Electronic key, especially for motor vehicles

• US 6,553,802 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Jacob, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US09/868,052
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/56, 702/781, 702/782, 702/783, 702/77, 702/791, 702/83, 702/831, 704/08, 704/14, 704/56.R, 704/59, 704/60
• US Class Current: 70/456.00R
• 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 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 Dogging manual operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7876 Bow or head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8757 Releasable catches

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic key comprising electronic components for receiving or transmitting signals. Said components are integrated in a housing (20). A mechanical emergency key (30′) is provided in case of an electronics failure. Said emergency key (30′) can be inserted into a recess (27) in the housing (20) together with its key shaft (31′). The aim of the invention is to produce a key which can be handled easily. To this end, one end of the housing is provided with a recess which is undercut at least in places and which usually prevents the inserted emergency key (30′) from being pulled out. Usually, the key is in a holding position in the housing (20) with an essentially positive fit. However, the emergency key can be turned in the recess (27) of the housing (20) from a holding position to a release position (30′) in which the positive fit between the widening (32′) in the key (30′) and the recess is eliminated in the pull-out direction of the emergency key.

Claims

1. Electronic key (10), in particular, for motor vehicles, comprising a housing (20) configured to receive electronic components (11) configured to send or receive signals (15) and to activate a corresponding electronic or electromechanical lock,

and comprising a mechanical emergency key (30) which is insertable with a key shaft (31) into a receptacle (27) of the housing (20), wherein the receptacle is a blind hole and the key shaft (31) is insertable in an axial direction of the blind hole, and is secured in the insertion situation in the housing, wherein the emergency key (30), when in use, is axially completely removed from the blind hole and is separated from the housing (20), wherein the emergency key (30) is provided with a widened portion (32) located externally to the blind hole in the insertion situation,

wherein a securing action for the emergency key (30) in the insertion situation is generated by a positive locking action between the widened portion (32) and the housing (20) realized in that

one housing end (28) has a cutout (40) which is undercut (45, 46) at least over portions thereof and normally, with the emergency key (30) inserted, prevents an axial pulling-out movement (47) of the emergency key (30),

wherein the key head in the insertion situation is positioned inside the housing (20) in a substantially positive-locking securing position (30),

and the emergency key in the blind hole of the housing (20) is rotatable is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the key shaft out of the securing position (30) into a release position (30′

) in which the positive locking action between the widened portion (32′

) and the cutout (40) is released in a direction of the axial pulling-out movement (47) of the emergency key.

2. Key according to claim 1, wherein the widened portion in the emergency key (30) is comprised of the grip for key actuation, such as a key head (32).

3. Key according to claim 1, wherein the cutout (40) is delimited at least on one side thereof by a leg (41, 42) and the leg (41, 42) has the undercut (45, 46) at the inner flank (43, 44) facing the cutout (40)

and wherein the key head (32) tapers, at least over portions thereof, with its head side surface (33, is 34) facing the inner flank (43, 44) of the housing leg (41, 42) toward the free head end (37) and, in the securing position (30) of the emergency key, is supported at least with portions thereof on the housing leg (41, 42).

4. Key according to claim 1, wherein the key head (32) and the housing (20) are plate-shaped (63, 64) wherein the plate-shape defines two center planes (18, 38), respectively,

and wherein the center planes (18, 38) are substantially aligned with one another in the securing position but the two planes (18, 38′

) are rotationally displaced (48) relative to one another in the release position.

5. Key according to claim 1, wherein between the key head (32) and the cutout (40) in the housing (30) locking elements are arranged which secure the securing position (30) with respect to axial rotations (49) of the emergency key (30).

6. Key according to claim 1, wherein axial rotational stops (53, 54) are provided in the blind hole of the housing and determine the position of the key shaft in the securing position (31) and/or the release position (31′

) and limit the axial rotation (49) of the key shaft between these two positions (31, 31′

).

7. Key according to claim 1, wherein the key shaft (31) has a flat profile (50),

wherein the key head (32) of the emergency key (30) has a preferably symmetrical cross-sectional profile which determines the center plane (38) in the key head (32),

and wherein the plane (55) of the flat profile (50) of the key shaft (31) is positioned at a rotational angle (39) relative to the center plane (38) in the key head (32) relative to the rotational axis (19), wherein the rotational angle (39) determines the axial rotation (49) of the emergency key between the securing position (30) and the release position (30′

).

8. Key according to claim 7, wherein the rotational angle (39) between the flat profile plane (55) of the key shaft (31) and the center plane (38) of the key head (32) is substantially identical to half the rotational angle (48) of the key shaft between its rest position (31) and the release position (31′

).

9. Key according to claim 1, wherein the blind hole for the key shaft (31) in the housing is comprised of a quiver (25) of an inner housing.

10. Key according to claim 9, wherein the inner housing, provided with the quiver (25), is arranged between an upper shell (21) and a lower shell (22) of a multi-part housing (20).

11. Key according to claim 1, wherein the leg (41, 42) of the cutout (40) is formed of the end piece of a housing side part (23) or (24) generating the longitudinal edge of the housing (20).

12. Key according to claim 11, wherein lateral cams (57) or the like connect the upper and lower shells (21, 22) of the housing (20) with the housing side part or parts (43, 24).

13. Key according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (27) is arranged substantially in the longitudinal center (16) of the housing (20)

and that the longitudinal center (16) determines a symmetry axis of the housing (20).

14. Key according to claim 1, wherein the rearward housing end (28) is forked (40) and

wherein the cutout in the housing (20) is comprised of a fork opening (40) which is surrounded on both sides by two fork legs (41, 42) delimiting it.

15. Key according to claim 14, wherein the two fork legs (41, 42) at their facing inner flanks (43, 44) comprise oppositely oriented undercuts (45, 46), respectively, for the key head (32) of the emergency key (30).

16. Key according to claim 1, wherein the electronic components (11) are located on a foil (60) serving as a flexible circuit board

and wherein—

viewed in cross-section—

this foil (60) extends in a C-shaped curvature about the blind hole extending in the longitudinal direction (16) of the housing.

17. Key according to claim 16, wherein the foil (60) has depressions (61) at some locations thereof in which micro switches (17) having switching members (62) are positioned

and wherein the switching members (62) of the micro switches (17), when the foil (60) is curved, are aligned with the actuating locations (12, 13, 14) on the outer side of the housing (20).