Electronic key, especially for motor vehicles

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6553802
  • Patent Number
    6,553,802
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 13, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 29, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
The invention relates to an electronic key comprising electronic components for receiving or transmitting signals. Said components are integrated in a housing (20). A mechanical emergency key (30′) is provided in case of an electronics failure. Said emergency key (30′) can be inserted into a recess (27) in the housing (20) together with its key shaft (31′). The aim of the invention is to produce a key which can be handled easily. To this end, one end of the housing is provided with a recess which is undercut at least in places and which usually prevents the inserted emergency key (30′) from being pulled out. Usually, the key is in a holding position in the housing (20) with an essentially positive fit. However, the emergency key can be turned in the recess (27) of the housing (20) from a holding position to a release position (30′) in which the positive fit between the widening (32′) in the key (30′) and the recess is eliminated in the pull-out direction of the emergency key.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to a key, in particular, for motor vehicles, comprising a housing which receives and contains electronic components for sending or receiving signals for activating a corresponding electronic or electromechanical lock, and comprising a mechanical emergency key which is insertable with a key shaft into a receptacle of the housing and is secured in the insertion situation in the housing, wherein the emergency key is provided with a widened portion. It is not only embodied as an electronic key but also comprises a mechanical emergency key. The emergency key serves for mechanically opening the lock if the electronic device fails.




2. Description of the Related Art




In keys known from DE 29722 484 U1, the housing of the electronic key has a receptacle for the emergency key. When it is to be used, the emergency key can be gripped at a widened portion or the like functioning as a key head. A problem resides in that the insertion position of the emergency key in the receptacle is to be secured. However, this securing action should not impair handling of the emergency key during insertion and removal.




DE 44 44 913 A1 discloses a mechanical emergency key which is inserted into the interior of the housing of an electronic key. For securing the insertion position, an additional locking element for the emergency key in the receptacle is shown so that the emergency key is captively secured in the receptacle. In order to remove the key from the receptacle, the locking element, for example, a two-arm lever or a spring tongue, must be manually released beforehand by means of a pushbutton. This securing action of the emergency key is realized by additional locking elements and is thus complex.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the invention to provide a key which can be easily handled and which is secured reliably in the housing in the insertion position. This is achieved according to the invention in that one housing end has a cutout which is undercut at least over portions thereof and normally, with the emergency key inserted, prevents its pulling-out movement, wherein the key head is positioned inside the housing in a substantially positive-locking securing position, and that the emergency key in the receptacle (blind hole) of the housing can be rotated out of this securing position into a release position in which the positive locking action between the widened portion and the cutout is released in the direction of the pulling-out movement of the emergency key.




The widened portion of the key serves expediently also as a grip portion of the emergency key and is, in general, a key head. It is understood that such a widened portion must not have the function of a grip portion of the emergency key. For reasons of simplicity, in the following the widened portion is, however, to be referred to as the key head. With respect to the housing the key head can be moved between two rotationally displaced positions, i.e., a securing position in which it is secured in the housing and a release position in which it can be removed from the housing. In the securing position, a positive-locking securing is provided where the widened portion or the key head is positioned at least partially in a cutout of one housing end. In the securing position it is not possible to pull the emergency key out of the housing. Removal is, however, quickly and easily possible because the key head is not covered by the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cutout and can be moved into the release position that is rotated relative thereto. This movement is carried out as a rotation about a rotational axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the key shaft. In the release position the key head is no longer positive-lockingly secured. Now a translatory movement of the emergency key in the direction of pulling it out is possible. The pulling out of the emergency key from the housing in the release position is thus carried out in a rotationally displaced plane relative to the position between the housing and the key head provided in the securing position.




This movement of the components during coupling and decoupling can be described as a righting movement. The widened portion of the key or the key head used for handling the key can have a sufficiently large surface without endangering the safety function in the securing position. Accordingly, handling during coupling as well as decoupling and, finally, for actuating the key is facilitated. This holds true especially-when the key head and the housing are plate-like which ensures in the securing position a flush transition of the outer surfaces of these components. Disruptive edges or projections are not present. Accordingly, the storage of the key in pant pockets of the user is particularly comfortable.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Further measures and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. In the drawings the invention is illustrated in the form of one embodiment. It is shown in:





FIG. 1

a plan view onto the housing of the electronic key with inserted emergency key;





FIG. 2

schematically a longitudinal section of the housing of

FIG. 1

;




FIGS.


3


+


4


two cross sections of the housing of

FIGS. 1 and 2

along the section line III—III and IV—IV, respectively;





FIG. 5

the position of the components of

FIG. 4

in another rotationally displaced position in a representation corresponding to

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

a representation corresponding to

FIG. 2

after the emergency key has been removed from the housing;





FIG. 7

in a plan view the emergency key removed from the housing; and





FIG. 8

in a perspective stretched position the flexible circuit board for receiving electronic components which are housed in the housing in a folded state.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The key according to the invention comprises a combination of the actual electronic key


10


and the mechanical emergency key


30


. The electronic key


10


can act across a larger distance onto a lock, not illustrated in detail, arranged on a vehicle by encoded signals


15


. For this purpose, the housing


20


, which can be comprised of several housing parts


21


to


24


, has suitable electronic components


11


and actuating locations


13


,


14


which generate this signal


15


and, optionally in dialogue, conduct it further to the corresponding complementary sending and receiving unit in the vehicle. In the successful situation, i.e., when the code of the signal


15


has been accepted, an electronic or electromechanical lock, not illustrated in detail, is activated. In the area of this actuation location


11


to


14


, micro switches


17


are arranged which have switching members


62


illustrated in FIG.


8


. They are seated, together with the components


11


, on a foil


60


, preferably also comprising electric conductor strips, which foil is illustrated in FIG.


8


. This foil


60


can have at portions thereof depressions


61


in which some of the elements


11


or members


62


can be arranged in a recessed way. The foil


60


can be folded and can be housed in a more or less cylindrical space in the interior of the housing


20


. The housing


20


is configured with longitudinal symmetry relative to the longitudinal center


16


illustrated in FIG.


1


. The housing


20


is plate-shaped as can be seen at


63


in. FIG.


4


and determines a center plane


18


illustrated in

FIG. 4

in a dash-dotted line.




The basic configuration of the emergency key


30


can be taken from FIG.


7


. It comprises a key shaft


31


with profiled cuts or tracks, not illustrated in detail, for corresponding control means in the lock. At its outer end a widened portion is provided which can be a unitary part or a separate part relative to the key shaft


31


. In the present case, it is a key head


32


of plastic material. The key shaft


31


has a flat profile


50


which is preferably comprised of metal. The key head


32


also defines a center plane


38


which is illustrated by the dotted line


38


in FIG.


4


. The flat profile


50


of the key shaft


31


, as can be seen in

FIG. 4

, is rotated relative to the preferably symmetrical cross-sectional profile of the key head


32


, as illustrated by the dash-dotted cross-sectional plane


50


, by an angle


39


relative to this center plane


38


. The contour of the housing


20


as well as that of the key head


32


are plate-shaped


63


,


64


, according to

FIG. 4

, but can also be provided with profiles within. Normally, the emergency key


30


is in its rest position illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 4

, which in the following is referred to as “securing position” of the emergency key. In this case, the center plane


18


of the housing


20


is substantially at the same level as the center plane


38


of the key head


32


.




As can be seen best in

FIG. 6

, the rearward housing end


28


has a cutout


40


which is formed here as a fork opening. Accordingly, fork legs


41


,


42


result which delimit the cutout


40


. The end wall


26


which delimits the cutout.


40


in the inward direction is provided with a receptacle


27


for the already described key shaft


31


of the emergency key


30


when the securing position


30


according to

FIGS. 1 through 4

is present. The receptacle


27


is formed here by a quiver


25


which is a unitary part of the end wall


26


which forms an inner housing and is positioned in this embodiment in the already aforementioned longitudinal center


16


of the housing


20


. In the holding position according to

FIGS. 1 through 4

, the emergency key


30


is initially secured in an insertion position in the receptacle


27


and cannot be pulled out without effort in the direction of arrow


47


of FIG.


2


. For this purpose, the following measures are proposed.




The cutout


40


is at least partially undercut at


43


,


44


. In the present situation, this is achieved on the two legs


41


,


42


by more or less convergently extending inner surfaces


43


,


44


of the two legs


41


,


42


. By this measure, at least at certain points there is positive locking interaction between the legs


41


,


42


generating an undercut


45


,


46


according to

FIG. 6

, on the one hand, and the key head


32


, on the other hand. In this securing position the key head


32


is in a position as flush as possible relative to the housing


20


which can be seen by the already mentioned coinciding levels of the center planes


18


,


38


of the two plate shapes


63


,


64


of FIG.


4


. As an additional securing action of the securing position of

FIGS. 1 through 4

, interacting locking elements


51


,


52


can be provided at the contact locations of the legs


41


,


42


and in the circumferential area, for example, a projection


51


and a depression


52


, as can be seen in

FIGS. 3 and 5

. This requires a kind of righting connection in order to be able to pull the emergency key


30


out of the housing


20


in the direction of arrow


47


. This will be explained with the aid of

FIG. 5

in more detail.




The cutout


40


in the housing


20


is open in the upward and downward directions so that a rotation of the key head from the securing position in the direction of arrow


49


of

FIGS. 3 through 5

is possible. This rotation is carried out about a rotational axis


19


which in the present case coincides with the aforementioned longitudinal center


16


of the housing. In this way, the other position of the components


20


,


30


′, illustrated in

FIG. 5

, is reached which, in the following, is referred to as the “release position” of the emergency key for very good reasons. In this release position


30


′, the aforementioned positive-locking action is no longer present. The emergency key


30


can now be removed in the direction of the arrow


47


already mentioned several times. A collision of the components


20


,


30


′ can no longer take place. The aforementioned rotation


49


can be limited by end stops


53


,


54


in the interior of the receptacle


27


. In the present case, the rotational angle


39


of

FIG. 4

is approximately half as large as the rotational angle


48


, relative to the center plane


16


of housing


20


.




According to

FIG. 1

, the emergency key


30


is provided with a surprisingly large key head


32


which, for the purpose of clarity, is illustrated with point hatching. This provides a comfortable handling during the aforedescribed removal


47


as well as the later rotational actuation of the emergency key


30


in the lock. The key head


32


can even project with a residual piece


59


in the securing position past the outer limitation of the housing


10


at the ends of the two legs


41


,


42


.




The form locking action between the cutout


40


and the emergency key


40


according to the invention is thus realized by axial support and optionally by radial rotational stops in the area of the key head


32


. Instead of the key head


32


widened portions of the key shaft


31


or the like can be used. It is beneficial in this connection to provide a surface contact for which reasons the aforedescribed inner surfaces


43


,


44


of the two legs


41


,


42


have rounded portions corresponding to the rotation


49


and come to rest with gaps as narrow as possible at a corresponding counter profile at


33


,


44


of the key head


32


. In the present case, the two oppositely positioned side surfaces


33


,


34


of the head taper substantially linearly in the direction toward the free end


37


of the head along the auxiliary lines


35


,


36


of FIG.


7


. This results in a positive-locking action by surface contact between


33


,


43


, on the one hand, and


34


,


44


, on the other hand. As a result of the rotation


49


for decoupling and, as will be demonstrated, also during coupling, the engagement of the components


20


,


30


in the securing position could also be effective at other locations, for example, at the free end


37


of the head. Because of the good engagement, the emergency key


30


positioned in the securing position can also not be removed by large axial forces in the direction of removal arrow


47


. The emergency key is secured in its securing position


30


so reliably in the cutout


40


relative to pulling-out forces that its key head


32


can be provided without problems with a hole.


56


for a key chain or the like.




The described righting movement is carried out in the reverse direction when, starting with a removed emergency key, the key is to be positioned again in the cutout of the housing


20


of

FIG. 6

in the direction of the arrow


58


of

FIG. 6

into the housing


20


. In this case, the emergency key is first in its release position


30


′ external to the housing


20


and is then moved in the direction of arrow


58


of

FIG. 6

into the receptacle


27


until the end position has been reached at axial stops. Now the emergency key is turned in the counter direction relative to the rotation arrow


49


into its securing position


30


of

FIGS. 3 and 4

.




The housing


20


is comprised of, as already mentioned, several housing parts


21


to


24


. They comprise an upper shell


21


and a lower shell


22


in the central area and two side parts


23


,


24


. The side parts are engaged by cams


57


or the like which are seated on the upper and lower shells


21


,


22


and ensure a connection of these housing parts. The cutout


40


is realized by an extension of the housing side parts


23


,


24


past the end of the upper and lower shells


21


,


22


so that the already mentioned fork legs


41


,


42


result. The forward housing end


29


is formed by the combined upper and lower shells


21


,


22


and has a blunt shape at


65


of FIG.


2


. At this forward housing end


29


the two side parts


23


,


24


begin at an axial spacing


66


relative to the blunt front


65


.




List of reference numerals






10


electronic key






11


electronic components






12


first actuation location of


10








13


second actuation location of


10








14


third actuation location of


10








15


signal of


10








16


longitudinal direction of housing, longitudinal center






17


microswitch






18


center plane of


20


, housing plane






19


rotational axis for


30


in


30









20


housing, entire housing






21


upper shell of


20








22


lower shell of


20








23


first side part of


20








24


second side part of


20








25


quiver for


31


in


20








26


end wall of


25


between


21


,


22








27


receptacle in


25


for


31








28


rearward housing of


20








29


forward housing of


20








30


emergency key (securing position; secured)






30


′ release position of


30








31


key shaft of


30


(securing position)






31


′ release position of


31


at


30









32


key head of


30


(securing position)






32


′ release position of


32








33


counter profile for


43


on


32


(FIG.


7


), first head side surface of


32








34


counter profile for


44


on


32


(

FIG. 7

, second head side surface of


32








35


tapering of


33








36


tapering of


34








37


free head end of


32








38


plane of the key head; center plane of


32


(in securing position,

FIG. 4

)






38


′ release position of


38


(

FIG. 5

)






39


rotational angle between


31


,


38








40


cutout in


28


, fork opening






41


first leg of


23


, fork leg






42


second leg of


24


, fork leg






43


inner surface of


41








44


inner surface of


42








45


angle of undercut of


43








46


angle of undercut of


44








47


translatory pulling-out arrow of


30









48


rotational angle between


30


,


30









49


rotational arrow of


30








50


flat profile of


31








51


first locking element on


33


,


34


, projection






52


second locking element on


43


,


44


, depression






53


first rotational stop in


27


for


31








54


second rotational stop in


27


for


31









55


plane of


50








56


suspending hole in


32


(FIG.


7


).






57


lateral cam on


22


or


21


, for


23


or


24








58


translatory arrow of insertion movement of


30




FIG. 6

)






59


projecting remainder piece of


32


(

FIG. 1

)






60


foil in


12


and


17








61


depression in


60


for


17








62


switching member on


17


(

FIG. 8

)






63


plate shape of


20


(

FIG. 4

)






64


plate shape form of


32


(

FIG. 4








65


blunt front of


29








66


axial spacing of


23


,


24


relative to


29


(

FIG. 1

)



Claims
  • 1. Electronic key (10), in particular, for motor vehicles, comprising a housing (20) configured to receive electronic components (11) configured to send or receive signals (15) and to activate a corresponding electronic or electromechanical lock,and comprising a mechanical emergency key (30) which is insertable with a key shaft (31) into a receptacle (27) of the housing (20), wherein the receptacle is a blind hole and the key shaft (31) is insertable in an axial direction of the blind hole, and is secured in the insertion situation in the housing, wherein the emergency key (30), when in use, is axially completely removed from the blind hole and is separated from the housing (20), wherein the emergency key (30) is provided with a widened portion (32) located externally to the blind hole in the insertion situation, wherein a securing action for the emergency key (30) in the insertion situation is generated by a positive locking action between the widened portion (32) and the housing (20) realized in that one housing end (28) has a cutout (40) which is undercut (45, 46) at least over portions thereof and normally, with the emergency key (30) inserted, prevents an axial pulling-out movement (47) of the emergency key (30), wherein the key head in the insertion situation is positioned inside the housing (20) in a substantially positive-locking securing position (30), and the emergency key in the blind hole of the housing (20) is rotatable is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the key shaft out of the securing position (30) into a release position (30′) in which the positive locking action between the widened portion (32′) and the cutout (40) is released in a direction of the axial pulling-out movement (47) of the emergency key.
  • 2. Key according to claim 1, wherein the widened portion in the emergency key (30) is comprised of the grip for key actuation, such as a key head (32).
  • 3. Key according to claim 1, wherein the cutout (40) is delimited at least on one side thereof by a leg (41, 42) and the leg (41, 42) has the undercut (45, 46) at the inner flank (43, 44) facing the cutout (40)and wherein the key head (32) tapers, at least over portions thereof, with its head side surface (33, is 34) facing the inner flank (43, 44) of the housing leg (41, 42) toward the free head end (37) and, in the securing position (30) of the emergency key, is supported at least with portions thereof on the housing leg (41, 42).
  • 4. Key according to claim 1, wherein the key head (32) and the housing (20) are plate-shaped (63, 64) wherein the plate-shape defines two center planes (18, 38), respectively,and wherein the center planes (18, 38) are substantially aligned with one another in the securing position but the two planes (18, 38′) are rotationally displaced (48) relative to one another in the release position.
  • 5. Key according to claim 1, wherein between the key head (32) and the cutout (40) in the housing (30) locking elements are arranged which secure the securing position (30) with respect to axial rotations (49) of the emergency key (30).
  • 6. Key according to claim 1, wherein axial rotational stops (53, 54) are provided in the blind hole of the housing and determine the position of the key shaft in the securing position (31) and/or the release position (31′) and limit the axial rotation (49) of the key shaft between these two positions (31, 31′).
  • 7. Key according to claim 1, wherein the key shaft (31) has a flat profile (50),wherein the key head (32) of the emergency key (30) has a preferably symmetrical cross-sectional profile which determines the center plane (38) in the key head (32), and wherein the plane (55) of the flat profile (50) of the key shaft (31) is positioned at a rotational angle (39) relative to the center plane (38) in the key head (32) relative to the rotational axis (19), wherein the rotational angle (39) determines the axial rotation (49) of the emergency key between the securing position (30) and the release position (30′).
  • 8. Key according to claim 7, wherein the rotational angle (39) between the flat profile plane (55) of the key shaft (31) and the center plane (38) of the key head (32) is substantially identical to half the rotational angle (48) of the key shaft between its rest position (31) and the release position (31′).
  • 9. Key according to claim 1, wherein the blind hole for the key shaft (31) in the housing is comprised of a quiver (25) of an inner housing.
  • 10. Key according to claim 9, wherein the inner housing, provided with the quiver (25), is arranged between an upper shell (21) and a lower shell (22) of a multi-part housing (20).
  • 11. Key according to claim 1, wherein the leg (41, 42) of the cutout (40) is formed of the end piece of a housing side part (23) or (24) generating the longitudinal edge of the housing (20).
  • 12. Key according to claim 11, wherein lateral cams (57) or the like connect the upper and lower shells (21, 22) of the housing (20) with the housing side part or parts (43, 24).
  • 13. Key according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (27) is arranged substantially in the longitudinal center (16) of the housing (20)and that the longitudinal center (16) determines a symmetry axis of the housing (20).
  • 14. Key according to claim 1, wherein the rearward housing end (28) is forked (40) andwherein the cutout in the housing (20) is comprised of a fork opening (40) which is surrounded on both sides by two fork legs (41, 42) delimiting it.
  • 15. Key according to claim 14, wherein the two fork legs (41, 42) at their facing inner flanks (43, 44) comprise oppositely oriented undercuts (45, 46), respectively, for the key head (32) of the emergency key (30).
  • 16. Key according to claim 1, wherein the electronic components (11) are located on a foil (60) serving as a flexible circuit boardand wherein—viewed in cross-section—this foil (60) extends in a C-shaped curvature about the blind hole extending in the longitudinal direction (16) of the housing.
  • 17. Key according to claim 16, wherein the foil (60) has depressions (61) at some locations thereof in which micro switches (17) having switching members (62) are positionedand wherein the switching members (62) of the micro switches (17), when the foil (60) is curved, are aligned with the actuating locations (12, 13, 14) on the outer side of the housing (20).
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
198 58 165 Dec 1998 DE
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/EP99/09251 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO00/36252 6/22/2000 WO A
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
4941569 Lindmayer et al. Jul 1990 A
5768925 Ozawa et al. Jun 1998 A
5870917 Mahot et al. Feb 1999 A
6216501 Marquardt et al. Apr 2001 B1
6314775 Schwab Nov 2001 B2
6318137 Chaum Nov 2001 B1
6386007 Johnson et al. May 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
4444913 Jun 1995 DE
4444913 Jun 1995 DE
297 22 484 Apr 1998 DE
19723039 Dec 1998 DE