Chapter 5

Kryptonite Lock Company—Orchestrating Survival

How the Blogs Unlocked the Secret of Kryptonite

The Kryptonite lock is a brand of bicycle lock that secures a bicycle when the owner leaves it in a public place. Kryptonite’s parent company, Ingersoll-Rand, claims that Kryptonite represents 1% of the company’s $10 billion in sales. The lock was developed in 1972 by Chicago Lock. The lock, named after the material that can defeat Superman, promised invincibility.

The design consisted of a U-shaped piece made of hardened steel with a circular cross-section and a removable crossbar. A pin tumbler locking mechanism was the main component of the lock. The bicycle can thus be secured to a pole using this lock. The company used independent third-party ...

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