Patent Application
20050279145
The invention relates to the field of devices for storing keys and managing and controlling access to the keys.
In various situations such as vehicle dealerships, vehicle rentals, equipment rentals, vehicle repair shops and the like, numerous keys are being held at any given time. It is important to control access to such keys so that only authorized individuals may remove the keys and also to be able to identify which individual has possession of a particular key at any given time.
A number of systems have been patented in the area of devices for controlling access to stored keys in which a master key is used to release the subject key or article. U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,952 Hollowell, Jr. discloses a system for the management of the issuance and return of articles such as keys, tools and the like. It uses a master unlocking key to engage a geared locking bar which then frees the locking key attached to the article and locks the master key in the device. The master key is released when the locking key is re-inserted into the device and turned to cause a gear to move the geared locking bar to the original position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,509 Batchelor et al. discloses a system for retaining and controlling keys in which a universal key turns a lug which engages a notch in the subject key to retain it or release it when the universal key is returned to its original position. In this system the subject keys must be notched by a grinder in order for the system to work. U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066 Baucom discloses a device for alternately locking a selected one of a pair of keys and releasing the other key for removal from the device. It uses a visitor key having a geared end which engages a geared slider and moves the slider when the visitor key is rotated to alternately release the home key and secure the visitor key or secure the home key and release the visitor key. A system of cams and pins prevents the visitor key from being removed when the home key is removed and vice versa.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,021 Smith discloses a key control device which uses a primary key and lock and a secondary key and lock. The cylinders of the two locks are interconnected by a tie rod or gears such that insertion of one of the two keys frees the second key and retains the first key, and vice versa. U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,613 Tabacchi et al. discloses a key control device which uses an access key and lock and a stored key and lock. Rotation of the keys rotate cams which engage with a lid whereby only one key can be removed at any time and removal of one key prevents removal of the other key.
The invention provides a key control apparatus comprising: a plurality of key control units; a plurality of key holding elements each adapted to have a key attached to it; a plurality of access control elements; each control unit having a passage for alternately receiving a unique one of said key holding units and a passage for receiving any one of said access control elements; whereby said key control element can be removed by inserting any of one of the access control elements into said passage but said access control element can only be removed when said unique corresponding key holding element is inserted into said control unit.
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention
Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
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In operation, a key holding element 12 is removed from cabinet 10 using a master access key 80, and key 14 is attached to the key holding element 12 along with an identification tag 15 which identifies the customer, type of vehicle, license no. etc. The key holding element 12 is then returned to cabinet 10, and then cannot be removed due to spring 50 biasing sliding cylinder 52 in position whereby ball bearing 56 extends into the hemispherical cut-out 24 of key holder 12. Each key holder 12 can only be received in one unique control element 11 due to the configuration of pins 30 and the half-round end 25 of shank 20. When a uniquely numbered access control key 19 is inserted into opening 42 it compresses spring 50 and ball bearing 54 is pushed into hemispherical cut-out 38, and ball bearing 56 is forced out of cut-out 24 as key holder 12 is pushed out of channel 48 by spring 50, and can then be removed from control unit 11. Access control key 19 cannot now be removed from control unit 11 due to the biasing of spring 50 causing sliding cylinder 52 to hold ball bearings 54, 56 in place. Access control key 19 can only be removed similarly when the unique key holder 12 corresponding to that control unit 11 is replaced. By putting a unique identifier such as a number or initials on face 40 a manager can identify which individual has possession of the key which has been removed from a particular control unit 11. Even if a second access key 19 is inserted into opening 42 while an access key 19 is in opening 18, the latter cannot be removed since the cut-away 38 on the second access key will not be in position to interact with ball bearing 56 when the half-round end is appropriately oriented to by-pass plate 62. Thus the manager will know which individual employee has control of the key in question.
As an alternate procedure, the manager may use the master key 80 first thing in the day to remove all key holders 12 from the cabinet and then replace them as keys are left by customers during the day.
In order to facilitate manufacture of the unique pin 30 configurations, face plate 40 can be injection molded having the array of 12 holes partially penetrating the face plate but for a thin wall of plastic which can then be removed by hand in the desired locations to match the configurations of pins 30 on key holders 12. 100 unique pin configurations can be provided using 4 pins, by varying the position of 2 pins in one of 5 holes on one half of the circumference to provide the first digit from 0 to 9 and the second digit from 0 to 9 is then provided by varying the position of the other 2 pins in one of 5 holes on the other half of the circumference.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
