PBSC Urban Solutions v. Motivate Int'l - Complaint

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 1 of 10 PageID #: 1
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
PBSC URBAN SOLUTIONS,
Plaintiff,
v.
MOTIVATE INTERNATIONAL INC. and
NYC BIKE SHARE, LLC,
Defendants.
)
)
) Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-6398
)
) Judge
)
) JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
)
)
)
)
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, PBSC Urban Solutions (Plaintiff), by its attorneys, for its complaint against
Defendants, Motivate International Inc. and NYC Bike Share, LLC, (collectively, Defendants),
states as follows:
Jurisdiction and Venue
1.
This action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 1 et
2.
This Court has jurisdiction of this action based upon federal question pursuant to
seq.
28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338.

3.
Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400(b).

The Parties
4.
Plaintiff is, and at all times relevant to the matters alleged in this complaint has
been, a Canadian corporation with its principal place of business located at 1120 Marie-Victorin
Boulevard, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. Plaintiff engages in the research, development, and
commercialization of public bicycle sharing systems. Plaintiffs bike-sharing bicycles, bicycle
docks, and electronic locking systems are used in public bicycle sharing systems for cities and
municipalities in Canada, the United States (including this District), and abroad.
5.
Defendant, Motivate International Inc. (Motivate), formerly known as Alta
Bicycle Share, Inc., is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business located at 5202
3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11232. Motivate delivers, installs and operates public bicycle
sharing systems in municipalities in the United States and abroad.
6.
Defendant, NYC Bike Share LLC (NYC Bike Share), is a New York limited
liability company with its principal place of business located at 5202 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York 11232. NYC Bike Share is a subsidiary of Motivate. NYC Bike Share operates Citi
Bike, New York Citys public bicycle sharing system.
The Patents in Suit
7.
On June 23, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the PTO)
duly and legally issued U.S. Design Patent No. D594,787 (the 787 Patent), entitled Bicyle.
Plaintiff is the owner, by assignment, of all right, title, and interest to the 787 Patent. A copy of
the 787 Patent is attached as Exhibit A to this Complaint.
8.
On July 7, 2009, the PTO duly and legally issued U.S. Design Patent No.
D595,618 (the 618 Patent), entitled Bicyle Rack. Plaintiff is the owner, by assignment, of
all right, title, and interest to the 618 Patent. A copy of the 618 Patent is attached as Exhibit B
to this Complaint.
9.
On November 22, 2011, the PTO duly and legally issued U.S. Patent No.
8,061,499 (the 499 Patent), entitled Method and Apparatus for Securing a Movable Item to a
Structure. Plaintiff is the owner, by assignment, of all right, title, and interest to the 499
Patent. A copy of the 499 Patent is attached as Exhibit C to this Complaint.
10.
On September 25, 2012, the PTO duly and legally issued U.S. Patent No.
8,272,491 (the 491 Patent), entitled Method and Apparatus for Securing a Movable Item to a
Structure. Plaintiff is the owner, by assignment, of all right, title, and interest to the 491
Patent. A copy of the 491 Patent is attached as Exhibit D to this Complaint.
Background Facts
11.
Plaintiff developed the source code and software (the Software) used to operate
the payment kiosks and bicycle docks for public bicycle sharing systems. The Software is
proprietary and confidential to Plaintiff. The Software allows Plaintiff to control the kiosks and
bicycle docks remotely.
12.
In 2014, Plaintiff supplied equipment and services, including Software and spare
parts for bike-sharing bicycles, modular bicycle docks, and payment kiosks to Alta Bicycle
Share, Inc. for the public bicycle sharing system in New York City.
13.
In or around October 2014, REQX Ventures, LLC (REQX) approached Plaintiff
regarding a potential business relationship, requesting information concerning Plaintiffs

capabilities and services, including Plaintiffs bike-sharing bicycles, modular bicycle docks,
payment kiosks, and Software.
14.
Pursuant to a non-disclosure agreement with REQX, Plaintiff disclosed
information concerning its products and Software to REQX.

15.
In or around October 2014, REQX acquired Alta Bicycle Share, which
subsequently changed its name to Motivate.

16.
In or around April 1, 2015, Motivate ceased using Plaintiffs Software, and
Plaintiff lost remote control over the kiosks and bicycle docks in the public bicycle share system
in New York City.
COUNT I INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,061,499

17.
Plaintiff re-alleges each and every allegation set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 16,
and incorporates them herein by reference.

18.
Motivate and NYC Bike Share have been and are still infringing the 499 Patent
by making, using, selling, importing, exporting or offering to sell in the United States, bike share
bicycles and bike share bicycle racks, which embody, incorporate or otherwise practice the
claimed inventions.
19.
To the extent that Motivate and NYC Bike Share have continued and still
continue their infringing activities after receiving notice of the 499 Patent, such infringement is
willful, entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of treble damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284. In
addition, this is an exceptional case, justifying an award of attorneys fees and costs to Plaintiff
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 285.
20.
As a direct and proximate result of Motivates and NYC Bike Shares
infringement of the 499 Patent, Plaintiff has been and continues to be damaged in its business
and property, including the loss of revenues in an amount to be determined at trial.
21.
Motivate and NYC Bike Share have caused damage by their acts of infringement
of the 499 Patent, and Motivate and NYC Bike Share will cause additional damages and
irreparable harm unless the Court enjoins Motivate and NYC Bike Share from continuing such
infringing acts and initiating such acts in the future.
COUNT II INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,272,491
22.
23.
by making, using, selling, importing, exporting or offering to sell in the United States, bike share
bicycles and bike share bicycle racks, which embody, incorporate or otherwise practice the
claimed inventions.
24.
25.
26.
of the 491 Patent, and Motivate and NYC Bike Share will cause additional damages and
COUNT III INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. DESIGN PATENT NO. D594,787
27.

28.
Without Plaintiffs authorization, Motivate and NYC Bike Share have
manufactured, have had manufactured on their behalf, have offered for sale, and/or have sold in
the United States a bicycle (the Infringing Bicycle) with a design that is covered by the 787
Patent. Figure 4 of the 787 Patent is shown below next to a photograph of the Infringing
Bicycle.
5
The 787 Patent
29.
The Infringing Bicycle
within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 271.

30.
Motivate and NYC Bike Share are, and have been, aware of the 787 Patent.
31.
Motivate and NYC Bike Share are, and have been, aware of Plaintiffs contention
that Motivates and NYC Bike Shares aforementioned activities involving the Infringing
Bicycle infringe the 787 Patent.
32.
33.
34.
of the 787 Patent, and Motivate and NYC Bike share will cause additional damages and
COUNT IV INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. DESIGN PATENT NO. D595,618
35.

36.
Without Plaintiffs authorization, Motivate and NYC Bike Share have
manufactured, have had manufactured on their behalf, have offered for sale, and/or have sold in
the United States a bicycle rack (the Infringing Bicycle Rack) with a design that is covered by
the 618 Patent. Figures 1 and 2 of the 618 Patent are shown below next to photographs of the
Infringing Bicycle Rack.
The 618 Patent
The Infringing Bicycle Rack
The 618 Patent
37.
The Infringing Bicycle Rack
Motivate and NYC Bike Share have infringed and continue to infringe the 618
Patent within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 271.

38.
Motivate and NYC Bike Share are, and have been, aware of the 618 Patent.
39.
Motivate and NYC Bike Share are, and have been, aware of Plaintiffs contention
that Motivates and NYC Bike Shares aforementioned activities involving the Infringing
Bicycle Rack infringe the 618 Patent.
40.
41.
42.
of the 618 Patent, and Motivate and NYC Bike share will cause additional damages and
Prayer for Relief
WHEREFORE, by reason of the foregoing, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court
enter judgment against Defendants Motivate International Inc. and NYC Bike Share, LLC that:
A.
Defendants have infringed the 499 Patent, 491 Patent,787 Patent and 618
B.
Defendants, their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and those
Patent;
persons in active concert or participation with them, be preliminarily and/or permanently

enjoined from infringing the 499 Patent, 491 Patent, 787 Patent and 618 Patent, pursuant to
35 U.S.C. 283;
C.
Defendants pay damages adequate to compensate for the infringement of the 499
Patent and 491 Patent, including interest and costs, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;
D.
Defendants pay damages adequate to compensate for the infringement of the the
787 Patent and 618 Patent or an award of Defendants profits from its infringement pursuant to
35 U.S.C. 289, whichever is greater, including interests and costs;
E.
trebling of damages for willful infringement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;

9
F.
a finding by the Court that this case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. 285; and
G.
Plaintiff is granted such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and
proper.
JURY DEMAND
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38(b), Plaintiff, PBSC Urban Solutions
hereby demand a trial by jury on all issues triable of right by jury.
Dated: November 6, 2015
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Danielle Anne Phillip
Danielle Anne Phillip (DP-2295)
BRINKS GILSON & LIONE
NBC Tower - Suite 3600
455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 321-4200
Fax: (312) 321-4299
E-mail: dphillip@brinksgilson.com
James R. Sobieraj (of counsel)
BRINKS GILSON & LIONE
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 321-4200
Fax: (312) 321-4299
E-mail: jsobieraj@brinksgilson.com
Attorneys for Plaintiff PBSC Urban Solutions
10
JS 44 (Rev. 1/2013)
Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1-1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: 11
CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS
DEFENDANTS
PBSC Urban Solutions
Motivate International Inc. and NYC Bike Share, LLC
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff
County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
Outside U.S.
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES)

NOTE:
Kings
(IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)

IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
Attorneys (If Known)
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number)

Brinks Gilson & Lione, NBC Tower - Suite 3600, 455 North Cityfront
Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL 60611
Tel.: (312) 321-4200
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an X in One Box Only)

1
U.S. Government
Plaintiff
Federal Question
(U.S. Government Not a Party)
U.S. Government
Defendant
Diversity
(Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III)
III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an X in One Box for Plaintiff

(For Diversity Cases Only)
PTF
Citizen of This State
1
DEF
1
Citizen of Another State
Incorporated and Principal Place

of Business In Another State
Citizen or Subject of a
Foreign Country
Foreign Nation
and One Box for Defendant)

DEF
PTF
Incorporated or Principal Place
4
4
of Business In This State
IV. NATURE OF SUIT (Place an X in One Box Only)

CONTRACT
TORTS
110 Insurance
120 Marine
130 Miller Act
140 Negotiable Instrument
150 Recovery of Overpayment
& Enforcement of Judgment
151 Medicare Act
152 Recovery of Defaulted
Student Loans
(Excludes Veterans)
153 Recovery of Overpayment
of Veterans Benefits
160 Stockholders Suits
190 Other Contract
195 Contract Product Liability
196 Franchise
REAL PROPERTY
210 Land Condemnation
220 Foreclosure
230 Rent Lease & Ejectment
240 Torts to Land
245 Tort Product Liability
290 All Other Real Property
PERSONAL INJURY
310 Airplane
315 Airplane Product
Liability
320 Assault, Libel &
Slander
330 Federal Employers
Liability
340 Marine
345 Marine Product
Liability
350 Motor Vehicle
355 Motor Vehicle
Product Liability
360 Other Personal
Injury
362 Personal Injury Medical Malpractice
CIVIL RIGHTS
440 Other Civil Rights
441 Voting
442 Employment
443 Housing/
Accommodations
445 Amer. w/Disabilities Employment
446 Amer. w/Disabilities Other
448 Education
FORFEITURE/PENALTY
PERSONAL INJURY
365 Personal Injury Product Liability
367 Health Care/
Pharmaceutical
Personal Injury
Product Liability
368 Asbestos Personal
Injury Product
Liability
PERSONAL PROPERTY
370 Other Fraud
371 Truth in Lending
380 Other Personal
Property Damage
385 Property Damage
Product Liability
PRISONER PETITIONS
Habeas Corpus:
463 Alien Detainee
510 Motions to Vacate
Sentence
530 General
535 Death Penalty
Other:
540 Mandamus & Other
550 Civil Rights
555 Prison Condition
560 Civil Detainee Conditions of
Confinement
625 Drug Related Seizure

of Property 21 USC 881
690 Other
BANKRUPTCY
422 Appeal 28 USC 158
423 Withdrawal
28 USC 157
PROPERTY RIGHTS
820 Copyrights
830 Patent
840 Trademark
LABOR
710 Fair Labor Standards
Act
720 Labor/Management
Relations
740 Railway Labor Act
751 Family and Medical
Leave Act
790 Other Labor Litigation
791 Employee Retirement
Income Security Act
SOCIAL SECURITY
861 HIA (1395ff)
862 Black Lung (923)
863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
864 SSID Title XVI
865 RSI (405(g))
FEDERAL TAX SUITS

870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff
or Defendant)
871 IRSThird Party
26 USC 7609
OTHER STATUTES
375 False Claims Act

400 State Reapportionment
410 Antitrust
430 Banks and Banking
450 Commerce
460 Deportation
470 Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations
480 Consumer Credit
490 Cable/Sat TV
850 Securities/Commodities/
Exchange
890 Other Statutory Actions
891 Agricultural Acts
893 Environmental Matters
895 Freedom of Information
Act
896 Arbitration
899 Administrative Procedure
Act/Review or Appeal of
Agency Decision
950 Constitutionality of
State Statutes
IMMIGRATION
462 Naturalization Application
465 Other Immigration
Actions
V. ORIGIN (Place an X in One Box Only)

1 Original
Proceeding
2 Removed from
State Court
Remanded from
Appellate Court
4 Reinstated or
Reopened
5 Transferred from
Another District
(specify)
6 Multidistrict
Litigation
Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
35 USC 1 et seq.
VI. CAUSE OF ACTION Brief description of cause:
Infringement of utility and design patents
CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION

VII. REQUESTED IN
UNDER RULE 23, F.R.Cv.P.
COMPLAINT:
VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
(See instructions):
IF ANY
JUDGE
DATE
CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint:

Yes
No
JURY DEMAND:
DEMAND $
DOCKET NUMBER
SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD
11/06/2015
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
RECEIPT #
AMOUNT
APPLYING IFP
JUDGE
MAG. JUDGE

CERTIFICATION OF ARBITRATION ELIGIBILITY
Local Arbitration Rule 83.10 provides that with certain exceptions, actions seeking money damages only in an amount not in excess of $150,000,
exclusive of interest and costs, are eligible for compulsory arbitration. The amount of damages is presumed to be below the threshold amount unless a
certification to the contrary is filed.
Danielle Anne Phillip
PBSC Urban Solutions
I, ______________________,
counsel for __________________,
do hereby certify that the above captioned civil action is
ineligible for compulsory arbitration for the following reason(s):
monetary damages sought are in excess of $150,000, exclusive of interest and costs,
the complaint seeks injunctive relief,
the matter is otherwise ineligible for the following reason
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT - FEDERAL RULES CIVIL PROCEDURE 7.1
Identify any parent corporation and any publicly held corporation that owns 10% or more or its stocks:
PBSC Urban Solutions, hereby certifies that it is not a publicly-held company, that no parent company
is a publicly-held company, and that no publicly-held company owns 10% or more of its stock .
RELATED CASE STATEMENT (Section VIII on the Front of this Form)
Please list all cases that are arguably related pursuant to Division of Business Rule 50.3.1 in Section VIII on the front of this form. Rule 50.3.1 (a)
provides that A civil case is related to another civil case for purposes of this guideline when, because of the similarity of facts and legal issues or
because the cases arise from the same transactions or events, a substantial saving of judicial resources is likely to result from assigning both cases to the
same judge and magistrate judge. Rule 50.3.1 (b) provides that A civil case shall not be deemed related to another civil case merely because the civil
case: (A) involves identical legal issues, or (B) involves the same parties. Rule 50.3.1 (c) further provides that Presumptively, and subject to the power
of a judge to determine otherwise pursuant to paragraph (d), civil cases shall not be deemed to be related unless both cases are still pending before the
court.
NY-E DIVISION OF BUSINESS RULE 50.1(d)(2)

1.)
Is the civil action being filed in the Eastern District removed from a New York State Court located in Nassau or Suffolk
No
County:_________________________
2.)
If you answered no above:

a) Did the events or omissions giving rise to the claim or claims, or a substantial part thereof, occur in Nassau or Suffolk
No
County?_________________________
b) Did the events or omissions giving rise to the claim or claims, or a substantial part thereof, occur in the Eastern
Yes
District?_________________________
If your answer to question 2 (b) is No, does the defendant (or a majority of the defendants, if there is more than one) reside in Nassau or
Suffolk County, or, in an interpleader action, does the claimant (or a majority of the claimants, if there is more than one) reside in Nassau
No
or Suffolk County?______________________
(Note: A corporation shall be considered a resident of the County in which it has the most significant contacts).
BAR ADMISSION
I am currently admitted in the Eastern District of New York and currently a member in good standing of the bar of this court.
Yes
No
Are you currently the subject of any disciplinary action (s) in this or any other state or federal court?
Yes
(If yes, please explain)
No
I certify the accuracy of all information provided above.

Signature:____________________________________________

AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

for the
Eastern District
of of
New
York
__________
District
__________
PBSC Urban Solutions,
Plaintiff(s)
v.
Motivate International Inc. and NYC Bike Share, LLC,
Defendant(s)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-6398
SUMMONS IN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Defendants name and address) Motivate International Inc.
5202 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232
A lawsuit has been filed against you.

Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) or 60 days if you
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs attorney,
whose name and address are: James R. Sobieraj
Brinks Gilson & Lione
Chicago, IL 60611
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
DOUGLAS C. PALMER
CLERK OF COURT
Date:
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk

AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)

PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))
This summons for (name of individual and title, if any)
was received by me on (date)
I personally served the summons on the individual at (place)

on (date)
; or
I left the summons at the individuals residence or usual place of abode with (name)
, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,
on (date)
, and mailed a copy to the individuals last known address; or
I served the summons on (name of individual)
, who is
designated by law to accept service of process on behalf of (name of organization)

on (date)
; or
I returned the summons unexecuted because
; or
Other (specify):
.
My fees are $
for travel and $
for services, for a total of $
0.00
I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.
Date:
Servers signature
Printed name and title
Servers address
Additional information regarding attempted service, etc:
Print
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AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

for the
Eastern District
of of
New
York
__________
District
__________
PBSC Urban Solutions,
Plaintiff(s)
v.
Motivate International Inc. and NYC Bike Share, LLC,
Defendant(s)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
SUMMONS IN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Defendants name and address) NYC Bike Share, LLC
5202 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232
A lawsuit has been filed against you.

Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) or 60 days if you
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs attorney,
whose name and address are: James R. Sobieraj
Brinks Gilson & Lione
Chicago, IL 60611
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
DOUGLAS C. PALMER
CLERK OF COURT
Date:
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk

AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)

PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))
This summons for (name of individual and title, if any)
was received by me on (date)
I personally served the summons on the individual at (place)

on (date)
; or
I left the summons at the individuals residence or usual place of abode with (name)
, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,
on (date)
, and mailed a copy to the individuals last known address; or
I served the summons on (name of individual)
, who is
designated by law to accept service of process on behalf of (name of organization)

on (date)
; or
I returned the summons unexecuted because
; or
Other (specify):
.
My fees are $
for travel and $
for services, for a total of $
0.00
I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.
Date:
Servers signature
Printed name and title
Servers address
Additional information regarding attempted service, etc:
Print
Save As...
Reset
EXHIBIT A
Illll llllllll Ill lllll llllllUSOOD594

llll lllll lllll lllll lllll llll lllllll I llH 1111
787S
c12)
(54)
United States Design Patent
(10)
Dallaire
(45)
BICYCLE
FR
(75)
Inventor:
(73)
Assignee: Societe En Commandite

Stationnement De Montreal, Montreal,
Quebec (CA)
c)
Term:
(21)
Appl. No.: 29/319,352
(22)
Filed:
(51)
(52)
(58)
LOC (9) CI. .................................................. 12-11

U.S. CI...................................................... Dl2/lll
Field of Classification Search ................ Dl2/l ll,
Dl2/117, 110, 119; 280/274-280, 283-288,
280/281.1, 288.1-288.4, 202, 214, 215, 223;
180/219, 220, 205-207, 65.1--65.6
See application file for complete search history.
Michel Dallaire, Montreal (CA)
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
US D594, 787 S
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
2837460
1997030884
199809254
2005001781
2006021650
2006024738
2006095092
2006120328
** Jun.23,2009
9/2003
8/1997
3/1998
112005
3/2006
3/2006
912006
11/2006
14 Years
OfHER PUBLICATIONS
Jun.6,2008
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

D253,102
D291 ,292
D386,723
5,841,351
7,114,738
D574,756
D578,440
7,471 ,191
2004/0188976
2006/0116132
2006/0145446
2007/0158949
2007/0220933
2007/0239465
2008/0018440
2008/0027794
2008/0297108
s ..
s ..
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A
Bl
s
s
B2
Al
Al
Al
Al
Al
Al
Al
Al
Al
10/ 1979
8/ 1987
11/1997
11/1998
10/2006
8/2008
1012008
1212008
9/2004
6/2006
7/2006
7/2007
9/2007
10/2007
112008
1/2008
1212008
Hahn ........................
Smith et al. .... ..... ...... .
Fujieda .... ..................
Rey
Chen
Masui et al ................
Giugiaro
Le Gars
Schmider
Le Gars
Schmider
Le Gars et al.
Gagosz et al.
Le Gars et al.
Aulbers et al.
Le Gars et al.
Le Gars
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

EP
EP
0985596
1902934
312000
312008
(Continued)
Primary Examiner-Robin V Webster

Assistant Examiner-Linda Brooks
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Nixon Peabody LLP;
Alexandre Abecassis
References Cited
(56)
LaPointe, Automatic Bicycle Service (Bicycle), University Design

Project, DELIA 2008 Exposition For Industrial Design Graduates,
May 2008, Universite de Montreal.
Vezina, Automatic Bicycle Service (Rental Station), University
Design Porject, DELIA 2008 Exposition For Industrial Design
Graduates, May 2008, Univerisite de Montreal.
(57)
D 12/111
D 12/111
Dl2/110
CLAIM
The ornamental design for a bicycle, as shown and described.
DESCRIPTION
Dl2/111
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a bicycle showing my

new design;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof;
FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
FIG. 7 is a front elevation view thereof; and,
FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view thereof.
The portions shown in broken lines do not form part of the
claimed design.
1 Claim, 7 Drawing Sheets
US D594, 787 S
Page2
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Khairallah, Method and Apparatus for Securing a Movable Item to a
Structure, Unpublished U.S. Appl. No. 61/041, 162, Filing date; Apr.
23, 2008.
Mercat, Session 12: Implementing Sustainable Transport - Public
Bike Services, Presentation, European Conference on Mobility Management, London, Jun . 5, 2008.
Altermodal, Les systemes de velos en libre-service, Presentation,
Lille (France), Jan. 10, 2007.
Benedict, Building an Automated Community Bike Program Project
Sumamry, Hampshire College Division ill Project, http://redjar.org/
jared/projects/communitybike/summary/, May 5, 2002.
Bicincitta, Solutions For Sustainable Mobility, Publicity Brochure,

Jun. 4, 2008.
Effia, Velo'+ (Bike-sharing program), http://www.agglo-veloplus.fr/,
Orleans, France, Oct. 2007.
Jcdecaux, Cyclocity (Bike sharing program), Janus De l'Industrie
2006 (Award), http://www.institutfrancaisdudesign.com/Popups/
Diaporama/art246.htm, InstitutFran~ais du Design, Paris, France,
2006.
B:SM, bicing (Bike-sharing program), http://www.bsmsa.es/
option=com_content&task=view&id"'6
mobilitat/en/index.php?
&Itemid=7, Barcelona, Spain, Mar. 2007.
* cited by examiner
U.S. Patent
Jun.23,2009
Sheet 1 of7
US D594, 787 S
,...
-u.
U.S. Patent
Jun.23, 2009
Sheet 2 of7
US D594, 787 S
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Jun.23,2009
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US D594, 787 S
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US DS94, 787 S
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U.S. Patent
Jun.23,2009
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US D594, 787 S
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US D594, 787 S
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US D594, 787 S
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EXHIBIT B

USO0D595618S
(12) United States Design Patent (10) Patent N0.:

Dallaire
(54)
BICYCLE RACK
(75) Inventor:
(73)
Michel Dallaire, Montreal (CA)
Assignee: Socit en commandite Stationnement
de Montral, Montral (CA)

(**)
Term:
14 Years
(21) Appl.No.: 29/319,364

(22) Filed:
EP
FR
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
1902934
2837460
199809254
199730884
200154080
2005001781
2005049417
2006021650
2006024738
2006095092
2006120328
*9:
Jul. 7, 2009
3/2008
9/2003
3/1998
8/1998
7/2001
l/2005
6/2005
3/2006
3/2006
9/2006
ll/2006
Jun. 6, 2008
(51)
LOC (9) Cl.
(52)
US. Cl.
(58)
Field of Classi?cation Search .............. .. D12/115,
.................................... ..
D12/115
See application ?le for complete search history.

(56)
3,827,773 A
8/1974
4/1976 HaItger et al.
D266,557 S
D361,539 S
D361,742 S
(Continued)
Primary ExamineriRobin V Webster
Assistant ExamineriLinda Brooks
(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiAlexandre Abecassis; Fasken
Aiello ...................... .. 312/100
.... .. 52/79.1
CLAIM
The ornamental design for a bicycle rack, as shoWn and

described.
Smith ...................... .. Dl2/ll5
6/1994 Fortune et a1.

*
*
5,841,351 A
5,917,407 A
6,257,419 B1
6,718,697 B2 *
B2
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
10/1982
de Montreal.
(57)

3,949,528 A
VeZina, Automatic Bicycle Service (Rental Station), DELIA 2008

Exposition For Industrial Design Graduates, May 2008, Universite
Martineau DuMoulin LLP
References Cited
5,323,915 A
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
................................................ .. 12-11
D12/120, 401,400; 211/5,17*22; 312/100,

312/237, 215, 223.1; 52/361, 36.2, 38; D25/1,
D25/16, 33; D6/399, 449; 180/2.2, 65.1,
180/652; 362/133, 145, 253; D26/51; D13/101,
D13/102,184,199
7,471,191
2007/0158949
2007/0220933
2007/0239465
2008/0027794
2008/0297108
US D595,618 S
(45) Date of Patent:
8/1995
8/1995
11/1998 Rey
6/1999 Squire et a1.
7/2001 Kamysiak
4/2004
12/2008
7/2007
9/2007
10/2007
1/2008
12/2008
DESCRIPTION
Matlaga ................... .. D12/115

Matlaga ................... .. D12/115
Voorhees .................. ..
Le Gars
Le Gars et al.
GagosZ et al.
Le Gars et al.
Le Gars et al.
Le Gars
FIG. 1 is a front perspective vieW of a bicycle rack showing

my neW design invention;
52/79.4
FIG.
FIG.
FIG.
FIG.
FIG.
2
3
4
5
6
is
is
is
is
is
a rear perspective vieW thereof;

a front elevation vieW thereof;
a rear elevation vieW thereof;
a right side elevation vieW thereof;
a left side elevation vieW thereof;
FIG. 7 is a top plan vieW thereof; and,

CA
CA
2091726
2226325
9/1994
1/1997
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan vieW thereof.
1 Claim, 7 Drawing Sheets
US D595,618 S
Page 2
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Bicincitta, Solutions For Sustainable Mobility, Publicity Brochure,
Khairallah, Method and Apparatus for Securing a Movable Item to a
Structure, Unpublished U.S. Appl. No. 61/047,162, Filing date: Apr.
BzSM, Bicing (Bike-sharing program), http://WWWbsmsaes/

mobilitat/en/indeX.php?option:comicontent&taskqliew&id:6
23, 2008.
&Itemid:7, Barcelona, Spain, Mar. 2007.
Jun. 4, 2008.
Mercat, Session 12: Implementing Sustainable Transport - Public
Ef?a, Vlo+ (Bike-sharing program), https://WWW.agglo-veloplus.
Bike Services, European Conference on Mobility Management, Lon

don, Jun. 5, 2008.
Altermodal, Les systemes de velos en libre-service, Presentation,
Lille (France), Jan. 10, 2007.
fr/, Orlans, France, Oct. 2007.

Jcdecaux, Cyclocity (Bike sharing Program), Janus De lIndustrie
Summary, Hampshire College Division III Project, http://redjarorg/

jared/projects/communitybike/summary/, May 5, 2002.
2006 (Award), http://WWW.institutfrancaisdudesign.com/Popups/

Diaporama/art246.htm, Institut Francais du Design, Paris, France,
2006.
* cited by examiner
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 1 of7
US D595,618 S
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 2 of7
/f
@QEI
/ i/1}:,// / %
a.
FIG.2
US D595,618 S
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 3 of7
F|G.3
US D595,618 S
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 4 of7
ART:
Ami
US D595,618 S
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 5 of7
FIG.5
US D595,618 S
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 6 of7
FIG.6
US D595,618 S
US. Patent
Jul. 7, 2009
Sheet 7 of7
US D595,618 S
EXHIBIT C
Illlll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111

US008061499B2
02)
United States Patent
(10)
Khairallah et al.
(45)
(54)
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING

A MOVABLE ITEM TO A STRUCTURE
(75)
Inventors: Charles Ibrahim Khairallah, Montreal

(CA); Michel Dallaire, Montreal (CA)
(73)
Assignee: Societe de Velo En Libre-Service,

Lachine (CA)
( *) Notice:
Appl. No.: 12/417,108
(22)
Filed:
Prior Publication Data

US 2009/0266673 Al
Oct. 29, 2009
Related U.S. Application Data

(60)
Provisional application No. 61/047,162, filedonApr.

23, 2008.
(51)
Int. CI.
G07F 7100
(2006.01)
U.S. Cl.............. 194/211; 70/233; 70/234; 70/262;
340/432; 211/5; 211117; 248/551
Field of Classification Search .................. 194/205,
194/210--213, 904; 340/5.6, 432; 211/5,
211/13.1, 17-22; 248/551-553; 70/233-236,
70/262-265
(58)
(56)
References Cited
5,323,915
5,611,638
5,841,351
5,917,407
6,384,717
7,434,674
7,748,511
2005/0044908
Al 12/2006 Bendz et al ..................... 701431

9/2007 Gagosz et al.
Al
1/2008 Aulbers et al.
Al
Al
12/2008 Le Gars
Al
8/2009 Stobbe et al.
9/2009 Bettez et al.
Al
Al 9/2010 Morga! et al ...................... 70112
EP
0985596
3/2000
(Continued)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Summary, Hampshire College Division Ill Project, http://redjar.o:rg/
jared/projects/communitybike/summary/, May 5, 2002, pp. 13-15.
Apr. 2,2009
(65)
(52)
2006/0283219
2007/0220933
2008/0018440
200810297108
2009/0201127
2009/0240575
2010/0228405
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this

patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 189 days.
(21)
Patent No.:
US 8,061,499 B2
Date of Patent:
Nov. 22, 2011
611994 Fortune, Sr. et al.

A
A 3/1997 Dorr et al ...................... 403/327
A 11/1998 Rey ............................... 340/432
6/1999 Squire et al.
A
Bl
5/2002 DeVolpi
10/2008 Bain
Bl
Bl 7/2010 Maher ........................... 194/205
Al * 3/2005 Min ................................ 70/276
106
524
510
106_/
506 1000
540
542
1004 1002
Primary Examiner - Jeffrey Shapiro

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Pearl Cohen Zedek Latz.er,
LLP
(57)
ABSTRACT
An electronic lock for removably securing a movable item to

a structure, the electronic lock comprising first and second
complementary cooperating connecting members, each
beingfixedlymountedtoarespectiveoneofthemovableitem
and the structure and being engageable together in a lockable
position; and a securing assembly for securing the first and
second connecting members together when engaged in the
lockable position, the securing assembly comprising a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member, a locking aperture defined in the second
connecting member, the locking aperture being adapted for
receiving the movable locking member when the connecting
members are engaged together in the lockable position; an
actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking member
for actuating the movable locking member between an
unlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and
second connecting members and a locked position wherein
the movable locking member engages the locking aperture,
and electronic control means for controlling selective actuation of the movable locking member.
37 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
US 8,061,499 B2
Page2
EP
FR
GB
JP
JP
KR
WO
2093718
2837460
2327069
2008137640
2008191922
20090091841
9809254
8/2009
9/2003
111999
6/2008
8/2008
8/2009
3/1998
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
WO
0154080
2005001781
2006021650
2006120328
2008157443
2009080566
"' cited by examiner
7/2001
1/2005
3/2006
ll/2006
12/2008
7/2009
U.S. Patent
Nov. 22, 2011
Sheet 1 of21
126
100
~128
FIG.1
US 8,061,499 B2
US 8,061,499 B2
Sbeet2 of21
U.S. -Patent
Nov. 22, 2011
106
126
100
/
120
122
124
F\G.2
U.S. Patent
Nov. 22, 2011
US 8,061,499 B2
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114
110
100
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U.S. Patent
Nov. 22, 2011
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Nov. 22, 2011
US 8,061,499 B2
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500
500
~ 108
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U.S. Patent
Nov. 22, 2011
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1500
Providing an electronic lock for securing a
movable item to a structure
1502
Engaging the first and second connecting
members together in the lockable position
Actuating the locking member to the locked

position
FIG.15
1504
U.S. Patent
Nov. 22, 2011
Sheet 21 of 21
US 8,061,499 B2

bicycle to a bicycle rack
1600
Guiding the male connector towards the

lockable position
1602

1604
Holding the first and second connecting

members engaged together in the lockable
position
1606
Monitoring a positioning of the first and

second connecting members in the
lockable position
1608
1610
Identifying the bicycle to provide an
identification thereof
1612
Actuating the locking membei to the locked
position
FIG.16
US 8,061,499 B2
1

There is therefore a need for a method and an apparatus that

will overcome at least one ofthe above mentioned drawbacks.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED

APPLICATION
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present application cJaims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/047,162 filed Apr. 23,
2008, the specification of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
lO
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to Jocking systems. More precisely,
the invention pertains to an electronic lock for securing a
15
movable item to a structure and an associated method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Securing a moveable item to a structure is of great interest
for various applications. For instance, it may be desirable to
secure a vehicle to a fixed structure. This may be particularly
advantageous in applications where the vehicle is to be rented
for a given amount oftime.
More specifically, there has been inrecent years a rise in the
popularity of automated rental systems for vehicles such as
bicycles for example. Such a system generally comprises an
automated rental station from which a user may rent a bicycle
for a given amount of time.
In such a system, a bicycle to be rented is generally removably secured to a bicycle rack by means of a Jocking mechanism. A user may selectively unsecure and secure again the
bicycle from the bicycle rack in certain circumstances, for
instance after paying a given fee and/or providing a personal
identification code.
Such rental systems generaJly comprise a plurality ofrental
stations located in different public locations, making them
likely targets of acts of vandalism from malevolent individuals. Their robustness is thus an important element of a successful rental system.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,407, granted to Squire,
discJoses an automated bicycJe renting station wherein the
bicycle rack comprises a locking mechanism having a hook or
latch member. This hook or latch member is designed to
selectively pivot around an axle to engage a rod or a keeper
mounted on the bicycJe to be secured, thereby effectively
securing the bicycle to the renting station.
Such a station may be subject to vandalism. Indeed, a
malicious person may tug at the bicycJe engaged in the renting station, using the latch as a lever and the axle as a pivot
point to bend the latch out of shape or damage the keeper and
free the bicycle from the renting station without paying the
given fee.
Other locking systems for bicycles have also been proposed in the art. However, such systems are stiJI prone to
property damage and theft of bicycles and may thus cause
great financial harm to operators of such bicycle renting systems.
Moreover, in some bicycle rental systems, unsecuring a
bicycle from a bicycle rental station involves lifting the
bicycle or otherwise manipulating the bicycJe such that a
great physical effort is required from a user of the bicycle
rental system. This activity is inconvenient for the user and
may lead to injuries.
Furthermore, in some bicycle rental systems, the task of
guiding the bicycle towards the bicycJe rack for ti).epurpose of
securing the bicycle to the bicycle rack may be arduous and
inconvenient for a user.
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
There is provided an electronic lock for removably securing a movable item to a structure, the electronic Jock comprising first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective one
of the movable item and the structure and being engageable
together in a lockable position, and a securing assembly for
securing the first and second connecting members together
when engaged in the lockable position, the securing assembly
comprising a movable Jocking member operatively associated to the first connecting member, a locking aperture
defined in the second connecting member, the locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable Jocking member
when the connecting members are engaged together in the
lockable position, an actuator operatively coupled to the movable Jocking member for actuating the movable Jocking member between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of
the first and second connecting members and a locked position wherein the movable Jocking member engages the locking aperture and electronic control means operatively coupled
to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable Jocking member from the unlocked position to the locked
position and from the Jocked position to the unlocked position
lockable position.
In one embodiment, the first connecting member comprises a female connector mounted to the structure and the
second connecting member comprises a corresponding
complementary male connector mounted to the movable
item.
In another embodiment, the second connecting member
comprises a male connector having a front tapered portion,
the tapered portion comprising two opposed side surfaces
converging towards each other and a bottom surface, the first
connecting member comprising a female connector having a
recess adapted for receiving the front tapered portion therein,
the recess comprising a corresponding tapered portion having
two opposed inner side walls converging towards each other
and two opposed sitting members projecting inwards the
recess and adapted for slidably receiving thereon the tapered
portion of the male connector.
In a further embodiment, each of the two opposed side
surfaces and the bottom surface of the front tapered portion of
the male connector comprises a planar surface.
In another embodiment, the two opposed side surfaces of
the front tapered portion of the male connector define a
V-shape and the corresponding inner side walls of the tapered
portion of the recess of the female connector define a complementary V-shape adapted to snuggly receive the front tapered
In yet another embodiment, each of the two opposed side
surfaces of the front tapered portion of the male connector
comprises a substantially vertical planar surface and each of
the two opposed inner side waJls of the tapered portion of the
recess of the female connector comprises a substantially vertical planar surface.
In yet another embodiment, the second connecting member comprises a locking finger extending downwardly from
the front tapered portion, the locking aperture being provided
on the locking finger.
In a further embodiment, the recess ofthe female connector
further comprises two opposed lower inner side walls con-
US 8,06 1,499 B2
3
verging towards each other and defining a finger channel

and second connecting members in the lockable position and
adapted for receiving the Jocking finger therein.
identification of the associated movable item.
In one embodiment, the male connector further comprises
In yet a further embodiment, the identification tag coma back portion and a hinge extending between the front
prises an RFID tag and the identification reader comprises an
tapered portion and the back portion for enabling a jointed
RFID reader mounted to the structure.
coupling therebetween.
In one embodiment, the electronic control means comprise
In one embodiment, the electronic lock further comprises
unsecuring means for enabling an actuating of the movable
holding means adapted for cooperating with each of the conJocking member from the locked position to the unlocked
necting members for temporarily holding the connecting
position, the unsecuring means being selected from a group
members together in the lockable position once engaged 10 consisting of a card reader adapted for receiving a corretherein.
sponding user card, a keypad adapted for receiving a user
In a further embodiment, the holding means comprise a
code and a bar code reader adapted for reading a correspondpair of two opposed biased elements mounted to a respective
ing bar code.
one of the first and second connecting members, each of the
In another embodiment, the movable locking member
biased elements having a resting position wherein the ele- 15 comprises an elongated member axially translatable between
ment is urged outwardly and protrudes from the correspondthe unlocked position and the locked position, the locking
ing connecting member, the holding means further comprismember being engaged at both ends in the first connecting
ing a pair of corresponding cooperating opposed receiving
member through the Jocking aperture when in the locked
recesses mounted to the remaining connecting member, each
position.
of the receiving recesses being adapted to receive therein a 20
In a further embodiment, the actuator comprises a motor
corresponding biased element when the first and second conand a shaft driven by the motor, the shaft being attached to the
necting members are engaged in the lockable position,
movable locking member for driving the movable locking
thereby holding the connecting members together in the lockmember between the unlocked position and the locked posiable position.
tion.
In another further embodiment, each ofthe biased elements 25
In yet a further embodiment, the securing assembly further
comprises a ball and a ball spring mounted in a ball housing,
comprises shaft position detecting means for monitoring a
each of the receiving recesses comprising a corresponding
position of the shaft to thereby monitor a position of the
spherical portion.
movable locking member.
In yet another further embodiment, each of the biased
In yet a further embodiment, the shaft position detecting
elements is mounted on the connecting member mounted to 30 means comprise an optical detector and a mechanical detector, each of the detectors being adapted for detecting the
the structure and each ofthe receiving recesses is mounted on
position of the shaft and an associated position ofthe movable
the connecting member mounted to the movable item.
In yet a further embodiment, the connecting member
locking member in the locked position.
In one embodiment, the movable item comprises a bicycle
mounted to the structure comprises a female connector and
the connecting member mounted to the movable item com- 35 and the structure comprises a bicycle rack.
In a further embodiment, the bicycle rack is a part of a
prises a male connector.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly comprises posibicycle rental station.
In another further embodiment, the connecting member
tion detecting means mounted to one of the first and second
mounted on the bicycle comprises attaching means for fixedly
connecting members for detecting a positioning of the first
40 attaching the connecting member to a fork of the bicycle.
and second connecting members in the lockable position.
In yet a further embodiment, the attaching means comprise
In another embodiment, the securing assembly comprises
a pair of cylindrical holes extending through the connecting
position detecting means mounted to the female connector for
member mounted on the bicycle, the pair of cylindrical holes
detecting a positioning of the first and second connecting
being adapted to fixedly receive the fork of the bicycle
members in the lockable position, the position detecting
means being adapted for detecting a positioning of the Jock- 45 therein.
In one embodiment, the movable item comprises a vehicle
ing finger in the finger channel.
selected from a group consisting of a stroller, a wheelchair, an
In one embodiment, the securing assembly further comall-terrain vehicle, a scooter and a boat.
prises position detecting means mounted to one of the first
According to one embodiment, there is provided an elecand second connecting members for detecting a positioning
of the first and second connecting member in the lockable 50 tronic Jock for removably securing a movable item to a structure, the electronic lock comprising an elongated male conposition, the electronic control means being adapted for
nector fixedly mounted to the movable item and comprising a
selectively actuating the actuator to move the movable lockJocking aperture, a female connector fixedly mounted to the
ing member from the unlocked position to the locked position
structure and adapted for removably receiving therein the
upon detection of the positioning of the first and second
55 elongated male connector and a securing assembly associated
connecting member in the lockable position.
to the female connector, the securing assembly comprising a
In another embodiment, the securing assembly further
movable locking member displaceable between an unlocked
comprises position detecting means mounted to one of the
position for allowing the female connector to receive therein
first and second connecting members for detecting a positionthe elongated male connector and a locked position, an actuaing ofthe first and second connecting member in the lockable
position, an identification tag associated with the movable 60 tor for causing displacement of the locking member between
the unlocked position and the Jocked position and electronic
item and an identification reader for identifying the identificontrol means coupled to the actuator for controlling discation tag and the associated movable item when the first and
placement of the locking member between the unlocked posisecond connectors are engaged in the lockable position.
tion and the locked position, wherein when the elongated
In a further embodiment, the electronic control means are
adapted for selectively actuating the actuator to move the 65 male connector is received in the female connector, the electronic control means controls the actuator for causing the
movable locking member from the unlocked position to the
locking member to displace towards the locked position and
Jocked position upon detection of the positioning of the first
US 8,061,499 B2
to engage the locking aperture, thereby securing the elongated male connector in the female connector.
According to another aspect, there is provided a method for
removably securing a movable item to a structure.
Accordingly, the method comprises providing an electronic lock for removably securing the movable item to the
structure, the electronic lock comprising first and second
being fixedly mounted to a respective one ofthe movable item
position, and a securing assembly for securing the first and
lockable position, the securing assembly comprising a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member, a locking aperture defined in the second
members are engaged together in the lockable position, an
the movable locking member engages the locking aperture
and electronic control means operatively coupled to the
actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable
locking member from the unlocked position to the locked
position and from the locked position to the unlocked position
lockable position; engaging the first and second connecting
members together in the lockable position and actuating the
locking member to the locked position so that the locking
member engages the locking aperture, thereby securing the
movable item to the structure.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises monitoring a positioning of the first and second connecting members in the lockable position before actuating the locking
member.
In another embodiment, the method further comprises
identifying the movable item before actuating the locking
member.
In yet another embodiment, engaging the first and second
connecting members together in the lockable position comprises guiding the connecting member mounted to the movable item towards the lockable position.
connecting members together in the lockable position comprises holding the first and second connecting members
engaged in the lockable position.
In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises,
before actuating the locking member, detecting a positioning
of the first and second connecting members in the lockable
position and identifying the movable item to provide an identification thereof, wherein, in the actuating, the locking member is actuated to the locked position upon detection of the
positioning ofthe first and second connecting members in the
lockable position and the identification of the movable item.
In a further embodiment, identifying comprises a radiofrequency identification.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises requesting a user identification and actuating the locking member to
the unlocked position for unsecuring the movable item upon
reception of the user identification.
In another embodiment, the movable item comprises a
bicycle and the structure comprises a bicycle rack.
According to another aspect, there is provided a kit for
Accordingly, the kit comprises first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mountable to a respective one of the movable item and
the structure and being engageable together in a lockable
lockable position, the securing assembly comprising a movable locking member operatively associatable to the first connecting member, a locking aperture defined in the second
actuator operatively couplable to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an
and electronic control means operatively couplable to the
lockable position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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In order that the invention may be readily understood,

embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example in the accompanying drawings.
FIG.1 is a rear perspective view ofa bicycle rack having an
electronic lock mounted thereon in accordance with one
embodiment, with a bicycle removed from the bicycle rack.
FIG. 2 is another rear perspective view of the bicycle rack
shown in FIG.1.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the bicycle rack shown
in FIG.1.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the bicycle secured to
the bicycle rack using the electronic lock shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the electronic lock shown in
FIG.4.
FIG. SA is a front perspective view of an electronic lock for
removably securing a movable item to a structure, in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. SB is a right perspective view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. SA.
FIG. SC is a right perspective view of another electronic
lock for removably securing a movable item to a structure.
FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. SB wherein the male connectoris engaged with
the female connector.
FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. BA is a left side elevation view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8B is a top plan view of the electronic lock shown in
FIG.6.
FIG. 8C is a right side elevation view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8D is a front elevation view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a 3Dperspectiveview, cross-sectioned along lines
AA-AA of FIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the electronic lock
shown in FIG. 6.
US 8,061 ,499 B2
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FIG. llA is a front elevation view, cross-sectioned along

member comprises a corresponding complementary male
connector 108 mounted to the bicycle 104, as better shown in
lines AA-AA of FIG. 6, of the electronic Jock shown in FIG.
6, wherein the male connector is unsecured from the female
FIG. 2.
connector.
As it will be more clearly detailed thereinafter, the male
FIG. llB is another front elevation view, cross-sectioned
connector 108 and the female connector 106 are engageable
together in a lockable position.
along lines AA-AA of FIG. 6, of the electronic Jock shown in
FIG. 6 wherein the male connector has been secured in the
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1to3, the bicycle 104
female connector.
comprises a front fork 110, a front wheel 112 and a handlebar
FIG. UC is a front elevation view, cross-sectioned along
114. More specifically, the front fork 110 comprises a first
10
lower end 116 having the front wheel 112 rotatably mounted
Jines BB-BB of FIG. 6, of the electronic Jock shown in FIG.
thereto and a second opposed upper end 118 whereto the
6, wherein the male connector has been engaged in the female
connector.
handlebar 114 is fixedly mounted. The skilled addressee will
FIG.12Ais a left perspective view ofthe male connectorof
appreciate that, in such an embodiment, the handlebar 114
an electronic lock for removably securing a movable item to 15 may be used to rotate the front wheel 112.
Still in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the male
a structure.
FIG. 12B is a bottom perspective view of the male connecconnector 108 is fixedly mounted to the front fork 110 of the
tor shown in FIG. 12A.
bicycle 104. This configuration is of great advantage since it
FIG. 13 is a front perspective view, cross-sectioned along
facilitates the engagement of the bicycle 104 in the bicycle
lines BB-BB of FIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in FIG. 20 racklOO.
6.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the
bicycle rack 100 comprises a substantially vertical hollow
female connector of the electronic lock for removably securelongated frame 120 having a first lower end 122 fixedly
ing a movable item to a structure.
attached to a base 124 and an opposed upper end 126 comFIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method for removably securing 25 prising a female connector fixing recess 128. The female
a movable item to a structure, in accordance with one embodiconnector 106 is fixedly mounted in the female connector
ment.
fixing recess 128 using fixing means (not shown) such as bolts
FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method for removably securing
and screws. The skilled addressee will appreciate that any
a movable item to a structure, in accordance with another
other fixing means adapted to fixedly secure the female conembodiment.
30 nector 106 in the recess 128 may be considered.
Further details of the invention and its advantages will be
In one embodiment, the base 124 comprises a structure
apparent from the detailed description included below.
adapted for mounting at least one bicycle rack thereon.
In an alternative embodiment, the base 124 comprises a
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
substantially
horizontal ground surface such as a parking lot,
35
a sidewalk, a portion of a street or the like.
In the following description of the embodiments, referThe skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodiences to the accompanying drawings are by way of illustrament the female connector 106 is vertically positioned at a
tion of an example by which the invention may be practiced.
level substantially corresponding to the level of the male
It will be understood that other embodiments may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. 40 connector 108 when the front wheel 112 of the bicycle 104 is
lying on the base 124. This configuration helps the user ofthe
The invention provides an electronic lock for securing a
bicycle 104 to guide the male connector 108 towards the
movable item to a structure. As it will be more clearly understood upon reading of the present description, the electronic
female connector 106 without having to lift the bicycle 104,
lock may advantageously be used in a great variety of appliwhich is of great advantage.
cations, such as for example in a vehicle rental system such as 45
As previously mentioned, in one embodiment, the bicycle
a bicycle rental system. The skilled addressee will however
rack 100 is part of a bicycle rental station, the bicycle rental
station being part of a bicycle rental system. It will be appreappreciate that many other applications may be considered, as
it will be more detailed thereinafter.
ciated that such a bicycle rental station is generally installed
In the following description of the illustrated embodiin a public area. Therefore, to prevent the female connector
ments, the movable item comprises a bicycle and the structure 50 106 from being tampered with, stolen or otherwise vandalized, the female connector fixing means (not shown) is advancomprises a bicycle rack. The bicycle rack is part of a bicycle
tageously robust and reliable.
renting station and is fixedly mounted thereto. It will be
In one embodiment, the female connector fixing means
appreciated that an operator of such a station may want to
comprise fasteners provided with a corresponding special
control rentals of bicycles to be rented and returns of rented
bicycles. Such a station would thus greatly benefit from hav- 55 unfastening tool, the special unfastening tool being in the
possession of an operator of the bicycle renting system . 1his
ing means to removably secure a bicycle to be rented to the
configuration advantageously enables the operator to selecbicycle rack.
tively remove the female connector from the bicycle rack for
Now referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a bicycle rack
maintenance purposes or other purposes while preventing
100 having an electronic lock 102 mounted thereon in accordance with one embodiment. There is further shown a bicycle 60 undesired removal of the female connector 106 from the
bicycle rack 100 by an unauthorized person.
104 removed from the bicycle rack 100.
In another embodiment, the female connector fixing means
The electronic Jock 102 comprises first and second
comprise welding the female connector 106 inside the female
connector fixing recess 128. It will however be appreciated
being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the bicycle 104
and the bicycle rack 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the 65 that any other means adapted for preventing an unauthorized
removal of the female connector 106 from the bicycle rack
first connecting member comprises a female connector 106
100 may be considered.
mounted to the bicycle rack 100 and the second connecting
US 8,061 ,499 B2
10
For example, in yet another embodiment, the female conIt will be further appreciated that in this embodiment,
nector 106 and the hollow elongated frame 120 may form an
guiding the front bicycle wheel 112 forwardly causes the
integral structure.
male connector 108, advantageously mounted to the fork 110
As better shown in FIG. 3, the illustrated bicycle rack 100
ofthe bicycle, to be guided towards the female connector 106.
The bicycle is further moved forwardly in the direction F
further comprises a vertical wheel receiving slot 300 defined 5
on the hollow elongated frame 120, this wheel receiving slot
until the male connector 108 and the female connector 106
300beingadaptedtoreceivethereinthefrontwheel112ofthe
engage together in the lockable position. Once they are
bicycle 104.
engaged in the lockable position, the electronic lock 102 can
In one embodiment, the hollow elongated frame 120 may
be used to secure the connectors 106, 108 together, thereby
further comprise a pair of wheel guiding members 130, 132 10 securing the bicycle 104 to the bicycle rack 100, as it will
extending vertically between the lower end 122 and the
become appiirent below.
opposed upper end 126 of the bicycle rack 100, the wheel
It will be appreciated that such a positioning of the male
guiding members 132, 134 being positioned on both sides of
connector 106 at the front of the bicycle 104 advantageously
enables a user to move the bicycle 104 forward by using the
the wheel receiving slot 300, as best shown in FIG. 2.
15
The wheel guiding members 130, 132 enable the guiding of
handlebar 114 while standing of eitherthe left or right side of
the bicycle wheel 112 forwardly when the bicycle 104 is
the bicycle 104. Thus, the securing of the bicycle 104 in the
engaging the wheel receiving slot 300. It will be appreciated
rack 100 is facilitated, which is of great advantage.
that the wheel guiding members 130, 132 and the wheel
Now referring to FIGS. SA and SB, there is shown an
receiving slot 300 may contribute to the alignment of the male 20 electronic lock 102 for removably securing a bicycle 104 (not
shown) to a bicycle rack 100 (not shown).
connector 108 with the female connector 106, as it will
become apparent below.
In the illustrated embodiment, the male connector 108
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the shape of the
comprises a back portion SOl and a front tapered portion S03
bicycle rack 100 is dependent on where the male connector
forwardly extending therefrom. The:fronttaperedportionS03
108 is mounted to the bicycle 104. For example, in an alter- 25 comprises two opposed side surfaces SSO, SS2 converging
native embodiment, the bicycle rack 100 may comprise a
towards each other, a bottom surface SSl and a top surface
SS3, as better shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B.
vertical pole having a first lower end attached to a base and a
second, opposed upper end, the female connector 106 being
More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, each of
mounted at the upper end of the pole.
the two opposed side surfaces SSO, SS2 comprise a substanln yet another embodiment, the bicycle rack 100 may com- 30 tially vertical planar surface, these two opposed side surfaces
SSO, SS2 converging towards each other to thereby define a
prise a horizontal docking bar having a plurality of spaced
apart female connectors fixedly mounted thereon, the plurality offemale connectors being adapted for receiving a pluralV-shape.
In one embodiment, the male connector 108 comprises
ity of male connectors therein.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that various other 35 attaching means for fixedly attaching the male connector 108
to the front fork 110 of the bicycle 104 (not shown). In the
configurations may be considered forthe bicycle rack 100.
Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A, there is shown a bicycle
embodiment shown in FIGS. SA and SB, the attaching means
are provided on the back portion SOl and comprise two cylin104 secured to a bicycle rack 100 using the electronic lock
102.
drical holes SOO vertically oriented and adapted to fixedly
It will be appreciated that in the embodiment shown in 40 receive therein the fork 110 of the bicycle 104. The skilled
addressee will appreciate that various other arrangements
FIGS. 4 and 4A, the male connector 108 and the correspondmay be considered.
ing female connector 106 are engaged together in the lockable
position, while In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1to3, the
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. SA and SB, the back
male connector 108 is disengaged :from the corresponding
portion SOl and the front tapered portion S03 of the male
45 connector 108 form an integral structure.
female connector 106.
It will be further appreciated that in the embodiment shown
Now referring to FIG. SC, there is shown an alternative
embodiment of a male connector 108. In the illustrated
in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the front wheel 112 of the bicycle 104 is
engaged in the wheel receiving slot 300, while in the embodiembodiment, the male connector 108 further comprises a
ment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front wheel 112 of the bicycle
hinge SOS extending between the front tapered portion S03
104 is disengaged :from the wheel receiving slot 300.
50 and the back portion SOl for enabling a jointed coupling
therebetween.
The operation of engaging the male connector 108 and the
female connector 106 together in the lockable position will
More specifically, in one embodiment, the hinge SOS comnow be described in accordance with one embodiment, with
prises a pair of opposed pivoting hinge members, each being
reference to FIGS. 1 to 4A.
respectively attached to a corresponding one of the back
The bicycle 104 is first positioned near the bicycle rack 55 portion SOl and the front portion S03 so as to enable an
100, the male connector 108 generally facing towards the
upward pivoting movement of the back portion SOl with
female connector 106, as shown in FIGS. 1to3. A user uses
respect to the front tapered portion S03.
the handlebar 114 to rotate the :front wheel 112 of the bicycle
One skilled in the art will appreciate that such a configu104 until the front wheel 112 is aligned with the wheel receivration prevents a malicious individual from damaging the
ing slot 300.
60 male connector 108 by applying an upward force at a back
The bicycle 104 may now be moved forwardly in a direcend of the bicycle 104, thereby using the bicycle 104 as a
tion F using the handlebar 114 such that the front wheel 112
lever. This configuration may be ofgreat advantage in the case
of the bicycle 104 engages the wheel receiving slot 300, as
where the electronic lock 102 is located in a public area and
shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A. It will be appreciated that the wheel
may be subject to acts of vandalism.
guiding members 130, 132 further contributes to guide the 65
In one embodiment, the hinge SOS further comprises a
bicycle wheel 112 forwardly into the wheel receiving slot
torsion spring (not shown) resiliently connecting the front
300.
tapered portion S03 to the back portion SOl. It will be appre-
us 8,061,499 82
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ciated that other arrangements may be considered to provide

an articulated connection between the back portion SOl and
the front tapered portion S03.
Now referring to FIGS. SB, 12A and 12B, in one embodiment, the male connector 108 further comprises a locking
finger 508 extending downwardly from the front tapered portion S03. The locking finger S08 is substantially vertical and
is provided with a locking aperture SlO thereon. In this
embodiment, the locking aperture SlO has an axis extending
substantially horiwntally through the locking fingerS08, perpendicularly to the direction F.
In one embodiment, the locking finger S08 and the front
tapered portion S03 form an integral structure. Such a configuration provides the male connector 108 with an improved
resistance to vandalism, which is of great advantage in the
case where the electronic lock 102 is used in a public bicycle
rental system.
In another embodiment, the locking finger S08 is welded to
the bottom surface SS! of the front tapered portion S03 using
welding techniques known to the skilled addressee such as arc
welding, stick welding, plasma welding, TIG welding or the
like.
In yet another embodiment, the locking finger S08 may be
glued to the bottom surface SSl of the front tapered portion
S03 using an adhesive known to the skilled addressee, such as
epoxy or the like.
In yet another embodiment, the male connector 108 may
not comprise a locking finger S08. In such an embodiment,
the locking aperture S!O is instead provided on the front
tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108.
Now referring back to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment, the female connector 106 comprises a recess Sll
adapted for receiving the front tapered portion S03 ofthe male
connector therein. More specifically, the recess SU comprises a tapered portion having two opposed inner side walls
S12, Sl4. In one embodiment, each of the two opposed side
walls S12, S14 comprises a substantially vertical planar surfuce, the two opposed side walls S12, S14 converging towards
each other to thereby define a V-shape therebetween.
In another embodiment, each ofthe two opposed side walls
S12, S14 may comprise a concave or convex surface adapted
to receive a corresponding convex or concave surface of the
front tapered portion S03.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that various other
configurations may be considered for the two opposed side
walls S12, Sl4, as long as the shape of the recess Sll is
complementary to the shape of the front tapered portion S03
of the male connector 108. For example, corresponding
complementary vertically slanted surfaces may be envisaged.
Still referring to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment, the
recess SU further comprises a back wall S13 wherefrom
extend outwardly and backwardly the two opposed inner side
walls S12, S14. In an alternative embodiment, the recess Sll
may not comprise a back wall. Instead, the two opposed inner
side walls S12, S14 may converge forwardly towards an opening defined therebetween.
In one embodiment, the recess 511 further comprises two
opposed sitting members S16, S18 projecting inwardly into
the recess Sll. The two opposed sitting members S16, S18 are
adapted for slidably receiving thereon the bottom surface SSl
ofthe tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108, as it will
recess 511 further comprises two opposed lower inner side
walls S20, S22 converging towards each other and defining a
finger channel SIS adapted for receiving the locking finger
S08 therein, as better shown in FIG. 7.
More specifically, according to one embodiment, eacli of

the two opposed sitting members S16, S18 comprise a fin or a
protruding member extending sidewardly from the two
opposed inner side walls S12, S14 in a flange-like configuration. Each of the two fins comprises a top sitting surfuce
adapted to receive thereon the bottom surface SS1 of the
In one embodiment, the two opposed lower inner sidewalls
S20, S22 comprise two planar surfaces extending substantially downwardly from the two top sitting surfaces.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. SA and SB, each of the
two opposed lower inner side walls S20, 522 comprise a front
portion and a back portion. The two back portions face each
other and definethe finger channel SIS therebetween which is
adapted to receive the locking finger S08 therein. The two
front portions face each other and define a V-shaped guiding
channel in front of the finger channel SIS for guiding the
locking finger S08 therein.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the above
described arrangement may help guiding the male connector
108 into the female connector 106 using the two opposed
lower inner side walls 520, S22, which is of great advantage.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the two opposed
sitting members 516, S18 comprise a continuous surface. The
skilled addressee will however appreciate that a plurality of
spaced apart top surfuces may be considered. For instance, the
two opposed sitting members S16, S18 may comprise a plurality of spaced apart cantilevers extending inwardly into the
recess Sll from the two opposed inner side walls S12, 514,
the spaced apart cantilevers being aligned so as to form a path
on which the front tapered portion S03 of the male connector
108 may travel towards the lockable position.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. SA, the sitting members S16, S18 provide a substantially planar sliding surface.
The skilled addressee will however appreciate that a surface
slightly curved upwardly may be considered and may further
facilitate the insertion of the male connector 108 in the female
connector 106.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that various configurations of the recess SU of the female connector 106 and of
the front tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108 may
be provided, as long as the front tapered portion S03 of the
male connector 108 and the recess 511 of the female connector 106 are complementary such that the front tapered portion
S03 of the male connector 108 may snuggly engage the recess
SH, as it will become apparent below.
Now referring to FIGS. 6 to SD, there is shown an electronic lock 102 that may be used for removably securing a
bicycle to a bicycle rack, the male connector 108 and the
female connector 106 being engaged together in the lockable
position. It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment, the male connector 108 has not yet been secured to the
As better shown in FIG. 6, the front tapered portion SOJ of
the male connector 108 snuggly engages the tapered portion
of the recess 511 of the female connector 106. In other words,
the two opposed side surfaces SSO, S52 of the front tapered
portion S03 of the male connector 108 respectively abuttbe
two corresponding opposed inner side walls S12, 514 of the
recess Sll of the female connector 106. In the meantime, the
bottom surface SS! of the front tapered portionS03 is lying on
the two opposed sitting members S16, S18.
Such a position of the male connector 108 with respect to
the female connector 106 enables a selective locking of the
electronic lock using a securing assembly, as it will be more
clearly detailed below.
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US 8,061,499 B2
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As previously mentioned, it will be appreciated that vari-
ous other arrangements may be considered for the male connector 108 and the female connector 106, as long as they are
complementary to each other and engageable in a lockable
position.
Now referring to FIGS. 9 and llA, the electronic lock

further comprises a securing assembly 506 for securing the
male connector 108 and the female connector 106 together
when engaged in the lockable position shown in FIG. 6 to SD.
It will be appreciated that, in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 9 and llA, the male connector 108 and the female
connector 106 are engaged in the lockable position, but the
male connector 108 is not yet secured to the female connector
106.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly 506 comprises
a movable locking member 1000 operatively associated to the
female connector 106. The locking aperture 510 provided on
the locking finger 508 is adapted to receive the movable
locking member 1000 when the male connector 108 and the
female connector 106 are engaged together in the lockable
position. Throughout the following description, the securing
assembly 506 will be described as being associated to the
female connector 106 but the skilled addressee will appreciate that the securing assembly may be alternatively associated
to the male connector 108.
In the illustrated embodiment, the movable locking member 1000 comprises an elongated member axially translatable
between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the
male connector 108 and the female connector 106 and a
locked position wherein the movable Jocking member 1000
engages the Jocking aperture 510 to prevent disengagement of
the two connectors 106, 108.
The movable locking member 1000 is translatable in a bore
defined in the female connector 106, the bore being coaxial to
the Jocking aperture 510. In other words, the bore is positioned such that it is axially aligned with the Jocking aperture
510 when the male connector 108 and the female connector
106 are engaged together in the lockable position so as to
enable a translation of the Jocking member 1000 in and out of
the locking aperture 510.
Still referring to FIGS. 9 and llA, the securing assembly
506 further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the
movable locking member 1000 for actuating the movable
locking member 1000 between the unlocked position and the
locked position.
In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator comprises a
motor 540 and a shaft 542 driven by the motor 540, the shaft
542 being attached to the movable locking member 1000 for
driving the movable locking member 1000 between the
unlocked position and the Jocked position.
In one embodiment, the motor 540 comprises a stepping
motor and the shaft 542 comprises an externally threaded
shaft rotatably coupled to the motor 540. The skilled
may be considered. For example, other actuators known in the
art, such as a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a
magnetic actuator or the like, may be used to drive the shaft.
In one embodiment, the actuator is automatic. It will be
appreciated that in this embodiment, no physical effort from
a user is required, which is of great advantage as it will
In the illustrated embodiment, an additional bore 524
coaxial to the first one is provided in the female connector
106, as better shown in FIG. SA. Thus, when actuated in the
locked position, the locking member 1000 simultaneously
engages the first bore, the locking aperture 510 and the additional bore 524, as illustrated in FIG. llB. In other words, the
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locking member 1000 is engaged at both ends in the female

connector 106 through the locking aperture 510 when the
locking member 1000 is in the Jocked position.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that this configuration
provides a great advantage to the electronic lock. Indeed, if
the male connector is forcibly pulled from the female connector in a direction opposed to the direction F in an effort to
remove the bicycle from the bicycle rack when the locking
member is in the locked position, a force exerted by the
locking finger on the locking member will be distributed
between both ends of the locking member engaged in the
female connector 106. This configuration is of great advantage for providing a robust securing of the bicycle to the
bicycle rack.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that other arrangements may be considered. For example, the locking aperture
510 may comprise a blind hole adapted to receive a corresponding end of the locking member 1000.
Now referring to FIG. 10, the securing assembly 506 further comprises electronic control means operatively coupled
to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movable Jocking member 1000 from the unlocked position to the
locked position when the male connector 108 and the female
connector 106 are engaged together in the lockable position.
Moreover, the electronic control means also controls selective actuation of the movable locking member 1000 from the
locked position to the unlocked position, as it will become
apparent below.
In one embodiment, actuation of the movable locking
member is automatic. More specifically, in this embodiment,
the electronic control means are operatively coupled to the
actuator such that they selectively urge activation ofthe actuator. This causes the movable locking member 1000 to be
actuated from the unlocked position to the locked position or
from the locked position to the unlocked position to the
locked position, as mentioned hereabove.
One will appreciate that this configuration is of great
advantage since it requires no physical effort from the user to
displace the movable locking member 1000, thereby reducing
the risk of injury and the inconvenience related to such an
activity.
Moreover, the actuation of the movable locking member
1000 being automatic and requiring no physical effort from a
user, the need to provide manual means to activate the actuator, such as a lever, a button or the like, is eliminated. In this
configuration, the electronic control means and the actuator
may be enclosed in a protective shell, as is the case in one
embodiment. This configuration is also of great advantage,
since it protects sensitive parts ofthe electronic control means
and the actuator from damage, for instance caused by rain,
wind, dust, vandalism or the like.
integrated electronic control components 902 fixedly
mounted into the female connector 106.
In a further embodiment, the electronic control means further comprise a modular electronic connector 900 operatively
connected to the integrated electronic control components
902. The modular electronic connector 900 is provided for
connecting the integrated electronic control components 902
to a processing terminal (not shown), for instance a bicycle
rental terminal of an automated bicycle rental station.
In another embodiment, the electronic control means comprise unsecuring means for enabling an actuating of the movable locking member 1000 from the locked position to the
unlocked position. The unsecuring means may be selected
from a group consisting of a card reader adapted for receiving
US 8,061 ,499 B2
15
a corresponding user card, a keypad adapted for receiving a
user code and a bar code reader adapted for reading a corresponding bar code.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the unsecuring means comprise a card reader, more specifically a
magnetic card reader 400, adapted for receiving a corresponding user card 402. 1be skilled addressee will appreciate
that other arrangements enabling an identification of the user
prior to the unsecuring of the bicycle may be used.
Referring now to FIG. 9, the securing assembly S06 may 10
further comprises shaft position detecting means for monitoring a position of the shaft to thereby monitor a position of
the movable locking member 1000. In one embodiment, the
shaft position detecting means is connected to the control 15
means.
According to one embodiment, the shaft position detecting
means comprise a mechanical detector. In this embodiment,
the shaft position detecting means comprise a sensor 1002
fixedly mounted to the second end of the shaft S42. More 20
specifically, in this embodiment, the motor comprises a central bore wherein the shaft is axially engaged therethrough,
the first end of the shaft S42 extending coaxially towards the
recess Sll and the second end ofthe shaft S42 extending from
25
a second, opposed end of the motor.
In one embodiment, the shaft position detecting means
further comprise a mechanical switch 1004 positioned near
the second end of the shaft 542, the mechanical switch being
located such that it may be activated by the sensor 1002 when
the locking member is in the unlocked position.
30
In a further embodiment, the shaft position detecting
means may comprise a second detector 1100 positioned near
the first end of the shaft 542. This second detector 1100 may
be used to validate that the male connector 108 is really
secured to the female connector 106, which is of great advan- 35
tage.
In another embodiment, the shaft positiondetecting means
may comprise an optical detector conveniently mounted
proximate either the second end of the shaft or the first end of
the shaft 542.
40
The skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodiment, each ofthe detectors may be adapted to detect a position
of the shaft S42 and an associated position of the movable
locking member 1000 in the locked position.
In one embodiment, the shaft position detecting means 45
may comprise both a mechanical detector and an optical
detector. The skilled addressee will appreciate that such an
embodiment is of great advantage since it provides an
enhanced reliability to the system. Indeed, this arrangement
may improve the reliance of the operator with respect to the 50
system.
Referring back to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment,
the electronic lock 102 further comprises holding means
adapted for cooperating with each ofthe connecting members
106, 108 for temporarily holding the connecting members 55
106, 108 together in the lockable position.
In the illustrated embodiment, theholdingmeans comprise
a pair of opposed biased elements S02, S04 mounted to the
female connector 106. Each of the biased element 502, 504
has a resting position wherein the element is urged outwardly 60
and protrudes from the corresponding connecting member.
In this embodiment, the holding means further comprise a
pair of receiving recesses 526, S28 mounted to the male
connector 108, as better shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. The
pair of receiving recesses 526, S28 corresponds to the pair of 65
opposed biased elements 502, 504 and is adapted to receive
therein a corresponding biased element S02, S04 when the
16
male connector 108 and the female connector 106 are
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the opposed biased
elements S02, 504 is mounted to one of the opposed inner side
walls Sl2, S14 of the tapered portion S03 of the female
connector 106. Moreover, each of the receiving recesses 526,
S28 is mounted to one of the opposed side surfaces SSO, 5S2
of the tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108.
In another embodiment, each of the opposed biased elements S02, S04 may be mounted to one of the opposed side
surfaces SSO, SS2 of the tapered portion S03 of the male
connector 108. In this case, each of the receiving recesses
S26, S28 is mounted to one of the opposed inner side walls
S12, S14 of the tapered portion 503 of the female connector
106.
It will be appreciated that the opposed biased elements and
corresponding recesses may be positioned according to various configurations, as long as the opposed biased elements
are mounted to one of the male connector and the female
connector and the corresponding cooperating receiving
recesses are mounted to the remaining connector. The skilled
addressee will however appreciate that various other configuration may be considered.
The holding means are of great advantage since they allow
the user of a bicycle to be informed that the bicycle has been
conveniently positioned in the corresponding rack before
securing it to the rack.
Now referring to FIGS. llC and 13, in the illustrated
embodiment, each of the opposed biased elements S02, 504
comprises a ball and a ball spring 1101, 1103 mounted to a
ball housing. Each of the receiving recesses S26, S28 comprises a corresponding spherical portion, the spherical portion having a diameter substantially similar to the ball associated thereto. This configuration enables each of the balls to
snuggly fit into their respective corresponding recess.
It will be appreciated that any other holding means allowing to temporarily retain the male connector 108 into the
female connector 106 may be considered.
In one embodiment, this above described configuration
further enables a movable item to be temporarily attachtd to
a structure in a "reduced load" design. For instance, according
to one configuration, the movable item may be engaged in the
structure in a lockable position wherein the movable item
does not rest on a lower surface. In such a configuration, the
movable item may be temporarily retained in the lockable
position using the holding means until the movable item is
secured to the structure.
Now referring back to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment, the securing assembly further comprises position
detecting means mounted to the female connector 106 for
detecting a positioning of the male connector 108 and the
female connector 106 in the lockable position.
More specifically, in one embodiment, the position detecting means may be adapted for detecting a positioning of the
locking finger S08 in the finger channel SlS.
According to one configuration, the position detecting
means may comprise a contact detector (not shown) operatively mounted to the back wall S13 proximate the finger
channel SIS. The position detecting means may be activated
when the front tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108
is moved forwardly into the recess SU of the female connector 106 and the locking finger contacts the contact detector
when engaging the finger channel SlS.
Inanalternativeembodiment, thepositiondetectingmeans
may comprise a magnetic proximity detector operatively
mounted into the back wall 513 proximate the finger channel
SlS. In such an embodiment, the locking finger S08 is pro-
US 8,061,499 B2
17
vided with a magnet element (not shown) mounted therein.
Tue position detecting means will be activated when the front
tapered portion 503 of the male connector 108 is moved
forwardly into the recess 511 ofthe female connector 106 and
the magnetic proximity detector detects the presence of the
magnet in the finger channel 515.
This configuration advantageously prevents the activation
of the position detecting means when an object other than a
corresponding male connector is engaged in the female connector.
In one embodiment, the detection of the male connector
and the female connector in the lockable position is operatively coupled to an indicator for indicating the positioning of
the male connector and the female connector in the lockable
position to a user of the electronic lock. Tue indicator may be
a visual indicator such as a LED or the like; alternatively. the
indicator may be an audio indicator such as a speaker or the
like.
In one embodiment, the position detecting means are
operatively coupled to the electronic control means. In such
an embodiment, the electronic control means are adapted for
selectively actuating the actuator to move the movable Jocking finger 1000 from the unlocked position to the locked
position upon detection of the positioning of the male connector 108 and the female connector 106 in the lockable
position.
In another embodiment, the securing assembly 506 further
comprises an identification tag (not shown) associated with
the bicycle and an identification tag reader (not shown) for
identifying the identification tag and the associated bicycle
when the male connector and the female connector are
This configuration is of great advantage to enable a monitoring ofthe use of each of the bicycles. It may also be of great
advantage in another application wherein a large number of
items are temporarily stored and retrieved at a later time, for
instance for identifying vehicles secured to racks in a warehouse.
operatively coupled to both position detecting means and
identifying means. In such an embodiment, the electronic
control means are adapted for selectively actuating the actuator to move the movable locking member from the unlocked
position to the locked position upon two conditions, a first
condition being a detection of the positioning of the male
connector and the female connector in the lockable position,
a second condition being an identification of the associated
bicycle.
In one embodiment, the identification tag comprises an
RFID tag and the identification reader comprises an RFID
reader mounted to the bicycle rack. This configuration is of
great advantage since no electric wire between the tag and the
reader is needed. Tue skilled addressee will appreciate that
other arrangements may be considered. For example, a first
and a second corresponding electric connector may be provided on each connector respectively. In this case, when the
male connector engages the female connector, the two electric connectors engage together to obtain the identification
information. Tue use of RFID technology is nevertheless
preferred over the use of conventional electric connectors
since it may help reduce breaking of the system.
It will be appreciated that this configuration is of great
advantage in a bicycle rental system. Indeed, in such a system,
the electronic lock detects the engagement of a rented bicycle
being returned by a user into the bicycle rack and identifies
the bicycle before securing the bicycle to the bicycle rack and
charging a fee to the user according to given parameters.
18
A method for securing a bicycle to a bicycle rack will now
be described in accordance with one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 15.
According to step 1500, an electronic lock as previously
5 described is provided, the electronic Jock being mounted to a
bicycle rack. In one embodiment, the electronic lock comprises a male connector mounted to the bicycle and a female
connector mounted to the bicycle rack, the male connector
and the female connector being engageable together in a
10
lockable position.
In one embodiment, the electronic lock further comprises a
securing assembly for securing the male connector and the
female connector together when engaged in the lockable
position.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly com15
prises a movable locking member operatively associated to
the female connector and a locking aperture defined in the
second connecting member, the locking aperture being
adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the
20 connecting members are engaged together in the lockable
position.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking
member for actuating the movable locking member between
25 an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the male
connector and the female connector and a locked position
wherein the movable locking member engages the locking
aperture.
According to step 1502, the male connector and the female
30
connector are engaged together in the lockable position.
According to step 1504, the movable locking member is
actuated to the locked position, thereby securing the bicycle
to the bicycle rack.
Another method for securing a bicycle to a bicycle rack
35
will now be described in accordance with another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 16.
According to step 1600, an electronic lock is provided, the
electronic lock being mounted to a bicycle rack. In one
40 embodiment, the electronic lock comprises a male connector
mounted to the bicycle and a female connector mounted to the
bicycle rack, the male connector and the female connector
being engageable together in a lockable position.
According to step 1602, in one embodiment, a user then
45 guides the male connector ofthe bicycle to be secured into the
female connector towards the lockable position.
connector are then engaged together in the lockable position.
According to step 1606, in one embodiment, the first and
50 second connecting members are then held engaged together
in the lockable position.
According to step 1608, in one embodiment, a positioning
of the male connector and the female connector in the lockable position is then monitored.
According to step 1610, in one embodiment, the bicycle is
55
identified to provide an identification thereof.
There is also provided a kit for removably securing a
60
bicycle to a bicycle rack. In this embodiment, the male connector is not yet mounted on the bicycle, but is mountable
thereto. Similarly, the female connector is not yet mounted to
the bicycle rack, but is mountable thereto.
65
Tue skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodiment, it may be envisaged to mount the female connector to
the bicycle and the male connector to the bicycle rack.
US 8,061,499 B2
19
20
Furthermore, providing the male connector and the female

position detecting means mounted to one of said first and
connector separately may also be contemplated by the skilled
second connecting members for detecting a positionaddressee.
ing of said first and second connecting members in
The skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodisaid lockable position; and
ment, the movable locking member, the actuator and the
electronic control means operatively coupled to the
electronic control means may be associated with the connectactuator for controlling selective actuation of the
ing member mounted to the movable item.
movable locking member from the unlocked position
The skilled addressee will also appreciate that other conto the locked position and from the locked position to
figurations for the first and second complementary cooperatthe unlocked position when the connecting members
ing connecting members may be considered. For instance, the 10
are engaged together in the lockable position,
first connecting member may comprise a male connector and
wherein said electronic control means is adapted to
the second connecting member may comprise a female conselectively actuate said actuator to move said movable
nector.
locking
member from said unlocked position to said
One skilled in the art will further appreciate that the eleclocked position upon detection by the position detecttronic lock herein described may be used in other applica- 15
ing means of said positioning of said first and second
tions. In an alternative embodiment, the movable item may
connecting member in said lockable position.
comprise a boat and the structure a docking wharf. In another
2. The electronic locking system as claimed in claim 1,
embodiment, the movable item may comprise a stroller and
wherein said electronic control means are operatively
the structure a stroller renting station located in a mall.
In yet another embodiment, the structure may not be part of 20 coupled to the actuator for urp;ing activation of the actuator,
thereby causing the movable locking member to be seleca bicycle rental station. In such an embodiment, the structure
tively actuated from the unlocked position to the locked posimay instead comprise a bicycle rack owned by a user. Altertion and from the locked position to the unlocked position.
natively, in a city area, the structure may be a fence or a house
wall. This configuration advantageously enables a user owning a movable item, such as a bicycle, to removably secure the 25 wherein said first connecting member comprises a female
movable item to a structure owned by the same user.
connector mounted to said structure and said second connecting member comprises a corresponding complementary male
The skilled addressee will appreciate that other arrangements for the movable locking member may be considered.
connector mounted to said bicycle.
Indeed, in the present description the locking member has
been described as being translatable but one may envisaged 30 wherein said second connecting member comprises a male
an alternative embodiment wherein the movable locking
connector having a front tapered portion, said tapered portion
member would be rotatable between the locked and the
comprising two opposed side surfaces converp;ing towards
unlocked position.
each other anda bottom surface, said first connecting member
comprising a female connector having a recess adapted for
Although the above description relates to specific preferred
embodiments as presently contemplated by the inventor, it 35 receiving said front tapered portion therein, said recess comwill be understood that the invention in its broad aspect
prising a corresponding tapered portion having two oppo.5ed
inner side walls converp;ing towards each other and two
includes mechanical and functional equivalents of the eleopposed sitting members projecting inwards said recess and
ments described herein.
adapted for slidably receiving thereon said tapered portion of
The invention claimed is:
40 said male connector.
1. An electronic locking system for removably securing a
wherein each of said two opposed side surfaces and said
bicycle to a structure, the electronic locking system comprisbottom surface of said front tapered portion of said male
ing:
connector comprises a planar surface.
first and second complementary cooperating connecting
members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective 45
wherein the two opposed side surfaces of the front tapered
one of the bicycle and the structure and being engageportion of the male connector define a V-shape and the corable together in a lockable position; and
responding inner side walls of the tapered portion of the
a securing assembly for securing said first and second
recess of the female connector define a complementary
connecting members together when engaged in the lockso V-shape adapted to snuggly receive the front tapered portion
able position, said securing assembly comprising:
of the male connector.
a movable locking member operatively associated to the
first connecting member;
wherein each of said two opposed side surfaces of the front
a locking aperture defined in the second connecting
tapered portion of the male connector comprises a subslanmember, said locking aperture being adapted for
receiving the movable locking member when the con- 55 tially vertical planar surface and each of said two opposed
inner side walls of the tapered portion of the recess of the
necting members are engaged together in the lockable
female connector comprises a substantially vertical planar
position, wherein the movable locking member, when
in said unlocked position, is in a retracted position,
surface.
thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the
bicycle into the locking position with the structure; 60 wherein said second connecting member comprises a locking
finger extending downwardly from the front tapered portion,
an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking
said locking aperture being provided on said locking finger.
member for actuating the movable locking member
9 . The electronic locking system as claimed in claim 8,
between an unlocked position enabling disengagewherein said recess of said female connector further comment of the first and second connecting members and
a locked position wherein the movable locking mem- 65 prises two opposed lower inner side walls converging towards
each other and defining a finger channel adapted for receiving
berprotrudes from the retracted position to engage the
the locking finger therein.
locking aperture;
US 8,061,499 B2
21
22

wherein said male connector further comprises a hinge
extending between the front tapered portion and a back por
tion, said hinge enabling a jointed coupling therebetween.
further comprising holding means adapted for cooperating
with each of the connecting members for temporarily holding
said connecting members together in said lockable position
once engaged therein.
wherein said holding means comprise a pair of two opposed
biased elements mounted to a respective one of said first and
second connecting members, each of said biased elements
having a resting position wherein said element is urged out
wardly and protrudes from the corresponding connecting
member, said holding means further comprising a pair of
corresponding cooperating opposed receiving recesses
mounted to the remaining connecting member, each of said
receiving recesses being adapted to receive therein a corre
sponding biased element when said first and second connect
ing members are engaged in said lockable position, thereby
holding said connecting members together in said lockable
position.
wherein each of said biased elements comprises a ball and a
ball spring mounted in a ball housing, each of said receiving
recesses comprising a corresponding spherical portion.
wherein each of said biased elements is mounted on the
connecting member mounted to the structure and each of the
receiving recesses is mounted on the connecting member
mounted to the bicycle.
wherein the connecting member mounted to the structure
comprises a female connector and the connecting member
mounted to the bicycle comprises a male connector.
wherein said securing assembly further comprises:
an identification tag associated with said bicycle; and
an identification reader for identifying said identification
tag and said associated bicycle when said first and sec
ond connectors are engaged in said lockable position.
wherein said electronic control means is adapted for selec
tively actuating said actuator to move said movable locking
member from said unlocked position to said locked position
upon detection of said positioning of said first and second
connecting members in said lockable position and identification of the associated bicycle.
wherein said identification tag comprises an RFID tag and
said identification reader comprises an RFID reader mounted
to said structure.
wherein said electronic control means comprise unsecuring
means for enabling an actuating of the movable locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position, said
unsecuring means being selected from a group consisting of a
card reader adapted for receiving a corresponding user card, a
keypad adapted for receiving a user code and a bar code
reader adapted for reading a corresponding bar code.
wherein said movable locking member comprises an elongated member axially translatable between said unlocked
position and said locked position, said locking member being
engaged at both ends in said first connecting member through
said locking aperture when in said locked position.

wherein said actuator comprises a motor and a shaft driven by
said motor, said shaft being attached to the movable locking
member for driving said movable locking member between
said unlocked position and said locked position.
wherein said securing assembly further comprises shaft position detecting means for monitoring a position of the shaft to
thereby monitor a position of the movable locking member.
wherein said shaft position detecting means comprise an optical detector and a mechanical detector, each of said detector
being adapted for detecting the position of the shaft and an
associated position of the movable locking member in said
locked position.
wherein said structure comprises a bicycle rack.
wherein said bicycle rack is a part of a bicycle rental station.
wherein said connecting member mounted on said bicycle
comprises attaching means for fixedly attaching said connecting member to a fork of said bicycle.
wherein said attaching means comprise a pair of cylindrical
holes extending through said connecting member mounted on
said bicycle, said pair of cylindrical holes being adapted to
fixedly receive said fork of said bicycle therein.
28. An electronic locking system for removably securing a
bicycle to a structure, the electronic locking system comprising:
an elongated male connector fixedly mounted to the
bicycle and comprising a locking aperture;
a female connector fixedly mounted to the structure and
adapted for removably receiving therein the elongated
male connector;
a securing assembly associated to the female connector, the
securing assembly comprising:
a movable locking member displaceable between an
unlocked position for allowing the female connector
to receive therein the elongated male connector and a
locked position, wherein the movable locking member, when in said unlocked position, is in a retracted
position, thereby allowing a clear channel for moving
the bicycle into the locking position with the structure;
an actuator for causing displacement of the locking
member between the unlocked position and the
locked position;
position detecting means mounted to one of said bicycle
to a structure for detecting a positioning of said first
and second connecting members in said lockable
position; and
electronic control means coupled to the actuator for
controlling displacement of the locking member
between the unlocked position and the locked position;
wherein when the elongated male connector is received
in the female connector, the electronic control means
controls the actuator for causing the Jocking member
to displace towards the locked position and to engage
the locking aperture, thereby securing the elongated
male connector in the female connector;
wherein said electronic control means is adapted to
selectively actuate said actuator to displace said movable locking member from said unlocked position to
said Jocked position upon detection by the position
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
US 8,061,499 B2
23
24
detecting means of said positioning of said first and

33. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising,
second connecting member in said lockable position.
before actuating said locking member:
29. A method for removably securing a bicycle to a strucidentifying said bicycle to provide an identification
ture, the method comprising:
thereof;
providing an electronic locking system for removably 5
wherein, in said actuating, the Jocking member is actuated
securing the bicycle to the structure, the electronic lockto the locked position upon detection of said positioning
ing system comprising:
of said first and second connecting members in said
lockable position and said identification of said bicycle.
members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective
34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said idenone of the bicycle and the structure and being engage- 10 tifying comprises a radio-frequency identification.
able together in a lockable position; and
35. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:
requesting a user identification; and
connecting members together when engaged in the
actuating the Jocking member to the unlocked position for
lockable position, said securing assembly comprisunsecuring said bicycle upon reception of said user idening:
15
tification.
a movable locking member operatively associated to
36. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said structhe first connecting member, wherein the movable
ture comprises a bicycle rack.
locking member, when in an unlocked position, is
37. A kit for removably securing a bicycle to a structure, the
in a retracted position, thereby allowing a clear
kit comprising:
channel for moving the bicycle into the lockable 20
position with the structure;
members, each being fixedly mountable to a respective
one of the bicycle and the structure and being engagemember, said Jocking aperture being adapted for
receiving the movable Jocking member when the
connecting members are engaged together in the 25
connecting members together when engaged in the locklockable position;
an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locka movable locking member operatively associatable to
ing member for actuating the movable Jocking
the first connecting member;
member between the unlocked position enabling
disengagement of the first and second connecting 30
member, said locking aperture being adapted for
members and a locked position wherein the movreceiving the movable Jocking member when the conable locking member engages the locking aperture;
and
position, wherein the movable Jocking member, when
in said unlocked position, is in a retracted position,
actuator for controlling selective actuation of the 35
thereby allowing a clear channel for moving the
movable locking member from the unlocked posibicycle into the locking position with the structure;
tion to the locked position and from the locked
an actuator operatively couplable to the movable Jocking
member for actuating the movable locking member
position to the unlocked position when the connectbetween an unlocked position enabling disengageing members are engaged together in the lockable
position;
ment of the first and second connecting members and
40
monitoring a positioning of said first and second connecta locked position wherein the movable Jocking meming members in said lockable position;
ber protrudes from the retracted position to engagethe
engaging the first and second connecting members
locking aperture;
together in the lockable position; and
upon detection of said positioning of said first and second 45
second connecting members for detecting a positionconnecting members in said lockable position, actuating
ing of said first and second connecting members in
the locking member to the Jocked position so that the
said lockable position; and
electronic control means operatively couplable to the
Jocking member engages the locking aperture, thereby
actuator for controlling selective actuation of the
securing said bicycle to said structure.
30. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising so
identifying said bicycle before actuating the locking member.
to the locked position and from the Jocked position to
31. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said
the unlocked position when the connecting members
are engaged together in the lockable position;
engaging of the first and second connecting members
together in the lockable position comprises guiding said conwherein said electronic control means is adapted to
selectively actuate said actuatorto move said movable
necting member mounted to said bicycle towards said lock- 55
able position.
locking member from said unlocked position to said
32. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said
locked position upon detection by the position detectengaging of the first and second connecting members
ing means of said positioning of said first and second
connecting member in said lockable position.
together in the lockable position comprises holding said first
and second connecting members engaged in said lockable 60
position.
* * *
EXHIBIT D
Illlll llllllll Ill l~ll lllll lllll lllll 1111111111111111111111111111111111 ~II

US008272491B2
c12)
United States Patent
(10)
Khairallah et al.
(45)
(54)

(75)
Inventors: Charles Ibrahim Khairallah, Montreal

(CA); Michel Dallaire, Montreal (CA)
(73)
Assignee: Societe de Velo en Libre-Service,

Lachine, Quebec (CA)
( )
Notice:
(21)
Appl. No.: 131291,771
(22)
Filed:
Prior Publication Data
US 2012/0111070 Al
May 10, 2012
Related U.S. Application Data

(63)
Continuation of application No. 121417,108, filed on

Apr. 2, 2009, now Pat. No. 8,061,499.
(60)
Provisional application No. 61/047,162, filed on Apr.

23, 2008.
Int. Cl.
(51)
(2006.01)
U.S. Cl............... 194/211; 70/233; 70/234; 70/262;
340/432; 211/5; 211/17; 248/551
Field of Classification Search .... .............. 194/205,
194/210-213, 904; 340/5, 6, 432; 211/5,
211/13.1, 17-22; 248/551-553; 70/233-236,
70/262-265
G07F 7100
(52)
(58)

4,830,167
5,323,915
5,611 ,638
5,841,351
5,917,407
6,384,717
7,434,674
7,471 ,191
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EP
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3/2000
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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References Cited
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Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this

patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Patent No.:
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*Sep.25,2012
Date of Patent:
Benedict, "Building an Automated Community Bike Program

Project Summary", Hampshire College Division III Project, http://
redjar.org/jared/projects/comnnmitybike/summary/, May 5, 2002,
pp. 13-15.
Pn'mary Examiner - Jeffrey Shapiro

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer,
LLP
ABSTRACT
(57)
An electronic lock is provided for removably securing a movable item to a structure, the electronic lock comprising first
and second complementary cooperating member, each
mounted to a respective one of the movable item and the
structure and being engageable together in a lockable position
and a securing assembly for securing the first and second
connecting member together when engaged in the lockable
position, wherein the securing assembly comprises inter alia
a position detecting means, an electronic control means, an
actuator, a locking aperture and a movable locking member.
31 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
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7,726,160
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2005/0044908
2006/0283219
2007/0220933
2008/0018440
2008/0297108
2009/0201127
2009/0240575
2010/0228405
FR
B2 6/2010 Gagosz et al .................. . 70/233

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7/2010 Maher
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2008-191922
20090091841
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WO 2005/001781
WO 2006/021650
WO 2006/ 120328
WO 2008/157443
WO 2009/080566
cited by examiner
9/2003
1/1999
6/2008
8/2008
8/2009
3/1998
7/2001
1/2005
3/2006
11/2006
12/2008
7/2009
U.S. Patent
Sep.25,2012
Sheet 1 of21
126
100
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FIG.1
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U.S. Patent
Sep.25,2012
Sbeet2 of21
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1500
movable item to a structure
1502

position
FIG.15
1504
U.S. Patent
Sep.25,2012
Sheet 21 of 21
US 8,272,491 B2

bicycle to a bicycle rack
1600
Guiding the male connector towards the

lockable position
1602

1604
Holding the first and second connecting

members engaged together in the lockable
position
1606
Monitoring a positioning of the first and

second connecting members in the
lockable position
1608
1610
Identifying the bicycle to provide an
identification thereof
1612
position
FIG.16
US 8,272,491 B2
1

great physical effort is required from a user of the bicycle

rental system. This activity is inconvenient for the user and
may lead to injuries.
Furthermore, in some bicycle rental systems, the task of
guiding the bicycle towards the bicycle rack forthe purpose of
securing the bicycle to the bicycle rack may be arduous and
inconvenient for a user.
There is therefore a need for a method and an apparatus that
will overcome at least one ofthe above mentioned drawbacks.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELAI'ED

APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation application of

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/417,108, filed onApr. 2,
2009, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
SECURING A MOVABLE ITEM TO A STRUCTURE", IO
BRIEF SUMMARY
now U .S. Pat. No. 8,061,499, which in turn claims priority
from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 611047,162,
There is provided an electronic lock for removably securfiled on Apr. 23, 2008, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by
ing a movable item to a structure, the electronic lock comreference in their entirety.
15 prising first and second complementary cooperating connecting members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective one
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
of the movable item and the structure and being engageable
together in a lockable position, and a securing assembly for
The invention relates to locking systems. More precisely,
securing the first and second connecting members together
the invention pertains to an electronic lock for securing a 20 when engaged in the lockable position, the securing assembly
movable item to a structure and an associated method.
comprising a movable locking member operatively associated to the first connecting member, a locking aperture
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
defined in the second connecting member, the locking aperture being adapted for receiving the movable locking member
Securing a moveable item to a structure is of great interest 25 when the connecting members are engaged together in the
for various applications. For instance, it may be desirable to
lockable position, an actuator operatively coupled to the movsecure a vehicle to a fixed structure. This may be particularly
able locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of
advantageous in applications where the vehicle is to be rented
the first and second connecting members and a locked posifor a given amount of time.
More specifically, there has been in recent years a rise in the 30 tion wherein the movable locking member engages the locking aperture and electronic control means operatively coupled
popularity of automated rental systems for vehicles such as
to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movbicycles for example. Such a system generally comprises an
able locking member from the unlocked position to the locked
automated rental station from which a user may rent a bicycle
for a given amount of time.
In such a system, a bicycle to be rented is generally remov- 35 when the connecting members are engaged together in the
lockable position.
ably secured to a bicycle rack by means of a locking mechaIn one embodiment, the first connecting member comnism. A user may selectively unsecure and secure again the
prises a female connector mounted to the structure and the
bicycle from the bicycle rack in certain circumstances, for
second connecting member comprises a corresponding
instance after paying a given fee and/or providing a personal 40 complementary male connector mounted to the movable
identification code.
item.
Such rental systems generally comprise a plurality ofrental
In another embodiment, the second connecting member
stations located in different public locations, making them
comprises a male connector having a front tapered portion.
likely targets ofacts of vandalism from malevolent individuthe tapered portion comprising two opposed side surfaces
als. Their robustness is thus an important element of a suc- 45 converging towards each other and a bottom surface, the first
cessful rental system.
connecting member comprising a female connector having a
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,407, granted to Squire,
recess adapted for receiving the front tapered portion therein,
discloses an automated bicycle renting station wherein the
the recess comprising a corresponding tapered portion having
two opposed inner side walls converging towards each other
bicycle rack comprises a locking mechanism having a hook or
latch member. This hook or latch member is designed to 50 and two opposed sitting members projecting inwards the
recess and adapted for slidably receiving thereon the tapered
selectively pivot around an axle to engage a rod or a keeper
mounted on the bicycle to be secured, thereby effectively
In a further embodiment, each of the two opposed side
securing the bicycle to the renting station.
surfaces and the bottom surface ofthe front tapered portion of
Such a station may be subject to vandalism. Indeed, a
malicious person may tug at the bicycle engaged in the rent- 55 the male connector comprises a planar surface.
In another embodiment, the two opposed side surfaces of
ing station, using the latch as a lever and the axle as a pivot
point to bend the latch out of shape or damage the keeper and
the front tapered portion of the male connector define a
V-shape and the corresponding inner side walls ofthe tapered
free the bicycle from the renting station without paying the
given fee.
portion ofthe recess ofthe female connector define a compleOther locking systems for bicycles have also been pro- 60 mentary V-shape adapted to snuggly receive the front tapered
posed in the art. However, such systems are still prone to
In yet another embodiment, each of the two opposed side
property damage and theft of bicycles and may thus cause
great financial harm to operators of such bicycle renting syssurfaces of the front tapered portion of the male connector
tems.
comprises a substantially vertical planar surface and each of
Moreover, in some bicycle rental systems, unsecuring a 65 the two opposed inner side walls of the tapered portion of the
recess of the female connector comprises a substantially verbicycle from a bicycle rental station involves lifting the
bicycle or otherwise manipulating the bicycle such that a
tical planar surface.
US 8,272,491 B2
3
In yet another embodiment, the second connecting member comprises a locking finger extending downwardly from
the front tapered portion, the locking aperture being provided
on the locking finger.
In a further embodiment, the recess ofthe female connector
further comprises two opposed lower inner side walls converging towards each other and defining a finger channel
adapted for receiving the locking finger therein.
In one embodiment, the male connector further comprises
a back portion and a hinge extending between the front
tapered portion and the back portion for enabling a jointed
coupling therebetween.
In one embodiment, the electronic lock further comprises
holding means adapted for cooperating with each of the connecting members for temporarily holding the connecting
members together in the lockable position once engaged
therein.
In a further embodiment, the holding means comprise a
pair of two opposed biased elements mounted to a respective
one of the first and second connecting members, each of the
biased elements having a resting position wherein the element is urged outwardly and protrudes from the corresponding connecting member, the holding means further comprising a pair of corresponding cooperating opposed receiving
recesses mounted to the remaining connecting member, each
of the receiving recesses being adapted to receive therein a
corresponding biased element when the first and second connecting members are engaged in the lockable position,
thereby holding the connecting members together in the lockable position.
In another further embodiment, each ofthe biased elements
comprises a ball and a ball spring mounted in a ball housing,
each of the receiving recesses comprising a corresponding
spherical portion.
In yet another further embodiment, each of the biased
elements is mounted on the connecting member mounted to
the structure and each of the receiving recesses is mounted on
the connecting member mounted to the movable item.
In yet a further embodiment, the connecting member
mounted to the structure comprises a female connector and
the connecting member mounted to the movable item comprises a male connector.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly comprises position detecting means mounted to one of the first and second
connecting members for detecting a positioning of the first
and second connecting members in the lockable position.
In another embodiment, the securing assembly comprises
position detecting means mounted to the female connector for
detecting a positioning of the first and second connecting
members in the lockable position, the position detecting
means being adapted for detecting a positioning of the locking finger in the finger channel.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly further comprises position detecting means mounted to one of the first
and second connecting members for detecting a positioning
of the first and second connecting member in the lockable
position, the electronic control means being adapted for
selectively actuating the actuator to move the movable locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position
upon detection of the positioning of the first and second
connecting member in the lockable position.
In another embodiment, the securing assembly further
comprises position detecting means mounted to one of the
first and second connecting members for detecting a positioning ofthe first and second connecting member in the lockable
position, an identification tag associated with the movable
item and an identification reader for identifying the identifi-
4
cation tag and the associated movable item when the first and
second connectors are engaged in the lockable position.
adapted for selectively actuating the actuator to move the
5 movable locking member from the unlocked position to the
locked position upon detection of the positioning of the first
and second connecting members in the lockable position and
identification of the associated movable item.
In yet a further embodiment, the identification tag com1o prises an RFID tag and the identification reader comprises an
RFID reader mounted to the structure.
unsecuring means for enabling an actuating of the movable
locking member from the locked position to the unlocked
15 position, the unsecuring means being selected from a group
consisting of a card reader adapted for receiving a corresponding user card, a keypad adapted for receiving a user
code and a bar code reader adapted for reading a corresponding bar code.
In another embodiment, the movable locking member
20
comprises an elongated member axially translatable between
the unlocked position and the locked position, the locking
member being engaged at both ends in the first connecting
member through the locking aperture when in the locked
25 position.
In a further embodiment, the actuator comprises a motor
and a shaft driven by the motor, the shaft being attached to the
movable locking member for driving the movable locking
member between the unlocked position and the locked posi30 tion.
In yet a further embodiment, the securing assembly further
comprises shaft position detecting means for monitoring a
position of the shaft to thereby monitor a position of the
movable locking member.
35
In yet a further embodiment, the shaft position detecting
means comprise an optical detector and a mechanical detector, each of the detectors being adapted for detecting the
position of the shaft and an associated position ofthe movable
locking member in the locked position.
40
In one embodiment, the movable item comprises a bicycle
and the structure comprises a bicycle rack.
In a further embodiment, the bicycle rack is a part of a
bicycle rental station.
In another further embodiment, the connecting member
45 mowited on the bicycle comprises attaching means for fixedly
attaching the connecting member to a fork of the bicycle.
In yet a further embodiment, the attaching means comprise
a pair of cylindrical holes extending through the connecting
member mounted on the bicycle, the pair of cylindrical holes
50 being adapted to fixedly receive the fork of the bicycle
therein.
In one embodiment, the movable item comprises a vehicle
selected from a group consisting ofa stroller, a wheelchair, an
all-terrain vehicle, a scooter and a boat.
According to one embodiment, there is provided an elec55
tronic lock for removably securing a movable item to a structure, the electronic lock comprising an elongated male connector fixedly mounted to the movable item and comprising a
Jocking aperture, a female connector fixedly mounted to the
60 structure and adapted for removably receiving therein the
elongated male connector and a securing assembly associated
to the female connector, the securing assembly comprising a
movable locking member displaceable between an unlocked
position for allowing the female connector to receive therein
65 the elongated male connector and a Jocked position, an actuator for causing displacement of the locking member between
the unlocked position and the locked position and electronic
US 8,272,491 B2
the unlocked position for unsecuring the movable item upon

control means coupled to the actuator for controlling disreception of the user identification.
placement of the locking member between the unlocked posiIn another embodiment, the movable item comprises a
tion and the locked position, wherein when the elongated
bicycle and the structure comprises a bicycle rack.
male connector is received in the female connector, the elecAccording to another aspect, there is provided a kit for
tronic control means controls the actuator for causing the
locking member to displace towards the locked position and
Accordingly, the kit comprises first and second completo engage the locking aperture, thereby securing the elonmentary cooperating connecting members, each being fixgated male connector in the female connector.
edly mountable to a respective one of the movable item and
According to another aspect, there is provided a method for
10
the structure and being engageable together in a lockable
Accordingly, the method comprises providing an elecsecond connecting members together when engaged in the
tronic lock for removably securing the movable item to the
lockable position, the securing assembly comprising a movstructure, the electronic lock comprising first and second
complementary cooperating connecting members, each 15 able locking member operatively associatable to the first connecting member, a lockfug aperture defined in the second
being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the movable item
lockable position, the securing assembly comprising a mov- 20 actuator operatively couplable to the movable locking member for actuating the movable locking member between an
able locking member operatively associated to the first conunlocked position enabling disengagement of the first and
necting member, a locking aperture defined in the second
members are engaged together in the lockable position, an 2s and electronic control means operatively couplable to the
position andfrom the locked position to the unlocked position
the movable locking member engages the locking aperture 30 lockable position.
and electronic control means operatively coupled to the
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be readily understood,
when the connecting members are engaged together in the 35 embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
lockable position; engaging the first and second connecting
example in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. l is a rear perspective view of a bicycle rack having an
members together in the lockable position and actuating the
electronic lock mounted thereon in accordance with one
locking member to the locked position so that the locking
embodiment, with a bicycle removed from the bicycle rack.
member engages the locking aperture, thereby securing the
FIG. 2 is another rear perspective view of the bicycle rack
40
movable item to the structure.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises monishown in FIG. 1.
toring a positioning of the first and second connecting memFIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the bicycle rack shown
bers in the lockable position before actuating the locking
inFIG. l.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the bicycle secured to
member.
In another embodiment, the method further comprises 45 the bicycle rack using the electronic lock shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the electronic lock shown in
identifying the movable item before actuating the locking
FIG.4.
member.
FIG. SA is a front perspective view of an electronic lock for
removably securing a movable item to a structure, in accorconnecting members together in the lockable position comprises guiding the connecting member mounted to the mov- 50 dance with one embodiment.
able item towards the lockable position.
shown in FIG. SA.
FIG. 5C is a right perspective view of another electronic
connecting members together in the lockable position comlock for removably securing a movable item to a structure.
prises holding the first and second connecting members
55
In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises,
shown in FIG. 58 wherein the male connector is engaged with
before actuating the locking member, detecting a positioning
the female connector.
of the first and second connecting members in the lockable
FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the electronic lock
position and identifying the movable item to provide an idenshown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8A is a left side elevation view of the electronic lock
tification thereof, wherein, in the actuating, the locking mem- 60
ber is actuated to the locked position upon detection of the
shown in FIG. 6.
positioning of the first and second connecting members in the
FIG. 88 is a top plan view of the electronic lock shown in
lockable position and the identification of the movable item.
FIG. 6.
In a further embodiment, identifying comprises a radioFIG. SC is a right side elevation view of the electronic lock
65 shown in FIG. 6.
frequency identification.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises requestFIG. SD is a front elevation view of the electronic lock
ing a user identification and actuating the locking member to
shown in FIG. 6.
us 8,272,491 82
7
FIG. 9 is a 3Dperspectiveview, cross-sectioned along lines

and the bicycle rack 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the
AA-AA of FIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in FIG. 6.
first connecting member comprises a female connector 106
FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the electronic lock
mounted to the bicycle rack 100 and the second connecting
shown in FIG. 6.
member comprises a corresponding complementary male
FIG. llA is a front elevation view, cross-sectioned along
connector 108 mounted to the bicycle 104, as better shown in
lines AA-AA of FIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in FIG.
FIG.2.
6, wherein the male connector is unsecured from the female
As it will be more clearly detailed thereinafter, the male
connector.
connector 108 and the female connector 106 are engageable
FIG. llB is another front elevation view, cross-sectioned
together in a lockable position.
along lines AA-AA ofFIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in 10
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bicycle 1()4
FIG. 6 wherein the male connector has been secured in the
comprises a front fork 110, a front wheel 112 and a handlebar
female connector.
114. More specifically, the front fork 110 comprises a first
FIG. llC is a front elevation view, cross-sectioned along
lower end 116 having the front wheel 112 rotatably mounted
'lines BB-BB of FIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in FIG.
6, wherein the male connector has been engaged in the female 15 thereto and a second opposed upper end 118 whereto the
handlebar 114 is fixedly mounted. The skilled addressee will
connector.
appreciate that, in such an embodiment, the handlebar 114
FIG. 12Ais a left perspective view ofthe male connector of
may be used to rotate the front wheel 112.
an electronic lock for removably securing a movable item to
Still in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the male
a structure.
FIG.12B is a bottom perspective view of the male connec- 20 connector 108 is fixedly mounted to the front fork 110 ofthe
bicycle 104. This configuration is of great advantage since it
tor shown in FIG. 12A.
facilitates the engagement of the bicycle 104 in the bicycle
FIG. 13 is a front perspective view, cross-sectioned along
racklOO.
lines BB-BB of FIG. 6, of the electronic lock shown in FIG.
6.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the 25 bicycle rack 100 comprises a substantially vertical hollow
female connector of the electronic lock for removably securelongated frame 120 having a first lower end 122 fixedly
ing a movable item to a structure.
attached to a base 124 and an opposed upper end 126 comFIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method for removably securing
prising a female connector fixing recess 128. The female
a movable item to a structure, in accordance with one embodiconnector 106 is fixedly mounted in the female connector
30
ment.
fixing recess 128 using fixing means (not shown) such as bolts
FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method for removably securing
and screws. The skilled addressee will appreciate that any
a movable item to a structure, in accordance with another
other fixing means adapted to fixedly secure the female conembodiment.
nector 106 in the recess 128 may be considered.
Further details of the invention and its advantages will be
In one embodiment, the base 124 comprises a structure
35
apparent from the detailed description included below.
adapted for mounting at least one bicycle rack thereon.
In an alternative embodiment, the base 124 comprises a
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
substantially horizontal ground surface such as a parking lot,
a sidewalk, a portion of a street or the like.
In the following description of the embodiments, referThe skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodiences to the accompanying drawings are by way of illustra- 40
ment the female connector 106 is vertically positioned at a
tion of an example by which the invention may be practiced.
It will be understood that other embodiments may be made
level substantially corresponding to the level of the male
without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.
connector 108 when the front wheel 112 of the bicycle 104 is
The invention provides an electronic lock for securing a
lying on the base 124. This configuration helps the user of the
movable item to a structure. As it will be more clearly under- 45 bicycle 104 to guide the male connector 108 towards the
stood upon reading of the present description, the electronic
female connector 106 without having to lift the bicycle 1 04,
lock may advantageously be used in a great variety of appliwhich is of great advantage.
cations, such as for example in a vehicle rental system such as
As previously mentioned, in one embodiment, the bicycle
a bicycle rental system. The skilled addressee will however
rack 100 is part of a bicycle rental station, the bicycle rental
appreciate that many other applications may be considered, as 50 station being part of a bicycle rental system. It will be appreit will be more detailed thereinafter.
ciated that such a bicycle rental station is generally installed
In the following description of the illustrated embodiin a public area. Therefore, to prevent the female connector
ments, the movable item comprises a bicycle and the structure
106 from being tampered with, stolen or otherwise vandalcomprises a bicycle rack. The bicycle rack is part of a bicycle
ized, the female connector fixing means (not shown) is advanrenting station and is fixedly mounted thereto. It will be 55 tageously robust and reliable.
appreciated that an operator of such a station may want to
In one embodiment, the female connector fixing means
control rentals of bicycles to be rented and returns of rented
comprise fasteners provided with a corresponding special
bicycles. Such a station would thus greatly benefit from havunfastening tool, the special unfastening tool being in the
possession of an operator of the bicycle renting system. This
ing means to removably secure a bicycle to be rented to the
bicycle rack.
60 configuration advantageously enables the operator to selecNow referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a bicycle rack
tively remove the female connector from the bicycle rack for
100 having an electronic lock 102 mounted thereon in accormaintenance purposes or other purposes while preventing
dance with one embodiment. There is further shown a bicycle
undesired removal of the female connector 106 from the
104 removed from the bicycle rack 100.
bicycle rack 100 by an unauthorized person.
The electronic lock 102 comprises first and second 65
In another embodiment, the female connector fixing means
comprise welding the female connector 106 inside the female
being fixedly mounted to a respective one of the bicycle 104
connector fixing recess 128. It will however be appreciated
us 8,272,491 82
9
10
that any other means adapted for preventing an unauthorized

removal of the female connector 106 from the bicycle rack
100 may be considered.
For example, in yet another embodiment, the female connector 106 and the hollow elongated frame 120 may form an
integral structure.
As better shown in FIG. 3, the illustrated bicycle rack 100
further comprises.a vertical wheel receiving slot 300 defined
on the hollow elongated frame 120, this wheel receiving slot
300 being adapted to receive therein the front wheel 112 ofthe
bicycle 104.
In one embodiment, the hollow elongated frame 120 may
further comprise a pair of wheel guiding members 130, 132
extending vertically between the lower end 122 and the
opposed upper end 126 of the bicycle rack 100, the wheel
guiding members 132, 134 being positioned on both sides of
the wheel receiving slot 300, as best shown in FIG. 2.
The wheel guiding members 130, 132 enable the guiding of
the bicycle wheel 112 foiwardly when the bicycle 104 is
engaging the wheel receiving slot 300. It will be appreciated
that the wheel guiding members 130, 132 and the wheel
receiving slot 300 may contribute to the alignment of the male
connector 108 with the female connector 106, as it will
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the shape of the
bicycle rack 100 is dependent on where the male connector
108 is mounted to the bicycle 104. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the bicycle rack 100 may comprise a
vertical pole having a first lower end attached to a base and a
second, opposed upper end, the female connector 106 being
mounted at the upper end of the pole.
In yet another embodiment, the bicycle rack 100 may comprise a horizontal docking bar having a plurality of spaced
apart female connectors fixedly mounted thereon, the plurality offemale connectors being adapted for receiving a plurality of male connectors therein.
configurations may be considered for the bicycle rack 100.
Now referring to FI(}S. 4 and 4A, there is shown a bicycle
104 secured to a bicycle rack 100 using the electronic lock
102.
It will be appreciated that in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 4 and 4A, the male connector 108 and the corresponding female connector 106 are engaged together in the lockable
position, while in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the
male connector 108 is disengaged from the corresponding
It will be further appreciated that in the embodiment shown
in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the front wheel 112 of the bicycle 104 is
engaged in the wheel receiving slot 300, while in the embodiment shownin FIGS. l to 3, the front wheel 112 ofthe bicycle
104 is disengaged from the wheel receiving slot 300.
The operation of engaging the male connector 108 and the
female connector 106 together in the lockable position will
now be described in accordance with one embodiment, with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 4A.
The bicycle 104 is first positioned near the bicycle rack
100, the male connector 108 generally facing towards the
female connector 106, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. A user uses
the handlebar 114 to rotate the front wheel 112 of the bicycle
104 until the front wheel 112 is aligned with the wheel receiving slot 300.
The bicycle 104 may now be moved foiwardly in a direction Fusing the handlebar 114 such that the front wheel 112
of the bicycle 104 engages the wheel receiving slot 300, as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A. It will be appreciated that the wheel
guiding members 130, 132 further contributes to guide the

bicycle wheel 112 forwardly into the wheel receiving slot
300.
It will be further appreciated that in this embodiment,
guiding the front bicycle wheel 112 foiwardly causes the
male connector 108, advantageously mounted to the fork 110
ofthe bicycle, to be guided towards the female connector 106.
The bicycle is further moved foiwardly in the direction F
until the male connector 108 and the female connector 106
engage together in the lockable position. Once they are
engaged in the lockable position, the electronic lock 102 can
be used to secure the connectors 106, 108 together, thereby
securing the bicycle 104 to the bicycle rack 100, as it will
It will be appreciated that such a positioning of the male
connector 106 at the front of the bicycle 104 advantageously
enables a user to move the bicycle 104 foiward by using the
handlebar 114 while standing of eitherthe left or right side of
the bicycle 104. Thus, the securing of the bicycle 104 in the
rack 100 is facilitated, which is of great advantage.
Now referring to FIGS. SA and SB, there is shown an
electronic lock 102 for removably securing a bicycle 104 (not
shown) to a bicycle rack 100 (not shown).
In the illustrated embodiment, the male connector 108
comprises a back portion SOl and a front tapered portion S03
forwardly extending therefrom. The front tapered portion S03
comprises two opposed side surfaces SSO, SS2 converging
towards each other, a bottom surface SSl and a top surface
SS3, as better shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B.
More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, each of
the two opposed side surfaces SSO, SS2 comprise a substantially vertical planar surface, these two opposed side surfaces
SSO, SS2 converging towards each other to thereby define a
V-shape.
In one embodiment, the male connector 108 comprises
attaching means for fixedly attaching the male connector 108
to the front fork 110 of the bicycle 104 (not shown). In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. SA and SB, the attaching means
are provided on the back portion SOl and comprise two cylindrical holes SOO vertically oriented and adapted to fixedly
receive therein the fork 110 of the bicycle 104. The skilled
may be considered.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. SA and SB, the back
portion SOl and the front tapered portion S03 of the male
connector 108 form an integral structure.
Now referring to FIG. SC, there is shown an alternative
embodiment of a male connector 108. In the illustrated
embodiment, the male connector 108 further comprises a
hinge SOS extending between the front tapered portion 503
and the back portion SOl for enabling a jointed coupling
therebetween.
More specifically, in one embodiment, the hinge SOS comprises a pair of opposed pivoting hinge members, each being
respectively attached to a corresponding one of the back
portion SOl and the front portion S03 so as to enable an
upward pivoting movement of the back portion SOl with
respect to the front tapered portion S03.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that such a configuration prevents a malicious individual from damaging the
male connector 108 by applying an upward force at a back
end of the bicycle 104, thereby using the bicycle 104 as a
lever. This configurationmay be of great advantage in the case
where the electronic lock 102 is located in a public area and
may be subject to acts of vandalism.
In one embodiment, the hinge SOS further comprises a
torsion spring (not shown) resiliently connecting the front
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us 8,272,491 82
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tapered portion S03 to the back portion 501 . It will be appreciated that other arrangements may be considered to provide
an articulated connection between the back portion 501 and
the front tapered portion 503.
Now referring to FIGS. SB, 12A and 12B, in one embodiment, the male connector 108 further comprises a locking
finger S08 extending downwardly from the front tapered portion 503. The locking finger S08 is substantially vertical and
is provided with a locking aperture 510 thereon. In this
embodiment, the locking aperture SlO has an axis extending
substantially horizontally through the locking finger 508, perpendicularly to the direction F.
In one embodiment, the locking finger 508 and the front
tapered portion S03 form an integral structure. Such a configuration provides the male connector 108 with an improved
resistance to vandalism, which is of great advantage in the
case where the electronic lock 102 is used in a public bicycle
rental system.
In another embodiment, the locking finger S08 is welded to
the bottom surface 551 of the front tapered portion 503 using
welding techniques known to the skilled addressee such as arc
welding, stick welding, plasma welding, TIG welding or the
like.
In yet another embodiment, the locking finger S08 may be
glued to the bottom surface 551 of the front tapered portion
S03 using an adhesive known to the skilled addressee, such as
epoxy or the like.
In yet another embodiment, the male connector 108 may
not comprise a locking finger S08. In such an embodiment,
the locking aperture SlO is instead provided on the front
Now referring back to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment, the female connector 106 comprises a recess Sll
adapted for receiving the front tapered portion 503 ofthe male
connector therein. More specifically, the recess 511 comprises a tapered portion having two opposed inner side walls
512, S14. In one embodiment, each of the two opposed side
walls 512, S14 comprises a substantially vertical planar surface, the two opposed side walls S12, 514 converging towards
each other to thereby define a V-shape therebetween.
In another embodiment, each of the two opposed side walls
512, S14 may comprise a concave or convex surface adapted
to receive a corresponding convex or concave surface of the
front tapered portion S03.
configurations may be considered for the two opposed side
walls S12, S14, as long as the shape of the recess Sll is
complementary to the shape of the front tapered portion 503
of the male connector 108. For example, corresponding
complementary vertically slanted surfaces may be envisaged.
recess 511 further comprises a back wall 513 wherefrom
extend outwardly and backwardly the two opposed inner side
walls S12, 514. In an alternative embodiment, the recess Sll
may not comprise 3 back wall. Instead, the two opposed inner
sidewalls S12, S14 may converge forwardly towards an opening defined therebetween.
In one embodiment, the recess SU further comprises two
opposed sitting members S16, 518 projecting inwardly into
therecessSll. The two opposedsittingmembersS16, 518 are
adapted for slidably receiving thereon the bottom surface S51
ofthe tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108, as it will
recess Sll further comprises two opposed lower inner side
walls 520, 522 converging towards each other and defining a
finger channel 515 adapted for receiving the locking finger

508 therein, as better shown in FIG. 7.
More specifically, according to one embodiment, each of
the two opposed sitting members 516, 518 comprise a fin or a
protruding member extending sidewardly from the two
opposed inner side walls 512, 514 in a flange-like configuration. Each of the two fins comprises a top sitting surfuce
adapted to receive thereon the bottom surface 551 of the
tapered portion 503 of the male connector 108.
In one embodiment, the two opposed lower inner side walls
520, 522 comprise two planar surfaces extending substantially downwardly from the two top sitting surfaces.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. SA and SB, each of the
two opposed lower inner side walls S20, S22 comprise a front
portion and a back portion. The two back portions face each
other and define the finger channel SlS therebetween which is
adapted to receive the locking finger S08 therein. The two
front portions face each other and define a V-shaped guiding
channel in front of the finger channel SlS for guiding the
locking finger 508 therein.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the above
described arrangement may help guiding the male connector
108 into the female connector 106 using the two opposed
lower inner side walls S20, S22, which is of great advantage.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the two opposed
sitting members S16, S18 comprise a continuous surface. The
skilled addressee will however appreciate that a plurality of
spaced apart top surfaces may be considered. For instance, the
two opposed sitting members S16, S18 may comprise a plurality of spaced apart cantilevers extending inwardly into the
recess Sll from the two opposed inner side walls S12, 514,
the spaced apart cantilevers being aligned so as to form a path
on which the front tapered portion S03 of the male connector
108 may travel towards the lockable position.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. SA, the sitting members S16, S18 provide a substantially planar sliding surface.
The skilled addressee will however appreciate that a surface
slightly curved upwardly may be considered and may further
facilitate the insertion of the male connector 108 in the female
connector 106.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that various configurations of the recess Sll of the female connector 106 and of
the front tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108 may
be provided, as long as the front tapered portion 503 of the
male connector 108 and the recess Sll of the female connector106arecomplementarysuchthatthefronttaperedportion
S03 of the male connector 108 may snuggly engage the recess
Sll, as it will become apparent below.
Now referring to FIGS. 6 to 8D, there is shown an electronic lock 102 that may be used for removably securing a
bicycle to a bicycle rack, the male connector 108 and the
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female connector 106 being engaged together in the lockable

position. It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment, the male connector 108 has not yet been secured to the
As better shown in FIG. 6, the front tapered portion 503 of
the male connector 108 snuggly engages the tapered portion
of the recess Sll of the female connector 106. In other words,
the two opposed side surfaces SSO, SS2 of the front tapered
portion 503 of the male connector 108 respectively abut the
two corresponding opposed inner side walls S12, S14 of the
recess Sl 1 of the female connector 106. In the meantime, the
bottom surface SSl of the front tapered portion S03 is lying on
the two opposed sitting members S16, S18.
US 8,272,491 B2
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In the illustrated embodiment, an additional bore 524

coaxial to the first one is provided in the female connector
106, as better shown in FIG. SA. Thus, when actuated in the
locked position, the locking member 1000 simultaneously
5 engages the first bore, the locking aperture 510 and the additional bore524, as illustratedinFIG. 11B. In other words, the
locking member 1000 is engaged at both ends in the female
connector 106 through the locking aperture 510 when the
locking member 1000 is in the locked position.
10
One skilled in the art will appreciate that this configuration
provides a great advantage to the electronic lock. Indeed, if
the male connector is forcibly pulled from the female connector in a direction opposed to the direction F in an effort to
remove the bicycle from the bicycle rack when the locking
80.
15 member is in the locked position, a force exerted by the
It will be appreciated that, in the embodiment shown in
locking finger on the locking member will be distributed
FIGS. 9 and 11A, the male connector 108 and the female
between both ends of the locking member engaged in the
connector 106 are engaged in the lockable position, but the
female connector 106. This configuration is of great advanmale connector 108 is not yet secured to the female connector
tage for providing a robust securing of the bicycle to the
106.
20 bicycle rack.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly 506 comprises
The skilled addressee will appreciate that other arrangements may be considered. For example, the locking aperture
a movable locking member 1000 operatively associated to the
510 may comprise a blind hole adapted to receive a correfemale connector 106. The locking aperture 510 provided on
sponding end of the locking member 1000.
the locking finger 508 is adapted to receive the movable
Now referring to FIG. 10, the securing assembly 506 furlocking member 1000 when the male connector 108 and the 25
ther comprises electronic control means operatively coupled
female connector 106 are engaged together in the lockable
to the actuator for controlling selective actuation of the movposition. Throughout the following description, the securing
able locking member 1000 from the unlocked position to the
assembly 506 will be described as being associated to the
locked position when the male connector 108 and the female
female connector 106 but the skilled addressee will appreciate that the securing assembly may be alternatively associated 30 connector 106 are engaged together in the lockable position.
Moreover, the electronic control means also controls selecto the male connector 108.
tive actuation of the movable locking member 1000 from the
In the illustrated embodiment, the movable locking memlocked position to the unlocked position, as it will become
ber 1000 comprises an elongated member axially translatable
between an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the
apparent below.
In one embodiment, actuation of the movable locking
male connector 108 and the female connector 106 and a 35
member is automatic. More specifically, in this embodiment,
locked position wherein the movable locking member 1000
the electronic control means are operatively coupled to the
engages the locking aperture 510 to prevent disengagement of
actuator such that they selectively urge activation ofthe actuathe two connectors 106, 108.
tor. This causes the movable locking member 1000 to be
The movable locking member 1000 is translatable in a bore
defined in the female connector 106, the bore being coaxial to 40 actuated from the unlocked position to the locked position or
from the locked position to the unlocked position to the
the locking aperture 510. In other words, the bore is posilocked position, as mentioned hereabovti.
tioned such that it is axially aligned with the locking aperture
One will appreciate that this configuration is of great
510 when the male connector 108 and the female connector
advantage since it requires no physical effort from the user to
106 are engaged together in the lockable position so as to
enable a translation of the locking member 1000 in and out of 45 displace the movable locking member 1000, thereby reducing
the risk of injury and the inconvenience related to such an
the locking aperture 510.
activity.
Still referring to FIGS. 9 and HA, the securing assembly
Moreover, the actuation of the movable locking member
506 further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the
movable locking member 1000 for actuating the movable
1000 being automatic and requiring no physical effort from a
locking member 1000 between the unlocked position and the 50 user, the need to provide manual means to activate the actuator, such as a lever, a button or the like, is eliminated. In this
locked position.
In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator comprises a
configuration, the electronic control means and the actuator
motor 540 and a shaft 542 driven by the motor 540, the shaft
may be enclosed in a protective shell, as is the case in one
542 being attached to the movable locking member 1000 for
embodiment. This configuration is also of great advantage,
driving the movable locking member 1000 between the 55 since it protects sensitive parts of the electronic control means
and the actuator from damage, for instance caused by rain,
unlocked position and the locked position.
In one embodiment, the motor 540 comprises a stepping
wind, dust, vandalism or the like.
motor and the shaft 542 comprises an externally threaded
shaft rotatably coupled to the motor 540. The skilled
integrated electronic control components 902 fixedly
addressee will appreciate that various other arrangements 60 mounted into the female connector 106.
In a further embodiment, the electronic control means furmay be considered. For example, other actuators known in the
ther comprise a modular electronic connector 900 operatively
art, such as a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a
connected to the integrated electronic control components
magnetic actuator or the like, may be used to drive the shaft.
902. The modular electronic connector 900 is provided for
In one embodiment, the actuator is automatic. It will be
appreciated that in this embodiment, no physical effort from 65 connecting the integrated electronic control components 902
to a processing tenninal (not shown), for instance a bicycle
a user is required, which is of great advantage as it will
rental tenninal of an automated bicycle rental station.
Such a position of the male connector 108 with respect to

the female connector 106 enables a selective locking of the
electronic lock using a securing assembly, as it will be more
clearly detailed below.
As previously mentioned, it will be appreciated that various other arrangements may be considered for the male connector 108 and the female connector 106, as long as they are
complementary to each other and engageable in a lockable
position.
Now referring to FIGS. 9 and 11A, the electronic lock
further comprises a securing assembly 506 for securing the
male connector 108 and the female connector 106 together
when engaged in the lockable position shown in FIGS. 6 to
US 8,272,491 B2
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In another embodiment, the electronic control means comconnector 108, as better shown in FIGS. 12A and 128. The
pair of receiving recesses S26, S28 corresponds to the pair of
prise unsecuring means for enabling an actuating of the movable Jocking member 1000 from the locked position to the
opposed biased elements S02, 504 and is adapted to receive
unlocked position. The unsecuring means may be selected
therein a corresponding biased element S02, S04 when the
male connector 108 and the female connector 106 are
from a group consisting of a card reader adapted for receiving
a corresponding user card, a keypad adapted for receiving a
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the opposed biased
user code and a bar code reader adapted for reading a correelements S02, S04 is mounted to one of the opposed inner side
sponding bar code.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the unsewalls 512, S14 of the tapered portion S03 of the female
curing means comprise a card reader, more specifically a 10 connector 106. Moreover, eachofthereceivingrecesses S26,
magnetic card reader 400, adapted for receiving a correS28 is mounted to one of the opposed side surfaces SSO, SS2
sponding user card 402. The skilled addressee will appreciate
of the tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108.
In another embodiment, each of the opposed biased elethat other arrangements enabling an identification of the user
prior to the unsecuring of the bicycle may be used.
ments S02, S04 may be mounted to one of the opposed side
Referring now to FIG. 9, the securing assembly S06 may 15 surfaces SSO, SS2 of the tapered portion S03 of the male
connector 108. In this case, each of the receiving recesses
further comprises shaft position detecting means for monitoring a position of the shaft to thereby monitor a position of
S26, S28 is mounted to one of the opposed inner side walls
the movable locking member 1000. In one embodiment, the
S12, S14 of the tapered portion S03 of the female connector
shaft position detecting means is connected to the control
106.
means.
20
It will be appreciated that the opposed biased elements and
According to one embodiment, the shaft position detecting
corresponding recesses may be positioned according to varimeans comprise a mechanical detector. In this embodiment,
ous configurations, as long as the opposed biased elements
the shaft position detecting means comprise a sensor 1002
are mounted to one of the male connector and the female
fixedly mounted to the second end of the shaft S42. More
connector and the corresponding cooperating receiving
specifically, in this embodiment, the motor comprises a cen- 25 recesses are mounted to the remaining connector. The skilled
addressee will however appreciate that various other configutral bore wherein the shaft is axially engaged therethrough,
the first end of the shaft S42 extending coaxially towards the
ration may be considered.
The holding means are of great advantage since they allow
recess Sll and the second end ofthe shaft S42 extending from
a second, opposed end of the motor.
the user of a bicycle to be informed that the bicycle has been
In one embodiment, the shaft position detecting means 30 conveniently positioned in the corresponding rack before
further comprise a mechanical switch 1004 positioned near
securing it to the rack.
Now referring to FIGS. UC and 13, in the illustrated
the second end of the shaft S42, the mechanical switch being
located such that it may be activated by the sensor 1002 when
embodiment, each of the opposed biased elements S02, S04
comprises a ball and a ball spring 1101, 1103 mounted to a
the locking member is in the unlocked position.
In a further embodiment, the shaft position detecting 35 ball housing. Each of the receiving recesses S26, 528 commeans may comprise a second detector 1100 positioned near
prises a corresponding spherical portion, the spherical portion having a diameter substantially similar to the ball assothe first end of the shaft 542. This second detector 1100 may
be used to validate that the male connector 108 is really
ciated thereto. This configuration enables each of the balls to
snuggly fit into their respective corresponding recess.
secured to the female connector 106, which is of great advan40
It will be appreciated that any other holding means allowtage.
ing to temporarily retain the male connector 108 into the
In another embodiment, the shaft position detecting means
female connector 106 may be considered.
may comprise an optical detector conveniently mounted
In one embodiment, this above described configuration
proximate either the second end of the shaft or the first end of
the shaft S42.
further enables a movable item to be temporarily attached to
The skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodi- 45 a structure in a "reduced load" design. For instance, according
to one configuration, the movable item may be engaged in the
ment, each ofthe detectors may be adapted to detect a position
structure in a lockable position wherein the movable item
of the shaft S42 and an associated position of the movable
does not rest on a lower surface. In such a configuration, the
Jocking member 1000 in the Jocked position.
In one embodiment, the shaft position detecting means
movable item may be temporarily retained in the lockable
may comprise both a mechanical detector and an optical 50 position using the holding means until the movable item is
secured to the structure.
detector. The skilled addressee will appreciate that such an
embodiment is of great advantage since it provides an
Now referring back to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment, the securing assembly further comprises position
enhanced reliability to the system. Indeed, this arrangement
detecting means mounted to the female connector 106 for
may improve the reliance of the operator with respect to the
system.
55 detecting a positioning of the male connector 108 and the
Referring back to FIGS. SA and SB, in one embodiment,
female connector 106 in the lockable position.
the electronic lock 102 further comprises holding means
More specifically, in one embodiment, the position detecting means may be adapted for detecting a positioning of the
adapted for cooperating with each ofthe connecting members
locking finger S08 in the finger channel SlS.
106, 108 for temporarily holding the connecting members
60
According to one configuration, the position detecting
106, 108 together in the lockable position.
means may comprise a contact detector (not shown) operaIn the illustrated embodiment, the holding means comprise
tively mounted to the back wall S13 proximate the finger
a pair of opposed biased elements S02, S04 mounted to the
female connector 106. Each of the biased element S02, S04
channel SlS. The position detecting means may be activated
when the front tapered portion S03 of the male connector 108
bas a resting position wherein the element is urged outwardly
and protrudes from the corresponding connecting member. 65 is moved forwardly into the recess Sll of the female connector 106 and the locking finger contacts the contact detector
In this embodiment, the holding means further comprise a
when engaging the finger channel SlS.
pair of receiving recesses S26, 528 mounted to the male
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In an alternative embodiment, the position detecting means

may comprise a magnetic proximity detector operatively
mounted into the back wall 513 proximate the finger channel
515. In such an embodiment, the locking finger 508 is provided with a magnet element (not shown) mounted therein.
The position detecting means will be activated when the front
tapered portion 503 of the male connector 108 is moved
forwardly into the recess 511 of the female connector 106 and
the magnetic proximity detector detects the presence of the
magnet in the finger channel 515.
This configuration advantageously prevents the .activation
of the position detecting means when an object other than a
corresponding male connector is engaged in the female connector.
In one embodiment, the detection of the male connector
and the female connector in the lockable position is operatively coupled to an indicator for indicating the positioning of
the male connector and the female connector in the lockable
position to a user of the electronic lock. The indicator may be
a visual indicator such as a LED or the like; alternatively, the
indicator may be an audio indicator such as a speaker or the
like.
In one embodiment, the position detecting means are
operatively coupled to the electronic control means. In such
an embodiment, the electronic control means are adapted for
selectively actuating the actuator to move the movable Jocking finger 1000 from the unlocked position to the locked
position upon detection of the positioning of the male connector 108 and the female coruiector 106 in the lockable
position.
In another embodiment, the securing assembly 506 further
comprises an identification tag (not shown) associated with
the bicycle and an identification tag reader (not shown) for
identifying the identification tag and the associated bicycle
when the male connector and the female connector are
This configuration is of great advantage to enable a monitoring ofthe use of each of the bicycles. It may also be of great
advantage in another application wherein a large number of
items are temporarily stored and retrieved at a later time, for
instance for identifying vehicles secured to racks in a warehouse.
operatively coupled to both position detecting means and
identifying means. In such an embodiment, the electronic
control means are adapted for selectively actuating the actuator to move the movable Jocking member from the unlocked
position to the locked position upon two conditions, a first
condition being a detection of the positioning of the male
connector and the female connector in the lockable position,
a second condition being an identification of the associated
bicycle.
In one embodiment, the identification tag comprises an
RFID tag and the identification reader comprises an RFID
reader mounted to the bicycle rack. This configuration is of
great advantage since no electric wire between the tag and the
reader is needed. The skilled addressee will appreciate that
other arrangements may be considered. For example, a first
and a second corresponding electric connector may be provided on each connector respectively. In this case, when the
male connector engages the female connector, the two electric connectors engage together to obtain the identification
information. The use of RFID technology is nevertheless
preferred over the use of conventional electric connectors
since it may help reduce breaking of the system.
It will be appreciated that this configuration is of great
advantage ina bicycle rental System. Indeed, in such a system,
the electronic lock detects the engagement of a rented bicycle

being returned by a user into the bicycle rack and identifies
the bicycle before securing the bicycle to the bicycle rack and
charging a fee to the user according to given parameters.
A method for securing a bicycle to a bicycle rack will now
be described in accordance with one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 15.
According to step 1500, an electronic lock as previously
described is provided, the electronic lock being mounted to a
bicycle rack. In one embodiment, the electronic lock comprises a male connector mounted to the bicycle and a female
connector mounted to the bicycle rack, the male connector
and the female connector being engageable together in a
lockable position.
In one embodiment, the electronic lock further comprises a
securing assembly for securing the male connector and the
female connector together when engaged in the lockable
position. In one embodiment, the securing assembly comprises a movable locking member operatively associated to
the female connector and a locking aperture defined in the
second connecting member, the locking aperture being
adapted for receiving the movable locking member when the
connecting members are engaged together in the lockable
position.
In one embodiment, the securing assembly further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the movable Jocking
member for actuating the movable locking member between
an unlocked position enabling disengagement of the male
connector and the female connector and a locked position
wherein the movable locking member engages the locking
aperture.
connector are engaged together in the lockable position.
Another method for securing a bicycle to a bicycle rack
will now be described in accordance with another embodiment, with reference to FIG.16.
According to step 1600, an electronic lock is provided, the
electronic lock being mounted to a bicycle rack. In one
embodiment, the electronic lock comprises a male connector
mounted to the bicycle and a female connector mounted to the
bicycle rack, the male connector and the female connector
being engageable together in a lockable position.
According to step 1602, in one embodiment, a user then
guides the male connector ofthe bicycle to be secured into the
female connector towards the lockable position.
connector are then engaged together in the lockable position.
According to step 1606, in one embodiment, the first and
second connecting members are then held engaged together
in the lockable position.
According to step 1608, in one embodiment, a positioning
of the male connector and the female connector in the lockable position is then monitored.
According to step 1610, in one embodiment, the bicycle is
identified to provide an identification thereof.
There is also provided a kit for removably securing a
bicycle to a bicycle rack. In this embodiment, the male connectar is not yet mounted on the bicycle, but is mountable
thereto. Similarly, the female connector is not yet mounted to
the bicycle rack, but is mountable thereto.
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The skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodiing of said first and second connecting members in
ment, it may be envisaged to mount the female connector to
said lockable position; and
the bicycle and the male connector to the bicycle rack.
Furthermore, providing the male connector and the female
actuator for controlling selective actuation of the
connector separately may also be contemplated by the skilled 5
addressee.
to the Jocked position when tlie position detecting
means detects that said first and second connecting
The skilled addressee will appreciate that, in one embodimembers are in said lockable position.
ment, the movable locking member, the actuator and the
electronic control means may be associated with the connect2. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
10 electronic control means are operatively coupled to the actuaing member mounted to the movable item.
tor for urging activation of the actuator, thereby causing the
The skilled addressee will also appreciate that other configurations for the first and second complementary cooperatmovable Jocking member to be selectively actuated from the
ing 9onnecting members may be considered. For instance, the
unlocked position to the locked position and from the locked
first connecting member may comprise a male connector and
position to the unlocked position.
the second connecting member may comprise a female con- 15
3. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
nectar.
first connecting member comprises a female connector
mounted to said structure and said second connecting memOne skilled in the art will further appreciate that the elecber comprises a corresponding complementary male connectronic lock herein described may be used in other applicator mounted to said bicycle.
tions. In an alternative embodiment, the movable item may
comprise a boat and the structure a docking wharf. In another 20
second connecting member comprises a male connector havembodiment, the movable item may comprise a stroller and
ing a front tapered portion, said tapered portion comprising
the structure a stroller renting station located in a mall.
In yet another embodiment, the structure may not be part of
two opposed side surfaces converging towards each other and
a bicycle rental station. In such an embodiment, the structure
a bottom surface, said first connecting member comprising a
may instead comprise a bicycle rack owned by a user. Alter- 25 female connector having a recess adapted for receiving said
front tapered portion therein, said recess comprising a correnatively, in a city area, the structure may be a fence or a house
sponding tapered portion having two opposed inner side walls
wall. This configuration advantageously enables a user ownconverging towards each other and two opposed sitting meming a movable item, such as a bicycle, to removably secure the
bers projecting inwards said recess and adapted for slidably
movable item to a structure owned by the same user.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that other arrange- 30 receiving thereon said tapered portion of said male connector.
ments for the movable locking member may be considered.
5. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 4, wherein each
of said two opposed side surfaces and said bottom surface of
Indeed, in the present description the locking member has
been described as being translatable but one may envisaged
said front tapered portion of said male connector comprises a
planar surface.
an alternative embodiment wherein the movable locking
6. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
member would be rotatable between the locked and the 35
unlocked position.
two opposed side surfaces of the front tapered portion of the
male connector define a V-shape and the corresponding inner
Although the above description relates to specific preferred
embodiments as presently contemplated by the inventor, it
side walls of the tapered portion of the recess of the female
will be understood that the invention in its broad aspect
connector define a complementary V-shape adapted to snugincludes mechanical and functional equivalents of the ele- 40 gly receive the front tapered portion of the male connector.
ments described herein.
7. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 4, wherein each
of said two opposed side surfaces of the front tapered portion
of the male connector comprises a substantially vertical plaThe invention claimed is:
1. An electronic lock for removably securing a bicycle to a
nar surface and each of said two opposed inner side walls of
structure, the electronic lock comprising:
45 the tapered portion of the recess of the female connector
comprises a substantially vertical planar surface.
members, each being fixedly mounted to a respective
one of the bicycle and tlie structure and being engagesecond connecting member comprises a locking finger
extending downwardly from the front tapered portion, said
a securing assembly for securing said first and second 50 locking aperture being provided on said Jocking finger.
connecting members together when engaged in the lock9. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
recess of said female connector further comprises two
opposed lower inner side walls converging towards each other
a movable locking member operatively associated to the
and defining a finger channel adapted for receiving the lockfirst connecting member;
a locking aperture defined in the second connecting 55 ing finger therein.
member, said locking aperture being adapted for
male connector further comprises a back portion and a hinge
receiving the movable locking member when the conextending between the front tapered portion and the back
portion for enabling a jointed coupling therebetween.
position;
an actuator operatively coupled to the movable locking 60
11. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 1, further commember for actuating the movable Jocking member
prising holding means adapted for cooperating with each of
the connecting members for temporarily holding said conbetween an unlocked position enabling disengagenecting members together in said lockable position once
ment of the first and second connecting members and
a locked position wherein the movable locking memengaged therein.
12. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 11, wherein
ber engages the locking aperture;
65
said holding means comprise a pair of two opposed biased
elements mounted to a respective one of said first and second
second connecting members for detecting a position-
US 8,272,491 B2
21
22
20. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said

connecting members, each of said biased elements having a
electronic control means comprise unsec~g means for
resting position wherein said element is urged outwardly and
enabling an actuating of the movable locking member from
pron:udes from the corresponding connecting member, said
the locked position to the unlocked position, said unsecuring
holding means further comprising a pair of corresponding
cooperating opposed receiving recesses mounted to the 5 means being selected :from a group consisting of a card reader
adapted for receiving a corresponding user card, a keypad
remaining connecting member, each of said receiving
adapted for receiving a user code and a bar code reader
ri:cesses being adapted to receive therein a corresponding
adapted for reading a corresponding bar code.
biased element when said first and second connecting mem21 . The electronic lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
bers are engaged in said lockable position, thereby holding
10 movable locking member comprises an elongated member
said connecting members together in said lockable position.
axially translatable between said unlocked position and said
locked position, said Jocking member being engaged at both
each of sa~d biased elements comprises a ball and a ball spring
ends in said first connecting member through said locking
mounted m a ball housing, each of said receiving recesses
aperture when in said locked position.
comprising a corresponding spherical portion.
22. The electronic lock as claimed in claim 21 wherein
15
said actuator comprises a motor and a shaft drive~ by said
each of said biased elements is mounted on the c~nnecting
motor, said shaft being attached to the movable locking memmember ~ounted to the structure and each of the receiving
ber for driving said movable Jocking member between said
recesses is mounted on the connecting member mounted to
unlocked position and said locked position.
the bicycle.
20
15. TJ;ie electronic lock as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
said s.ecuring assembly further comprises shaft position
connecting member mounted to the structure comprises a
detecting means for monitoring a position of the shaft to
female connector and the connecting member mounted to the
thereby monitor a position of the movable locking member.
bicycle comprises a male connector.
25 said shaft position detecting means comprise an optical detecsecuring assembly comprises position det~ting means
tor and a mechanical detector, each of said detector being
mo~ted to the female connector for detecting a positioning
adapted for detecting the position of the shaft and an associof said first and second connecting members in said lockable
ated position of the movable locking member in said locked
position, said position detecting means being adapted for
position.
detecting a positioning of the locking finger in the finger
30
channel.
structure comprises a bicycle rack.
securing assembly further comprises:
'
said bicycle rack is a part of a bicycle rental statio~.
secoi:id connecting members for detecting a positioning
35 said c?nnecting member mounted on said bicycle ~omprises
of said first and second connecting member in said lockattaching means for fixedly attaching said connecting memable position;
ber to a fork of said bicycle.
an identification tag associated with said bicycle; and
an identification reader for identifying said identification
said attaching means comprise a pair of cylindrical holes
tag and said associated bicycle when said first and sec40 extending through said connecting member mounted on said
ond connectors are engaged in said lockable position.
bicy~le, ~id pair of cy~in~cal holes being adapted to fixedly
receive said fork of said bicycle therein.
sa.id el~tronic control means is adapted for selecti~ely actu29. The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein said position
ating sa~d actuator to move said movable locking member
detecting means comprises a mechanical detector.
from said unlocked position to said locked position upon
45
30. !he electronic lock of claim 29, wherein said position
detection of said positioning of said first and second connectdetecting means further comprises a mechanical switch
ing members in said lockable position and identification of
located such that it is activated when the locking member is in
the associated bicycle.
the unlocked position.
31. The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein said position
s.aid i~entification tag comprises an RFID tag and ~id iden50 detecting means comprises an optical detector.
tification reader comprises an RFID reader mounted to said
structure.
* * * * *

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Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 1 of 10 PageID #: 1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338.

Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400(b).

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 2 of 10 PageID #: 2

Defendant, Motivate International Inc. (Motivate), formerly known as Alta

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 3 of 10 PageID #: 3

In or around October 2014, REQX Ventures, LLC (REQX) approached Plaintiff

regarding a potential business relationship, requesting information concerning Plaintiffs

Pursuant to a non-disclosure agreement with REQX, Plaintiff disclosed

information concerning its products and Software to REQX.

In or around October 2014, REQX acquired Alta Bicycle Share, which

subsequently changed its name to Motivate.

In or around April 1, 2015, Motivate ceased using Plaintiffs Software, and

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 4 of 10 PageID #: 4

COUNT I INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,061,499

and incorporates them herein by reference.

As a direct and proximate result of Motivates and NYC Bike Shares

and incorporates them herein by reference.

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 5 of 10 PageID #: 5

As a direct and proximate result of Motivates and NYC Bike Shares

and incorporates them herein by reference.

Without Plaintiffs authorization, Motivate and NYC Bike Share have

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 6 of 10 PageID #: 6

The 787 Patent

The Infringing Bicycle

within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 271.

As a direct and proximate result of Motivates and NYC Bike Shares

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 7 of 10 PageID #: 7

and incorporates them herein by reference.

Without Plaintiffs authorization, Motivate and NYC Bike Share have

The Infringing Bicycle Rack

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 8 of 10 PageID #: 8

The 618 Patent

The Infringing Bicycle Rack

Patent within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 271.

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 9 of 10 PageID #: 9

As a direct and proximate result of Motivates and NYC Bike Shares

persons in active concert or participation with them, be preliminarily and/or permanently

trebling of damages for willful infringement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 10 of 10 PageID #: 10

Dated: November 6, 2015

Case 1:15-cv-06398 Document 1-1 Filed 11/06/15 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: 11

CIVIL COVER SHEET

PBSC Urban Solutions

Motivate International Inc. and NYC Bike Share, LLC

(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff

County of Residence of First Listed Defendant

(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES)

(IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)

Attorneys (If Known)

(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number)

II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an X in One Box Only)

III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an X in One Box for Plaintiff

Citizen of Another State

Incorporated and Principal Place

and One Box for Defendant)

IV. NATURE OF SUIT (Place an X in One Box Only)

625 Drug Related Seizure

FEDERAL TAX SUITS

375 False Claims Act

V. ORIGIN (Place an X in One Box Only)

VI. CAUSE OF ACTION Brief description of cause:

Infringement of utility and design patents

PBSC Urban Solutions v. Motivate Int'l - Complaint

PBSC Urban Solutions v. Motivate Int'l - Complaint