line up with the leg holes 67 allowing a fastening element to be applied. Sleeve 12 is inserted into hollow cylinder 82 where lip 56 is in contact with lip 77. Nipple 9 runs through the outer side of hollow cylinder 82 in a manner where shaft 60 runs through borehole 55 and borehole 43, screwing into threaded borehole 18 and bar 26 of anchor 8 inserts into a rectangular cavity 62 running longitudinally through the center of shaft 60. Holes 58 line up with the holes 68 allowing a fastening element to be applied. Hinge slot 74 is aligned with hinge slot 75 in a manner that allows a bolt 83 to be inserted through, see Fig. 13B.

OPERATION ¨ ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT ¨ FIGS. 6, 11 and 12 [0026] The manner of using this alternative embodiment of the locking device is by inserting an exposed bar or fixed structure within opening 76, and then closing opening 76 against hinge 79 by activating rotation of leg 10d from a pivot point created at bolt 83, where hinge slot 74 and hinge slot 75 are joined, clasping or clamping helmet 84 in between leg 10c and leg 10d, see figure 12.
Suction cups 85 act as protective surface contact agents as well as preventing the lock from slipping on the surface of helmet 84. Stopper 69 sits flat against the rim of helmet 84, as does hinge slot 74 and hinge slot 75. Helmet 84 itself blocks the device from releasing any fixed structure within opening 76. The clamping is done by rotating handle 3, screwing on section 61 of nipple 9 which acts as a tightening screw. As handle 3 is screwed on to nipple 9, lip 19 is pressed against lip 78 effectively pulling leg 10c closer to leg 10d. Simultaneously, nipple 9, which is permanently fastened to hinge 79, also pulls leg 10d closer to leg 10c. Casing 27 blocks any direct access to handle 3 and is allowed to freely rotate around the body of handle 3 through a tongue and groove mechanism formed by tongue 29 and groove 22. In order to rotate handle 3, key 4 must be in its most elevated position, known as the open position, see figure 6C, where shaft 53 is in contact with slit 21 and key slot 42, in order to transfer rotation from casing 27 to handle 3. If key 4 is in a lower state of elevation, known as the closed position, see figure 6A, shaft 53 does not contact slit 21 or key slot 42, and freely rotates within cavity 20.
[0027] Notably, the elevation of key 4 is actuated by the two compression springs 7 which push off platform 45 into cavities 51. The level of elevation of key 4 is dependent on the positions of the four rings 6, marked by numerical values on each section 48. Key 4 elevates when the right combination of numerals are put in and key holes 49 are aligned, allowing shaft 52 to sit into key holes 49, forming the open position. If the wrong combination of numerals are put in, one or more of rings 6 will not be aligned with each other, thereby keeping shaft 52 pushed down by the inner edge of rings 6, forming the closed position. Rings 6 can be accessed by opening 41 on top shell 1 to change their relative positions to each other, by pushing or rubbing, causing them to rotate in cavity 34 relative to casing 27. Once the device is appropriately tightened to helmet 84, the user simply pushes down on buttons 50, which manually depresses key 4, and rotates rings 6 into misalignment, thereby returning the device to the closed position such that the device can neither be contracted nor detracted.
[0028] Moreover, retainer 5 acts as a method to fasten top shell 1 to bottom shell 2, with screws 63, forming casing 27, it also acts as a fixture to allow compression springs 7 to apply a force to key 4 off of platform 45. Sleeve 12 acts as a protective barrier for shaft 60 of nipple 9 from theft tools, such as bolt cutters, and to block access to screws 63 for disassembly of the device during its application.
[0029] To summarize, the alternative components of this embodiment allow the device to attach in a more focused manner, for vehicles that have less locational options for locking, such as handlebar with limited space for example. The shape of the device is also rendered smaller, more portable and aesthetically simpler.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0030] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to several embodiments of the device, the locking device provides a non-invasive and more reliable method of safely locking a helmet to a vehicle or fixed structure. It has increased resistance to typical theft tools such as knives and bolt cutters, and does not depend on the shape, integrated holes/openings or extra features of the helmet itself to be applied. It is easy to manipulate, timely to implement, small enough to store away and does not require a key, which overall increases a user's convenience.
[0031] While the above descriptions contain many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, conventional spring components can be replaced by protruding elements integrated in the design of adjacent components, taking advantage of the elasticity of the material as a spring. Some components can be fused together to reduce component complexity and ease manufacturing, such as the nipple and sleeve or the nipple and leg. Many elements can be hollowed out to reduce weight of the entire device, for example the sleeve, could have the diameter of borehole increased in size, and the legs, could have the inner sides of their member grooved, to name a few. The mechanism can be altered by adding a high force compression spring to create the clamping effect and the rotation of the handle on nipple can be used to compress the compression spring when disengagement of the clamp is requested. Or a high force extension spring can be run through, attaching and pulling legs together, where the rotation of the handle on the thread can push the extension spring and allow disengagement of clamp. The means for translation of the handle on the nipple could be changed to an alternative pulling force than the prescribed thread and screw method. Alternate shapes can be implemented in the design, such as wider or X-shaped legs or members, or protruding clamps to replace the opening or bar trap on the previously described alternative embodiment. The prism shaped bar on the anchor could be replaced with other polygonal bar shapes such as a triangle or hexagon or even an X-shape. Fastening elements can vary from the aforementioned rivets and screws, such as lock screws, welding, various types of cements, interference fits, etc.
Material selection of components is not limited to the various types of existing metals, solid plastics and carbon composites for instance can also be implemented with success. The lock mechanism designed to prevent unauthorized access by users is not limited to combination rings, but could be altered to be activated by a traditional key system such as a pin tumbler method or other.
The pads designed to be in contact with the helmet could be changed to suction cups to increase the clamping effect of the device. Many of the components could be increased or decreased in size without effecting the functionality of the device. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

Claims (23)

CLAIMS: The following is a listing of all claims in the application with their status and text of all active claims.

1. A locking device, comprising:
- a U-shaped body including generally parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of an adjustable length handle extending therebetween, the free end portions of the legs of said U-shaped body including oppositely inwardly facing and projecting abutment members adapted to engage outer surface portions of a helmet, the adjustable length handle adjusting said legs toward and away from each other and including a locking mechanism operable to releasably lock a relative separation distance between said legs.

2. The locking device of claim 1, further comprising suction pads located on the legs at a contact interface between the locking device and said helmet.

3. The locking device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking mechanism is a combination ring lock.

4. The locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustable length handle comprises:
-a handle assembly comprising a threaded borehole;
-a shaft comprising a threaded section coupleable with the threaded borehole;
-a casing positioned concentrically about the handle assembly and independently rotatable about the handle assembly; and -a transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to the handle assembly.

5. The locking device of claim 4, wherein the casing comprises a first keyway, the handle assembly comprises a second keyway in register with the first keyway, and the transfer mechanism comprises a keying element insertable in the first and second keyways upon proper positioning and alignment of the keying element.

6. The locking device of claim 5, wherein the proper positioning and alignment of the keying element is enabled by the locking mechanism.

7. The locking device of any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a polygonal shaped shaft fastened to one of said parallel legs adjacent to the handle assembly, the polygonal shaped shaft being insertable inside a complementarily-shaped center hole running along the shaft thereby keeping the parallel legs constantly aligned with each other.

8. The locking device of any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a short rigid cylinder fastened to one of the parallel legs and insertable into an complementarily-sized cavity formed within the handle assembly thus allowing the handle assembly to rotate freely, thereby increasing a rigidity of the device and preventing said one of the parallel legs from departing from an optimum position upon application of forces induced during clamping of the helmet.

9. The locking device of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said interconnection between the handle assembly and at least one of the parallel legs comprises a hollow cylinder atop said at least one of the parallel legs, the hollow cylinder comprising an inner lip at one end thereof, with a diameter sized to let pass a main body of the handle assembly, the handle assembly comprising an external lip at one end thereof with a diameter sized to mate to the inner lip and preventing the handle assembly from completely running through said hollow cylinder, whereby allowing said handle assembly to rotate freely inside said hollow cylinder and pulling said at least one of the parallel legs as said handle assembly is translated along said shaft, forming a clamp effect with said parallel legs on said helmet.

10. The locking device of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein one of the parallel legs comprises a semi-arched opening and a hinge slot hanging under said opening, the opening being attachable to a complementarily-shaped hinge slot on a body of the locking device whereby, upon rotation of the hinge formed of said hinge slots and upon contact between the opening and the body of the locking device, a retaining loop is formed.

11. A method of locking a helmet comprising:
a) providing a locking device, comprising:
a U-shaped body including generally parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of an adjustable length handle extending therebetween, the free end portions of the legs of said U-shaped body including oppositely inwardly facing and projecting abutment members adapted to engage outer surface portions of a helmet, the adjustable length handle adjusting said legs toward and away from each other and including a locking mechanism operable to releasably lock a relative separation distance between said legs;
b) engaging the abutment members with the outer surface portions of the helmet; and c) locking the relative separation distance between said legs, thus forming a retaining loop installable around a fixed rigid structure and denying access to said helmet.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adjustable length handle comprises:
-a handle assembly comprising a threaded borehole;
-a shaft comprising a threaded section coupleable with the threaded borehole;
-a casing positioned concentrically about the handle assembly and independently rotatable about the handle assembly; and -a transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to the handle assembly.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the casing comprises a first keyway, the handle assembly comprises a second keyway in register with the first keyway, and the transfer mechanism comprises a keying element insertable in the first and second keyways upon proper positioning and alignment of the keying element.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the proper positioning and alignment of the keying element is enabled by the locking mechanism.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising a polygonal shaped shaft fastened to one of said parallel legs adjacent to the handle assembly, the polygonal shaped shaft being insertable inside a complementarily-shaped center hole running along the shaft thereby keeping the parallel legs constantly aligned with each other.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said interconnection between the handle assembly and at least one of the parallel legs comprises a hollow cylinder atop said at least one of the parallel legs, the hollow cylinder comprising an inner lip at one end thereof, with a diameter sized to let pass a main body of the handle assembly, the handle assembly comprising an external lip at one end thereof with a diameter sized to mate to the inner lip and preventing the handle assembly from completely running through said hollow cylinder, whereby allowing said handle assembly to rotate freely inside said hollow cylinder and pulling said at least one of the parallel legs as said handle assembly is translated along said shaft, forming a clamp effect with said parallel legs on said helmet.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein one of the parallel legs comprises a semi-arched opening and a hinge slot hanging under said opening, the opening being attachable to a complementarily-shaped hinge slot on a body of the locking device whereby, upon rotation of the hinge formed of said hinge slots and upon contact between the opening and the body of the locking device, a retaining loop is formed.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the locking device further comprises suction pads located on the legs at a contact interface between the locking device and said helmet.

19. The locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustable length handle comprises:
-a knob assembly comprising a threaded borehole, a diametric groove, an external diametric lip at one end and a circular cavity at the other end;
-a shaft comprising a threaded section coupleable with the threaded borehole to adjustably fasten the shaft to the knob assembly, one of said parallel legs being rigidly fastened to said shaft, wherein the knob assembly is mated to one of said parallel legs at said external diametric lip at an inner diametric lip inside a hollow cylinder atop said parallel leg such that said knob is rotatable independently of said parallel leg;
-a casing comprising at least one component, said casing denying access to said knob assembly and attached to said knob assembly by an internal tongue fitting inside said groove thus allowing said casing to rotate concentrically about said knob assembly independently of said knob assembly; and -a transfer mechanism for selectively transferring motion from the casing to the knob assembly, wherein adjustment of the position of the knob assembly on said shaft changes a relative distance between the parallel legs.

20. The locking device of claim 19, wherein the casing comprises a first keyway, the knob assembly comprises a second keyway in register with the first keyway, and the transfer mechanism comprises a keying element insertable in the first and second keyways upon proper positioning and alignment of the keying element.

21. The locking device of claim 19 or 20, further comprising a polygonal shaped shaft fastened to one of said parallel legs adjacent to the knob assembly, the polygonal shaped shaft being insertable inside a complementarily-shaped center hole running along the shaft thereby keeping the parallel legs constantly aligned with each other.

22. The locking device of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein one of the parallel legs comprises a semi-arched opening and a hinge slot hanging under said opening, the opening being attachable to a complementarily-shaped hinge slot on a body of the locking device whereby, upon rotation of the hinge formed of said hinge slots and upon contact between the opening and the body of the locking device, a retaining loop is formed.

23. The locking device of claim 20, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one spring component and a plurality of combination rings that retain said keying element from entering said keyways unless an appropriate sequence is formed with said combination rings.