MECHANICAL KEY AND LOCKING/UNLOCKING KEY

Abstract

The portability of a mechanical key and a locking/unlocking key having the mechanical key is improved. The mechanical key is housed in a portable device in such a manner that a key plate is folded into two at a portion formed with an inner groove. Thus, the housing space for housing the mechanical key can be reduced and the portable device can be made smaller. Accordingly, the portability of the locking/unlocking key can be improved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the function of a locking/unlocking key of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vehicle key of the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mechanical key of the first exemplary embodiment showing the state that a key plate is folded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mechanical key of the first exemplary embodiment showing the state that the key plate is unfolded;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanical key of the first exemplary embodiment showing the state that the key plate is being unfolded;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the mechanical key of the first exemplary embodiment showing the state that the key plate is unfolded;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a vehicle key of a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mechanical key of the second exemplary embodiment showing the state that a key plate is unfolded;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mechanical key of the second exemplary embodiment showing the state that the key plate is folded;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the mechanical key of the second exemplary embodiment showing the front end of the key plate in the state that the key plate is unfolded; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the mechanical key of the second exemplary embodiment showing the state that a door lock of a glove box is locked and unlocked.

Claims

1. A mechanical key comprising a key plate formed with a key groove, mechanically locking and unlocking a locking/unlocking device, and operated by inserting the key plate into a key cylinder of the locking/unlocking device, wherein the key plate can be folded at a portion where the key groove is formed.

2. The mechanical key of claim 1, wherein in the portion formed with the key groove, the key plate is folded at a position other than position(s) where the key cylinder reads the groove shape of the key groove.

3. The mechanical key of claim 1, wherein the key plate comprises: a key plate body formed with a housing part; anda pivoting plate pivotally coupled to the key plate body, the pivoting plate pivoting and folding with respect to the key plate body, and being housed in the housing part of the key plate body.

4. The mechanical key of claim 1 wherein in the state that the key plate is unfolded, the key plate operates by inserting into the key cylinder of the locking/unlocking device to lock and unlock the locking/unlocking device, andin the state that the key plate is folded, the key plate operates by inserting into a key cylinder of a different locking/unlocking device to lock and unlock the different locking/unlocking device.

5. A locking/unlocking key comprising: a mechanical key including a key plate formed with a key groove, mechanically locking and unlocking a locking/unlocking device, and operated by inserting the key plate into a key cylinder of the locking/unlocking device,wherein the key plate can be folded at a portion where the key groove is formed, anda portable device that houses the mechanical key and locks and unlocks the locking/unlocking device by communicating with a locking/unlocking control unit that controls locking and unlocking of the locking/unlocking device.

6. The locking/unlocking key defined in claim 5, wherein in the portion formed with the key groove, the key plate is folded at a position other than position(s) where the key cylinder reads the groove shape of the key groove.

7. The locking/unlocking key defined in claim 5, wherein the key plate comprises: a key plate body formed with a housing part; anda pivoting plate pivotally coupled to the key plate body, the pivoting plate pivoting and folding with respect to the key plate body, and being housed in the housing part of the key plate body.

8. The locking/unlocking key defined in claim 5, wherein in the state that the key plate is unfolded, the key plate operates by inserting into the key cylinder of the locking/unlocking device to lock and unlock the locking/unlocking device, andin the state that the key plate is folded, the key plate operates by inserting into a key cylinder of a different locking/unlocking device to lock and unlock the different locking/unlocking device.