Key fob with automatic cover release

• US 20060202881A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Burca, John, Buccinna, Frank, Kowtun, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/005 Fobs
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

A key fob for use in a remote keyless entry system of a vehicle includes a transmitter housing having at least one user operable button thereon indicative of remote keyless entry functions associated with the vehicle for transmitting function requests when the user operable buttons are depressed. A cover is retained on the transmitter housing and is slidably movable between an open position exposing the buttons and a closed position wherein the buttons are covered by the cover. Compression springs are coupled between the transmitter housing and the cover such that the springs urge the cover toward the open position, while a catch mechanism selectively and releasably secures the cover in the closed position against the bias of the springs.

Claims

1. A key fob for use in a remote keyless entry system of a vehicle, the key fob comprising:

a transmitter housing having a user operable button thereon indicative of a remote keyless entry function associated with the vehicle for transmitting a function request when the user operable button is depressed;

a cover retained on the transmitter housing and slidably movable between an open position exposing the user operable button and a closed position wherein the user operable button is covered by the cover;

a biaser coupled between the transmitter housing and the cover such that the biaser urges the cover toward the open position; and

a catch mechanism selectively and releasably securing the cover in the closed position against the bias of the biaser.

2. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the catch mechanism includes a lock rib extending from the transmitter housing and a lock catch on the cover, with the lock catch located to be selectively engageable with the lock rib when the cover is in the closed position.

3. The key fob of claim 2 wherein the transmitter housing has a front side including a user release location located adjacent to the lock rib, with the user release location flexible such that, upon applying pressure thereto, the lock rib will disengage from the lock catch.

4. The key fob of claim 2 wherein the transmitter housing has a front side including a first user release location located adjacent to the lock rib and an opposed back side including a second user release location, with the first user release location flexible such that, upon applying pressure to the first and second user release locations, the lock rib will disengage from the lock catch.

5. The key fob of claim 1 further including a travel limiter that has a stop slot, with a stop end, located on a one of the cover and the transmitter housing and a stop pin located on an other of the cover and the transmitter housing, with the stop pin extending within and being slidable relative to the stop slot, and with the stop end engaging the stop pin against the bias of the biaser when the cover is in the open position.

6. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the transmitter housing includes a spring retention recess and the biaser is a compression spring mounted in the retention recess and extending between the transmitter housing and the cover.

7. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the transmitter housing includes a pair of spring retention recesses and the biaser is a pair of compression springs, each mounted in a respective one of the pair of spring retention recesses, and each of the compression springs extends between the transmitter housing and the cover.

8. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the transmitter housing includes a second user operable button thereon located adjacent to the user operable button such that the second user operable button is covered by the cover in the closed position and exposed when the cover is in the open position.

9. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the transmitter housing includes a second user operable button thereon spaced from the user operable button such that the second user operable button is exposed both when the cover is in the closed position and in the open position.

10. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the transmitter housing includes a LED located adjacent to the user operable button such that the LED is covered by the cover in the closed position and exposed when the cover is in the open position, and the cover includes a viewing window that is aligned with the LED when the cover is in the closed position.

11. The key fob of claim 1 wherein the transmitter housing includes an attachment flange extending therefrom, and a key ring mounted to the attachment flange.

12. A key fob for use in a remote keyless entry system of a vehicle, the key fob comprising:

a transmitter housing having a user operable button thereon indicative of a remote keyless entry function associated with the vehicle for transmitting a function request when the user operable button is depressed, and a spring retention recess;

a cover retained on the transmitter housing and slidably movable between an open position exposing the user operable button and a closed position wherein the user operable button is covered by the cover;

a compression spring mounted in the retention recess and extending between the transmitter housing and the cover such that the compression spring urges the cover toward the open position; and

a catch mechanism selectively and releasably securing the cover in the closed position against the bias of the compression spring.

13. The key fob of claim 12 wherein the transmitter housing includes a second spring retention recess and a second compression spring is mounted in the second retention recess and extends between the transmitter housing and the cover such that the second compression spring urges the cover toward the open position.

14. The key fob of claim 12 wherein the catch mechanism includes a lock rib extending from the transmitter housing and a lock catch on the cover, with the lock catch located to be selectively engageable with the lock rib when the cover is in the closed position, and the transmitter housing has a front side including a user release location located adjacent to the lock rib, with the user release location flexible such that, upon applying pressure thereto, the lock rib will disengage from the lock catch.

15. The key fob of claim 12 further including a travel limiter that has a stop slot, with a stop end, located on a one of the cover and the transmitter housing and a stop pin located on an other of the cover and the transmitter housing, with the stop pin extending within and being slidable relative to the stop slot, and with the stop end engaging the stop pin against the bias of the compression spring when the cover is in the open position.

16. The key fob of claim 12 wherein the transmitter housing includes a LED located adjacent to the user operable button such that the LED is covered by the cover in the closed position and exposed when the cover is in the open position, and the cover includes a viewing window that is aligned with the LED when the cover is in the closed position.

17. A key fob for use in a remote keyless entry system of a vehicle, the key fob comprising:

a transmitter housing having a user operable button thereon indicative of a remote keyless entry function associated with the vehicle for transmitting a function request when the user operable button is depressed;

a cover retained on the transmitter housing and slidably movable between an open position exposing the user operable button and a closed position wherein the user operable button is covered by the cover;

a biaser coupled between the transmitter housing and the cover such that the biaser urges the cover toward the open position;

a catch mechanism selectively and releasably securing the cover in the closed position against the bias of the biaser; and

a travel limiter that has a stop slot, with a stop end, located on a one of the cover and the transmitter housing and a stop pin located on an other of the cover and the transmitter housing, with the stop pin extending within and being slidable relative to the stop slot, and with the stop end engaging the stop pin against the bias of the biaser when the cover is in the open position.

18. The key fob of claim 17 wherein the catch mechanism includes a lock rib extending from the transmitter housing and a lock catch on the cover, with the lock catch located to be selectively engageable with the lock rib when the cover is in the closed position.

19. The key fob of claim 18 wherein the transmitter housing has a front side including a user release location located adjacent to the lock rib, with the user release location flexible such that, upon applying pressure thereto, the lock rib will disengage from the lock catch.

20. The key fob of claim 17 wherein the transmitter housing includes a second user operable button thereon spaced from the user operable button such that the second user operable button is exposed both when the cover is in the closed position and in the open position.