Portable device including mechanical key

• US 20070137271A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Jun, Katagiri, Toshiharu, Tamezane, Takumi, Ogimoto, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 8,528,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/459
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/328 comprising a sliding mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/048 Springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0082 Keys or shanks being removably stored in a larger object, e.g. a remote control or a key fob general constructional details of electronic keys G07C9/00944
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/046 the shank being slidingly mounted on the bow, e.g. for storage
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00952 Electronic keys comprising a mechanical key within their housing, e.g. extractable or retractable emergency key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7876 Bow or head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/791 Ejecting feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8757 Releasable catches

Abstract

A portable device having compact size while accommodating a mechanical key therein. The mechanical key has an opening and an internal space, which are in communication with each other. An engagement member, arranged in the internal space, is movable between a first position where it partially projects from the opening and a second position where it is accommodated in the internal space. A resilient member, which urges the engagement member from the second position toward the first position is arranged in the internal space, includes a fixing portion fixed to the mechanical key in the internal space. The portable device further includes a case having a key accommodation portion for removably accommodating the mechanical key. The key accommodation portion includes an engaged portion that is engaged with the engagement member when the mechanical key is accommodated in the key accommodation portion.

Claims

1. A portable device for electronically locking and unlocking a lock through wireless communication, the portable device comprising:

a mechanical key for mechanically locking and unlocking the lock, the mechanical key including an opening and an internal space in communication with the opening;

an engagement member arranged in the internal space of the mechanical key, the engagement member being movable between a first position at which part of the engagement member projects from the opening and a second position at which the engagement member is substantially accommodated in the mechanical key;

a resilient member, arranged in the internal space of the mechanical key, for urging the engagement member toward the first position from the second position; and

a case including a key accommodation portion for removably accommodating the mechanical key, the key accommodation portion including an engaged portion engaged with the engagement member that projects from the opening at the first position when the mechanical key is accommodated in the key accommodation portion;

wherein the resilient member includes a fixing portion arranged in the internal space and fixed to the mechanical key.

2. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein:

the mechanical key includes a fitting portion arranged in the internal space; and

the fixing portion of the resilient member is formed to be fitted to the fitting portion of the mechanical key.

3. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the resilient member includes a coil spring, and the coil spring includes:

a first winding portion; and

a second winding portion integrally formed with the first winding portion, which functions as the fixing portion, and having an inner diameter that is smaller than the first winding portion.

4. The portable device according to claim 3, wherein the second winding portion and the first winding portion are substantially coaxial.

5. The portable device according to claim 3, wherein the second winding portion and the first winding portion are formed on substantially the same plane.

6. The portable device according to claim 3, wherein the coil spring comprises a conical coil spring, and the conical coil spring includes:

a first end portion including the first and second winding portions; and

a second end portion opposite the first end portion and including a third winding portion integrally formed with the first and second winding portions, with the third winding portion having an inner diameter that is smaller than that of the first winding portion and greater than that of the second winding portion.

7. The portable device according to claim 6, wherein the second winding portion has an inner diameter that is smaller than that of the third winding portion.

8. The portable device according to claim 3, wherein the fitting portion includes a protrusion fitted to the second winding portion.

9. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion includes a basal end and a distal end having different outer diameters, with the outer diameter of the basal end being substantially the same as the inner diameter of the second winding portion, and the outer diameter of the distal end being greater than the inner diameter of the second winding portion.

10. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein:

the second winding portion has an axis; and

the protrusion includes at least one rib extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the second winding portion, and the at least one rib includes a basal end portion and a distal end portion that is narrower than the basal end portion.

11. A mechanical key for arrangement in a case of a portable device for electronically locking and unlocking a lock through wireless communication in which the mechanical key is for mechanically locking and unlocking the lock, wherein the case includes a key accommodation portion for removably accommodating the mechanical key, the mechanical key comprising:

a main body including an opening and an internal space in communication with the opening;

an engagement member arranged in the internal space of the mechanical key, the engagement member being movable between a first position at which part of the engagement member projects from the opening and a second position at which the engagement member is substantially accommodated in the main body; and

a resilient member, arranged in the internal space of the mechanical key, for urging the engagement member toward the first position from the second position;

the key accommodation portion including an engaged portion engageable with the engagement member that projects from the opening at the first position when the mechanical key is accommodated in the key accommodation portion; and

wherein the resilient member includes a fixing portion arranged in the internal space and fixed to the mechanical key.

12. A method for assembling a mechanical key for arrangement in a case of a portable device for electronically locking and unlocking a lock through wireless communication in which the mechanical key is for mechanically locking and unlocking the lock, wherein the case includes a key accommodation portion for removably accommodating the mechanical key, the method comprising:

arranging an engagement member, which is engageable with an engaged portion formed in the key accommodation portion, in an internal space formed in a main body of the mechanical key, in which the internal space is in communication with an opening formed in the mechanical key, and the engagement member is movable between a first position at which part of the engagement member projects from the opening and engages with the engaged portion and a second position at which the engagement member is substantially accommodated in the mechanical key;

fixing a fixing portion arranged on a coil spring, which urges the engagement member from the second position toward the first position, to an inner surface of a cover defining the internal space; and

attaching the cover, to which the coil spring is fixed, to the main body of the mechanical key with the coil spring held between the cover and the engagement member.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

the coil spring includes a first winding portion, and a second winding portion integrally formed with the first winding portion and functioning as the fixing portion, with the second winding portion having an inner diameter that is smaller than the first winding portion;

the cover has an inner surface including a protrusion fitted to the second winding portion; and

said fixing a fixing portion includes fixing the coil spring to the inner surface of the cover by fitting the second winding portion to the protrusion.

14. A jig for assembling a mechanical key for arrangement in a case of a portable device for electronically locking and unlocking a lock through wireless communication in which the mechanical key is for mechanically locking and unlocking the lock, wherein:

the case includes a key accommodation portion for removably accommodating the mechanical key; and

the mechanical key includes a main body, a cover attached to the main body and having an inner surface on which a protrusion is formed, a coil spring arranged in an internal space defined by the main body and the cover and fixed to the protrusion of the cover, and an engagement member arranged in the internal space and engaged with an engaged portion formed on the key accommodation portion by urging force of the coil spring; and

the coil spring includes a first winding portion and a second winding portion having a diameter smaller than that of the first winding portion and fitted to the protrusion of the cover, the jig comprising;

a support member insertable into the coil spring and having a distal end surface that comes into contact with the second winding portion of the coil spring; and

a positioning recess, formed in the distal end surface of the support member, for enabling insertion of the protrusion of the cover.

15. The jig according to claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of accommodation recesses, each enabling accommodation of the coil spring;

wherein the support member is one of a plurality of support members respectively formed in the accommodation recesses.

16. The jig according to claim 15, wherein each of the accommodation recesses is formed in correspondence with the shape of the coil spring.

17. The jig according to claim 16, wherein the coil spring comprises a conical coil spring, and the conical coil spring includes:

a first end portion including the first and second winding portions; and

a second end portion including a third winding portion opposite the first end portion and formed integrally with the first and second winding portions, with the third winding portion having a diameter that is smaller than that of the first winding portion and greater than that of the second winding portion;

wherein each of the accommodation recesses has an opening corresponding to the diameter of the first winding portion and an inner bottom corresponding to the diameter of the third winding portion so that each accommodation recess corresponds to the shape of the conical coil spring.

18. The jig according to claim 14, wherein the support member includes:

a basal end portion; and

one or more support pieces extending radially from the basal end portion.