EP3070684B1 - Key with additional device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement with a mechanical key made of metal with a beard and a head for operating a rotary lock and an additional device attached to the head of the key, the additional device having a housing and the head of the key from the housing of the additional device of two opposing devices Each side is encompassed by a housing wall, characterized in that the housing is mounted rotatably relative to the head of the key, an electrical contact is arranged on the respective inside of the two housing walls and the two electrical contacts are rotated relative to the head in an "open" position or a "closed" position can be brought, wherein the two electrical contacts are in the "open" position at a distance from the head of the key and in the "closed" position are electrically conductive on the head of the key and thus over the head of the key are connected to one another in a galvanically conductive manner, the additional device having a battery and an electrical consumer that can be supplied by the battery. Such an arrangement is in each case from WO 2007/148322 and from the EP 1 933 282 A2 known.

With locks, in particular with door locks such as the lock on a house or apartment door, the problem often arises that a user is no longer sure whether he has locked the door lock. In order to counter this problem, it is known from practice to provide such locks with a sensor which detects the locking state, that is to say whether the lock is locked or not. Such a sensor can send a signal indicating the locking status of the lock to a receiving device, so that the user can be informed about the locking status of the lock even if he is not at the location of the lock. Such sensors on the lock are difficult to install and usually require a modification of the door, the fitting and / or the lock itself. In addition, an electrical power supply is often required, which sometimes requires the laying of cabling in the wall adjacent to the door .

To counter this problem, it is known to provide a key for operating a rotary lock with an additional device which has a sensor for detecting rotational movements of the key and a communication device with which a detected rotational movement can be wirelessly transmitted to a receiving device. In this way, it can be displayed on the receiving device how the locking state of the rotary lock behaves, i.e. whether it is locked or opened.

However, it is problematic that with such an additional device for a key, an electrical power supply must be provided in order to supply the sensor and the communication device. In order to avoid switching the sensor or the communication device on or off by hand, the sensor and the communication device have so far been continuously supplied with electrical energy, which, however, greatly shortens the service life of the battery. Therefore, frequent battery changes are required. In cases in which the battery cannot be removed from the additional device, the entire additional device even has to be replaced.

Based on this situation, the object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement of a mechanical key for operating a rotary lock with an additional device attached to the head of the key, with which an electrical consumer of the additional device remains operational for a long time.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The invention thus resides in an arrangement with a mechanical key made of metal with a beard and a head for operating a rotary lock and an additional device attached to the head of the key, the additional device having one housing and the head of the key from the housing of the additional device of two opposite sides are encompassed by a housing wall, characterized in that the housing is rotatably mounted relative to the head of the key, an electrical contact is arranged on the respective inside of the two housing walls and the two electrical contacts are rotated relative to the housing Head in one "Open" position or a "closed" position can be brought, wherein the two electrical contacts are in the "open" position at a distance from the head of the key and in the "closed" position are electrically conductive on the head of the Key and are thus connected to one another in a galvanically conductive manner over the head of the key, the additional device having a battery and an electrical consumer that can be supplied by the battery and the battery in the "open" position is separated from the electrical consumer and in the "closed" position "Position is electrically connected to the electrical consumer.

It is therefore a crucial point of the invention that an electrical contact is arranged on the two inner sides of the two housing walls that enclose the head of the key, the electrical contacts being electrically conductive with one another via the key head due to a twisting of the key relative to the housing are connectable. This functionality can be used to close a circuit and thus "wake up" an electrical consumer in the additional device. This means that the electrical consumer does not have to be supplied with power at times when the key is not operated, i.e. the two contacts on the inside of the two housing walls are electrically isolated from one another. Only when the key is operated, i.e. when the key is turned in the rotary lock, is the housing additionally rotated relative to the head, which means that the two electrical contacts on the housing are connected to one another in a galvanically conductive manner over the head of the key.

In principle, it is sufficient if the housing is rotatably mounted relative to the head of the key, i.e. if the key is inserted into the housing in such a way that it has a certain amount of play relative to the housing along the axis of its beard. According to a preferred development of the invention, however, a web is provided on the respective inside of the two housing walls, which is arranged at a distance from the respective electrical contact and which rests on the head of the key. In this way, a support is provided on both sides for the head of the key, around which the head of the key can tilt in one or the other direction. In this way, a defined rotatability of the head of the key relative to the housing is ensured, which is advantageous for the reliable Contacting the electrical contacts on the housing through the head of the key. The head of the key preferably rests centrally on the webs.

According to a preferred development of the invention, an elastic device is also provided on the inside of the two housing walls, which rests on the key head from the respective side and ensures that the housing can be rotated relative to the head of the key. In other words, this means that the head of the key is elastically clamped in the housing by means of the elastic device, so that it is held in a stable manner and can nevertheless be rotated relative to the housing when the key is operated in a rotary lock.

Different possibilities come into consideration for the elastic device, in particular the elastic device can be formed from a reversibly deformable foam or rubber material. According to a preferred development of the invention, however, the elastic device has spring elements. These spring elements are very particularly preferably circular in cross section. In addition, according to a preferred development of the invention, provision is made for the spring elements to be at a distance from one another. The spring elements provided on one inside of the housing are very particularly preferably connected to the spring elements provided on the other inside of the housing in areas in which they do not rest on the head of the key. This connection can be designed in different ways. However, it is preferably a form-fitting connection. In particular, according to a preferred development of the invention it is provided that the spring elements are provided with latching devices so that the spring elements on one side of the housing can interlock with the spring elements on the other side of the housing. Finally, it is very particularly preferred in this context that the spring elements on one inner side of the housing and on the other inner side of the housing each lie exactly opposite one another.

As already stated above, the configuration according to the invention is associated with the possibility of "waking up" an electrical consumer of the additional device. According to the invention, the additional device in this context has a battery and an electrical consumer that can be supplied by the battery, the battery in the "open" position is separated from the electrical consumer and in the "closed" position is electrically connected to the electrical consumer. This means that, according to the invention, the circuit for supplying the electrical consumer of the additional device is closed only while the key is being pressed, namely by the fact that when the key is operated in the rotary lock, the key tilts relative to the housing, so that the two electrical contacts on the housing via the Key heads are connected to one another in a galvanically conductive manner.

In principle, it is sufficient if only one electrical contact is provided on a respective inner side. According to a preferred development of the invention, however, it is provided that two electrical contacts are arranged on the respective inner side of the two housing walls and two electrical contacts provided on opposite sides are arranged by rotating the housing relative to the head in one direction or in that direction opposite direction can be brought into an "open" position or a "closed" position, the respective electrical contacts on the opposite sides being in the "open" position at a distance from the head of the key and in the "closed" position "Position are electrically conductive against the head of the key and are thus connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner across the head of the key. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible, regardless of the direction of rotation when the key is operated in a rotary lock, to always connect two electrical contacts on opposite inner sides of the housing to one another in a galvanically conductive manner via the key head.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that the electrical consumer has a sensor device which has a rotary motion sensor with which a rotary motion of the key can be detected, and / or an orientation sensor with which the orientation of the key can be detected during the rotary motion. In order to detect the locking state of the rotary lock operated with the key, it can be detected on the one hand, namely on the basis of the direction of the rotary movement of the key, whether the rotary lock has been locked or unlocked. In addition, the orientation sensor enables the orientation of the key to be recorded during unlocking or locking, i.e. while the key is turning, so that it can also be recognized from which direction the key has been inserted into the rotary lock. This can be used to determine whether the rotary lock has been unlocked or locked from the outside or the inside. In addition to the locked state - open / closed - this embodiment of the invention thus also enables the indication from where - from the inside / from the outside - the rotary lock has been opened or closed.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the key is provided with a communication device for wireless transmission of data, data on the rotational movement of the key detected by the rotational movement sensor and data on the orientation of the key during the rotational movement being wirelessly transmitted from the communication device to a receiving device. In this way, the key can be kept free of any display devices or evaluation devices in the additional device, so that the arrangement of the key with the additional device remains handy and easy to operate.

The invention is explained in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1a

schematisch eine Anordnung eines mechanischen Schlüssels für ein Drehschloss und einer Zusatzeinrichtung mit einer Sensor- und Kommunikationseinheit gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 1b

schematisch die Anordnung aus Fig. 1a in zusammengebautem Zustand,

Fig. 2

schematisch den Aufbau der Sensor- und Kommunikationseinheit aus Fig. 1a,

Fig. 3a

schematisch die Anordnung des Schlüsselkopfes in der Zusatzeinrichtung im Ruhezustand in einer Draufsicht und in einer Frontansicht,

Fig. 3b

schematisch die Anordnung des Schlüsselkopfes in der Zusatzeinrichtung beim Betätigen des Schlüssels in zwei einander entgegengesetzte Richtungen in einer Draufsicht und in einer Frontansicht,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung von Details der Halterung des Schlüsselkopfes in der Zusatzeinrichtung gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel aus den Fig. 3a und 3b und

Fig. 5

schematisch die Anordnung von Schlüsseln mit verschiedenen Schlüsselkopfformen in einer jeweiligen Zusatzeinrichtung gemäß anderer bevorzugter Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung.

Show in the drawings

Fig. 1a

schematically an arrangement of a mechanical key for a rotary lock and an additional device with a sensor and communication unit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1b

schematically the arrangement Fig. 1a in assembled condition,

Fig. 2

schematically shows the structure of the sensor and communication unit Fig. 1a ,

Fig. 3a

schematically the arrangement of the key head in the additional device in the idle state in a top view and in a front view,

Figure 3b

schematically the arrangement of the key head in the additional device when the key is operated in two opposite directions in a top view and in a front view,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of details of the holder of the key head in the additional device according to the preferred embodiment from FIG Figures 3a and 3b and

Fig. 5

schematically the arrangement of keys with different key head shapes in a respective additional device according to other preferred embodiments of the invention.

the end Fig. 1 an arrangement with a mechanical key 1 for a rotary lock (not shown here) and an additional device 2 that can be attached to the key 1 can be seen. The additional device has a key adapter 3 in which the key head 4 of the key can be received. The key 1 can then be inserted into a frame 5 together with the key adapter 3, the frame 5 together with the key adapter 3 and the key 1 finally being able to be pushed into a housing 6.

An electrical battery 7 for electrical power supply and a sensor and communication device 8 are also provided within the housing 6. In this way, in the assembled state, an arrangement is achieved as shown in FIG Figure 1b can be seen in which only the bit 9 of the key 1 protrudes from the housing 6. This arrangement can still be used like the key 1 alone, since a user of the key 1 can hold it instead of the key head 4 on the housing 6 of the additional device 2 and operate the key 1 with it.

In Fig. 2 the sensor and communication unit 8 is shown schematically in detail. The sensor and communication unit 8 has a sensor device 10 and a communication device 11 connected to it. As indicated by the double arrow, the communication device 11 is set up for the wireless transmission of data. In the present case, the communication device 11 is a Bluetooth module according to the 4.0 standard.

In the present case, the sensor device 10 is formed by a magnetic sensor for detecting the earth's magnetic field. This magnetic sensor serves on the one hand as a rotary motion sensor with which a rotary motion of the key 1 can be detected. In addition, this magnetic sensor also serves as an orientation sensor with which the orientation of the key 1 can be detected during its rotational movement. The data relating to a detected rotational movement and the orientation of the key 1 during this rotational movement can be transmitted from the sensor device 10 to the communication device 11, which in turn can transmit this data wirelessly, in the present case via Bluetooth, to another device. The above-mentioned function can thus be achieved, so that a user can then also provide information about the locking status of the lock can be if it is not at the location of the castle. On the one hand, this can be used to determine whether the rotary lock has been unlocked or locked from the outside or the inside. In addition to the locking status - open / closed - it is also possible to specify from where - from inside / outside - the rotary lock has been opened or closed.

From the Figures 3a and 3b it can now be seen how the key 1 is held in the additional device 2. The additional device 2 has two electrical contacts 12 on each of the two inner sides of its housing 6. In addition, spring elements 13 are arranged on the insides of the two housing walls 16. These spring elements 13 are formed from an elastic material so that they are reversibly deformable. With the aid of these spring elements 13, the head 4 of the key 1 is elastically fixed between the two housing walls 16, namely in such a way that the head 4 can be rotated relative to the housing 6.

A web 14 is also arranged on the inside of the housing walls 16 in such a way that the web 14 is centered on the respective housing wall 16 and also extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beard 9 of the key 1. The two webs 14 thus form a support for the head 4 of the key 1. Overall, a functionality is achieved, as overall from the Figures 3a and 3b evident.

While Fig. 3a shows the rest position of the arrangement of the mechanical key 1 with the additional device 2 is shown in FIG Figure 3b shows how the key 1, in particular the head 4 of the key 1, behaves relative to the housing 6 of the additional device 2. Depending on the direction of rotation of the key 1, namely counterclockwise as in Figure 3b shown above, or clockwise as in Figure 3b shown below, there is a twisting of the key 1 and thus also of the head 4 of the key 1 relative to the housing 6 of the additional device 2. Due to the flexible mounting of the head 4 of the key 1 between the two housing walls 16 of the housing, that the head 4 of the key 1, depending on the direction of rotation, makes contact with an electrical contact 12 on an inside of a housing wall 16 with an electrical contact 12 on the other inside of the opposite housing wall 16. Due to the design of the key 1 and thus also of the head 4 of the key 1 made of metal, the two electrical contacts 12 on the opposite sides of the housing walls 16 are thus connected to one another in a galvanically conductive manner. In this way, the circuit that connects the battery 7 to the sensor and communication unit 8 is closed, so that the sensor and communication unit 8 is "woken up" by operating the key 1 in the rotary lock. By supplying the sensor and communication unit 8 with electrical energy from the battery 7, on the one hand the change in the locking state can be detected while the key 1 in the rotary lock is operated, and on the other hand it can be transmitted to another device by means of the communication device 11, what has been detected by the sensor device 10.

the end Fig. 4 details of the spring elements 13 can be seen, which ensure a secure hold of the head 4 of the key 1 between the two housing walls 16 of the housing 6 of the additional device 2. As can be seen in the enlarged illustration of the spring elements 13, these have latching devices 15 with which the upper spring elements 13 can be connected to the lower spring elements 13. Specifically, the upper spring elements 13 are each provided with a recess 17, into which a projection 18 on the upper end of the lower spring element 13 can be inserted with an accurate fit. Since the spring elements 13 are made of a flexible material that can be reversibly deformed, a force fit is generated in this way between the two spring elements 13, which are exactly opposite one another.

the end Fig. 5 Finally, it can be seen that keys 1 with different key head shapes can be securely held in an additional device 2 with corresponding spring elements 13 on the inside of the respective housing walls 16. List of reference symbols mechanical key 1 Additional equipment 2 Key adapter 3 Head of the key 4th frame 5 casing 6th battery 7th Sensor and communication unit 8th Beard of the key 9 Sensor device 10 Communication facility 11 electrical contacts 12th Spring elements 13th web 14th Locking devices 15th Housing walls 16 Recess 17th head Start 18th

Claims (9)

1. A system comprising a mechanical key (1), which includes a bit (9) and a head (4) and is made of metal, for actuating a twist lock and an additional device (2) provided at the head (4) of the key (1),
   the additional device (2) comprising a housing (6), and
   the head (4) of the key (1) being surrounded by the housing (6) of the additional device (2) from two mutually opposing sides with a respective housing wall (16),
   the housing (6) being mounted rotatably relative to the head (4) of the key (1), an electrical contact (12) being arranged in each case at the respective inner side of the two housing walls (16),
   it being possible to bring the two electrical contacts (12) into an "open" position or a "closed" position by a rotation of the housing (6) relative to the head (4),
   the two electrical contacts (12) in the "open" position being situated at a distance from the head (4) of the key (1), and in the "closed" position resting against the head (4) of the key (1) in a galvanically conducting manner, and thus being galvanically conductively connected to one another across the head (4) of the key (1), and
   the additional device (2) comprising a battery (7) and an electric consumer that can be powered by the battery (7),
   characterized in that the battery (7) in the "open" position is disconnected from the electric consumer, and in the "closed" position is galvanically conductively connected to the electric consumer.
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that a web (14) is provided in each case at the respective inner side of the two housing walls (16), which is arranged at a distance from the respective electrical contact (12) and which rests against the head (4) of the key (1).
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an elastic device is provided in each case on the inner sides of the two housing walls (16), which rests against the head (4) of the key (1) from the particular side, and the rotatability of the housing (6) relative to the head (4) of the key (1) is ensured.
4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic device comprises spring elements (13) that preferably have a circular cross-section.
5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring elements (13) provided on the one inner side of the housing (6), in regions in which these do not rest against the head (4) of the key (1), are preferably integrally joined to the other spring elements (13) provided on the other inner side of the housing (6).
6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring elements (13) are in each case located exactly opposite one another on the one inner side of the housing (6) and on the other inner side of the housing (6).
7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two electrical contacts (12) are arranged in each case at the respective inner side of the two housing walls (16), and in each case two electrical contacts (12) provided on mutually opposing sides can be brought into an "open" position or a "closed" position by a rotation of the housing (6) relative to the head (4) of the key (1) in one direction or in the direction opposite thereto, the respective electrical contacts (12), on the mutually opposing sides, in the "open" position being situated at a distance from the head (4) of the key (1), and in the "closed" position resting against the head (4) of the key (1) in a galvanically conductive manner, and thus being galvanically conductively connected to one another across the head (4) of the key (1).
8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric consumer comprises a sensor device (10), which comprises a rotational movement sensor, by which a rotational movement of the key (1) can be detected, and/or an orientation sensor, by which the orientation of the key (1) during the rotational movement can be detected.
9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric consumer comprises a communication device (11) for wirelessly transmitting data, by which data regarding the rotational movement of the key (1) detected by the rotational movement sensor and/or data regarding the orientation of the key (1) during the rotational movement can be wirelessly transmitted to a receiving unit.

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