KEY UNIT FOR A LOCK SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE

• US 20110084856A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Andronis, Odysseus, Kleindienst, Niels
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/990
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/043 the shank being pivotably mounted on the bow, e.g. for storage
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7802 Multi-part structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7808 With foldable shank or stem
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7876 Bow or head

Abstract

A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle includes a device for opening and closing a lock system, in particular having a transmitter for the remote control of the lock system and/or a mechanical key. The key unit has a modular design, which includes a key case and an attachment. The key case accommodates the device for opening and closing the lock system. The attachment is releasably joined to the key case and permits various embodiments of the key unit.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle, comprising:

a device adapted to open and close the lock system; and

a modular arrangement including a key case that accommodates the device; and

an attachment releasably joined to the key case.

39. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment is joined in rotatably fixed manner to the key case.

40. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment is joined in alignment with the key case.

41. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the key case and the attachment have surfaces adjacent to one another.

42. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment is secured to the key case by a snap-in connection.

43. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the key case is formed in one piece.

44. The key unit according to claim 43, wherein the key case includes an upper portion and a lower portion joined to each other by a film hinge.

45. The key unit according to claim 44, wherein when the upper portion and the lower portion lie one upon the other, the film hinge forming a mating component for connection to the attachment.

46. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the key case has a standard opening into which an operating module is inserted.

47. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the key case includes an accommodation for a standard board for electronic devices of the key unit.

48. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the device includes a transmitter adapted to remotely control the lock system.

49. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the device includes a mechanical key.

50. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment includes an electronic interface.

51. The key unit according to claim 50, wherein the attachment includes a storage medium, and the interface is adapted to permit transmission of data from an external device to the storage medium.

52. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment includes a visible symbol that identifies a vehicle type belonging to the lock system.

53. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment includes a visible inscription adapted to identify the vehicle belonging to the lock system.

54. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the key unit includes a position-determination device adapted to determine a position of the key unit and to determine a position of the vehicle belonging to the lock system.

55. The key unit according to claim 54, wherein the key unit includes a display connected to the position-determination device.

56. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein a surface of the key case adjacent to the attachment has an opening of a battery compartment, the opening not being visible when the key case is joined to the attachment.

71. The key unit according to claim 38, wherein the attachment is assigned a keypad, the key unit including a keypad cover retain on at least one of (a) the key case and (b) the attachment, the keypad cover adapted to cover the keypad.

72. The key unit according to claim 71, wherein the keypad is a component of a remote-control device.

73. The key unit according to claim 72, wherein the remote-control device includes at least one of (a) an engine-independent heater of a vehicle, (b) a garage opener, (c) a gate opener, and (d) a telecommunications device.

45-1. The key unit according to claim 44, wherein the attachment includes a clip adapted to secure the key unit to another object.

57. A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle, comprising:

a key case having a width greater than a height;

a swing-out key swing-mounted in the key case;

wherein a swivel axis of the key extends in a direction of the width of the key case.

58. The key unit according to claim 57, wherein the key includes a key body to which a key shank is secured, the key body is swing-mounted in a cutout in an end face of the key case, so that the key body is visible on two opposite sides of the key unit.

59. The key unit according to claim 58, wherein the cutout in the end face of the key case merges into an accommodation space for the key shank, the accommodation space being formed in a bottom side of the key unit.

60. The key unit according to claim 59, wherein the cutout in the end face of the key case and the accommodation space for the key shank are arranged centrally with respect to the width of the key case.

61. The key unit according to claim 57, wherein the swing-out key bears an emblem.

62. The key unit according to claim 61, wherein a key body of the key bears the emblem.

63. The key unit according to claim 61, wherein the key, in a position when not in use, in which a key shank is located in an accommodation space of the key case, is safeguarded against swinging out, and is releasable by a release mechanism arranged on the swivel axis.

64. A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle, comprising:

an elongated flat key; and

an elongated key case in which the elongated flat key is swing-mounted, the flat key, in a position when not in use, being retracted in an accommodation space in a lateral surface of the key case, and a width of the flat key being greater than a thickness of the flat key;

wherein a swivel axis of the flat key extends in a direction of the width of the flat key.

65. A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to remotely control the lock system; and

an operating module including at least one operating field adapted to control the transmitter;

wherein the at least one operating field is recessed in the key unit.

66. The key unit according to claim 65, wherein the key unit includes an elongated key case which accommodates the transmitter and the operating module, and on a surface of the key case on which the operating fields are manipulable, at least one rib is formed in each case on an outside in a lengthwise direction, the ribs rising above the operating fields in a direction of a normal of the surface.

67. A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to remotely control the lock system;

an operating module having a plurality of operating fields adapted to control the transmitter;

wherein haptics of a surface of the operating fields differ.

68. The key unit according to 67, wherein the surfaces of the operating fields differ with respect to roughness.

69. The key unit according to 67, wherein the surfaces of the operating fields are made of different materials.

70. A key unit for a lock system of a vehicle, comprising:

an elongated flat key;

an elongated key case in which the elongated flat key is swing-mounted, the flat key, in a position when not in use, being retracted in an accommodation space in a lateral surface of the key case, and a width of the flat key being greater than a thickness of the flat key,

wherein a swivel axis of the flat key extends in a direction of a height of the flat key, in a use position of the flat key, proportions of a key shank of the key and the key case have substantially a same orientation, the accommodation space being formed by a slot accommodation on a long side of the key case, into which the key shank is swivelable.