# US 12,217,559 B2 · Locking devices, systems, and methods of use

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- Number: US 12,217,559 B2
- Document ID: US12217559B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/930,777
- Filed: 2022-09-09
- Published: 2023-01-05
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-09
- Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation
- Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation
- Inventors: Justin Douglas Tarman; Matthew W. Barrett; Nicholas Aaron Catanzarite; Jesse A. Ham; Dominic A. Layne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217559B2

## CPC

- G07C 9/00182: {operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- B62H 5/003: {using chains or cables (chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005)}
- E05B 67/006: {with retraction of the cable for storage (E05B73/0029 takes precedence; for devices mounted to a fixed surface or a portable object E05B73/0011)}
- E05B 67/063: {Padlocks with removable shackles}
- G06Q 30/0645: Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- G07F 17/0057: {for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs (car rental G07B15/00)}
- E05B 47/0012: {with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68)}
- E05B 71/00: Locks specially adapted for bicycles, other than padlocks ({locks integral with holders for parking or storing bicycles B62H3/00;} locks integral with cycles B62H5/00)
- E05B 2047/0017: {with rotary motion}
- E05B 2047/002: {Geared transmissions}
- E05B 2047/0067: {Monitoring}
- E05B 2047/0095: {Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones}
- G07B 15/00: Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points (handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00)
- G07C 2009/0019: {the keyless data carrier having only one limited data transmission rangs}
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- B62H: CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS

## Abstract

Locking devices, systems, and methods for securing personal property to separate structures. Such a locking device includes a lock body, a cable within the lock body and having a first end accessible from an exterior of the lock body, a spool for extending and retracting the cable out of and into the lock body, a lock pin disposed at the first end of the cable, a cable lock incorporated into the lock body and configured to releasably secure the lock pin to the lock body, and an electronic communication and control unit incorporated into the lock body and configured to communicate with a remote device. The electronic communication and control unit controls the cable lock to secure and release the lock pin relative to the lock body to allow the remote device to wirelessly unlock the first end of the cable from the lock body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A locking device comprising:
a lock body;
a cable within the lock body and having a first end accessible from an exterior of the lock body;
a spool configured to extend and retract the cable out of and into the lock body;
a lock pin disposed at the first end of the cable;
a cable lock incorporated into the lock body and configured to releasably secure the lock pin to the lock body; and
an electronic communication and control unit incorporated into the lock body and configured to communicate with a remote device, wherein the electronic communication and control unit controls the cable lock to secure and release the lock pin relative to the lock body to allow the remote device to wirelessly unlock the first end of the cable from the lock body;
wherein the cable lock comprises:
a pin capture hole in the lock body and configured to receive the lock pin;
a pin capture member within the lock body that shifts between a capture position that prevents the locking pin from being retracted from the pin capture hole and a release position that allows the locking pin to be retracted from the pin capture hole;
a lock member that shifts between a locked position that maintains the pin capture member in the capture position and an unlocked position that allows the pin capture member to shift to the release position; and
a drive mechanism configured to shift the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the drive mechanism comprises an electric motor and a gear assembly operatively coupling the electric motor to the locking member;
wherein the electronic communication and control unit controls the electric motor in response to commands received from the remote device to selectively shift the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position; and
wherein the lock member comprises a threaded pin and wherein rotating the threaded pin independent of the drive mechanism shifts the lock member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The locking device of claim 1, wherein the gear assembly comprises a worm drive and a rack gear configured to shift the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The locking device of claim 2, wherein the lock member is coupled to a pinion gear and travels linearly between the locked position and the unlocked position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The locking device of claim 1, wherein the pin capture member comprises a slide member and a spring that urges the slide member toward the capture position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The locking device of claim 1, further comprising:
a proximity switch that senses when the lock member is in the locked position; and
wherein the electronic communication and control unit activates a lock status indicator in response to the proximity switch.

### Claim 6

A locking device comprising:
a lock body;
a cable within the lock body and having a first end accessible from an exterior of the lock body;
a spool configured to extend and retract the cable out of and into the lock body;
a lock pin disposed at the first end of the cable;
a cable lock incorporated into the lock body and configured to releasably secure the lock pin to the lock body;
an electronic communication and control unit incorporated into the lock body and configured to communicate with a remote device, wherein the electronic communication and control unit controls the cable lock to secure and release the lock pin relative to the lock body to allow the remote device to wirelessly unlock the first end of the cable from the lock body;
a flexible strap having a first end fixed to the lock body and a second end configured to wrap around and mount the lock body to a support structure, wherein the second end adjustably slides through a slot through the lock body; and
a keyed lock in the lock body that selectively engages the second end of the flexible strap to lock the flexible strap in a selected position in the slot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The locking device of claim 1, further comprising:
a flexible strap having a first end fixed to the lock body and a second end configured to wrap around and mount the lock body to a support structure, wherein the second end adjustably slides through a slot through the lock body; and
a keyed lock in the lock body that selectively engages the second end of the flexible strap to lock the flexible strap in a selected position in the slot.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The locking device of claim 7, wherein the keyed lock comprises a cam lock with a lock arm that engages teeth along the second end of the flexible strap to lock the flexible strap in the selected position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The locking device of claim 1, further comprising a spring that urges the spool to retract the cable into the lock body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking device is a component of a system that further comprises the remote device and a software application configured to operate on the remote device, communicate with the communication and control unit of the locking device, and provide the commands received to selectively shift the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The locking device of claim 10, wherein the software application is configured to provide remote sharing functionality for sharing a bicycle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The locking device of claim 11, wherein the software application provides for receiving a remote request for use of the bicycle and selectively granting or denying use of the bicycle remotely, wherein granting use of the bicycle causes the locking device to unlock the lock pin.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The locking device of claim 12, wherein the software application provides for generating the remote request through an additional remote device and/or manually from the bicycle.

### Claim 14

A method of locking a bicycle, the method comprising:
securing a lock body of a locking device on a part of the bicycle;
pulling on a first end of a cable accessible from an exterior of the lock body in a direction away from the lock body to uncoil a portion of the cable from a spool within the lock body and extend the portion of the cable from the lock body;
locking the bicycle to a separate structure by wrapping the cable around the separate structure and locking a locking pin on the first end of the cable to the lock body, wherein locking the locking pin comprises:
capturing the locking pin in a pin capture hole in the lock body with a pin capture member shifted into a capture position; and
shifting a lock member in the lock body with a motorized drive mechanism to a locked position that maintains the pin capture member in the capture position; and
wirelessly unlocking the locking pin to unlock the bicycle from the separate structure;
wherein the locking device comprises a flexible strap having a first end fixedly attached to the lock body and a second end, and wherein the step of securing the lock body on the part of the bicycle comprises:
wrapping a flexible strap around the part;
inserting the second of the flexible strap through a slot in the lock body; and
locking the flexible strap in the slot with a keyed lock in the lock body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
receiving a remote request for use of the bicycle; and
selectively granting or denying use of the bicycle remotely, wherein granting use of the bicycle causes the locking device to unlock the locking pin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving payment for use of the bicycle remotely.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the step of unlocking the locking pin comprises:
shifting the lock member with the motorized drive mechanism to an unlocked position that allows the pin capture member to shift to a release position; and
shifting the pin capture member to the release position to release the locking pin from the pin capture hole.