EP1221518A2 - Schlüsselhalter - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP1221518A2
EP1221518A2 EP01204563A EP01204563A EP1221518A2 EP 1221518 A2 EP1221518 A2 EP 1221518A2 EP 01204563 A EP01204563 A EP 01204563A EP 01204563 A EP01204563 A EP 01204563A EP 1221518 A2 EP1221518 A2 EP 1221518A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
key
keysheath
contacts
sheathing portion
electrical contact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01204563A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1221518A3 (de
Inventor
Bruce Golding
Kelvin Raby
William Bond
Adrian Dickerson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Actaris UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Actaris UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Actaris UK Ltd filed Critical Actaris UK Ltd
Publication of EP1221518A2 publication Critical patent/EP1221518A2/de
Publication of EP1221518A3 publication Critical patent/EP1221518A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F15/00—Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
    • G07F15/003—Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity for electricity
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
    • G07F1/06—Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved key sheath for use with keys of the kind used in prepayment metering applications, in particular to a keysheath comprising a sheathing portion which, in use, surrounds at least a part of the said key to protect the electrical contact or contacts thereof against damage, and means for securing the sheathing portion to the key.
  • a key In prepayment metering a key is used to transfer data between the meter and the utility supplier. Over a period of time contamination in the form of dust, grease etc can build up on the key contacts, preventing the transfer of data from taking place. This loss or corruption of data is of considerable inconvenience to both the supplier and the end user; it takes time to correct and therefore adds significant cost to the operation.
  • the keysheath of the invention is designed to provide protection for the key when it is not in use, quick and easy assembly of the keysheath to the key and easy operation to release the key from the sheath.
  • such a keysheath characterised in that the means for securing the keysheath to the key is formed integrally with the sheathing portion and is such that, when the keysheath is secured to the key, the keysheath is pivotable relative to the key from a position in which the part of the key bearing an electrical contact or contacts is received in the sheathing portion of the keysheath to protect the said electrical contacts to a position in which the said part of the key has moved away from the keysheath to expose the electrical contacts of the key.
  • the keysheath detailed below is designed to protect the key from this contamination thus saving time, inconvenience and cost.
  • the keysheath 1 shown in the drawings comprises a single unitary moulding 10 of plastics material which is shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the moulding 10 is generally elongate and of square U-shaped channel-section shape.
  • the channel-section 12 is closed by means of a cross-wall 14 from which extends a tab 16 in which is formed an aperture or opening 18 by means of which the key sheath can be secured to a chain or cord or to a conventional key-fob or keyring.
  • the channel-section moulding 10 is cut away to leave a single side wall 22 of the channel section 12 intact on which is moulded an inwardly-projecting split pin construction 23 comprising a pair of projections 24 with barbs 26 formed at their free ends, separated by a small gap.
  • the split pin construction 23 is such that it permits the keysheath 1 to be secured to the key 2 simply by pushing the two projections 24 which form the construction through a hole 3 formed in the key 2. Once this has been done, the barbs 26 on the two projections 24 prevent the keysheath 1 being dislodged from the key 2.
  • the keysheath moulding 10 is provided with a cut-out 28 which extends across the base of the channel section 12 and part way up the sides of the channel section. This cut-out 28 allows a user to exert pressure on the key 2 to eject it from the keysheath 1 for use, as will be described in greater detail below.
  • At least one moulded protrusion 30 is formed on an interior wall of the keysheath moulding 10 for engagement in a circular aperture 5 formed on the key 2, to retain the key 2 in the protected position, as will be described below in relation to Figures 3 and 4.
  • FIGs 3 and 4 show the keysheath 1 of Figures 1 and 2 mounted on an electricity prepayment key 2 of conventional form.
  • the key 2 is received in the keysheath 1 with the portion of the key 2 carrying the electrical contacts received in the channel section 12 which extends along most of the length of the keysheath moulding 10.
  • the key sheath 1 is secured to the key by means of the split pin construction 23 which passes through a hole 3 formed at the end of the key 1 remote from the electrical contacts.
  • the split pin construction 23 serves not only to secure the keysheath 1 to the key 2 but also as a stub axle around which the key 2 can pivot relative to the keysheath 1.
  • the protrusion 30 formed on the interior of the channel section side-wall snaps into a circular aperture 5 formed along the length of the key(see Figure 4) to retain the keysheath 1 in the 'closed' position around the key 2.
  • the user When the user wishes to use the key 2, it can be ejected from the keysheath 1 by applying pressure to the key 2 through the cut-out 28 in the base of the channel section moulding 12. This pressure overcomes the resistance exerted by the engagement of the protrusion 30 in the circular aperture 5 on the key 2, allowing the key 2 to pivot away from the keysheath 1 to the position shown in Figure 4 in which the electrical contacts are exposed.
  • the keysheath described above differs from the prior art in that it is a single unitary component, allowing simple assembly.
  • the two elements, key and keysheath can be snapped together without the need for tools. Should the need arise the two parts can easily be separated.
  • the design also differs from the prior art in that to open or close the assembly the key and keysheath are rotated (figure.4) relative to one another, rather than being slid together in a linear movement.
  • the proposed design is compact and suitable for keeping in a trouser pocket or small purse whereas the original has the tie wrap extending from one end making it uncomfortable and unsuitable for this purpose.
  • the keysheath does not impede the use or function of the key.
EP01204563A 2000-11-27 2001-11-26 Schlüsselhalter Withdrawn EP1221518A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0028849 2000-11-27
GB0028849A GB2369475A (en) 2000-11-27 2000-11-27 Electricity prepayment key sheath

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1221518A2 true EP1221518A2 (de) 2002-07-10
EP1221518A3 EP1221518A3 (de) 2003-11-19

Family

ID=9903925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01204563A Withdrawn EP1221518A3 (de) 2000-11-27 2001-11-26 Schlüsselhalter

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1221518A3 (de)
GB (1) GB2369475A (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003009220A1 (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-01-30 Discover Financial Services, Inc. Credit card with case
WO2006031822A2 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-03-23 Hy-Ko Products Company Radio frequency identification (rfid) system for manufacturing, distribution and retailing of keys
US7204366B2 (en) 2002-10-10 2007-04-17 Discover Financial Services Llc Credit card case with quick-release latch
US7290364B2 (en) 2000-12-08 2007-11-06 Discover Financial Services Llc Non-rectangular shaped credit card with case
US9963908B2 (en) 2004-09-10 2018-05-08 Hy-Ko Products Company Data key and method of using same

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD487480S1 (en) 2002-07-09 2004-03-09 Discover Financial Services, Inc. Credit card and case

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1619582A (en) * 1926-03-08 1927-03-01 Long Eugene Mclean Key holder
US1854081A (en) * 1930-11-03 1932-04-12 Ralph A Tucker Key clip
US1939023A (en) * 1933-04-11 1933-12-12 Pritchard Evan William Key holder
FR948618A (fr) * 1947-06-28 1949-08-05 Porte-clefs

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1619582A (en) * 1926-03-08 1927-03-01 Long Eugene Mclean Key holder
US1854081A (en) * 1930-11-03 1932-04-12 Ralph A Tucker Key clip
US1939023A (en) * 1933-04-11 1933-12-12 Pritchard Evan William Key holder
FR948618A (fr) * 1947-06-28 1949-08-05 Porte-clefs

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7290364B2 (en) 2000-12-08 2007-11-06 Discover Financial Services Llc Non-rectangular shaped credit card with case
US7549244B2 (en) 2000-12-08 2009-06-23 Discover Financial Services Llc Credit card with reduced points of contact
WO2003009220A1 (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-01-30 Discover Financial Services, Inc. Credit card with case
US7204366B2 (en) 2002-10-10 2007-04-17 Discover Financial Services Llc Credit card case with quick-release latch
WO2006031822A2 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-03-23 Hy-Ko Products Company Radio frequency identification (rfid) system for manufacturing, distribution and retailing of keys
WO2006031822A3 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-05-26 Hy Ko Products Co Radio frequency identification (rfid) system for manufacturing, distribution and retailing of keys
EP1923823A3 (de) * 2004-09-10 2008-07-02 Hy-Ko Products Company Hochfrequenzidentifikationssystem (rfid) zur herstellung, zur verteilung und zum einzelhandel von schlüsseln
US7849721B2 (en) 2004-09-10 2010-12-14 Hy-Ko Products Company Radio frequency identification (RFID) system for manufacturing distribution and retailing of keys
US9963908B2 (en) 2004-09-10 2018-05-08 Hy-Ko Products Company Data key and method of using same
US10480214B2 (en) 2004-09-10 2019-11-19 Hy-Ko Products Company Data key and method of using same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0028849D0 (en) 2001-01-10
GB2369475A (en) 2002-05-29
EP1221518A3 (de) 2003-11-19

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