GB2218463A

GB2218463A - Improvements in or relating to keys

Info

Publication number: GB2218463A
Application number: GB8908810A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael George Mander
Original assignee: WJ Goodwin and Son Ltd
Current assignee: WJ Goodwin and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-10
Filing date: 1989-04-19
Publication date: 1989-11-15
Also published as: GB8908810D0; GB8810999D0

Abstract

A key (18) is provided with an extension part in the form of a generally rectangular grip element having a recess (11) therein, the recess having parallel sides (12), extending from one, open shorter end of the grip element, leading to part- circular sides (13) adjacent an opening (14) at the other shorter end of the grip element. The head of the key is received in the recess with respective parts of its curved surface engaging the part-circular sides (13), the neck of the key extending through the opening (14) and the key stem extending away from the grip element. The key head is secured by a rivet to the grip element and a cap (19) is fitted in said open end of the grip element after the key is inserted therethrough to close the recess. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO KEYS This invention relates generally to keys.

With some sliding door arrangements, such as patio doors, it has been found that with the door fully closed it can be difficult for a person to insert and operate the usual type of round-headed key in the cylinder lock of the door, due to the outward protrusion of the adjacent door jamb. Not only can it be difficult to obtain sufficient purchase to turn the key, but there is also risk of the person's hand catching against the jamb.

An object of the invention is to alleviate this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a grip element for a key comprising a body having a recess therein to receive, in use, one end of a key, the recess having an opening extending to an external surface of the body, at least part of the recess and/or said opening being shaped to match part of the external shape of the key, and means for securing said end of the key to said element, in use.

The invention also relates to a key having a grip element secured to one of its ends, the grip element comprising a body having a recess therein receiving said end of the key, the recess having an opening extending to an external surface of the body, through which opening part of the key extends, at least part of the recess and/or said opening being shaped to match part of the external shape of the key, and there being means securing said end of the key to said grip element.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view showing a grip element of the invention together with part of a key which, in use, is secured thereto, Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but shows a longitudinal section through the grip part, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, with a cap thereof not shown.

As can be seen from the drawings the key grip element is generally rectangular in side view, but has its corners chamfered, and one of its shorter sides 10 curved.

Figure 3 shows that the thickness of the element decreases regularly from one end thereof to the other.

Extending centrally through the length of the element is a recess or slot 11, best shown in Figure 2. The slot 11 extends from said curved side 10 and has parallel sides 12. Adjacent the thinner end of the grip element, each side of the slot is arcuate as shown at 13, the two arcuate lengths being part of a common circle having its centre on a line midway between the two parallel sides 12.

The slot 11 extends to the other end of the grip element via an opening 14 which has a particular configuration, as will be explained hereinafter.

The grip element is, in this example, a plastics material moulding and has a pair of aligned, stepped, circularsection holes 15 in its opposite sides, each hole 15 being centred on said line parallel to the sides 12 of the slot. A further pair of aligned circular-section holes 16 are provided in the respective opposite sides of the grip element adjacent the thicker end thereof. Again each of the holes 16 is centred on said centre line parallel to the sides of the slot 11. Both of the holes 15 and both of the holes 16 extend to communicate with the slot 11. Additionally, as shown in Figure 3, the thicker end of the grip element has side slots therein in alignment with the slot 11, one of these end slots being indicated at 17.

The size of the slot 11 and the configuration of its sides and also of the opening 14 adjacent the thinner end of the grip element are intended to match part of a conventional, for example, circular-headed cylinderoperating key 18, as shown in Figure 2. Thus the width of the slot 11 is arranged to receive the head of the key as a sliding fit, with the arcuate parts 13 of the slot sides 12 matching the curvature of the part of the head which abuts these arcuate surfaces 13 when the key is pushed to the extreme end of the slot, the key being fed in from the open end of the slot at the curved shorter side 10. Additionally the opening 14 is configurated so that it exactly matches the corresponding external shape of the neck of the key between its head and its shank or stem.Once firmly engaged at the end of the slot, as shown in Figure 2, an insert or cap, 19, also of plastics material, can be drive-fitted into the open end of the slot, the cap 19 having serrated edges 19a to engage tightly with the opposite sides 12 of the slot. The cap can be inserted in the element until its leading surface 20 engages against the head of the key. In this position the outermost part of the cap 19, which is curved, is flush with the curved thicker end of the grip element so as not to disturb the appearance of the element.

Alternatively the cap could be a snap-fit with the body.

With the key and cap arranged as shown in Figure 2, the aligned holes 15 are additionally in alignment with a circular section hole 21 through the head of the key. A rivet, not shown, is then fixed through the holes 15 and through the hole in the key head so as securely to engage the key with the key grip element, angular movement of the key about the rivet being prevented by the engagement of the key with the slot and opening surfaces as described. Additionally the cap 19 has a circular section hole 22 which aligns with both of the holes 16 so that the key grip element can be received on a key ring.

The cap serves to prevent ingress of dirt, water etc.

into the slot, as well as completing the appearance of the key grip element.

The key grip element thus effectively extends the key further away from any cylinder lock which it operates and this extension is believed to be sufficient to overcome any difficulties with conventional keys where a protrusion of the door jamb adjacent a cylinder lock would make operation of the lock difficult. With this extension the person operating the lock can obtain sufficient purchase on the key and can also operate it without the person's hand catching the door jamb.

If, with the same rearward extension from its slotted side, the remainder of the body were circular rather than rectangular, additional gripping of the element would be possible laterally and this increased area will help people with arthritis in their fingers grip the element.

It is considered that the invention relates to a more convenient manufacturing method than the present method of moulding a solid extension part around a key head, in that the key grip element illustrated is suitable for any key having the standard head configuration shown herein, the key merely being slid into the slot, the cap fitted and the key rivetted in place. Of course the size of the slot 11, and the configuration of the sides 12, parts 13 and opening 14 could be different so that the grip element could be used with a differently shaped key.

Claims

1. A grip element for a key comprising a body having a recess therein receiving said end of the key, the recess having an opening extending to an external surface of the body, through which opening part of the key extends, at least part of the recess and/or said opening being shaped to match part of the external shape of the key, and there being means securing said end of the key to said grip element.

2. An element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess extends through said body away from said opening to open at an opposite external surface of the body.

3. An element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recess has parallel sides extending from said opposite external surface and respective part-circular sides at the ends of the parallel sides, the part-circular sides leading to said opening.

4. An element as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said open opposite external surface of the body is closable by a cap.

5. A key having a grip element secured to one of its ends, the grip element comprising a body having a recess therein receiving said end of the key, the recess having an opening extending to an external surface of the body, through which opening part of the key extends, at least part of the recess and/or said opening being shaped to match part of the external shape of the key, and there being means securing said end of the key to said grip element.

6. A key as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recess extends through said body away from said opening to open at an opposite external surface of the body.

7. A key as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recess has parallel sides extending from said opposite external surface and respective part-circular sides at the ends of the parallel sides, the part-circular sides leading to said opening.

8. A key as claimed in claim 7, wherein respective part-circular portions of a head of the key engage said part-circular sides of the opening, and a shank of the key extends through said opening, a neck of the key between its head and its shank engaging opposite sides of said opening.

9. A key as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, having its head secured to the body.

10. A key as claimed in claim 9, wherein the securement is by means of a rivet passing through a hole in the key head and through respective aligned holes in the body at opposite sides thereof.

11. A key as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said open opposite external surface of the body is closed by a cap.

12. A key as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cap has serrated edges and is drive-fitted in the body.

13. A key as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the cap has a hole therethrough aligned with respective holes in the body at opposite sides thereof to allow attachment to a key ring.

14. A key as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein an inner end of the cap abuts the head of the key and an outer end of the cap matches the shape of said opposite external surface of the body.

15. A key as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 14, wherein the grip element is generally rectangular, with said opening being in one of its shorter sides.

16. A key as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 15, wherein the grip element is a plastics material moulding.

17. A grip element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. A key substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.