ITTO20060747A1 - KEYCHAIN PROVIDED WITH A RETRACTABLE KEY, IN PARTICULAR FOR A LOCK OF A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A key-holder (1) with a retractable key (2), in particular for a vehicle lock; the key (2) is fitted to a supporting body (3) to rotate about a hinge axis (19) between an extracted position for insertion inside a lock, and a withdrawn position alongside the supporting body (3); an angular retaining device retains the key (2) in the withdrawn position; a button (31) is movable along a release axis (20) from a raised position to a lowered position to release the angular retaining device and permit rotation of the key (2); and the hinge and release axes (19, 20) are parallel and spaced apart.

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for Industrial Invention

by GIOBERT S.P.A.

of Italian nationality,

based in VIA PAVIA, 82

10090 RIVOLI (TO)

Designated inventors: FRANCESCHINI Maurizio, MARANGON

Stephen

****** ******* ******

The present invention relates to a

or * key fob fitted with a retractable key, in particular for a vehicle lock.

S == * Key rings are known comprising a body of O 3 - * 3⁄4o support and a flat key, which is

hinged to the support body to rotate between one

extracted position, in which it can be inserted into the

relative lock, and a rear position, in

which remains housed in a lateral recess of the

support body.

The key is held in its position

back from a retention device, which is

can be released by manually pressing a button

release. The release button is arranged on a

wall of the support body, in a coaxial position

to the hinge axis of the key and adjacent to an edge of the lateral recess where the

key in the back position.

After pressing the release button for

command the release of the key, the latter

it is automatically pushed by a device

elastic in its extended position. To bring back

the key in the rear position is sufficient

manually turn the key against action

elastic, until the device is engaged again

retention. "Generally, the support body then houses, at ao 3⁄4 <3> <or fluid seal, a remote control, which is 59 operable by means of an additional button to a3⁄4 activate / deactivate a 31 A anti-theft device

vehicle.

The known solutions described above, while having a

space-saving support body, have a constraint

limiting aesthetic. In particular, it is possible

affix a frieze or one to the release button

relatively small size coat of arms. Furthermore,

the release button, being arranged in

proximity to an edge of the support body,

conditions the aesthetic style of the key ring.

In addition, any trademark or emblem affixed

on the release button it rotates together with the key around the hinge axis during rotation

of the key from the back position to the position

extracted, or vice versa.

The purpose of the present invention is to

make a key ring with a key

retractable, especially for a lock of a

vehicle, which allows you to resolve in a manner

the above problems are simple and inexpensive and, in

particular, both simple and compact.

According to the present invention, a

a key ring comprising: o3⁄4 or à <e> a support body; © ^

a key hinged to said support body or fi? δ3⁄4 to rotate around a hinge axis between òj .g-to 3⁄4 A

an extracted position, in which it can be inserted

in a lock, especially a lock of

a vehicle, and a rearward position, in which it is

flanked to said support body;

angular retention means for retaining the

said key in at least one of said positions

backward and advanced;

a release button movable along an axis of

release from a raised rest position towards

a lowered release position to release

said angular retention means and leave

frees said key to rotate;

characterized in that said hinge axes

and release are parallel and spaced apart.

The invention will now be described with reference

the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of implementation, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the key ring provided with a retractable key, in particular for a vehicle lock, according to the present invention; a and Figures 2 and 3 are different perspective views ί |

or <which show, on an enlarged scale and with parts

or s removed for clarity, some components of the * <■ >> 3⁄4

.a key ring of figure 1; And

Figures 4 and 5 are different perspective views

which show, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, a variant of the key ring in figure 1.

In figure 1, 1 indicates a key ring provided with a retractable key 2, in particular

for a vehicle lock (not shown).

The key ring 1 comprises a support body 3 elongated along a rectilinear direction 5 and defining a lateral recess 4, which is open

outwards and communicates with a front cavity 6

of the body 3, also open towards the outside.

With reference to figures 1 to 3, the body 3 defines an internal chamber 7 hosting a remote control (not shown) and comprises two half-shells 8,9, which are fixed together in a conventional way not shown, for example by means of snap hooks and / or through one or more screws

in respective threaded seats 11 (Figure 3).

3⁄4 The half-shells 8,9 include respective walls

q *.

12,13, which are facing and spaced between! <a> ≤i along a direction orthogonal to the walls 12,13

3⁄43⁄4 same. The half-shell 9 also comprises a 11 annular wall 15, which extends in a cantilever way and in β a single piece from the wall 13, defines laterally

the chamber 7 is fluid-tight coupled along

its own edge, to the half-shell 8, and comprises a front portion 16 which delimits, towards the outside,

the cavity 6.

The half-shell 9 then comprises two pins 17,18,

which protrude and in one piece from the wall 13 into the cavity 6 along respective axes 19,20 orthogonal to the direction 5, parallel and spaced apart and are axially aligned, respectively, with a pin 21 and with an opening 22 forming part of the half-shell 8.

The pins 17 and 21 define a hinge to allow the key 2 to rotate around the axis

19 of a predetermined angle, in particular 180 °, between

an extracted position, in which it extends overhanging

along the direction 5 in order to be inserted in a lock, and a rear position (not shown), in which it is flanked to the body 3 inside the recess 4.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, 0 \

Q3⁄4 key 2 is flat in shape, it basically lies g 3⁄4

ti on a plane parallel to axis 19 and has one end o <

3⁄4 a> «23 integrally connected to a drum 24, which O S u engages at least partially the cavity 6 and has a hole

25 axial through, so as to be shod in

angularly rotatable and axially fixed on the pins 17.21. The drum 24 is delimited by two substantially flat surfaces 26,27 arranged to rest against the walls 12 and, respectively, 13,

and from a convex curved lateral surface 28 facing the portion 16. In particular, an elastic device (not shown) is interposed

between the drum 24 (or the key 2) and the body 3 and is preloaded to push the key 2 into the extracted position.

The key ring 1 further comprises an angular retention device 30 for retaining

the key 2 in the rear position, against the thrust

of the aforementioned elastic device, and a button 31

release, which extends along the axis 20 and is axially movable with respect to the body 3, in response

to a manual push, from a raised rest position to a lowered release position to release the device 30 and leave the key 2 free to rotate towards its extracted position "

OR . automatically under the push of the device $ <a a VU A

rubber band. or <

5 <'“> a In particular, the device 30 is at least in> o * • 3 u part carried by the button 31 and is capable of w Ά

hold the key 2 even when the key 2 is in the extracted position: therefore, to return the key 2 to the rear position, it is necessary to press the button 31 in order to unlock the key 2, then push the key 2 against the reaction of the device elastic up to the retracted position while the button 31 is kept pressed, and finally release the button 31 so

to re-engage the device 30.

Button 31 comprises a shaped head 32

disc-shaped, defining a circular outer surface 33, and a stem 34, which extends from the head 32 along the axis 20, on the opposite side of the surface 33, and passes through the opening 22.

At the opposite end from the head 32, lo

stem 34 ends with a portion 35 axially

hollow, which is engaged and guided by the pin 18, is flanked by the drum 24, between the surface 28 and the portion 16, and houses a spring (not shown) axially interposed between the head 32 and the pin 18

to push button 31 into the raised position.

The stem 34 is held in an angular position

fixed with respect to the body 3 by a fastening device 37, which comprises two flat faces 38, 39

arranged in contact with each other: the face 38 radially delimits one side of the stem 34, while the face

39 delimits an appendix 40 constituting part of the half-shell 9.

The device 30 comprises two notches 43,44 made in diametrically opposite positions on the drum 24 and a tooth 42 carried by the button 31 and flanked by the portion 35 along a radial direction 45: when the button 31 is raised, the tooth

42 selectively engages the notches 43,44 to hold the key 2 in the extracted and, respectively, retracted position.

In the embodiment of figure 2, the tooth 42 extends in one piece directly from the portion 35, while the notches 43,44 are obtained

along an edge 46 joining the surfaces 27,28.

In the variant of figures 4 and 5, the tooth 42 extends parallel to the axis 20 towards the head 32

starting from a radial arm 48, which to its

vault extends in one piece from portion 35, projects axially with respect to the latter and is

»Facing axially to the corner 46. At the same time, O <β> 'the notches 43,44 are obtained on the surface 27 in g £

≤ radially spaced and internal positions with respect to o! <To corner 46. O * 3.33⁄4 With reference to figure 3, when the button 31 is pressed and lowered, the tooth 42 disengages the notch 43,44 to leave the key 2 free of rotate and, together with portion 35,

enters into engagement in a recess 47 obtained on the wall 13; after the key 2 is turned by 180 °, the button 24 returns to the raised position under the thrust of the spring housed in the portion 35: in

thus the tooth 42 enters into engagement in the other

notch 43.44. In the variant of figures 4 and 5, the recess 47 comprises a through opening 49 to allow the sinking of the arm 48.

As shown in Figure 2, the opening 22 is defined by a slot, which is delimited

from a side wall 22a. Wall 22a constitutes

part of the half-shell 8 and extends in one piece transversely to the wall 12. The slot 22, in a radial direction 50 orthogonal to the direction 45, has

shape and dimensions sufficient to allow the axial insertion, during assembly, of the portion 35, of the tooth 42 and of another tooth 52 carried by the stem 34 in a diametrically opposite position. In particular, along direction 50, the

o <u> or slot 22 comprises two zones 51 diametrically! 3⁄4 .S 1 * 1 * 3⁄4 opposite to the stem 34 to allow the teeth 42 and, respectively, u

52.

The tooth 52, in the condition of figure 2, rests, in a tangential direction, against a shoulder 22b defined by the wall 22a

and, in the axial direction, against a shoulder 22c, also defined by the wall 22a. The coupling between

tooth 52 and shoulder 22c defines the end

stroke of the raised position of the push button 31.

The zones 51 are engaged by the ends, respectively, of the appendix 40 and of an appendix

53 diametrically opposed to each other. The appendices

40,53 extend in one piece starting from the wall 13, in positions side by side with the stem 34 and aligned with the head 32.

The wall 22a is aligned with the teeth 42,52 in a direction parallel to the axis 20, to prevent the push-button 31 from slipping out during assembly. In particular, to assemble the keychain 1, it is necessary to carry out the following operations:

arrange the drum 24 around the pin 21 and resting on the wall 12, positioning the key 2 in the extracted position and preloading the

elastic device;

axially insert the portion 35, with the teeth 42,52, into the slot 22 until the head 32 abuts against the wall 12;

rotate button 31, making the tooth slide

42 beyond the edge 46 on the surface 27, until the tooth 52 reaches a tangential abutment against the shoulder 22b;

axially insert tooth 42 into the notch

43 (if the head 32 is kept facing downwards, the insertion is automatic, by gravity) until the tooth 52 is brought into axial abutment against the shoulder 22c;

insert the spring into the axial cavity of the

portion 35;

couple the half-shell 9 to the half-shell 8, making the pin 17 enter the hole 25, compressing the aforementioned spring by means of the pin 18, and engaging the ends of the appendages 40,53 in the areas 51.

Alternatively, the button 31 could first be inserted into the opening 22 and then the drum 24 between the tooth 42 and the wall 12.

As shown in Figure 1, the button 31 is sufficiently spaced from the edges of the body 3 to be able to provide a relatively large surface 33 on which a frieze or a coat of arms can be applied or printed. Therefore, thanks to the position of the axis 20, it is possible to have a key ring 1 with a decidedly high aesthetic value compared to known solutions in which the release button is coaxial with the hinge axis of the key.

The aesthetic value is also optimal due to the fact that the button 31 is angularly fixed with respect to the body 3, so that the frieze or emblem on the surface 33 is always oriented in the same position. Furthermore, in the variant of figures 4 and 5, the notches 43,44 are never in sight, but are always covered by the wall 13.

Furthermore, the button 31 can be positioned at will with respect to the axis, not being coaxial with the drum 24, and can be customized as it is angularly fixed and is not constrained by the shape of the drum 24. In particular, the button 31 is not bound to have a circular shape suitable for rotation.

Keychain 1 has a relatively number

low of components and is relatively simple to

# O1 mount, especially due to the fact that the tooth 42 which a \ s O * 'do 3⁄4 <a> angularly locks the drum 24 is carried by the button 31 and thanks to the characteristics of the opening 22 and of the stem 34. O Furthermore, the variant of figures 4 and 5 allows the notches 43,44 to be hidden, even if the solution

of figures 1-3 is less bulky and has fewer geometric and shape constraints.

Other characteristics evident from the foregoing then lead to a relatively compact and manageable key ring 1.

Finally, from the foregoing it is clear that

modifications and variations may be made to the described key ring 1 which do not go beyond the protection field of the present invention as defined

from the attached claims. In particular, the device 30 could angularly lock the key 2 only in the rearward position and / or could be distinguished from the button 31.

Furthermore, the head 32 and the surface 33 could be of a shape other than the circular one illustrated.

Claims (1)

R IV EN D I C A Z I O N I 1.- Keychain (1) comprising: - a support body (3); a key (2) hinged to said body of support (3) to rotate around an axis of hinge (19) between an extracted position, in which can be inserted into a lock, in particular a vehicle lock, and one backward position, in which it is flanked by the said support body (3); - angular retention means for retaining the said key (2) in at least one of them backward and forward positions; a release button (31) movable along an axis release (20) from a raised position of rest to a lowered release position for release said angular retention means OLOA PON <I> VO L <)> B <999b> A <l'll> r n <i> o <tt> ao. <r> (30) and leave the said key (2) free of rotate; characterized in that said hinge axes (19) and release (20) are parallel and spaced apart between them. 2.- Key ring according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means of constraint (37) to prevent rotation of said release button (31) around said release axis (20) with respect to said support body (3). 3.- Key ring according to claim 2, characterized in that said angular retention means (30) are at least partially carried from said release button (31). 4.- Key ring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said support body (3) defines a cavity (6) open towards the outside and housing S © &. at least partially an O-hinge drum P <l & (24) integral with said key (2), and by the fact that f'wc a head (32) able to be pushed manually ^ <'> B along said release axis (20), and a stem (34) extending from said head (32) along said release axis (20) in a position next to said hinging drum (24). 5.- Key ring according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said retention means (30) comprise a tooth (42) carried by the said release button (31) and able to engage at least one notch (43) obtained in said hinging drum (24). 6.- Key ring according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said tooth (42) is radially flanked to one end (35) of said stem (34), axially opposite to said head (32). 7.- Key ring according to claim 6, characterized in that said tooth (42) extends parallel to said release axis (20) towards said head (32) starting from an arm Radial 0 (48) integral with said end (35); the o3 \ O to said notch (43) being obtained on a face of 'é u fi <A * & base (27) of said hinging drum (24) > in a position radially spaced from an external edge S (46). 8.- Key ring according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized by the fact that said support body (3) comprises a first and a second wall (12,13) spaced apart along said axes (19.20); said first wall (12) defining an opening (22) crossed by said stem (34) and having a shape and dimensions sufficient to allow the axial insertion of said end (35) e of said tooth (42) during assembly. 9.- Key ring according to claim 8, characterized in that said first wall (12) comprises a portion (22c) delimiting said opening (22) and aligned with a tooth (52) of said stem (34) in a direction parallel to said release axis (20). 10.- Key ring according to claim 9, characterized in that said second wall (13) carries at least one appendix (40,53) facing radially to said stem (34) and axially to the said head (32), and having an engaging end «An area (51) of said opening (22). 11.- Key ring according to claim 10, O " <■> 4 £ o characterized by the fact that said Q <constraint device (37) comprises two plane faces (38,39) 3⁄4 u arranged in support between them and delimiting the said "stem (34) and, respectively, the said appendix (40). p.i. : GIOBERT S.P.A. LOV1NO PAOLO <(> Registered in the Register no. 99911)