Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6691539
-
Patent Number
6,691,539
-
Date Filed
Friday, June 21, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 17, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 070 396
- 070 397
- 070 399
- 070 413
- 070 2783
- 070 257
- 070 408
- 070 456 R
- 070 459
- 070 395
- 206 371
- 206 372
- 206 373
- 206 374
- 206 375
- 206 381
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
In a combined mechanical and electronic key, electronic components and mechanical flat keys (30) are normally housed in a common key holder (10). In order to place the flat key (30) between a lowered rest position in a holder (10) and a projecting in-use position, the flat key (30) is movably located in a container (10) and secured in at least one of the positions by a push button (40). The key contain is assembled from an upper and a lower shell. In order to avoid sealing problems between both shells, according to the invention, the upper shell (11) is provided with an outbreak in a region pertaining thereto which lies outwith the push button. The outbreak creates a void chamber which can be accessed from the outside and is located on the inside of the shell interior. The electronic components are enclosed by a housing-like capsule and form therewith a prefabricated electrocapsule (20). The electrocapsule (20) forms a socket unit, which can be inserted thereafter in the void chamber pertaining to the pre-assembled key container (10). The electrocapsules (10) are secured in the key container (10) when inserted in the socket. The push button (40) is used to advantage for securing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a combination key of the type indicated in the introductory clause of claim 1. A key of this type makes it possible to actuate locks directly in a mechanical manner but also, either alternatively or supplementally, to actuate them electronically, e.g., to actuate the particular lock in question or other locks from a remote location. The key container itself represents the means by which the key is actuated both mechanically and electrically. For the purpose of electronic actuation, therefore, the key container has actuating points on its outside surface in the form of, for example, electrical push buttons or resilient membranes, which act on electrical switches or the like provided inside the container. The flat mechanical key is held with freedom of movement in the interior of the container and can be moved from a home position, recessed in the container, to a working position, projecting out of the container. So that the flat key can be held securely in its two positions, it is recommended that it be latched in both positions by a push button mounted in the container and spring-loaded in the axial direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the known key of this type (DE 39 02 537 C2), not only the mechanical flat key but also the electronic components for electronic actuation are installed directly in the interior of the key container. The electronic components also include the batteries which supply the necessary power, and after a certain period of use they must be replaced. For this reason, the key container consists of an upper shell and a lower shell, which can be detached from each other when necessary. It is a difficult and time-consuming process to disassemble and then reassemble the shell parts. So that the flat key can remain hidden in the interior of the container when in the home position, a lateral recess is provided in the key container, out of which the mechanical flat key travels as it proceeds to its working position. As a result of the joint between the upper shell and the lower shell, dirt and moisture can enter the interior of the container, for which reason it is important to provide a good seal at this point. This seal, however, is not always guaranteed after prolonged use, especially after electronic components or batteries have been replaced. The removal of the electronic components and batteries from the interior of the housing and their reinstallation is laborious and time-consuming. When the two shells of the key container are taken apart and put back together again, there is also the danger that the seal will not be located properly or that it will be damaged. A similar solution suffering from the same disadvantages is described in EP 0 267 429 A1.
It is also known from GB 2 080 386 A that a cartridge can be mounted on top of a mechanical key. The cartridge, which consists of two shells and contains a light source, forms a housing-like capsule and can be inserted as a plug-in unit or attached at a later time. For this purpose the key grip has an opening, which forms a free space accessible from the outside. The disadvantage of this design is that the plug-in unit is not secured in the plugged-in position and can easily come loose from its seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the task of developing a reliable, space-saving key of the type indicated above, which presents no sealing problems and which makes it easy to replace the electronic components and possibly the batteries.
The invention does not have to deal with the sealing problem between the upper shell and the lower shell, because the electronic components which are highly sensitive to dirt and moisture, which may also include the electric batteries, are enclosed by a housing-like capsule, with which they form a prefabricated structural unit, referred to below in short as the “electrocapsule”. The components inside the electrocapsule are sealed off on all sides. If needed, the electronic components can be embedded in the electrocapsule. This electrocapsule is independent of the sealing function and therefore presents no sealing problems for the key container. The electronic components and their electric batteries are housed in the interior of the electrocapsule and are thus protected from the outside. The electrocapsule can be plugged quickly and easily into the free space of the key container and removed again without the need to take apart the two-shell key container. The electrocapsule can be put on the market as a separate commercial product, which can be bought by the owner of the key and installed on the key container, which always remains closed.
Both the key container with its opening and the electrocapsule are prefabricated independently and can be put together and taken apart at any time. Because the key container does not need to be separated into its two shells, it presents no sealing problems. After the electrocapsule has been plugged in, it is unimportant whether the key container is sealed or not, because the only components in it such as the flat mechanical key are insensitive to dirt and moisture. The opening in the key container is closed by the plugged-in electrocapsule. The electrocapsule fits together with the key container to form a complete combination housing, which is manipulated as a single unit when the key is used. The surface of the combination housing used for manipulation is therefore formed in part by the key container of the mechanical flat key and in part by the remaining exposed outside surface of the electrocapsule. Flush joints will be provided at the transitions between the two parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Additional measures and advantages of the invention can be derived from the subclaims, from the following description, and from the drawings. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically in the drawings:
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view of the key container, from which mechanical flat key projects;
FIG. 2
shows another perspective view, this time of a plug-in unit belonging to the flat key of
FIG. 1
, consisting of an electronic capsule enclosing the electronic components;
FIG. 3
shows a combination housing, assembled from the key container of FIG.
1
and the plug-in unit of
FIG. 2
, which is used to manipulate the key during the mechanical and electronic actuating processes;
FIG. 4
shows an exploded view of some of the essential parts of the key container shown in
FIG. 1
, along with the mechanical flat key, before the parts have been assembled;
FIG. 5
shows an exploded view of the two components of the mechanical flat key before they are combined;
FIG. 6
shows a cross section through the component of
FIG. 5
along the cross-sectional line VI—VI shown there;
FIG. 7
shows a cross section through the assembled key container of
FIG. 1
along the cross-sectional line VII—VII shown there, where the push button is seen in its pushed-in position;
FIG. 8
shows an axial cross section through the key container shown in
FIG. 1
along the cross-sectional line VIII—VIII shown there; and
FIG. 9
shows a cross section through the combination housing shown in
FIG. 3
along the cross-sectional line IX—IX shown there.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The combination key according to the invention allows both the mechanical and the electronic actuation of a lock (not shown). It consists of two parts
10
,
20
, each prefabricated separately, which are then inserted into each other. The one part
10
comprises the mechanical closing means and consists of a key container
10
, the components of which can be seen most easily in the exploded diagram of FIG.
4
. The other part
20
is a plug-in unit, to be described in greater detail below, which holds in its interior the electronic components
21
, indicated in cross section in FIG.
9
.
As can be seen on the basis of
FIGS. 1 and 4
, the mechanical part comprises, first, a two-shell key container
10
. Whereas the upper shell
11
, as can be seen in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, is designed as a flat plate with connecting projections
13
at various points on its inside surface, the lower shell
12
comprises side walls
14
and a bottom part
15
. Connecting sockets
16
for the previously mentioned connecting projections
13
on the upper shell
11
are located at various points in the side walls
14
. The upper shell
11
extends only over the front end of the key container
10
and has at the rear an open area
17
, which creates an empty space accessible from the outside and leading toward the interior
18
of the shell. This is important for the insertion and removal of the plug-in unit
20
to be described in greater detail below.
The key container
10
also includes, as
FIG. 4
shows, a mechanical flat key
30
, which is installed with freedom of movement, so that it can be moved from a recessed, home position in the container
10
(not shown) into a working position, projecting from the container, as shown in
FIGS. 1-4
. The flat key
30
is made of metal. Although other types of movement could also be imagined, this flat key 30 is free to pivot around the pivot axis
33
, indicated in broken line in
FIGS. 1
,
3
, and
4
. The flat key
30
is made as a stamping from a flat plate
34
, illustrated in broken line in
FIG. 5
; the stamping has an L-shaped outline with two sidepieces
31
,
32
. One of the sidepieces of the L is short and serves to support the flat key
30
at the front end of the key container so that the key can pivot and is therefore referred to in short below as the “support sidepiece”. The other sidepiece
32
of the L comprises the actual flat profile of the key shaft, for which reason it is referred to in the following as the “shaft sidepiece”. These two sidepieces
31
,
32
therefore lie in a common plane, determined by the previously mentioned plate
34
; in the final assembled state of the key container
10
, this plane is perpendicular to the pivot axis
33
. As can be seen in
FIG. 5
, the support sidepiece
31
is provided with a noncircular plate opening
35
, which serves to hold a separate insert
36
.
The push button
40
is spring-loaded both in the axial and in the radial direction and has profiles
19
,
48
,
28
designed to be in agreement with those of the container
10
. The insert
36
consists of relatively resilient material, preferably plastic, and has a special counter profile
37
,
38
,
39
for a push button
40
, which determines the position of the pivot axis
33
. The spring action is exerted by a combination compression-torsion spring
41
, which, as can be seen in
FIG. 7
, is held in an axial bore
45
in the push button
40
. The spring
41
is attached nonrotatably by its one end
42
to the push button
40
, whereas the other end
43
of the spring is attached to the lower shell
12
of the container
10
. The spring
41
is helical in design. During the assembly process, a mandrel
44
, seated on the inside surface of bottom of the lower shell
12
, projects into the interior of the spiral and also into the insert
36
.
According to
FIG. 5
, the flat key
30
and its plate opening
35
are first produced by stamping, and then the insert
36
is inserted vertically into the plate opening
35
. After insertion, the insert projects beyond the two flat surfaces of the flat key, as
FIGS. 4 and 7
show. In addition, the insert also has cylindrical projections
47
, shown in
FIG. 6
, and stop pins
39
, extending from each of the two flat sides and projecting into ring-shaped groove segments
19
in the two shells
11
and
12
, as can be seen in FIG.
8
. When the stop pin
39
is in the position shown in solid line in
FIG. 8
, the key is in the previously mentioned working position, after it has been pivoted out of the container
10
. Then the previously described shaft sidepiece
32
of the flat key
30
extends in the direction of the auxiliary line
30
.
1
indicated in broken line in
FIG. 8
, which characterizes the working position of the flat key
30
illustrated in the other figures. In this working position
30
.
1
, the flat key is latched by the push button
40
. Then driver wings
48
, arranged diametrically in the present case on the push button
40
, engage in associated radial grooves
28
in the inside surface of the upper shell
11
and thus secure the flat key
30
in its outward-pivoted position.
Axial grooves
38
in the insert
36
serve as counter profiles for the driver wings
48
; these grooves allow an inward-pushing movement in the direction of the force arrow
46
shown in FIG.
7
. This inward movement
46
, which has been completed in
FIG. 7
, pushes the push button
40
into its lowered position, as a result of which the driver wings
48
become disengaged from the radial grooves
28
. The inward movement
46
takes place against the axial force of the spring
41
. The latching of the working position
30
.
1
is then released. The flat key can then be swung back into its home position in the housing in the direction of the motion arrow
29
of
FIG. 8
against the torsional force of the spring
41
, illustrated by the force arrow
49
in FIG.
8
. Then the shaft sidepiece
32
of the flat key
30
lies on the broken line indicated by the number
30
.
2
, as seen in FIG.
8
. In this home position
30
.
2
, the shaft sidepiece
32
has disappeared in the lateral gap
24
, which can be seen in
FIG. 3
, of the overall housing
50
, to be described in greater detail below, which is formed out of the key container
10
and the plug-in unit
20
, which has been inserted into the container. Then the driver wings
48
are again in axial alignment with the radial grooves
28
in the housing; they snap into the grooves under the restoring force of the spring
41
and thus also latch the flat key in this home position
30
.
2
in the key container
10
.
The push button
40
also serves as a pivot bearing for the pivoting movement
29
. For this purpose, a bearing bore
25
is provided in the upper shell
11
of the container
10
, as can be seen in FIG.
4
. This bore is in axial alignment with an axial bore
37
in the insert
36
shown in
FIGS. 5
, and
6
and with the previously mentioned mandrel
44
on the lower shell
12
. The push button
40
determines the pivot axis
33
of the flat key
30
. The stop pin
39
on the insert on one side and the ring-shaped groove segment
19
assigned to it on the housing side can also take over rotational guide functions during the pivoting movement
29
. In addition, rotational stops can also be realized by the outline profile of the key
30
on the one side and inside surfaces on the two shells
11
,
12
on other.
Instead of prefabricating the insert
36
, it would also be possible to postfabricate the insert
36
by an injection-molding technique. For this purpose, the described flat key
30
is introduced into an injection mold, in which the insert
36
is then formed in the plate opening
35
by casting. The counter profiling
37
,
38
,
39
,
47
mentioned above is then present again in the same form.
In many applications, a so-called transponder
26
is also desirable in the case of the above-mentioned combination key for electronic actuation. This transponder
26
is intended to individualize the combination key electronically right from the start. When the key is inserted into the associated lock, a communications process take place between the transponder
26
and the lock; if it is found that the lock and the key belong together, the lock functions are initiated immediately. For this reason, transponders
26
of this type are installed in the forward area of the key container
10
in the invention. For this purpose, the lower shell
12
has a chamber
27
, into which the transponder(s)
26
can be cemented. Because an electronic power supply is not required for the transponder
26
, the final assembled key container
10
of
FIG. 1
does not need to be separated into its shells
11
,
12
so that the battery can be replaced, etc. The transponders
26
are therefore protected permanently in their chamber
27
. This also applies to the previously mentioned additional electronic components
21
, which form an internal part of the previously mentioned detachable plug-in unit
20
of the overall housing
50
.
As can best be seen in
FIG. 9
, a housing-like capsule
22
, in the interior
23
of which the components
21
are mounted and thus closed off on all sides from the outside, belongs to the plug-in unit
20
. The wiring of the components and possibly the electrical interference can be provided in the interior
23
of the capsule. This structural unit
21
,
22
, which can be plugged into the key container
10
, is prefabricated as a complete unit and is called the “electrocapsule” in the following. For assembly purposes, the key container
10
is shaped to accommodate it as follows.
The previously mentioned open area
17
of the key container
10
is produced simply by allowing the upper shell
11
, as seen in
FIG. 1
, to cover only the forward section
51
of the key container
10
. As a result, an open area accessible from the outside and leading to the interior
18
of the shell is created. This open area
17
has not only an upper opening
52
facing upward but also a side opening
53
, accessible from the rear
54
. This side opening arises because not only the rear section of the upper shell
11
is missing but also, as
FIG. 1
shows, the side wall
14
of the lower shell
12
has been omitted at the rear
54
of the container
10
. The electrocapsule
20
is pushed through this side opening
53
into the open area
17
of the key container
10
in the direction of the motion arrow
55
of FIG.
1
. In its plugged-in position according to
FIG. 3
, the electrocapsule
20
seals off the upper opening
52
. The plug-in movement
55
is on a plane parallel to the above-mentioned pivoting movement
29
. The following guide means
61
,
62
are provided to guide the insertion and sliding-in movement
55
of the electrocapsule
20
.
On the interior surface of the bottom
15
of the lower shell
12
, there are two parallel guide strips
61
, which extend toward the side opening
53
. They are undercut and have preferably a dovetail profile. To these strips are assigned complementary guide grooves
62
in the bottom surface of the housing of the electrocapsule
20
. The engagement between these guide means
61
,
62
can be seen in the cross section of FIG.
9
. One of the long sides of the capsule housing
22
according to
FIG. 9
has a step at
58
,
30
that, together with a corresponding step
59
in the lower shell
12
according to
FIG. 4
, the lateral gap
24
for the shaft sidepiece
32
of the flat key
30
is created when the capsule is inserted. In the inserted position according to
FIGS. 3 and 9
, the external surfaces of the electrocapsule
20
which remain visible on the one side and the external surfaces of the key container
10
which remain visible on the other form a flush transition with each other. The two parts
10
,
20
form then the previously mentioned combination housing
50
; during the manipulation of the key, the two parts are gripped jointly by the hand. The combination of the two is therefore called the “combination housing”. This applies both to the mechanical actuation of the associated lock, when the outward-pivoted shaft sidepiece
32
is turned by means of the combination housing
50
, and also to the electronic actuation. For this purpose, actuating points
60
are provided in the common combination housing
50
on the still-visible outside surface of the electrocapsule
20
. These can take the form of push button switches or membrane actuating points. These actuation sites can be provided with additional membrane-like covers in the area of the previously mentioned push button
40
, to which the following special meaning belongs:
The insertion position of the electrocapsule
20
in the key container
10
shown in
FIGS. 3 and 9
is not only limited by stop means
64
but also secured by latching means. This latching function can also be taken over advantageously by the push button
40
. For this purpose, the electrocapsule
20
, according to
FIG. 2
, is extended at the front by a tab
56
, which, when in the inserted position of
FIG. 3
, covers the remaining forward section
51
of the upper shell
11
of the key container
10
. The tab
56
has an opening
57
, into which the axially spring-loaded push button
40
snaps when the electrocapsule
20
according to
FIG. 3
is plugged into position. As a result, it is ensured that the key container and the electrocapsule
20
will be held securely together. The opening
57
passes through the tab
56
, for which reason, after the parts have engaged as shown in
FIG. 3
, a longitudinal piece of the push button
40
sufficient for actuation projects out from the tab
56
. To disassemble the combination housing
50
into its component parts
10
,
20
, the push button
40
, as shown in
FIG. 7
, is pushed in the direction of arrow
46
until it disengages from the opening
57
in the tab
56
.
The push button
40
can be covered by a membrane
63
in the area of the tab
56
, which membrane functions in the same way as for the actuating points
60
. These membranes of the actuating points
60
can be combined with the previously mentioned membrane in the area of the push button.
|
List of Reference Numbers
|
|
|
10
first key part, key container
|
11
upper shell of 10
|
12
lower shell of 10
|
13
connecting projection on 11
|
14
side wall of 12
|
15
bottom of 12
|
16
connecting receptacle in 12
|
17
open area of 11, free space in 18
|
18
interior of shell
|
19
profile in 11, 12 for 39, ring-shaped segment
|
20
second part of key, plug-in unit, electrocapsule
|
21
electronic component
|
22
housing-like capsule for 21
|
23
interior of capsule for 22 in 21
|
24
lateral gap in 50 for 32 (
FIGS. 3
, 9)
|
25
bearing bore in 11 for 40 (FIG. 4)
|
26
transponder
|
27
recess in 11 for 26 (FIG. 4)
|
28
profile in 11 for 48 of 40, radial groove (FIG. 7)
|
29
pivoting movement arrow for 30 (FIG. 8)
|
30
mechanical flat key for 10, stamping
|
30.1
working position of 32 (FIG. 8)
|
30.2
home position of 32 (FIG. 8)
|
31
first L-sidepieceof 30, support sidepiece
|
32
second L-sidepieceof 30, shaft sidepiece
|
33
pivot axis for 30
|
34
flat plate for 30
|
35
plate opening
|
36
insert in 35
|
37
counter profile in 36, axial bore (
FIGS. 5
, 6)
|
38
counter profile of 36, axial groove in 36 for 48
|
(
FIGS. 5
, 8)
|
39
counter profile of 36, guide or stop pin (
FIGS. 5
, 6)
|
40
push button
|
41
compression-torsion spring for 40
|
42
first end of spring 41 (FIG. 7)
|
43
second end of spring 41 (FIG. 7)
|
44
mandrel on 12 for 41 (FIG. 4)
|
45
axial bore in 40 for 41
|
46
arrow of the pushing-in movement of 40 (FIG. 7)
|
47
counter profile on 36, cylindrical shoulder on 36
|
(FIG. 5)
|
48
profile, driver wing on 40
|
49
arrow of the outward-pivoting force of 41 for 30
|
(FIG. 8)
|
50
overall housing consisting of 10, 20, combination
|
housing
|
51
forward section of 10
|
52
upper opening of 10 at 17 (FIG. 1)
|
53
side opening in 11 (FIG. 1)
|
54
rear of 10
|
55
arrow of the insertion movement of 20 into 10 (FIG.
|
1)
|
56
tab on 20 (FIG. 2)
|
57
opening in 56 for 40 (FIG. 2)
|
58
inside step on 22 for 24 (
FIGS. 2
, 9)
|
59
step on 12 for 24 (FIG. 4)
|
60
actuating point on 20 (FIG. 1)
|
61
guide means on 12, guide strip
|
62
guide means on 20, guide groove
|
|
Claims
- 1. In a combination mechanical and electronic key, especially for locks in motor vehicles,with a common key container (10) to be manipulated when actuating the lock, containing a flat key (30) for the mechanical actuation of the lock; where the flat key (30) is held with freedom of motion (29) in the container and can be moved from a home position (30.2), recessed in the container (10), to a working position (30.1), projecting from the container (10); and with an axially spring-loaded (41) push button (40), which is mounted in the container (10) and which latches the key (30) in at least one of these positions (30.1, 30.2); where the key container (10) consists of an upper shell and a lower shell (11, 12), which are attached to each other at least in certain areas, wherein the improvement comprises thatthe upper shell (11) has an open area (17) in the part situated outside the push button (40); the open area creates a free space (17) in the interior of the shell (18), which is accessible from the outside; the electronic components for the electronic actuation of the lock, their wiring, and their electrical controls are enclosed by a housing-like capsule (22) and with this forms a prefabricated electrocapsule (20); the electrocapsule (20) forms a plug-in unit, which can be inserted (55) at a later time into the free space (17) of the final assembled key container (10) and held in place there; the electrocapsule (20) has a tab (56) extending from the front end; wherein when the capsule (20) is in the inserted position, the tab (56) covers at least certain areas of the latching piece (51) of the upper shell (11) located in front of the upper opening (52) of the key container; and the tab (56) has an opening (57), into which the spring-loaded (41) push button (40) enters in the axial direction to secure the inserted position of the electrocapsule (20) in the key container (10).
- 2. Key according to claim 1, wherein, on its exposed surface, the plugged-in electrocapsule (20) has actuating points (60) in the open area (17) for the actuation of the electronic components (21) located inside the capsule.
- 3. Key according to claim 1, wherein the plugged-in electrocapsule (20) closes off the opening (17) in the key container (10), and in thatthe plug-in combination of the electrocapsule (20) and the key container (10) produces a combination housing (50) with a peripheral surface with flush transitions.
- 4. Key according to claim 1, wherein the open area (17) not only produces an upward-facing upper opening (52), which arises through the omission of the rear section of the upper shell, but also extends over a lateral opening (53), which arises through the omission of at least certain parts of the side wall (14) of the lower shell (12) and of the upper shell (11); andthe electrocapsule (20) can be inserted through the lateral opening (53) into the free space (17) of the key container (10) and, when in the inserted position (55), also closes off at least certain areas of the upper opening (52).
- 5. Key according to claim 1, where the flat key (30) can be pivoted between its home position and its working position (30.2; 30.1) in the container (10);where the push button (40) serves as a pivot bearing (33) for the flat key (30), and where its spring-loading (41) tries to pivot the flat key (30) outward (49) into its working position (30.1); wherein the insertion direction (55) of the electrocapsule (20) into the key container (10) is on a plane which is parallel to the plane of the pivoting motion (29) of the flat key (30).
- 6. Key according to claim 4, wherein the side opening (53) into which the electrocapsule (20) is inserted (55) is located at the rear (54) of the key container (10), i.e., the end opposite that where the push button (40) is located.
- 7. Key according to claim 4, wherein the lower shell (12) and the electrocapsule (20) have guide means (61, 62) for the controlled introduction and sliding-in (55) of the electrocapsule (20); andthe guide means (61, 62) point toward the side opening (53) of the lower shell (12).
- 8. Key according to claim 7, wherein the guide means (61, 62) in the lower shell (12) are undercut with respect to the upper opening (52) of the key container (10).
- 9. Key according to claim 7, wherein the guide means consist of at least one guide strips (61), which have a dovetail profile; andthe electrocapsule (20) has guide grooves (62) complementary to the strips.
- 10. Key according to claim 1, wherein the plugged-in position of the electrocapsule (20) in the key container (10) is limited by stop means (64) and is secured by latching means.
- 11. Key according to claim 1, wherein the opening (57) passes through the tab (56); andafter the electrocapsule (20) has been plugged in, the actuating end of the push button (40) projects out from the top of the tab so that it can be actuated.
- 12. Key according to claim 11, wherein, on the push button (40) and on its seat (44) in the key container (10), control means (41, 48, 38, 37) are provided, which, after the push button (40) has been pushed in axially, hold the push button (40) in position during the pivoting (29) of the flat key (30) between the working and home positions (30.1; 30.2); andwhen in this pushed-in position, the push button (40) is disengaged from the opening (57) in the tab (56) and releases the electrocapsule (20).
- 13. Key according to claim 11, wherein the tab (56) has a membrane (63) in the area of its opening (57), which membrane covers the top surface of the push button after the electrocapsule (20) has been plugged in; andthis membrane forms the manual actuating point for the push button (40).
- 14. Key according to claim 13, wherein the membrane is designed to form a single piece with the tab (56) of the electrocapsule (20).
- 15. Key according to claim 14, wherein the membrane serving to actuate the push button (40) is combined with additional membrane-like actuating points (60) in the key housing (10) or on the outside surface of the electrocapsule (20), namely, the surface which remains visible after the capsule has been plugged in, which points serve to actuate the electronic components (21) in the electrocapsule (20).
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
199 62 976 |
Dec 1999 |
DE |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/EP00/12431 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO01/48342 |
7/5/2001 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (14)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3902537 |
Aug 1990 |
DE |
0267429 |
May 1988 |
EP |