Research for a university project. - Bike locks

Hey folks,

I'm currently working on a university project and am looking to design a new type of bike lock. I want to get as much research as possible, and opinions from as a wide a variety of places as possible.

The main problems I see with current locks is that they are heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to carry. And if they aren't, they're weak as hell (i.e. cable locks).

So if any of you have any opinions on any of these questions, I'd appreciate your feedback:

1 - What bike lock do you use? (type and/or make and model)

2 - What problems do you think exist with the use of current common bike locks? (those being D locks, chains, and cable locks)

3 - What (if anything) do you think could be done to improve current bike locks?

4 - Do you have any other opinions on bike locks in general that you think might be relevant?

Thanks for your time :)
Felix

I recommend you look into anti-theft paste.

hiplok.

so called because it's 'hip'.

Sounds like a good brief.

Look into new materials - coated polymers or armoured Kevlar compounds (you will have to sort out your RRP).

Keyless function would be great. Loads of people loose keys or worse break them in the barrel.

You want something lightweight, secure and keyless. With a Jonathan Ive style design with market appeal.

This product, is probably one of the best graduate design from a product designer in recent years (imo):

Mu Folding USB Charger for Smartphones: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

You need to do to locks what this person has done with travel plugs.

Whats your course and where are you studying? I wish I could do my major project again!

That hiplok is quite a neat idea, still the weight problem but at least it's easily carry-able.

Anti-theft paste is an idea but it's a still a big heavy bike lock.

That plug is amazing, I've seen it somewhere before I think. Im doing BSc Product design at Nottingham Trent Uni :)

Where were you at, fahrgestell?

On a serious note I've often wondered about the possibilities of using the thin unbraided fibres used inside chainsaw trousers. They might be impossible to cut with power tools as they choke up chainsaws, maybe would do the same to angle-grinders?. I think. Maybs. Could be bundled into thick cables, coated, and would be light...

Shit I should flipping be an inventor or summat.

That hiplok is quite a neat idea, still the weight problem but at least it's easily carry-able.

Anti-theft paste is an idea but it's a still a big heavy bike lock.

That plug is amazing, I've seen it somewhere before I think. Im doing BSc Product design at Nottingham Trent Uni :)

Where were you at, fahrgestell?

uuuuh no anti theft paste is a forum joke, sorry. It means smearing poo on the saddle and handlebars.

On a serious note I've often wondered about the possibilities of using the thin unbraided fibres used inside chainsaw trousers.

This is my thinking with Kevlar armoured cable.

I went to London South Bank and did Product Design BSc. I regretted the university choice as soon as I started. I got an unconditional offer from Coventry uni to do Automotive Design but turned it down.

I'm in commercial furniture sales now live and learn!

Trent is supposed to be great, good nightlife too!

Ohh i see haha!

With the chainsaw trousers, I think it's just kevlar or similar in there. They stop the chainsaw because it pulls out like a thread and gets stuck in the blades. The material itself can still be easily cut with cutters and even special scissors as far as i'm aware :S I will definitely look into lighter materials though..

This is my thinking with Kevlar armoured cable.

I went to London South Bank and did Product Design BSc. I regretted the university choice as soon as I started. I got an unconditional offer from Coventry uni to do Automotive Design but turned it down.

I'm in commercial furniture sales now live and learn!

Trent is supposed to be great, good nightlife too!

Haha well i quit computer science and maths after a year to do product design and couldn't be happier with it :)

Yeah the nightlife's great, shame about the copious gun violence..

I have an "official" survey here if anyone feels like it (it'll only take a minute):

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1418970/Bike-lock-survey-for-cyclists

Though I'll be using this thread as research too

Survey done, pretty painless.

Many thanks :D

Keep the responses coming folks, any opinions big or small are good research!

This is my thinking with Kevlar armoured cable.

I went to London South Bank and did Product Design BSc. I regretted the university choice as soon as I started. I got an unconditional offer from Coventry uni to do Automotive Design but turned it down.

I'm in commercial furniture sales now live and learn!

Trent is supposed to be great, good nightlife too!

HAAAA! I did exactly the same thing! Conditional turned down, DeMontfort for Product. Didn't regret the Uni but the course was very vanilla.

This will not be the idea I go with, but what are people's thoughts on this:
(Haven't done the locking mechanism yet, and would obviously be combined with a security pedal wrench or similar)

Light + Strong = win

Don't care how fancy/ugly it is design-wise if it is both light and strong.
Probably wouldn't give much of a shit about the $$ either.

really nice looking
good design
key thing though, it should work well

That will scratch my paint work

That will scratch my paint work

The idea would be that it replaces your pedal and stays there. So it won't touch your paintwork as it branches outwards away from the bike..

This will not be the idea I go with, but what are people's thoughts on this:
(Haven't done the locking mechanism yet, and would obviously be combined with a security pedal wrench or similar)

Linkage = weak points.
At this point I think the biggest problems remains a materials one rather than a design one. Sure, there's a number of chains out there, but have you seen the size? That's needed to compensate for flexibility. That's why D-locks are successful, yet that's not to say they are unbreakable. If thieves can ride off with cleated pedals, I'm sure a lack of pedals isn't gonna hinder them. Clever, but unless you live somewhere like Japan, they're ultimately pointless.

What's your aim at this point? Functionality? Safety? ergonomics? (Dictates design)
Who's your target audience? (can dictate ergonomics)
What's your target budget? (pricing)

There was a titanium one recently, and while it looked (arguable) and sounded good. It was a piece of shit and cut in half in seconds. Enough leverage and anything with linkages can be broken. Here it is: Shitty lock

I read somewhere that some locks have an advanced vulcanized rubber coating that hiders any motorized saw from getting to the steel to begin with. (I can't back this up in any way)

Or maybe a lock that has a hardening polymer Any sudden impact exerted above a lb will activate the liquid.

Light + strong? yeah that's ideal, but that also means exotic materials, which instantly hikes up your pricing.
The best lock is deterrence. Before the thief even gets to your bike he's being backed away. Look into implementing current tech advances into the lock or something. A warning or an alert system.

Easier to carry than the current maximum security but no more likely to get cut.

So either lighter, smaller, or both, or with an ingenious way to attach to the bike.

I agree with you completely about the links, that's why I decided it wasn't a go-er.

The main aim of the project judging by the survey responses so far, is to provide at least the same amount of protection as the strongest D locks, but be lighter and easier to carry, hence trying to incorporate it into a bike part.

Also going on people's responses, the price would need to be below about £80.

I also considered a tracking device of some sort, which could then be tracked through your phone if your bike goes walkies.

I agree with you completely about the links, that's why I decided it wasn't a go-er.

The main aim of the project judging by the survey responses so far, is to provide at least the same amount of protection as the strongest D locks, but be lighter and easier to carry, hence trying to incorporate it into a bike part

Compromise. Strongest will mean heaviest. Lightest will mean weakest. It's why vault doors aren't made of particularly light metals.
Without sounding like I'm shutting you down, You'll need to think outside of the locks protective limitations. As in not how the lock will preform WHEN it's being assaulted, but rather how the lock defends itself. Outside of Hardened steel, you'll start getting into the funky stuff to produce the lock or save weight: Hardness scale

Your most common target is this: Fahgettaboudit In terms of compactness, safety and durability, it's the most popular (Unless someone cares to debate that) But it's a heavy bastard. Can you make it lighter? If not, can you make it less cumbersome?

Or maybe a lock that has a hardening polymer Any sudden impact exerted above a lb will activate the liquid.

.

That is a brilliant idea. I believe the US were designing this for bullet proof vests.

If your doing a BA you'll get marks for your surface design. If your on a BSc the money shot will be th mechanism - this is what I would refine. The mechanics (or lack of) of the product.

Marketability will be the success or failure of the product. It maybe worthwhile consulting with a well known brand in locks lik Chubb and asking a respected bike shop like kinoko for design.

Have you looked at using CRT card reading technology. Currently used on locker systems. Users gain access (open locks) by using cards which work on a frequency?

Chak looked a Du Mont too! Can't believ I didn't do a BA!!! what industry you in now?