JP2007231604A - Electronic key unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic key unit which enables a case to be easily disassembled when necessary. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic key unit comprises a key case 4 which is formed by connecting two case components 1 and 2 together by a proper connecting means 3 and which houses an electronic circuit including a means for communicating with a lock control device so as to acquire electronic authentication, and a case attachment body 5 which is detachably attached to the key case 4. A disconnecting operation part 6 for performing the operation of disconnecting the case components 1 and 2 from each other is arranged in a position, which is covered with the case attachment body 5, on the outer wall surface of the key case 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic key device.

As an electronic key device in which a communication circuit for locking / unlocking operation is incorporated in a splittable case, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this conventional example, the case is formed by laminating and connecting a first case portion and a second case portion with a snap-fit structure. A mechanical key can be stored in the case, and when the mechanical key is stored, the clamping part formed on the mechanical key sandwiches the clamped part formed on the first case part and the second case part, and the connection strength Is increased.
JP 2005-290905 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, the first and second case portions are connected by a snap-fit structure having a connection strength that can maintain the connection state against the elastic restoring force of the seal member even when the mechanical key is removed. There is a problem that it is difficult to disassemble the first and second cases, for example, when the battery housed in the case is replaced.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic key device that can be easily disassembled when necessary.

According to the present invention, the object is
A key case 4 which is formed by connecting two case components 1, 2 by appropriate connecting means 3, and contains an electronic circuit including electronic authentication communication means with the lock control device;
An electronic key device having a case attachment body 5 detachably attached to the key case 4,
This is achieved by providing an electronic key device in which a connection release operation part 6 for performing a connection release operation between the case components 1 and 2 is arranged at a position covered by the case mounting body 5 on the outer wall surface of the key case 4. The

  A key case 4 that houses an electronic circuit for making an electronic authentication request to the lock control device is formed by connecting two case components 1 and 2 by a connecting means 3. The connection means 3 is formed so as to be able to be disconnected for battery replacement, for example, and a connection release operation part for releasing the connection is arranged outside the key case 4. The dividing surfaces of the two case components 1 and 2 can be determined as appropriate, and the connecting means 3 is also determined appropriately in consideration of the dividing surfaces of the case components 1 and 2. The connecting means 3 can be a snap-fit structure in which one is elastically locked to the other and connected, or a structure using screws or the like.

  The case mounting body 5 is a part that is detachably connected to the key case 4, and gives a special function to the key case 4 while being connected to the key case 4, such as a key ring insertion hole forming member and a strap mounting member. It may be an accessory part or a part having only the shielding function of the connection release operation unit 6 described later. Further, in the connection state to the key case 4, the connection strength of the connection means 3 and the division interface The contact pressure may be increased.

  In the present invention in which the connection release operation unit 6 is covered by the case mounting body 5 attached to the key case 4, the connection release operation unit 6 is sized in consideration of a decrease in aesthetics due to exposure to the outside of the key case 4, There is no need to determine the position or the like. As a result, the connection release operation unit 6 can be set to a size and position that ensure good operability, and can prevent deterioration in operability due to excessive miniaturization or the like.

  For example, when a screw is used as the connection means 3, the connection release operation unit 6 is formed on a screw or the like formed on the screw or the like so that it can be rotated by a nearby object such as a coin without using a tool such as a screwdriver. Although it determines suitably according to the kind of the connection means 3, such as a split, when taking a snap-fit structure as the connection means 3, the slit formed in the division | segmentation boundary of a 1st, 2nd case can be utilized. The slit is formed to a size that allows a close object such as a coin to be inserted and opened, but when the mechanical key is used as the case mounting body 5, the slit is formed to be able to be opened by the key blade of the mechanical key. This improves usability.

  According to the present invention, since the case can be easily disassembled when necessary, usability is improved.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention configured as a portable device for operation with respect to an electronic entry system. The portable device is composed of a key case 4 containing electronic authentication communication means for communicating with a lock control device in an electronic entry system, and a mechanical key (case mounting body 5) stored in the key case 4.

  The mechanical key 5 is prepared mainly for performing an emergency locking / unlocking operation in the event of a malfunction of the electronic authentication system, and is formed by fixing the key head portion 11 to one end of the key blade portion 10 as shown in FIG. . The key blade portion 10 is formed with an unlocking cord forming recess (not shown). When the key blade portion 10 is inserted into the cylinder lock of the locking device, the unlocking cord forming recess matches the unlocking code set in advance in the cylinder lock. The locking / unlocking operation of the locking device can be performed by rotating the cylinder lock under conditions.

The key head portion 11 is die-casted with zinc and fixed to the key blade portion 11 in consideration of strength due to fitting with first and second cases 1 and 2 described later. If the strength by fitting can be ensured, it can be formed of a synthetic resin. In this case, a key ring mounting hole 11a is provided at one end portion, and after being molded in advance, it is mechanically fixed to the key blade portion 10 or a key. Outsert molding is performed on the blade portion 10. The key head portion 11 functions as a shielding member for a connection release operation portion 6 to be described later, and also as a case mounting body 5 as a fastening means for the key case 4 in addition to the function as a head for operation of the mechanical key 5. The key blade portion 10 includes a case squeezed portion 11b that is opened toward the tip and both sides. On the inner wall of the case squeezing portion 11b, the longitudinal direction of the key blade portion 10 (as will be described later, the mechanical key 5 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the key blade portion 10 and stored in the key case 4, This direction is referred to as a “key storage direction”), and protrusions 12 projecting on both sides are provided. The ridge 12 is formed continuously over the entire length of the case squeezing part 11b on the wall surface of the case squeezing part 11b on the side where the key blade part 10 is fixed. Used as a pressing surface 8 for pressing the pressed surfaces 1a and 2a.

  Moreover, the to-be-latched part 13 is provided in the wall surface facing the protrusion 12 formation wall of the case squeezing part 11b. The locked portion 13 protrudes toward the ridge 12 side, and an inclined surface 13a whose projecting dimension gradually decreases toward the case pinching portion 11b open end on the wall surface on the case pinching portion 11b open end side. It is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the key case 4 includes a first case (case structure 1) to which a printed circuit board 14 on which an electronic circuit including the electronic authentication communication means is mounted, and a control button 15. It is formed by connecting the second case (case structure 2) to be arranged in a stacked manner by the connecting means 3. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, the control button 15 is arranged at the upper end of the second case 2, for example, a button that communicates with the locking / unlocking operation, and is arranged in the center. It consists of an unlock button and a lock button arranged at the lower end. As shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c), the connecting means 3 establishes a locking relationship by elastically locking the elastic locking leg 3a formed on one side to the other locking recess 3b. Formed by a snap-fit structure.

  As will be described later, the first and second cases 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the contact surface between the elastic locking leg 3a and the locking recess 3b arranged at the side edge of 2 is locked to the elastic locking leg 3a by the force in the separation direction. It is formed on the slope where the component force is easily generated. On the other hand, the connecting means 3 positioned at the opposite end connected by the case mounting body 5 is not disengaged due to the force in the rising direction generated by the tightening force in the case mounting body 5 as shown in FIG. ), The contact surface between the elastic locking leg 3a and the locking recess 3b is formed by a plane orthogonal to the dividing direction line.

  A seal member 9 is interposed between the first and second cases 1 and 2. The seal member 9 is formed of a continuous sheet body having no opening in order to completely prevent moisture and dust from entering the key case 4 from the gap between the control button 15 and the second case 2. The The seal member 9 is formed with appropriate irregularities for preventing interference with components arranged in the key case 4. In addition, a seal plane 9 a is formed at the periphery of the seal member 9 so as to be sandwiched between the first and second cases 1 and 2 and seal the laminated interface over the entire circumference.

  FIG. 4 shows the first case 1. The first case 1 is formed in a tray shape having a predetermined depth. In the central portion of the first case 1, a component housing space 1c is defined by a partition wall 1b that sandwiches the sealing plane 9a of the sealing member 9, and the key head portion 11 of the mechanical key 5 is located outside the component housing space 1c. A key fitting notch 1d extending in the key storing direction is formed with a width capable of fitting.

  Further, the first case 1 is formed with a blade accommodation hole 16 into which the key blade portion 10 of the mechanical key 5 is inserted. One end of the blade accommodation hole 16 is opened as the key fitting notch 1d, 2d, and is formed as a bottomed hole having a rectangular cross section which is long in the key accommodation direction. The blade accommodation hole 16 is formed in the bottom wall of the component accommodation space 1c and is isolated from the component accommodation space 1c.

  If is a connecting leg, it is erected on both side walls of the key fitting notch 1d. Each connecting leg 1f is formed with a first insertion passage 1g through which the protrusion 12 of the mechanical key 5 can be inserted. The first insertion passage 1g is formed as a concave groove that continues in the key storage direction and opens toward the center of the key fitting notch 1d.

  FIG. 5 shows the second case 2. Similar to the first case 1, the second case 2 has a key fitting notch 2d, has substantially the same contour shape as the first case 1, and includes a partition wall 2b facing the partition wall 1c of the first case 1. . A slit forming step 2e and a connecting leg 2f are formed in the key fitting notch 2d of the second case 2. As shown in FIG. 6B, the slit forming step 2e is formed to face the bottom wall of the second case 2, and the key fitting notch 1d is formed by the slit forming step 2e and the bottom wall of the second case 2. A slit 6 that opens to the open end side of 2d is formed. The distance (d) between the slit forming step 2 e and the bottom wall of the second case 2, that is, the height of the slit 6 is set to such an extent that the key blade portion 10 of the mechanical key 5 can be inserted. In addition, a cylindrical spring receiving protrusion 2 h is provided on the slit forming step 2 e of the second case 2 in a direction opposite to the stacking direction of the first case 1.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the connecting leg 2f of the second case 2 is provided with a first leg for preventing interference when the first case 1 and the second case 2 are stacked. It is provided at a position shifted in the key storage direction with respect to the connecting leg 1f on the case 1 side. Similar to the first insertion path 1g, the connection leg 2f of the second case 2 is formed with a concave second groove insertion path 2g. The second insertion passage 2g is disposed so as to be positioned on an extension line of the first insertion passage 1g in a state where the first and second cases 21 and 2 are stacked by the connecting means 3, and the protrusion 12 of the mechanical key 5 is disposed. Enters the first insertion path 1g via the second insertion path 2g in accordance with the operation of fitting the key head portion 11 to the key fitting notches 1d and 2d.

  When the ridge 12 enters, the first and second insertion passages 1g and 2g function as pressed surfaces 1a and 2a in which one of the opposing wall surfaces is slidably contacted with the ridge 12 and pressed by the ridge 12. As shown in FIG. 6A, the first insertion path 1g is set to the second case 2 side, and the second insertion path 2g is set so that the wall surface on the first case 1 side becomes the pressed surfaces 1a and 2a. .

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the key head portion 11 of the mechanical key 5 is fitted in the key fitting notches 1d and 2d in the key case 4 connected by the connecting means 3, As shown in FIG. 6A, the key blade portion 10 is inserted and accommodated in the blade accommodation hole 16 of the first case 1. For easy understanding, the first and second cases 1 and 2 connected in the stacking direction by the connecting means 3 are shown in a divided state in FIG.

  With the fitting operation of the key head portion 11 to the key fitting notches 1d and 2d, the ridge 12 of the key head portion 11 passes through the first and second insertion passages 1g and 2g, and in the course of passing, It is in sliding contact with the pressing surfaces 1a, 2a. Due to the sliding contact of the pressed surfaces 1a, 2a with the ridges 12, the pressed surface 1a of the first insertion passage 1g receives a pressing force toward the second case 2 on the pressed surface 2a of the second insertion passage 2g. Since the pressing force toward the first case 1 is generated by being pressed by the pressing surface 8 of the ridge 12, the first and second cases 21 and 2 move in a direction approaching each other and are given a tightening force. .

  The amount of displacement of the pressed surfaces 1a, 2a by the protrusions 12, that is, the amount of movement of the first and second cases 1, 2 is determined based on the amount of bending of the seal member 9 described above, and the mechanical key 5 is accommodated. In the state, the seal plane 9a of the seal member 9 is sandwiched and bent by the partition walls 1b and 2b of the first and second cases 1 and 2, and a seal surface pressure for ensuring sufficient sealing performance is ensured.

  Moreover, even if the mechanical key 5 is removed from this state, the sealing surface pressure of the sealing member 9 is reduced, but the first and second cases 1 and 2 are kept connected by the connecting means 3. For example, when dividing the first and second cases 1 and 2 for battery replacement or the like, the key blade portion 10 of the removed mechanical key 5 is inserted into the slit 6 as shown in FIG. As a result, the first and second cases 1 and 2 can be easily divided.

  Further, the second case 2 is provided with an operation button 17 for holding and releasing the storage state of the mechanical key 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the operation button 17 has a rod-like operation portion 17a and attachment portions 17b extending from both lower sides of the operation portion 17a to both sides, as shown in FIGS. 7 (f) and 8 (a). As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting portion 17b is fitted into the button mounting recess 18 formed in the second case 2 so that the operation portion 17a is exposed on the surface of the second case 2 and is mounted on the second case 2. In the mounting state on the second case 2, the operation portion 17a of the operation button 17 is disposed along the depth direction end wall of the key fitting notch 2d of the second case 2 as shown in FIG. .

  The operation portion 17a is provided with a spring receiving piece 17c provided with a cylindrical spring receiving protrusion 17h facing the spring receiving protrusion 2h of the second case 2 in a state of being mounted on the second case 2. As shown in FIG. 8 (b), between the second case 2 and the spring receiving piece 17 c of the operation button 17, there is a spring receiving protrusion 2 h of the second case 2 and a spring receiving protrusion 17 h of the operation button 17. A compression coil spring 19 is mounted so as to support the center portion, and urges the operation button 17 to the upper stroke end position side described later.

  The movement stroke of the operation button 17 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation button 17 moves along the connecting operation direction of the first and second cases 1 and 2, and the two operation buttons 17 shown in FIG. 8A are relative positions with respect to the second case 2 in the stroke direction. Show only. The operation button 17 shown at the top in FIG. 8A indicates the upper stroke end position, and the end position is determined by the upper surface of the mounting portion 17b being in contact with the ceiling wall of the button mounting recess 18. . On the other hand, the operation button 17 shown below in FIG. 8A indicates the lower stroke end position, and the spring receiving projection 17h abuts against the spring receiving projection 2h on the second case 2 side, thereby lowering the lower stroke. Indicates that the position is determined.

  The operation button 17 is formed with a locking portion 20. Two locking portions 20 are formed corresponding to the locked portions 13 formed on the key head portion 11 of the mechanical key 5, and are fixed to the base end of the mounting portion 17b. As shown in FIG. 7 (c), the locking portion 20 is inclined substantially parallel to the inclined surface 13 a formed on the locked portion 13 of the mechanical key 5 housed in the second case 2. It has a face at the tip face and is formed in a triangular shape in cross section.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the mechanical key 5 is stored, first, the inclined surface 13a of the locked portion 13 of the key head portion 11 comes into contact with the inclined surface of the operation button 17, and when the mechanical key 5 is further depressed, the operation button 17 is pressed. After once moving to the lower stroke end position side against the reaction force of the compression coil spring 19, the locking portion 20 is engaged with the locked portion 13 of the key head portion 11 as shown in FIG. After that, the removal of the mechanical key 5 is restricted.

  When the operation portion 17a of the operation button 17 is pressed from this state as shown in FIG. 8D, the engagement between the locking portion 20 and the locked portion 13 is released, and the mechanical key 5 is removed in this state. can do. As shown in FIG. 1A, the operation portion 17 a of the operation button 17 is located at the boundary between the key case 4 and the key head portion 11 of the mechanical key 5 in a state where the mechanical key 5 is stored. The removal operation may be performed by, for example, pressing the key head portion 11 while pressing the operation button 17 with the thumb while holding the key case 4 side, or holding the key case 4 with one hand. The operation button 17 and the key head portion 11 are sandwiched between the fingers and can be easily pulled out. At this time, if the control button 15 adjacent to the operation button 17 is depressed together with the depression of the operation button 17, the operation button 17 can be easily operated.

  The modification of a case mounting body is shown below from FIG. In the following description, components that are substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first and second cases 1 and 2 are tightened by passing the ridge 12 through the first and second insertion passages 1g and 2g. In this embodiment, The first and second cases 1 and 2 are tightened by sandwiching the to-be-tightened protrusions 1j and 2j formed on the first and second cases 1 and 2 with the key head portion 11.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), on both side walls of the key head portion 11 of the mechanical key 5, there are formed pressing surface forming recesses 21 opened in the key mounting direction and on both sides. A wall surface facing in the stacking direction of the cases 1 and 2 is a pressing surface 8. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the inner wall portions of the key fitting notches 1 d and 2 d of the first and second cases 1 and 2 are tightened facing each other in the stacking direction of the first and second cases 1 and 2. Protrusions 1j and 2j are respectively provided so that the back-facing walls of these tightened protrusions 1j and 2j are pressed surfaces 1a and 2a.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the mechanical key 5 is stored in the key case 4 connected by the connecting means 3, the key head portion 11 is pressed by the pressing surface 8 and the pressed surfaces 1 a and 2 a. Is fitted into the key fitting notches 1d and 2d. In the fitted state, the first and second cases 1 and 2 are pressed in directions close to each other to give a suitable seal surface pressure to the seal member 9.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the pressing surface forming concave portion 21 of the key head portion 11 is formed with a locked portion forming concave portion 22 that opens in the key mounting direction, and the wall surface of the locked portion forming concave portion 22 is used. Thus, the locked portion 13 is formed. On the other hand, the operation button 17 urged in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9B by a compression spring (not shown) is attached to the second case 2, and the key head portion 11 is attached to the key fitting notch 1d, When fitted to 2d, the locking portion 20 of the operation button 17 is locked to the locked portion 13 to restrict the detachment of the mechanical key 5.

  Further, when the operation button 17 is pressed from this state, as shown in FIG. 9B, the locking of the locking portion 20 with the locked portion 13 is released, and the mechanical key 5 can be removed.

It is a figure which shows this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is the 1B-1B sectional view taken on the line of (a) in the middle of mechanical key accommodation. It is a figure which shows a mechanical key, (a) is a perspective view of a key head part, (b) is a 2B direction arrow view of (a), (c) is a 2C direction arrow view of (b), (d) is a figure. It is 2D-2D sectional view taken on the line of (b). It is a figure which shows a key case, (a) is the 3A-3A sectional view taken on the line of Fig.1 (a), (b) is an enlarged view of the 3B section of Fig.3 (a), (c) is 3C of Fig.1 (b) (D) is a perspective view of a sealing member. It is a figure which shows a 1st case, (a) is the figure seen from 4A direction of Fig.3 (a), (b) is the 4B sectional view taken on the line of Fig.4 (a), (c) is Fig.4 (a). FIG. 4C is an arrow view, FIG. 4D is a perspective view seen from the 4D direction in FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4E is a perspective view seen from the 4E direction in FIG. It is a figure which shows a 2nd case, (a) is the figure seen from the 5A direction of Fig.3 (a), (b) is the 5B sectional view taken on the line of Fig.5 (a), (c) is a figure of Fig.5 (a). FIG. 5C is an arrow view, FIG. 5D is a perspective view seen from the 5D direction in FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5E is a perspective view seen from the 5E direction in FIG. It is a figure which shows the connection state of a key case, (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of a connection part, (b) is a 6B direction arrow view of (a) before mechanical key mounting | wearing, (c) is (a). It is a 6C direction arrow directional view. It is a figure which shows an operation button, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a 7B direction arrow view of (a), (c) is the 7C-7C sectional view taken on the line of (b), (d) is (a). 7D direction arrow view, (e) shows the mounting state to the second case, (a) view from the 7B direction, (f) shows the mounting state to the second case (a) 7D direction It is the figure seen from. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the operation button, in which FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8A-8A in FIG. 7F and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8B-8B in FIG. FIG. 8C is a view corresponding to FIG. 1B showing a state where the mechanical key is locked by the operation button, and FIG. 8D is a view corresponding to FIG. 8C showing a state where the lock of the operation button is released. is there. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the case mounting body, where (a) is a diagram illustrating a process of mounting the key case, (b) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the operation button is locked to the key case, and (c) is a diagram illustrating the operation button. It is a figure which shows the state which latched. It is a figure which shows a case structure, (a) is a 10 A direction arrow directional view in Fig.9 (a) of a 1st case, (b) is a 10B direction arrow directional view in Fig.9 (a) of a 2nd case.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Case structure 1a, 2a Pressed surface 3 Connection means 4 Key case 5 Case mounting body 6 Connection release operation part 8 Press surface 9 Seal member

Claims (5)

A key case that is formed by connecting two case components by appropriate connecting means, and that houses an electronic circuit including electronic authentication communication means with the lock control device;
An electronic key device having a case mounting body detachably mounted on the key case,
An electronic key device in which a connection release operation unit for performing a connection release operation between the case components is arranged at a position covered by the case mounting body on the outer wall surface of the key case. The connecting means has a snap-fit structure;
2. The electronic key device according to claim 1, wherein the connection release operation part is a slit for prying formed at a boundary of the case structure.   3. The case mounting body is formed with a pressing surface that presses a pressed surface provided in each case constituent body when attached to the key case and applies a force in a tightening direction to the case constituent body. The electronic key device described.   4. The electronic key device according to claim 3, wherein a seal member is interposed on a division boundary surface of the case structure, and the seal surface pressure is maintained by the attachment of the case mounting body. 5. The electronic key device according to claim 1, wherein a mechanical key stored in the key case so as to be removable is used as a case mounting body.

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