DE7822378U1 - Accessory part for a flat key, in particular a key fob - Google Patents

Description

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DIPL-ING. M-M. VlERING & DiPL = ING. R. JENTSGHURA

Steinsdorfstrasse 6 D-8000 Munich 22 Attorney File 3396

Accessory part for a flat key, in particular

Key chain

With the well-known key warmer, the heating of the. Key bit by means of an electric heater,

Telephone: 089/293413/14 Telex Ober: 5212049 tram d Postal check Munich 306726-801 · Bayerische Vereinsbank Munich 567695 ■ Ralffelsenbank Munich 0321818

The invention relates to an accessory for a flat key f

a door lock, in particular a key fob, with a. Housing in which an electric battery is accommodated and a recess dimensioned to receive the key bit of the flat key is formed, and with one of the Battery-operated device for heating the in the recess introduced key bit.

Such a key warmer is known from DE-GM 7 801 223. It is used to set the key bit of a flat key of a door lock, in particular the door lock of a motor vehicle, to be heated sufficiently to introduce it into the lock even when the lock is frozen, and to prevent the tumblers from icing up of the lock to be able to thaw. The electric battery can be designed as a rechargeable battery, as required can be charged via an external charger.

7822378 09.1178

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der.als resistance heating and the recess limited to accommodate the key bit of the flat key on one or both sides.

The above-described key | further developed warmer. The invention provides a key warmer of the type mentioned, which for mass production with the simplest possible and few parts.

According to the invention, two contact parts are in the recess are each connected to one of the battery electrodes, in the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the inserted key bit Direction of the recess at a distance from one another and arranged for contact with the introduced key bit .

This inventive design allows separate Resistance heating elements are not required because the material of the key bit itself, which is generally sufficient has a large electrical resistance value when it is used as a radiator. When the key bit is inserted into the recess, it bridges the two contact parts and closes thus the circuit connected to the battery electrodes, so that the part of the between the contact parts Key bit due to the inherent electrical resistance of the

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7822378 99.1171

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Material of the key bit heated. The contact parts are thus preferably at a relatively large distance from one another arranged so that the length of the key bit measured between the contact points for a strong as possible Heating of the key bit corresponding to the resulting high total electrical resistance caused by the between the contact points extending part of the key bit is formed, is as large as possible.

The contact parts in the recess of the charger according to the invention can also serve as input connections for a battery charger, which is preferred for connection to the motor vehicle battery with a standard connector is equipped for the socket of the cigarette lighter of the motor vehicle and one in particular via a cable with the Connector has connected connecting tongue, which for designed to be inserted into the recess of the key warmer and contains two output contact pieces separated by electrical insulation, which in adaptation to the arrangement the contact parts in the recess of the key heater are arranged such that they come into contact with the contact parts. Due to the mutual Displacement of the contact parts in the longitudinal direction of the recess is also ensured for this purpose that the poles of the battery of the key warmer after inserting the connection tongue of the charger with the correct pole of the vehicle battery are connected.

7822378 09.1178

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'* Although in the solution according to the invention, two contact parts ί can each be formed on a suitable contact spring,! which represents the respective electrical line to the associated battery electrode, is in a preferred embodiment

Proposed design of the invention, only the one contact part

■ ä to be formed on such a contact spring and the other contact

; part directly through the one assigned pole that arises accordingly arranged battery with which the key bit after its insertion into the recess in electrical Touch contact reached. This further simplifies the construction of the key warmer and one is not required second contact spring, so that with this an additional structural

; part is not applicable.

<The preferred embodiment of the invention described above can in particular by using a battery designed as a cylindrical stick battery in a simple manner realize. For this purpose, it is further proposed to design the housing tubular with a bottom closed at one end and insert the stick battery into the housing with a press fit to the bottom, so that the one battery pole is at the end of the stick electrode is arranged on the side of the battery facing away from the bottom of the housing. Between the other battery terminals forming the cup shell of the stick battery and the inner surface of the housing can then the contact spring with its one end be plugged in and pinched so that they

taktteil. at a distance above that of the battery's stick electrode trained battery pole is arranged. The other end of the contact spring can at one in the open end of the tubular Housing inserted plug-in insert, in which the recess for receiving the key bit in the form of a Plug-in slot is formed which opens at the free end face of the plug-in insert. This slot is in the insert arranged such that the battery pole forming the rod electrode of the battery is in extension of the plug-in slot, and the contact part are arranged on the contact spring on a flat side of the plug-in slot. So if the key is with his key bit is inserted into the slot in advance / he hits with his free front end on which the rod electrode forming battery pole, while the contact part on the contact spring under the spring pressure on one flat side the key bit is pressed so that the heating circuit is now closed.

The contact part on the contact spring can be formed by the latter itself be. However, it is also possible to form the contact part, for example, by a contact carbon piece, which is attached to the contact spring.

Although in the preferred embodiments described above, the recess for receiving the key bit as Plug-in slot is designed, it can, as in the case of the initially

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7822378 09.1171

written key warmers can also be designed differently; in particular the housing can be designed in the manner of a flat box from two collapsible lids in which the recess is designed so that the key is inserted into the recess after opening the housing and then the housing around him is closed.

The invention is exemplified by the presently preferred Embodiment explained from the drawing schematically can be seen.

The illustrated accessory for a flat key of a door lock for warming up the key bit of the flat key has a tubular battery 1 with a bottom 38 closed at one end rechargeable battery 4, which is inserted up to the bottom 38 in the housing 1 and clamped by the circumferential wall. The battery pole 34 of the rod electrode of the battery 4 is arranged on the end of the battery facing away from the housing base 38. Between the battery jacket 36, which forms the other battery electrode, and the inner surface of the preferably made of somewhat elastic Plastic existing housing 1 is a contact spring 35 inserted at one end so that it is of the Housing 1 is clamped to the battery jacket 36. A contact part is located on the contact spring 35 at a distance above the battery pole 34 33 attached from contact carbon. The other end of the arch

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shaped contact spring 35 is on a plug insert 37 held, which is inserted at the end into the tubular housing 1 and can also be glued therein. By doing Insert 37 has a central recess 2 in the form of an insertion slot. This recess 2 has in their Muzzle section on the free face of the plug-in insert 37 opens, a rectangular cross-section, the dimensions of which correspond to the cross-sectional dimensions of the key bits usual flat key for motor vehicle locks is adapted. Towards the interior of the housing 1, the rectangular mouth section of the recess 2 merges into a flat rectangular groove, whose open groove side faces the contact part 33 on the contact spring. The contact part 33 protrudes from the contact spring 35 something into the recess 2.

ί A flat key 30 with its key bit 31 is now ahead

inserted into the recess 2, the contact part 33 is on the contact spring 35 on one flat side of the key bit

£ ■ pushed back with a spring for the best possible contact pressure,

while the free end of the key bit 31 on the central Battery pole 34 abuts and thereby closes the battery circuit. Due to the inherent electrical resistance of the Material of the key bit 31 is thus electrically heated.

The solution shown in the drawing comes with four individual

share for the production of the key warmer, namely the battery 4, the housing 1, the socket set 37 and the contact spring 35 with their contact part 33. The manufacturing and assembly costs are thus low, so that the key warmer can be mass-produced with little effort.

Claims (3)

EXPECTATIONS 1. Accessory part for a flat key of a door lock, in particular a key fob, with a housing in which has an electric battery and one to hold the key bit of the flat key dimensioned recess is formed, and with a device operable by the battery for heating the in the key bit inserted into the recess, characterized in that two contact parts are in the recess (2) (33, 34), each connected to one of the battery electrodes, in the longitudinal direction of the inserted Key bit (31) corresponding direction of the recess (2) at a distance from each other and for the Contact contact with the introduced key bit (31) are arranged. 2. Accessory part according to claim 1, characterized in that the one contact part (33) on a contact spring (35), the extends to the 'one battery pole (battery jacket 36) of the battery, on a flat side of the recess (2) l / w Telephone: 089/293413/14 Telex Ober: 5212049 tram d Postal check Munich 306726-801 ■ Bayerische Vereinsbank Munich 567695 · Raiffeiseiibank Munich 0321818 -2- 7822378 88.1173 -β «ff * ·» te «f # ♦ · · ♦ for contact with the key bit (31) is arranged at a distance from its end and the other battery terminal directly forming the other contact part (34) is arranged at the bottom of the recess (2) for contact with the end of the key bit (31). 3. Accessory part according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (1) is tubular with one end closed Bottom (38) is formed and the cylindrically formed battery up to the bottom (38) in the housing in a press fit is inserted, and that the contact spring (35) with its one end between the battery jacket forming the battery pole (36) and the inner surface of the housing (1) is clamped and with its other end at one in the Open end of the housing inserted plug insert (37) is held, in which the recess (2) in the form of a is formed on the end face of the plug insert (37) opening slot. 7822378 0S.I17S