JP2004027518A - Protective cap - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protective cap for easily and inexpensively adding information to a key, and guaranteeing reliability of the added information. <P>SOLUTION: This protective cap 1 is fixed to the key 2, and has a protective body 11 for protecting identification number ID used for identifying the key 2 and a window part 12 arranged in the protective body 11 and confirming the identification number ID from an external part. The protective body 11 is irreversibly installed from one direction on the key 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protection cap for protecting an identification means provided on a key.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, various types of keys are used to lock doors of houses and vehicle doors. These keys are provided with a groove, a notch, a concave portion, and the like in an insertion portion to be inserted into the keyhole. By changing the combination of grooves, cutouts, and recesses and the positions where the keys are formed, the shape of the key is changed so that the same key cannot be used to unlock and lock different home doors or vehicle doors. .
[0003]
In such a key, the shape of the insertion portion is different from that of another key, and the key is identified based on this shape. For example, the key maker and the owner of the property to which the key is attached are identified. It is difficult. This is because the elements that make up the shape of the key insertion portion are limited to finite, such as grooves, cutouts, and recesses, and these combinations do not have features that can be judged by a person.
[0004]
However, in many cases, a key maker, an owner of a property to which the key is attached, and the like want to give the key distinctiveness for key management and the like.
[0005]
When a key maker or owner entrusts a genuine key with an identification number to prevent the key from being duplicated without knowing it, and is requested to duplicate it based on the key with that identification number engraved Only the key is duplicated. In other words, the proof that the key is genuine is provided by engraving the identification number.
[0006]
However, since the engraved identification number is easily known to others and the engraving can be easily forged, it does not prove that the key is genuine (validity) after all. Therefore, it is necessary to add identifying information such as an identification number to a key by a method different from the easily-imprinted stamp.
[0007]
Therefore, at present, a key has been developed in which an IC chip is embedded and information such as an identification number is added to the key. However, in order to embed an IC chip, it is necessary to form a key in a special shape in order to embed the IC chip. Therefore, a general-purpose key cannot be used, and the production becomes expensive.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a protection cap capable of easily and inexpensively adding information to a key and guaranteeing the validity of the added information. The purpose is to provide a key management method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.
[0010]
(1) The protection cap of the present invention is fixed to a key and is provided on the protection main body for protecting an identification means used for identifying the key, and the identification means is externally confirmed. And the protection main body is irreversibly attached to the key from one direction.
[0011]
(2) The protection main body includes a detachment detection unit capable of detecting that the protection main body has been removed from the key after fitting to the key.
[0012]
(3) The window prevents the identification means from being viewed, and the identification means can be recognized by an external recognition means.
[0013]
(4) The identification means is attached to the key.
[0014]
(5) The identification means is held by the protection main body.
[0015]
(6) The window is an optical filter that transmits light in a predetermined wavelength range.
[0016]
(7) The window blocks visible light.
[0017]
(8) The identification means is an integrated circuit that stores identification information for identifying the key, and the integrated circuit is held in the protection main body.
[0018]
(9) The recognition means can recognize the identification information by wirelessly communicating with the integrated circuit.
[0019]
(10) The key is a dimple key in which a plurality of recesses are formed in an insertion portion to be inserted into a keyhole provided in a lock, and the insertion portion is formed in a unique shape by the plurality of recesses.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the protection body is fixed to the key to protect the identification means, and the protection body is irreversibly attached to the key from one direction, it is possible to prevent the protection body from being removed and modifying the identification means. Thus, the validity of the identification means that can be confirmed from the window can be guaranteed.
[0021]
Since the invention according to the second aspect has the detachment detecting means, it is possible to easily detect that the protection main body is detached from the key after the key is fitted.
[0022]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the identification means can be recognized only by the external recognition means, the key can be appropriately managed based on the recognized identification means, and the use of the recognition means can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the identification means from being known by a third party.
[0023]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the identification means can be directly attached to the key, and the addition of the identification means is easy.
[0024]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the identification means can be held in the protection main body, and the addition of the identification means is easy.
[0025]
According to the invention described in claim 6, since the window portion transmits light in a predetermined wavelength range, the identification means can be recognized by the recognition means capable of recognizing light in the wavelength range.
[0026]
According to the invention described in claim 7, since the window blocks visible light, it is possible to prevent the inside of the protection main body from being viewed from the window.
[0027]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, since the identification means is an integrated circuit, and the integrated circuit is held in the protection main body, the key with the protection cap attached is determined based on the identification information stored in the integrated circuit. Can be identified.
[0028]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the recognition unit can recognize the identification information by wirelessly communicating with the integrated circuit, the recognition of the identification information by other units can be prevented.
[0029]
In the invention according to claim 10, since a plurality of recesses are formed in the insertion portion inserted into the keyhole provided in the lock, it can be manufactured only by a specific trader, and by requesting the trader Only the key can be duplicated, so that the key can be easily managed with respect to the key duplication.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0031]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a key to which a protective cap of the present invention is fixed, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the protective cap shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the protective cap shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the protective cap alone viewed from each direction. 4A to 4E show a front view, a rear view, a left side view, a plan view, and a bottom view of the protective cap, respectively.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, a lock refers to one that is fixed to a door or the like and directly controls the opening and closing of the door with a bar or the like, and a key refers to one that has an insertion portion that is inserted into a keyhole provided in the lock.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the protection cap 1 of the present invention is attached and fixed to a key 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the protection cap 1 has a protection main body 11 fitted and fixed to the key 2, and a window 12 provided in the protection main body 11.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 4B, the protection body 11 has a groove 13 formed on the back surface opposite to the window 12. The groove 13 is formed to penetrate the protective cap 1 in the longitudinal direction from the groove entrance 131 shown in FIG. 4E to the groove exit 132 shown in FIG. 4D. The key 2 is inserted from the groove entrance 131 and fitted.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 2, a hook 133 is formed in the groove 13 so as to be hooked on a concave portion 221 provided in the key 2 so that the fitted key 2 does not come off. In this way, the key 2 is irreversibly attached from one direction, so that removal of the key 2 is restricted. In order to enhance the prevention of removal, after the key 2 is fitted, an adhesive or the like may be flowed between the protection main body 11 and the key 2 to fix the key.
[0036]
The window 12 is provided in the protective body 11 and is formed of a filter that transmits only light in a predetermined wavelength range, for example, an infrared filter that transmits infrared light in the present embodiment. The filter is not limited to the infrared filter, and may be a filter that transmits light in a predetermined range other than the visible light wavelength region.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 2, the key 2 has an insertion portion 21 inserted into a keyhole for locking or unlocking a predetermined lock, and a body portion 22 inserted and fitted into the protective cap 1. It becomes.
[0038]
The key 2 is a so-called dimple key. As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion portion 21 has a plurality of elongated protrusions arranged in parallel on both sides, and the protrusions and the side surfaces of the insertion portion 21 shown in FIG. 3 have various sizes and shapes. Dimples are formed. Therefore, even if the insertion portion 21 has the same shape before the formation of the dimple, it is possible to manufacture different lock-specific keys depending on the arrangement position and size of the dimple to be formed.
[0039]
The body part 22 is provided with an identification number ID as identification means for identifying the key 2. This identification number ID may be given to the key 2 by any method. For example, it may be written with a pen or the like, pasted with a seal or the like, or engraved.
[0040]
When affixing with a seal or the like, it is desirable that the end of the seal be hidden by the protective cap 1 when the protective cap 1 is fitted. Since the end of the seal is hidden by the protective cap 1, the seal cannot be replaced without removing the protective cap 1, so that the key 2 to which the protective cap 1 is attached has reliability as identification means of the seal. Can be increased.
[0041]
The identification number ID is attached to a position where the window can be prevented from being viewed by the window 12 of the protective cap 1 when the protective cap 1 is fitted and can be confirmed through the window 12 when viewed with an external infrared camera. I have. A concave portion 221 for hooking a hook 133 formed inside the protective cap 1 is formed in the body portion 22. When the key 2 is distributed by the OEM method, the brand name of the other party can be attached to the body 22 by engraving or the like when the key is manufactured.
[0042]
As described above, in the present invention, information for identifying the key 2 can be easily attached by giving the identification number ID to the key 2 by writing with a pen or the like, pasting with a seal or the like, or engraving. Further, since the protection cap 1 is attached to the key 2, the identification number ID assigned to the key 2 cannot be seen. Therefore, it is possible to prevent another person from knowing the identification number ID of the key.
[0043]
In the above embodiment, the case where the protective cap 1 and the key 2 are fixed with an adhesive in order to prevent the protective cap 1 from being detached from the key 2 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The structure of the protection main body 11 of the protection cap 1 may enhance the prevention of removal of the protection cap 1. Further, when the protection cap 1 is forcibly removed, it is preferable that it is possible to detect whether or not the protection cap 1 is removed from the key 2. Next, different structures of the protective cap 1 will be described.
[0044]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a different structure of the protective cap 1.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 5, the protection main body 11 of the protection cap 1 is provided with four pullout prevention recesses 134. The body portion 22 of the key 2 is provided with four pull-out preventing portions 222. When the key 2 is attached to the protective cap 1, the pull-out preventing part 222 is formed so that the width of the body 22 of the key 2 decreases in the direction in which the key 2 is inserted into the protective cap 1.
[0046]
When the key 2 is completely inserted into the protective cap 1, the pull-out preventing portion 222 fits into the pull-out preventing concave portion 134, and even if the key 2 is to be pulled out from the protective cap 1, the pull-out preventing portion 222 is inserted into the pull-out preventing concave portion 134. The hook can be prevented from being pulled out.
[0047]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the key 2 is completely inserted into the protective cap 1, a hole is formed in the protective body 11 of the protective cap 1 and the body 22 of the key 2 to communicate with each other. The pull-out detection member 50 (removal detection means) can be inserted into this hole. The pull-out detecting member 50 has a constricted portion 51 at the center, which is narrower than both ends, and is formed in a rod shape.
[0048]
Therefore, when the key 2 is forcibly pulled out from the protective cap 1, the pull-out detecting member 50 is broken at the narrow portion 51. Since the pull-out detecting member 50 can be confirmed by the infrared camera or the like through the window 12 of the protective cap 1, if the pull-out detecting member 50 is broken, the key 2 has been pulled out from the protective cap 1 in the past. Can be easily detected.
[0049]
As described above, by attaching the protective cap 1 to the key 2, the identification number ID attached to the key 2 is protected, and the protective cap 1 is irreversibly attached to the key 2 from one direction. 1 can be prevented from being altered and the identification number ID can be prevented from being altered, and the validity of the identification means that can be confirmed from the window can be guaranteed.
[0050]
Since the identification number ID can be recognized only by an external infrared camera or the like, the key 2 can be appropriately managed based on the recognized identification number ID. It is possible to prevent the identification means from being known by three parties.
[0051]
Since the identification number ID can be directly attached to the key 2, it is easy to add the identification number ID. In addition, the identification number ID can be held by the protective cap 1, and even in this case, the addition of the identification number ID is easy.
[0052]
Since the window 12 transmits light in a predetermined wavelength range, the identification number ID can be recognized by an infrared camera or the like capable of recognizing light in the wavelength range. If the window 12 is a filter that blocks visible light, the window 12 blocks visible light, so that the inside of the protection body 11 can be prevented from being viewed from the window 12.
[0053]
In the above embodiment, the case where the window 12 is an infrared filter has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The window 12 may be an open window without any filter. In this case, the identification number ID cannot be visually protected, but since the protective cap 1 is attached, the seal is not peeled off and the seal is not replaced, so the print on the seal is not performed. The reliability of the given identification number ID and other information can be improved.
[0054]
Here, the other information may be a trade name or a logo representing an administrator who manages the key. By attaching the manager's trade name or the like to the key 2, it is possible to clarify the manager of the key, that is, the manager of the property that can be unlocked with the key, and that the key is managed by the manager. Can be proved by the protective cap 1.
[0055]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the body part 22 of the key 2 is provided with the identification number ID, but is not limited thereto. Instead of attaching the identification number ID to the body 22 of the key 2, for example, the identification number ID may be attached to the back side of the window 12 of the protection cap 1 so that the protection cap 1 holds the identification number ID. In this case, the identification number ID may be held anywhere on the protective cap 1 as long as the position can be confirmed via the window 12 by an infrared camera or the like outside the protective cap 1. Since the identification number ID is held by the protective cap 1, it is easy to add the identification number ID. Instead of the identification number, an identification code other than a numeral, such as a code or a symbol, may be used.
[0056]
Further, instead of attaching the identification code, an IC chip (integrated circuit) may be used as an identification means for identifying the key 2.
[0057]
When an IC chip is used, a region for incorporating the IC chip into the protective cap 1 can be created and held by the protective cap 1. Since the protection cap 1 is a general-purpose product that can be attached to any key, it is not necessary to form a special shape for embedding an IC chip for each key, and it can be manufactured at low cost.
[0058]
The IC chip can perform wireless communication with an external communication device (recognition unit). By using an IC chip as the identification means and holding the IC chip on the protection main body 11 of the protection cap 1, the key provided with the protection cap 1 by the communication device based on the identification information stored in the IC chip. 2 can be identified.
[0059]
Since the communication unit can recognize the identification information by wirelessly communicating with the IC chip, other units, for example, the identification information cannot be visually recognized, and the identification information can be surely protected.
[0060]
In the above embodiment, the window section 12 is an optical filter that transmits infrared rays, and the identification number is recognized by the infrared camera through the window section 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The window 12 may be an optical filter that transmits light in another predetermined wavelength range. In this case, an identification device such as an identification number can be confirmed using a recognition device that can recognize light in the predetermined wavelength range.
[0061]
Further, the window portion 12 may be transparent so as to transmit visible light. In this case, for example, the identification number is written using a special paint that becomes visible to human eyes by irradiating black light with a fluorescent color. By doing so, the identification number can be confirmed only when the black light is irradiated, and it is possible to prevent the identification number from being easily known to others.
[0062]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, since the dimple key is used for the key 2, a plurality of recesses are formed in the insertion portion to be inserted into the keyhole provided in the lock, so that it can be manufactured only by a specific trader. Since the key can be duplicated only by requesting the trader, the key can be easily managed with respect to the key duplication.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a key to which a protective cap of the present invention is fixed.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the protective cap shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the protective cap shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from a side.
FIGS. 4A to 4E are front views, rear views, left side views, plan views, and bottom views of the protection cap when viewed from each direction. FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a different structure of the protective cap.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Protective cap,
2 ... key,
11 ... Protective body,
12 ... window,
13 ... groove,
21 ... insertion part,
22 ... body,
50 ... Pull-out detection member,
51 ... constricted part,
131 ... groove entrance,
132 ... groove outlet,
133: hook portion,
134: pull-out prevention recess,
221 ... recess,
222: pull-out prevention part,
ID: identification number.

Claims (10)

A protection body fixed to the key and protecting an identification means used to identify the key;
A window provided on the protection main body, for confirming the identification means from outside,
Has,
A protection cap in which the protection body is irreversibly attached to the key from one direction. The protection cap according to claim 1, wherein the protection main body includes detachment detection means capable of detecting that the protection main body has been removed from the key after fitting to the key. 3. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the window prevents the identification unit from being viewed, and the identification unit can be recognized by an external recognition unit. 4. The protection cap according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit is attached to the key. The protection cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the identification unit is held by the protection main body. The protective cap according to claim 4, wherein the window is an optical filter that transmits light in a predetermined wavelength range. The protective cap according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the window blocks visible light. The identification means is an integrated circuit that stores identification information for identifying the key,
The protection cap according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is held by the protection body. 9. The protection cap according to claim 8, wherein the recognition unit is capable of recognizing the identification information by wirelessly communicating with the integrated circuit. The said key is a dimple key in which a plurality of recesses are formed in an insertion portion inserted into a keyhole provided in a lock, and the insertion portion is formed in a unique shape by the plurality of recesses. 10. The protective cap according to any one of claims 9 to 9.

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