This disclosure relates to a key system, and in particular to a key system having magnets embedded in keys.
Many people carry multiple keys everywhere they go. With unique keys needed to open homes, offices, vehicles, mailboxes, drawers, and countless other spaces, the number of keys needed by a person on any given day typically requires the person to carry a set of keys at virtually all times. Typically held together by a keyring, these key sets can become unwieldy and noisy as the keys jangle against one another. The movement of the keys on the keyring can also make it challenging for a user to find a desired key on the ring, as there is typically no defined starting point for ordering the keys. A mechanism to organize keys is therefore needed.
A key comprises a body with a head and a blade and one or more magnets in the body. The key can be part of a key set including a plurality of keys. Each key can have a hole through the head, for example through approximately the center of the head. The key set can include a hub through the holes in the keys, such that the keys are coupled by and are rotatable around the hub. The magnets in the keys can silence the keys and resist, index, and lock rotation of the keys around the hub. The magnets can also perform the same action on other accessories carried with keys, such as pocket clips, cutters, tools, lights, access fobs, writing instruments, locator beacons, radio frequency identification chips, straps, nail cleaners, toothpick holders, and money clips. The magnets can interact with magnets or magnetic material attached or embedded in a case, housing, or device designed to hold keys to silence the keys and resist, index, and lock rotation of the keys around a hub or axis.
The key head, key neck, and key neck 120, 123, 125 can have the same or different number of magnets 110 as one another. For example, the key head 120 can have 0 to 30 or more magnets 110, including every 1 magnet 110 increment within this range (e.g., 0 magnets, 1 magnet, 2 magnets, 5 magnets, 30 magnets). The key neck 123 can have 0 to 10 or more magnets 110, including every 1 magnet 110 increment within this range (e.g., 0 magnets, 1 magnet, 2 magnets, 5 magnets, 10 magnets). The key blade 125 can have 0 to 20 or more magnets 110, including every 1 magnet 110 increment within this range (e.g., 0 magnets, 1 magnet, 2 magnets, 5 magnets, 20 magnets). For example,
The key 100 can be magnetically coupled to other keys 100 or metallic objects by the magnets 110. For example, the key 100 can be coupled to other keys 100 to form a key set. As another example, the key 100 can be magnetically coupled to a mailbox or car to store and hide the key 100.
One or multiple magnets 110 can contact another magnet 110 and/or one or multiple magnets 110 can be separated by a separation distance from one or multiple other magnets 110. For example, the separation distance between two magnets 110 (e.g., a first magnet 110 and a second magnet 110) can be about 0.00 mm to about 50.00 mm, including every 0.25 mm increment within this range (e.g., 0.00 mm, 0.25 mm, 2.00 mm, 5.00 mm, 7.50 mm, 50.00 mm). The separation distance can be measured between any two magnets 110, for example, between adjacent magnets 110. Adjacent magnets 110 can be any two magnets 110, for example, that do not have one or multiple other magnets (e.g., magnets 110) between them. As another example, adjacent magnets 110 can be any two magnets 110, for example, that have zero, one, or multiple other magnets (e.g., magnets 110) between them. The separation distance can be measured between any two points on or in the magnets 110, including, for example, between magnet centers, between magnet edges, and/or any portion of the magnets between the magnet centers and the magnet edges. Where one or multiple magnets 110 have a hole (e.g., a hole through the center of the magnet(s) 110), the center of the magnet(s) 110 can be the center of the hole through the magnet(s) 110. The separation distance can be measured along a straight or a curved line. The separation distance can be the linear spacing between two or more magnets 110. For example, the separation distance can be measured along a longitudinal axis A1 of the key 100 (e.g., see
The magnet(s) can have a magnet length, a magnet width, and a magnet height. The magnet height can be the same as the thickness of the key 100, less than the thickness of the key 100, or greater than the thickness of the key 100. The magnet(s) 110 can have a magnet length of about 1.00 mm to about 10.00 mm, including every 0.25 mm increment within this range. The magnet(s) 110 can have a magnet width of about 1.00 mm to about 10.00 mm, including every 0.25 mm increment within this range. The magnet(s) 110 can have a magnet height of about 1.00 mm to about 10.00 mm, including every 0.25 mm increment within this range. The magnet length and the magnet width can be the same as or different from one another. For example, where the magnet length and the magnet width are the same as one another, the magnet length and the magnet width can be the diameter of magnet(s) 110 or can be the radius of the magnet(s) 110. For example, the magnets can have a 5.0 mm diameter and can have a thickness (also referred to as the magnet height) of about 2.0 mm to correspond properly with the key thickness. The magnet(s) 110 can have a cylindrical shape, can have a tapered shape, or both. For example, one or multiple magnets 110 can have a cylindrical shape, one or multiple magnets 110 can have a cone shape, one or multiple magnets 110 can have a frusto-conical shape, or any combination thereof. As yet another example, the magnet length can be the same as the length of the key blade 125, less than the length of the key blade 125, or greater than the length of the key blade 125. As still yet another example, the magnet length can be the same as the length of the key neck 123, less than the length of the key neck 123, or greater than the length of the key neck 123. As still yet another example, the magnet length can be the same as the length of the key head 120, less than the length of the key head 120, or greater than the length of the key head 120.
The magnets 110 can releasably couple the keys in the set 200, improving orderliness of the key set 200 and reducing noise by preventing the keys from jangling against one another. The magnets 110 can resist, index, and lock rotation of the keys 100 around a fixed axis. An orientation of a key 100 relative to the key set 200 in which the key's magnet 110 interacts with a magnet 110 on another key is referred to herein as a “locking position” of the key. Under nominal forces, including the weight of the key 100, the magnetic forces can maintain the key 100 in the locking position. An intentional force applied by a user can overcome the magnetic forces, for example to rotate the key 100 around the hub 210 and away from other keys in the set 200. The magnets 110 can have a pull force that is high enough to reduce the likelihood of unintentional decoupling of the keys, while low enough to allow a user to rotate a key in the set 200 with a single hand. For example, the magnets 110 can be neodymium boron magnets with a grade between N40 and N52. Magnets 110 on or in the key head 120, key neck 123, and/or key blade 125 can desirably resist, index, and lock rotation of multiple keys 100 in a locked position. For example, magnets 110 on or in the key neck 123 and/or key blade 125 can desirably resist, index, and lock rotation of multiple keys 100 in a locked position.
The magnet(s) on or in the key head 120 (also referred to as the key head magnets) can be magnetically coupleable to corresponding magnet(s) on or in the key heads of other keys (e.g., the key heads 120 of other keys 100). The magnet(s) on or in the key neck 123 (also referred to as the key neck magnets) can be magnetically coupleable to corresponding magnet(s) on or in the key necks of other keys (e.g., the key necks 123 of other keys 100). The magnet(s) on or in the key blade 125 (also referred to as the key blade magnets) can be magnetically coupleable to corresponding magnet(s) on or in the key blades of other keys (e.g., the key blades 125 of other keys 100).
The key head magnets can provide two or more angular locking positions for a key 100 relative to other keys 100 in a set 200. The key neck and/or key blade magnets can provide a home locking position for a key 100 relative to other keys 100 in a set 200, where the home locking position can be the position between two keys (e.g., a first key 100 and a second key 100) when the key head 120 and the key blade 125 of two or more keys 100 are aligned and magnetically coupled with one another. The key neck and/or key blade magnets can lock the keys 100 in the home locking position such that the key head magnets can be responsible for locking one or multiple keys 100 in one or multiple angular positions different from the home locking position. For example,
One or multiple magnets 110 on or in the key neck and/or key blade 123, 125 can magnetically couple different groups of keys 100 together in a single set 200. For example, where the set 200 has six keys 100 with two subgroups of three keys (e.g., three personal keys and three work keys), the key neck magnets 110 and/or the key blade magnets 110 can couple the three personal keys together and can separately couple the three work keys together such that the two 3-key subgroups can be put on a key ring or can be put on a hub 210 together with or without magnetic coupling between the two 3-key subgroups. With magnetic coupling between the two 3-key subgroups, the key subgroups can be indexed (e.g., rotated) into different locking positions as a subgroup, and the keys within each subgroup can be further indexed (e.g., rotated) into different positions, for example, via the one or multiple magnets 110 in the key head 120. Without magnetic coupling between the two 3-key subgroups, the subgroups can rotate freely relative to one another about the hub 210. A key subgroup can have, for example, 1 to 20 keys 100, including every 1 key 100 increment within this range (e.g., 1 key, 2 keys, 3 keys, 5 keys, 10 keys). A first key subgroup can have the same or a different number of keys as a second key subgroup. For example, first and second key subgroups can have three keys 100 each. As another example, a first key subgroup can have 2 keys 100 and a second key subgroup can have 5 keys 100.
As yet another example, one or multiple magnets 110 on or in the key neck and/or key blade 123, 125 can magnetically repel one or multiple keys 100 away from one or multiple other keys 100 in the key set 200 or in a key subgroup, where each key subgroup can have one or multiple keys 100. Repelling one or multiple keys 100 (e.g., 1-10 or more keys 100) in this way can be desirable, for example, where one or multiple keys 100 in a key set (e.g., set 200) and/or in a key subgroup are to be kept separate from another key 100 or keys 100 in the key set (e.g., 200) or subgroup, yet still be in close proximity to one another.
As still yet another example, one or multiple keys 100 in a key set (e.g., set 200) or a key subgroup may neither magnetically attract nor magnetically repel one or multiple other keys 100 in the key set 200 or the key subgroup. This can be desirable, for example, where one or multiple keys 100 in a set 200 and/or in a key subgroup are to be kept separate from another key 100 or keys 100 in the set 200 or subgroup, yet still be in close proximity to one another. The lack of magnetic interaction (e.g., attraction or repulsion) can be because one or multiple keys 100 may not have a magnet 110 and/or because the magnet(s) 110 of a first key are too far from the magnet(s) 110 of a second key to magnetically attract or repel one another.
One or multiple keys 100 in a key set (e.g., set 200) or a key subgroup can magnetically attract one or multiple other keys 100 in the set or subgroup, can magnetically repel one or multiple other keys 100 in the set or subgroup, may neither magnetically attract nor magnetically repel one or multiple other keys 100 in the key set 200 or the key subgroup, or any combination thereof. For example, a key 100 (also referred to as a reference key) can magnetically attract 1 to 4 keys, including every 1 key increment within this range, away from the reference key 100 in either direction such that a single key 100 can magnetically interact with one or multiple magnets 110 of 1 to 8 other keys 100 (e.g., 1 or 2 keys 100, such as the one or two keys 100 immediately adjacent to the reference key 100). As another example, each key 100, including the reference key 100, can magnetically couple to a single adjacent key 100. For example, the end keys 100 in a key set 200 having two or more keys 100 can magnetically couple to a single adjacent key (e.g., as shown in
The keys 100 in the key set 200 can each have two or more magnets 110 that are magnetically coupleable to corresponding magnets on the other keys. The two or more magnets 110 can provide two or more angular locking positions for a key 100 relative to other keys in the set 200. For example, if each key 100 has two magnets, each key can have a locking position at 0° (i.e., aligned with the other keys in the set 200) and at 180°.
The magnets 110 can be distributed angularly around the hub 210.
The magnets 110 can be distributed around the hub 120 in manners other than that shown in
As shown in
Each of the individual variations or embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other variations or embodiments. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process act(s) or step(s) to the objective(s), spirit or scope of the disclosure.
Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events that is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. Moreover, additional steps or operations may be provided or steps or operations may be eliminated to achieve the desired result.
Furthermore, where a range of values is provided, every intervening value between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the disclosure. Also, any optional feature of the variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein.
All existing subject matter mentioned herein (e.g., publications, patents, patent applications and hardware) is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety except insofar as the subject matter may conflict with that of the present disclosure (in which case what is present herein shall prevail). The referenced items are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present disclosure is not entitled to antedate such material by virtue of prior disclosure.
Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there are plural of the same items present. More specifically, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
This disclosure is not intended to be limited to the scope of the particular forms set forth, but is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the variations described herein. Further, the scope of the disclosure fully encompasses other variations that may become obvious to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2018/062647 filed Nov. 27, 2018 titled Key System, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/590,971 filed Nov. 27, 2017 titled Key System, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62590971 | Nov 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/US2018/062647 | Nov 2018 | US |
Child | 16883457 | US |