초록 ▼

An anti-theft bicycle pedal is disclosed. The mounting end of the pedal is shaped with polygonal faces and/or splines to match an opening on the crank so that when the mounting end of the pedal axle is inserted into the matching opening and locked into place, the pedal cannot be removed without an u

An anti-theft bicycle pedal is disclosed. The mounting end of the pedal is shaped with polygonal faces and/or splines to match an opening on the crank so that when the mounting end of the pedal axle is inserted into the matching opening and locked into place, the pedal cannot be removed without an unlocking agent. With an unlocking agent, the pedal is easily removed without tools. The pedal can be reversibly mounted on the crank so that the bicycle cannot be pedaled away, or so that the pedal can be stowed during transport or storage. The pedal cannot rotate in the crank as a result of polygonal faces and/or splines on the mounting end that resist rotation. A physical stop can be used to control the symmetry of insertion into the opening which facilitates reversible mounting.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bicycle anti-theft device comprising: a pedal reversibly installable in a crank;an opening on the outboard end of the crank;a pedal axle comprising a stopping means, a mounting end rotatably fixed on the crank and a mounting end engagement;a locking means for securing the pedal axle to the cran

1. A bicycle anti-theft device comprising: a pedal reversibly installable in a crank;an opening on the outboard end of the crank;a pedal axle comprising a stopping means, a mounting end rotatably fixed on the crank and a mounting end engagement;a locking means for securing the pedal axle to the crank, the locking means being operated by a key for locking and unlocking the locking means to the mounting end,wherein the cross-section of the mounting end and the cross-section of the opening has a matching shape; said shape being selected from the group consisting of: polygonal elements, spline elements, a combination of polygonal and spline elements, and a combination of polygonal and round elements,wherein the stopping means is used to control a depth that the mounting end is inserted into the matching opening so as to align the locking means and the mounting end engagement,wherein the locking means engages the pedal mounting end symmetrically across the thickness of the crank at the mounting end engagement; and wherein, when the pedal is reversely installed in the crank, the pedal resists rotation of the crank and cannot be used to pedal the bicycle away. 2. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting end and matching opening have a polygonal shape. 3. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein the polygonal shape has three, four, five, six, seven, eight or more sides. 4. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting end has spline elements and the matching opening has slot elements to match the spline elements. 5. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting end has a combination of polygonal and spline elements and the matching opening has polygonal and slot elements. 6. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting end has a combination of polygonal and round elements and the matching opening has polygonal and round elements. 7. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting end engagement is selected from the group consisting of: one or more grooves, one or more indents, and combinations thereof in the mounting end. 8. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein when the pedal is reversely mounted in the crank and the pedal engages the wheel spokes, the wheel is prevented from turning, and the bicycle cannot be easily wheeled away. 9. A bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein when the pedal is reversely mounted in the crank and secured thereto with the key operated locking means, another pedal cannot be inserted into the opening of the crank. 10. A method of increasing bicycle and bicycle pedal security including the bicycle anti-theft device according to claim 1, the method comprising: reversely inserting the pedal into a matching outboard end of the crank,locking the pedal to the crank, andsecuring the pedal with the key;wherein when the pedal is locked to the crank, it can only be readily removed with the key as the unlocking agent, andwherein when the pedal is inserted into the opening of the crank reversed so as to face inward, bicycle security is itself increased. 11. A reversibly installable anti-theft bicycle pedal installed in a crank opening, the pedal comprising: a rotation resisting mounting end on the pedal axle, the mounting end having a polygonal cross-section with three, four, five, or six sides, matching the cross-section of the crank opening,a groove orthogonal to the pedal axis and symmetrically arranged on the mounting end across a crank thickness, anda stopping means for controlling the depth of the mounting end installation in the crank, such that when the mounting end is reversely inserted into the crank opening, the groove is in alignment with a locking means,wherein, when the locking means engages the groove of the mounting end with the pedal reversely installed, the pedal resists rotation of the crank and cannot be used to pedal the bicycle away,wherein the locking means is actuated with a key for unlocking and locking the pedal mounting end to the crank in both operational and reverse positions, andwherein the reverse position is a secured position. 12. A bicycle anti-theft pedal according to claim 11, wherein when the pedal is reversely mounted in the crank and the pedal engages the wheel spokes, the wheel is prevented from turning, and the bicycle cannot be easily wheeled away. 13. A bicycle anti-theft pedal according to claim 11, wherein when the pedal is reversely mounted in the crank and secured thereto with the key operated locking means, another pedal cannot be inserted into the opening of the crank. 14. A method of increasing bicycle and bicycle pedal security including a pedal according to claim 8, the method comprising: reversibly inserting the pedal into the matching opening on the outboard end of the crank,locking the pedal to the crank, andsecuring the pedal with the key;wherein when the pedal is locked to the crank, it can only be readily removed with the key as the unlocking agent, and when the pedal is inserted into the opening of the crank reversed so as to face inward, bicycle security is itself increased.