초록 ▼

A bicycle lock includes a housing having a retractable spool positioned therein, a flexible cable releasably wound about the retractable spool and partially exposed exterior of the housing, a fastener attached to the flexible cable and located exterior of the housing, and a locking mechanism located

A bicycle lock includes a housing having a retractable spool positioned therein, a flexible cable releasably wound about the retractable spool and partially exposed exterior of the housing, a fastener attached to the flexible cable and located exterior of the housing, and a locking mechanism located at the housing and selectively engaged with the fastener and the retractable spool. Advantageously, when the fastener is inserted into the locking mechanism and the locking mechanism is disposed at a first position, the flexible cable has a fixed longitudinal length. Advantageously, when the fastener is removed from the locking mechanism and the locking mechanism is disposed at a second position, the flexible cable has an adjustable longitudinal length. Notably, the first position is a locked position, and the second position is an unlocked position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bicycle lock for enabling a user to lock various components of a bicycle, said bicycle lock comprising: a housing including a retractable spool positioned therein;a flexible cable releasably wound about said retractable spool and partially exposed exterior of said housing;a fastener attached to

1. A bicycle lock for enabling a user to lock various components of a bicycle, said bicycle lock comprising: a housing including a retractable spool positioned therein;a flexible cable releasably wound about said retractable spool and partially exposed exterior of said housing;a fastener attached to said flexible cable and located exterior of said housing; anda locking mechanism located at said housing and selectively engaged with said fastener and said retractable spool;wherein, when said fastener is inserted into said locking mechanism and said locking mechanism is disposed at a first position, said flexible cable has a fixed longitudinal length;wherein, when said fastener is removed from said locking mechanism and said locking mechanism is disposed at a second position, said flexible cable has an adjustable longitudinal length;wherein said flexible cable comprises a proximal end statically affixed to said fastener,a distal end statically affixed to said retractable spool, anda medial portion monolithically formed with said proximal end and said distal end;wherein said retractable spool comprises a central hub statically affixed to an interior of said housing and anchored to said distal end of said flexible cable, anda spring coupled to said central hub, said spring being selectively biased between a non-tensioned state and a tensioned state when said central hub is articulated in a first rotational direction and an opposite second rotational direction, respectively;wherein said spring automatically returns to said non-tensioned state when said locking mechanism is operably disengaged from said retractable spool;wherein said spring is maintained at said tensioned state when said locking mechanism is operably engaged to said retractable spool and said medial portion is partially extracted from said housing;wherein said retractable spool comprises a plurality of spokes fixedly coupled to said spring. 2. The bicycle lock of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises: a first receiving slot positioned along an outer peripheral edge of said housing, wherein said fastener is slidably inserted into said first receiving slot and is frictionally fit therein such that said first receiving slot is releasably engaged with said fastener. 3. The bicycle lock of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism further comprises: a portable key;a second receiving slot operably engaged with said portable key; anda lever operably connected to said second receiving slot;wherein said lever is selectively engaged and disengaged with said plurality of spokes when said portable key rotates said second receiving slot to said first position and said second position, respectively. 4. The bicycle lock of claim 2, wherein said flexible cable has said fixed longitudinal length when said fastener is positioned within said first receiving slot and said locking mechanism is engaged with said retractable spool; wherein said flexible cable has said adjustable longitudinal length when said fastener is removed from said first receiving slot and said locking mechanism is disengaged from said retractable spool. 5. A bicycle lock for enabling a user to lock various components of a bicycle, said bicycle lock comprising: a housing including a retractable spool positioned therein;a flexible cable releasably wound about said retractable spool and partially exposed exterior of said housing;a fastener attached to said flexible cable and located exterior of said housing; anda locking mechanism located at said housing and selectively engaged with said fastener and said retractable spool;wherein, when said fastener is inserted into said locking mechanism and said locking mechanism is disposed at a first position, said flexible cable has a fixed longitudinal length;wherein, when said fastener is removed from said locking mechanism and said locking mechanism is disposed at a second position, said flexible cable has an adjustable longitudinal length;wherein said first position is a locked position, and said second position is an unlocked position;wherein said flexible cable comprises a proximal end statically affixed to said fastener,a distal end statically affixed to said retractable spool, anda medial portion monolithically formed with said proximal end and said distal end;wherein said retractable spool comprises a central hub statically affixed to an interior of said housing and anchored to said distal end of said flexible cable, anda spring coupled to said central hub, said spring being selectively biased between a non-tensioned state and a tensioned state when said central hub is articulated in a first rotational direction and an opposite second rotational direction, respectively;wherein said spring automatically returns to said non-tensioned state when said locking mechanism is operably disengaged from said retractable spool;wherein said spring is maintained at said tensioned state when said locking mechanism is operably engaged to said retractable spool and said medial portion is partially extracted from said housing;wherein said retractable spool comprises a plurality of spokes fixedly coupled to said spring. 6. The bicycle lock of claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism comprises: a first receiving slot positioned along an outer peripheral edge of said housing, wherein said fastener is slidably inserted into said first receiving slot and is frictionally fit therein such that said first receiving slot is releasably engaged with said fastener. 7. The bicycle lock of claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism further comprises: a portable key;a second receiving slot operably engaged with said portable key; anda lever operably connected to said second receiving slot;wherein said lever is selectively engaged and disengaged with said plurality of spokes when said portable key rotates said second receiving slot to said first position and said second position, respectively. 8. The bicycle lock of claim 6, wherein said flexible cable has said fixed longitudinal length when said fastener is positioned within said first receiving slot and said locking mechanism is engaged with said retractable spool; wherein said flexible cable has said adjustable longitudinal length when said fastener is removed from said first receiving slot and said locking mechanism is disengaged from said retractable spool.