Apparatus, systems, and methods for single-sided locks
AssigneeLyft, Inc.
InventorsPeter Rex Luedtke, Andrew Paul Rosenkranz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed apparatus may include a pin that is pushed in between two spokes of a wheel to lock the vehicle and removed from between the spokes of the wheel to unlock the vehicle. In one embodiment, a single-sided lock may include a pin holster for securing the pin while the vehicle is unlocked. In some embodiments, a single-sided lock mechanism may be permanently affixed to and/or built in to a vehicle, increasing the ease of use of the single-sided lock by preventing users from misplacing the lock. In one embodiment, a single-sided lock may include a mechanism for preventing accidental re-locking of a lock that has just been unlocked, further improving the user experience. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.
Claims20
A locking apparatus comprising:
- an insertion point configured to receive a pin;
- a slider configured to selectively engage with the pin to secure the pin within the insertion point or prevent at least part of the pin from being inserted into the insertion point;
- a position detector configured to detect a presence of the pin within the insertion point;
- and
- a cam configured to be selectively rotatable among a plurality of positions,
- wherein the cam is configured, based on an initial detection by the position detector that the pin has been removed from the insertion point, to rotate such that the slider is locked in an extended position to prevent reinsertion or locking of the pin within the insertion point;
- and
- wherein the cam is configured, based on the locking apparatus receiving a predetermined signal or passage of a predetermined time interval following the initial detection, to rotate such that the slider is permitted to move to a retracted position to permit reinsertion of the pin.
A method for a locking apparatus, comprising:
- detecting, by a position detector configured to detect a presence of a pin within an insertion point of the locking apparatus, that the pin has been removed from the insertion point;
- rotating, based on an initial detection by the position detector that the pin has been removed from the insertion point, a cam of the locking apparatus such that a slider is locked in an extended position to prevent reinsertion or locking of the pin within the insertion point, the cam configured to be selectively rotatable among a plurality of positions;
- and
- rotating, based on the locking apparatus receiving a predetermined signal or passage of a predetermined time interval following the initial detection, the cam such that the slider is permitted to move to a retracted position to permit reinsertion of the pin.
A micro-mobility vehicle comprising:
- a wheel;
- a pin;
- and
- a locking apparatus secured to the micro-mobility vehicle and comprising:
- an insertion point configured to receive the pin to limit rotation of the wheel;
- a slider configured to selectively engage with the pin to secure the pin within the insertion point or prevent at least part of the pin from being inserted into the insertion point;
- a position detector configured to detect a presence of the pin within the insertion point;
- and
- a cam configured to be selectively rotatable among a plurality of positions,
- wherein the cam is configured, based on an initial detection by the position detector that the pin has been removed from the insertion point, to rotate such that the slider is locked in an extended position to prevent reinsertion or locking of the pin within the insertion point;
- and
- wherein the cam is configured, based on the locking apparatus receiving a predetermined signal or passage of a predetermined time interval following the initial detection, to rotate such that the slider is permitted to move to a retracted position to permit reinsertion of the pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.