FR2763625A1 - KEY WITH A HEAD FORMING A HOUSING CONTAINING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Head key comprising a key body (1), of elongated shape, and a head (3, 4) of generally substantially flat shape made in at least two parts, said part forming a housing, which houses an electronic device (5) , this head being fixed to one end (1a) of the key body (1), characterized in that a first part (4) of the key head forms a key grip ring, the housing being produced by assembling said first part (4) with a second part (3) along a joint surface extending substantially along a plane not parallel to the median plane of said key head (3, 4).

Description

KEY OF WHICH THE T SHAPES A BO TIER CONTAINING A

ELECTRONIC DEVICE

  The present invention relates to a key comprising a key body generally made of metal, of elongated shape, as well as a head fixed to one end of the key body. The head constitutes a housing containing an electronic device, for example a transponder used for the ignition keys of a motor vehicle. This head is generally substantially flat in shape; its median plane (plane of largest section of the head) is parallel to that of the key body, when the key body is of flat shape, and, preferably, it coincides

substantially with the latter.

  Keys of this type are known in which the head is formed of two flat parts, which are assembled according to a joint plane extending parallel to the median plane of the head. In these known keys, a gripping ring is produced by leaving a hole

  in the key head. This hole necessarily crosses the joint plane.

  To preserve the watertightness of the interior of the housing, it is therefore necessary to provide, all around said hole, a wall and a fixing system and

  waterproof closure. This complicates the realization of these keys.

  The invention overcomes this drawback and in particular aims to provide a simple embodiment of a key head of the type

  defined above comprising a grasping ring.

  This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the grip ring is formed by a first part of the key head, and that the housing is formed by assembling this first part with a second part according to a joint surface s' extending substantially in a non-parallel plane, preferably orthogonal, to the median plane of the key head. Thanks to this characteristic of the invention, the area of the joint faces, in contact with each other, of the two parts is reduced, since the head is of substantially flat shape and the joint plane is transverse with respect to in the middle plane of the key head. This results in an improvement in the reliability of the sealing of the housing, as well as a simplification of the device for fixing the two parts with one another. In addition, this embodiment makes it possible to produce a first piece of housing made of massive plastic material in the region of the grasping ring, so that there is nothing to prevent the production of a large grasping ring, which was not the case in the prior art. Finally, it is possible with this type of embodiment, to obtain interesting aesthetic effects, in particular by molding the two parts of the housing with plastic materials.

different colors.

  The joint surface of the parts is advantageously oblique

  relative to the longitudinal axis of the key body.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the part forming a gripping ring constitutes the cover of the housing, and the body of the latter consists of the second part which is hollow. The first part of the key head forming a gripping ring may comprise means for positioning and fixing the key body, while the recess of the second key head part opens out on the one hand, by the seal face of said second part and on the other hand, by a face located substantially opposite said seal face, this latter outlet being made by an outlet opening having a section substantially identical to

that of the key body.

  The aforementioned positioning and fixing means may comprise a stirrup, the space between branches of which has, seen in plan, a profile producing retaining elements cooperating with complementary elements provided on one end of the key body, this profile being shape substantially identical to that of the profile, seen in plan, of said end of the key body, said stirrup being shaped and dimensioned so as to receive with preload said end of the key body, said stirrup protruding from the face of joint of said first key head piece, said recess of the second key head piece being shaped and dimensioned for

  being able, in the assembled position of the key head, to house said stirrup.

  The stirrup can be substantially flat and have a thickness less than that of the key body, a recess being provided in an inner sliding surface of the recess of the second key head piece, for, in the assembled position of the key , cooperate with the step formed by said difference in thickness between the stirrup and the key body, elastic means being provided for urging the key body against said sliding surface; said elastic means may comprise a tongue extending inside said recess of the second key head piece, substantially parallel to said sliding surface, the spacing between said tongue and the sliding surface being substantially equal to the thickness of the key body, the free end of said tongue being

  facing the seal face of said second key head piece.

  Preferably, the end of the key body disposed inside the housing comprises two opposite lateral notches arranged so that, in the assembled position of the key, extend inside said outlet opening, the end free of each of the branches of said stirrup being arranged and shaped so as to be able to be housed without lateral play in the space delimited by the wall of the notch, on the one hand, and by the wall of said outlet opening and the wall close to the recess of said second key head piece,

  located to the right of the notch, on the other hand.

  Advantageously, the first key head part comprises a second part projecting from its seal face, this second projecting part having a recess open at least on the face of said projecting part opposite the stirrup, this recess being intended to receive said electronic device; there may be provided between said tongue and the wall of the recess of the second key head piece, situated opposite the sliding surface, a space for housing said second part in

  projection, in assembled position of the key head.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the description which follows, of a mode of

  realization of the invention, description made with reference to the drawing

  Annex. In this drawing - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the different parts of the key according to one embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the key of Figure 1, once assembled; - Figure 3 is a side view of the key of Figure 2, along III-III of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a bottom view of the key of Figure 2, according to IV-IV of Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a top view of the part forming the ring of the key of Figures 1 to 4; FIGS. Sa and 5b are, respectively, sectional views along the planes A-A and B-B of FIG. 5;

  - Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5, according to VI-

  VI of Figure 5; - Figure 6a is a sectional view along the plane A-A of Figure 6; - Figure 7 is the bottom view corresponding to the figure, along VII-VII of Figure 6; - Figures 7a and 7b are, respectively, sections along the planes A-A and B-B of Figure 7; Figure 8 is a sectional view along A-A of Figure 9; - Figure 9 is a side view along arrow F of Figure 1, of the part forming the housing body of the head of the key shown in Figures 1 to 4; - Figure 10 is a sectional view along B-B of Figure 9; - Figure 11 is a section along XI-XI of Figure 9 - Figure 12 is a top plan view along arrow V1 of Figure 9; - Figure 13 is a bottom plan view along arrow V2 of Figure 9; - Figure 14 is the section along the plane XIV-XIV of Figure 12; - Figure 15 shows schematically, seen in plan from above, the two parts of the key head of Figures 1 to 4, in a position close to their assembled position, the part forming the housing body being cut by a plane parallel to the plane median of the key to reveal the part forming the housing cover; - Figure 16 is a schematic view in vertical section along the plane A-A of Figure 15, showing the key body in

  assembled position, when the case is closed.

  In Figure 1, there is shown in exploded view an ignition key for a motor vehicle according to the invention. This key comprises a key body 1, made of metal, of flat and elongated shape, and a key head forming a housing composed of two plastic parts.

molded 3 and 4.

  The key head 3, 4 has, in plan view, a substantially circular shape. Its thickness is much less than its diameter. Its median plane P -or plane of greatest extension or of plane large section is parallel to the plane of the body of key 1 and is located at

  very small distance from the mean plane of said key body 1.

  The part 3 constitutes a hollow housing body, delimiting a recess 30, while the other part 4 forms, on one side, a ring of

  gripping the key and, on the other side, housing cover.

  As shown in the drawing, the housing parts 3 and 4 are assembled according to a substantially planar joint surface SJ which is orthogonal to the median plane P of the key head, and which is oblique by

  relative to the longitudinal axis AL of the key body 1 (see Figures 2 and 4).

  A transponder 5 is mounted in the housing 3, 4 by

  means which will be described later.

  The housing cover 4 is provided with two substantially flat parts 6 and 7, mutually parallel, spaced from one another, projecting from the joint face 4a of said cover 4, and extending orthogonally with respect to to this face 4a in the direction opposite to the grip ring. In the assembled position of the key, the projecting parts 6, 7 are housed in the recess 30 of the body of

housing 3.

  The projecting part 6 presents in plan view (see figure) the shape of a right triangle whose hypotenuse coincides with the joint face 4a and whose apex angle is about 30. On the base of the right triangle, the projecting part 6 forms a stirrup 8 whose branches 8a extend perpendicularly to said base of the

triangle.

  In Figure 5 there is shown schematically in center line the key rod 1 in plan view. At its end intended to be housed in the key head 3, 4, the key body 1 comprises two notches 9 symmetrical to one another, of rectangular shape in plan view, each being formed from the 'one of the longitudinal sections 11 of said key body. Each branch 8a of the stirrup 8 has, on its face facing the other branch, a raised portion of shape corresponding to that of a notch 9. The members 8, 8a, are arranged and dimensioned so that the space between branches of stirrup 8 can receive without play and with a certain preload the end of the key body 1. The stirrup 8 of the projecting part 6 thus constitutes, thanks to the presence of the notches 9 and reliefs 10 which fit into it, a positioning and fixing member

key body 1.

  The projecting part 7 is ribbed on its face located opposite to the projecting part 6, and it has in plan view (see FIG. 7) a general shape of right triangle of extension substantially identical to that of the part protruding 6; the edges 6a, 7_ of the parts 6 and 7 which constitute the heights of the right triangles are perpendicular to each other and have approximately identical lengths. The protruding part 7 comprises in the zone located directly above the stirrup 8, a recess 11 open on the face opposite to the stirrup 8, as well as on the edge 7b on the base side of the right triangle that constitutes said part 7 On the face of part 7 facing part 6, the recess 11 is only partially open because part 7

  has on this side lamellae 12 forming a bridge (see FIGS. 6a and 7).

  The recess 11 is shaped and dimensioned so as to be able to receive without lateral play and, preferably with a slight

preload, transponder 5.

  The housing body 3 is open on its seal face 3a. It is dimensioned so that in the assembled position of the key head,

  the protruding parts 6 and 7 are housed in its recess 30.

  Noticeably opposite the seal face 3a, the body 3 is provided with an opening 13, the rectangular section of which is substantially identical to that of the key body 1. The opening 13 is positioned on the body 3 of such that in the assembled position of the key, the key body 1 positioned and fixed on the projecting part 6 of the cover 4 passes through said opening 13 substantially without transverse play. FIG. 16 schematically represents, in the assembled position, the end 1_ of the key body 1 positioned on the stirrup of the projecting part 6, inside the housing body 3. It can be seen in this figure that the thickness a of the projecting part 6 is less than that, b, of the key body 1. In addition, it can be seen, in FIGS. 14 and 16, that the bottom wall of the opening 13 is extended towards the inside of the body 3 by a flat sliding surface 14 coplanar with said wall. lower. The planar surface 14 ends towards the inside of the body 3 by a recess forming a shoulder face 15 facing the opening 13, followed by a surface of small width 15a parallel to the surface 14. The recess (15, 15a) is followed, towards the inside of the body 3, by a flat sliding surface 16, inclined with respect to the surface 14 in the direction opposite to the direction of the

  recess formed by the shoulder 15.

  As can be seen in the diagram in FIG. 16, the step 15, 15a is shaped and positioned so as to cooperate with the step formed by the difference in thicknesses between the stirrup part 6, 8 and the key body 1 , to constitute a means of retaining by clipping the assembly (cover 4 + body

  key 1) in the housing body 3.

  Elastic means are also provided for urging the key body 1 against the sliding surfaces 16, 14 when the key body 1 is introduced into the housing body 3. These elastic means consist of a tongue 17 extending inside the housing body 3, from the opening 13, parallel to the sliding surface 14, the free end of said

  tongue 17 being turned towards the seal face 3a of the housing body 3.

  The lower face 17a (FIG. 14) of the tongue 17 is coplanar with the upper wall of the opening 13 and constitutes an extension towards the inside of the body 3. The spacing c between said lower face 17a of the tongue 17 and the sliding surface 14 is substantially

  equal to the thickness b of the key body 1.

  It can also be seen in FIG. 14 that between the tongue 17 and the wall part PR of the housing body 3 opposite the sliding surface 14, 15, 16, a space is provided for the housing of the second projecting part 7 (shown schematically in phantom in Figure 14) of the cover 4, when the key head 3, 4 is in the assembled position. In FIG. 16, only the transponder 5 has been shown as positioned and fixed in

  the recess 11 in the projecting part 7.

  It can be seen that, in the assembled position of the key body 1 in the housing body 3, the notches 9 extend as far as the interior of the opening 13. Each branch 8a of the stirrup 8 is arranged and shaped to so that its free end is housed without lateral play in the space delimited by the wall of the notch 9, on the one hand, and the wall of said opening 13 as well as the zone, located at the right of

  the notch 9, of the internal wall of the housing body 3, on the other hand.

  Thanks to this characteristic, the anchoring of the rod I in the key head

3, 4 is further strengthened.

  Maintaining the assembled position of the assembly (cover 4 + key body 1) in the housing body 3 is reinforced by other clipping means constituted, on the one hand, by beads 18, 19 (FIGS. 5 and 7) provided, respectively, on the projecting parts 6 and 7, and on the other hand, by correspondingly shaped recesses 20, 21 (FIGS. 10 and 8) formed at locations

  suitable on the inner wall of the housing body 3.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1 - Key with head comprising a body of key (1), of elongated shape, and a head (3, 4) of generally flat shape made in at least two parts, said part forming a case, which shelters an electronic device (5), this head being fixed to one end (la) of the key body (1), characterized in that a first part (4) of the key head forms a ring for gripping the key, the housing being produced by assembling said first part (4) with a second part (3) along a joint surface (SJ) extending substantially along a plane not parallel to the median plane (P) of said key head (3 , 4). 2 - Key according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint surface (SJ) is in a plane orthogonal to the median plane (P). 3 - Key according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said joint surface (SJ) extends substantially in an oblique plane relative to the longitudinal axis (AL) of the key body (1) . 4 - Key according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the part (4) forming a gripping ring constitutes the cover of the housing, and the body of the latter is constituted by the second hollow part (3), o is formed a recess (30). - Key according to claim 4, characterized in that the first part (4) of the key head forming a gripping ring (4) comprises positioning and fixing means (6, 8, 8a, 10) of the body of key (1), while the recess (30) of the second key head piece (3) opens out, on the one hand, by the seal face (3a), of said second head piece key (3) and, on the other hand, by a face located substantially opposite said seal face (31), the latter opening being made by an outlet opening (13) having a section substantially identical to that of the key body (1). 6 - Key according to claim 5, characterized in that said positioning and fixing means comprise a stirrup (8) whose space between branches has, seen in plan, a profile producing retaining elements (10) cooperating with complementary elements (9) provided on one end (la) of the key body (1), this profile being of substantially identical shape to that of the profile, seen in plan, of said end (la) of the key body (1) , said stirrup (8) being shaped and dimensioned so as to receive, with a preload, said end (la) of the key body (1), said stirrup (8) projecting from the joint face (4a) of said first key head piece (4), said recess (30) of the second key head piece (3) being shaped and dimensioned so as to be able, in the assembled position of the key head, to house said stirrup (8). 7 - Key according to claim 6, characterized in that said stirrup (8) is substantially flat and has a thickness (a) less than that (b) of the key body (1), a step (15, 15a) being provided in an internal sliding surface (16, 15a, 15, 14) of the recess (30) of the second key head piece (3) for, in the assembled position of the key, cooperating with the recess formed by said difference in thickness between the stirrup (8) and the key body (1), elastic means (17) being provided to urge the key body (1) against said sliding surface (16, 15a, 15, 14 ). 8 - Key according to claim 7, characterized in that said elastic means comprise a tongue (17) extending inside said recess (30) of the second key head piece (3), substantially parallel to said sliding surface (16, 15a, 15, 14), the spacing (c) between said tongue (17) and the sliding surface (16, 15a, 15, 14) being substantially equal to the thickness (b) of the key body (1), the free end of said tongue (17) being turned towards said seal face (3a) of said second key head piece (3). 9 - Key according to claim 5 and one of claims 7 and 8 taken in combination, characterized in that said end (la) of the key body (1) comprises two opposite lateral notches (9) arranged so as to, in the assembled position of the key, extend inside said outlet opening (13), the free end of each of the arms (8a) of said stirrup (8) being arranged and shaped so that it can be accommodated without lateral clearance in the space (ES) delimited by the wall of the notch (9), on the one hand, and by the wall of said outlet opening (13) and the neighboring wall (Z) of the recess ( 30) of said second key head piece (3), located in line with the notch (9), on the other hand. - Key according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said first key head piece (4) has a second part (7) projecting from its joint face (4_.), This second projecting part (7) having a recess (11) open at least on the face of said projecting part (7) opposite the stirrup (8), this recess (11) being intended to receive said electronic device (5) , and by the fact that it is provided between said tongue (17) and the wall (PR) of the recess (30) of the second key head piece (3), located opposite the surface of sliding (16, 15a, 15, 14), a space for housing said second projecting part (7), in the assembled position of the key head.   1 - Use of the key according to one of claims 1 to   10, as an ignition key for motor vehicles.