JP2008014040A - Key box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key box which can directly detect a key storage state, dispenses with a complicated processing circuit, is simple in structure, and low in cost. <P>SOLUTION: The key box is formed of: a box main body which has a key storage section for storing a key therein in a predetermined state; a lid which closes a front opening of the key storage section of the box main body; and a detecting means for detecting the key storage state in the key storage section. The detecting means detects the key storage state, based on a displacement of the lid moving in a predetermined direction in interlock with key storing operation when the key is stored. The lid is formed such that its external shape is smaller than an internal shape of the front opening of the key storage section, arranged such that a lower edge thereof is tiltable via a shaft arranged at an upper portion in the front opening, and therefore when the key is stored, the lower edge is squeezed into the key storage section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a keybox for storing a key for unlocking / locking an entrance door of, for example, a gymnasium.

Conventionally, as this type of key box, for example, a lid can be opened and closed at the front opening of a box body having a key storage portion therein, and this lid can be opened and closed by remote control operation or insertion of a card into a card reader. In addition, it is known that the open / closed state of the lid is detected by a microswitch. In this key box, the key storage state (presence / absence of key) in the box body is notified to, for example, a security company or the like by a detection signal from the micro switch. Note that a key box using a microswitch is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-317742

  However, in such a key box, since the micro switch is structured to be turned on / off in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lid that closes the key storage unit, the key storage state in the key storage unit is In this case, the detection cannot be performed directly through the lid that is not directly related to the key. For this reason, even if the key is forgotten to be stored, the miro switch outputs the same signal as the key presence signal by closing the lid, and a complicated processing circuit is required to determine these. It is easy to increase the cost of the box.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a key box that can directly detect the storage state of a key, eliminates the need for a complicated processing circuit, and can be configured easily and inexpensively. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention closes a box body having a key storage part in which a key is stored in a predetermined state, and a front opening of the key storage part of the box body. A key box including a lid and a detecting unit that detects a storage state of the key in the key storage unit, the detection unit being interlocked with a key storing operation when the key is stored; The storage state of the key is detected based on the displacement of the lid that moves in a predetermined direction.

  As in the invention described in claim 2, the outer shape of the lid body is smaller than the inner shape of the front opening of the key storage portion, and via a shaft provided in the upper part of the front opening. It is preferable that the lower end portion is disposed so as to be tiltable, and the lower end portion is pushed into the key storage portion when the key is stored in the key storage portion. Further, as in the invention according to claim 3, it is preferable that the bottom surface portion of the key storage portion is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the tilting locus of the tip portion of the lid.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the key is closed by the detection means based on the displacement of the lid that moves in conjunction with the key when the key storage portion of the box body is closed and the key is stored. The key storage state can be detected directly by the detecting means by the displacement of the displacement plate that is linked to the key storage, eliminating the need for complicated processing circuits and making the configuration simple and inexpensive. Can be obtained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the outer shape of the lid is formed smaller than the inner shape of the front opening of the key storage portion, and the front opening is Therefore, when the key is stored in the key storage unit, the lower end of the lid is automatically pushed into the key storage unit. For example, the position of the lid can be visually confirmed from the outside. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain a key box that is easy to use, such as being able to grasp the key storage state at a glance from the outside.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the bottom surface portion of the key storage portion is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the tilting locus of the tip portion of the lid. Therefore, no gap or the like is generated between the front end portion and the bottom surface portion of the key storage portion when the lid is tilted, and the key can be smoothly stored and taken out from the key storage portion.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 6 show an embodiment of a key box according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control system in a connection state between the key box and a remote controller. 4 is a perspective view of the remote control, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of usage, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the key box 1 has a thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped box body 2, and a cover 3 is disposed at the front opening of the box body 2 so as to be opened and closed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the box body 2 is provided with a key storage portion 4 in which a front opening 4a of a predetermined size is formed by a bottom surface, an upper surface, left and right side surfaces, and a rear surface, for example, on the right side of the inside thereof, An emergency lock (not shown) or the like is housed and disposed on the left side of the interior. In addition, about the structure of the said lock | rock etc. which are arrange | positioned in the box main body 2, since it is comprised substantially the same as the past, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  A displacement plate 7 serving as a lid of the present invention is disposed in the front opening of the key storage portion 4. The displacement plate 7 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, for example, by a blind plate, and its outer shape is set slightly smaller than the inner shape of the front opening 4 a of the key storage unit 4. It arrange | positions in the state located in 4a. Further, the displacement plate 7 is arranged such that the lower end portion 7b can be tilted (rotated) in the front-rear direction by the left and right upper end portions 7a being pivotally supported on upper portions of both side surfaces of the key storage portion 4. Yes. The displacement plate 7 is normally set in a vertical state as shown in FIG. 2 by its own weight, so that the front opening 4a of the key storage portion 4 is closed.

  Further, an optical sensor 9 (detection means) for detecting the displacement of the displacement plate 7 is disposed at a predetermined position on one side surface of the key storage unit 4, and the lead wire of the optical sensor 9 is connected to a substrate described later. Has been. The displacement of the displacement plate 7 is detected by infrared rays emitted from the optical sensor 9, and the signal is output to the remote controller 12 described later via the substrate 6. The detection means for detecting the displacement of the displacement plate 7 is not limited to the optical sensor 9 provided on the side surface, and other appropriate sensors such as a microswitch and a strain gauge can be used.

  A guide plate 10 is disposed on the bottom surface of the key storage portion 4, and the shape of the inner surface 10 a of the guide plate 10 is a trajectory during the tilting operation of the lower end portion 7 b that is the distal end portion of the displacement plate 7. It is formed in an arc shape so as to substantially match. The front end of the guide plate 10 is provided with a stopper portion 10b that rises up to a predetermined size. The stopper portion 10b prevents the displacement plate 7 from jumping forward from the front opening 4a and is displaced. The plate 7 closes the front opening 4a of the key storage unit 4 and prevents the key 11 stored in the key storage unit 4 from protruding forward as will be described later.

  The size of the key storage portion 4 of the box body 2 and the size of the guide plate 10 are set to a size that allows the key 11 to be placed on the guide plate 10 according to the size of the key 11 to be stored. In addition, the substrate 6 incorporated in the box body 2 is a substrate in which a processing circuit for processing the detection signal of the optical sensor 9 is incorporated, or the detection signal of the optical sensor 9 is left as it is in the remote controller 12 described later. A relay board or the like that transmits data is used.

  Next, an example of how to use the key box 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, the key box 1 is installed and used together with a remote control 12 on an electric box near a entrance of a gymnasium or a predetermined wall surface. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the remote controller 12 includes a liquid crystal display unit 12a for displaying the security state and the state of the optical sensor 9, a speaker unit 12b for notifying each state by voice, and a non-contact type for reading card data and the like. Reading unit 12c, operation button 12d, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller 12 has a CPU 13, ROM 14, RAM 15, an interface (I / F) 16 to which signals from the strain gauge 9 of the key box 1 are input, and the like. A transmission unit 17 or the like that transmits a predetermined signal processed by the CPU 13 to the security company 18 is constructed and arranged on the control board.

  When the user of the gymnasium opens the key 11 and enters the gymnasium with the remote controller 12 and the key box 1 installed, as shown in FIG. The alert state of the set key box 1 is canceled (K1), and the cover 3 of the key box 1 is automatically opened (K2), for example. When the cover 3 is opened, the key 11 is stored in the key storage part 4 of the box body 2, so that the displacement plate 7 tilts rearward as shown in FIG. 6 and the front surface of the key storage part 4. The opening 4a is opened. Using the open front opening 4a, the key 11 in the key storage unit 4 is taken out by the user (K3).

  When the key 11 is taken out from the key storage unit 4, the displacement plate 7 is tilted forward by its own weight in conjunction with the removal of the key 11, so that the vertical state shown in FIG. 4a is closed, and the displacement plate 7 is removed from the detection range of the optical sensor 9 by the return of the displacement plate 7 to the vertical position, so that the optical sensor 9 detects a state in which the key 11 is not housed. The no key signal is output to the remote controller 12 via the substrate 6. In this state, the gymnasium can be used by unlocking the gymnasium door using the key 11 taken out by the user.

  On the other hand, when the use of the gymnasium is finished, the door 11 is locked with the key 11, and the locked key 11 is stored in the key storage part 4 of the key box 1 (K4). The storage of the key 11 is performed by pressing the key 11 against the lower end portion 7b of the displacement plate 7 in the key storage portion 4 and pushing it backward, and as shown in FIG. 7 is tilted rearward, and the key 11 is placed on the guide plate 10 in front of the lower end portion 7b of the displacement plate 7 and the key is stored in a state in which the stopper 10b of the guide plate 10 is prevented from protruding forward. Housed in part 4.

  Further, when the displacement plate 7 is tilted by a predetermined angle by the depression of the key 11 and enters the detection range of the optical sensor 9, the optical sensor 9 detects the position of the displacement plate 7, that is, the storage state of the key 11, and a key presence signal is detected. Is output to the remote controller 12 via the substrate 6. Further, since the displacement plate 7 also has the key 11 stored in the front, its forward tilting operation (return) is restricted and maintained in the storage position. When the key 11 is stored in the key storage unit 4, the inner surface of the guide plate 10 that matches the tilting locus of the displacement plate 7 is disposed on the bottom surface of the key storage unit 4. The gap between the tip of 7b and the inner surface 10a of the guide plate 10 is maintained substantially constant, so that the key 11 does not fit into the gap and the key 11 can be stored smoothly.

  When the key 11 is placed and stored on the guide plate 10, the cover 3 is closed (K 5), and then the remote control 12 is operated to set a warning (K 6), whereby a warning signal is sent from the transmitter 17 of the remote control 12 to the security company. 18 is set to the alert state. That is, when the displacement plate 7 of the key box 1 is pushed backward by the gymnasium key 11, the displacement plate 7 tilts backward, and the lower end 7b of the displacement plate 7 and the stopper 10b of the guide plate 10 The key 11 is stored in a sandwiched state, and when the key 11 is taken out, the displacement plate 7 is tilted forward so that the key 11 is not stored, and the key 11 is stored or not stored. Accordingly, the presence or absence of the key 11 is directly detected by the optical sensor 9 based on the tilting position of the displacement plate 7 that is interlocked.

  Thus, in the key box 1 of the above-described embodiment, the displacement of the displacement plate 7 that tilts rearward when the key storage portion 4 of the box body 2 is closed and the key 11 is stored (tilting operation). Based on this, the storage state of the key 11 is detected by the optical sensor 9 disposed in the key storage unit 4, so that the storage state of the key 11 can be directly detected by the displacement plate 7 tilting in conjunction with the storage of the key 11. Thus, a complicated processing circuit is not required, and the configuration can be simplified and an inexpensive key box 1 can be obtained.

  Further, since the outer shape of the displacement plate 7 is formed slightly smaller than the inner shape of the front opening 4a of the key storage part 4 and is disposed so as to be tiltable in the front opening 4a, the key 11 is provided with the key storage part. 4, the lower end portion 7 b of the displacement plate 7 is automatically pushed into the key storage portion 4, and the user can easily grasp the storage state of the key 11 by the position of the displacement plate 7. Can do. Furthermore, since the arc-shaped guide plate 10 of the inner surface 10a corresponding to the tilting trajectory of the lower end portion 7b of the displacement plate 7 is arranged on the bottom surface portion of the key storage portion 4, the lower end portion 7b of the displacement plate 7 is tilted. And the inner surface 10a of the guide plate 10 which is the bottom surface of the key storage part 4, no gap is generated, and the key 11 can be smoothly stored and taken out in the key storage part 4.

  Further, since the state of the key 11 is directly detected by detecting the displacement of the displacement plate 7 tilted in conjunction with the key 11 with the optical sensor 9, a complicated processing circuit as in the prior art is not required and the configuration is simple. Thus, the inexpensive key box 1 can be obtained, and at the same time, the displacement of the displacement plate 7 having excellent durability can be stably detected over a long period of time by the optical sensor 9 to obtain a highly reliable key box 1. Is possible. Moreover, since the presence or absence of the key 11 is automatically detected by the optical sensor 9 simply by opening the cover 3 and pushing the displacement plate 7 with the key 11, the key 11 can be taken out and stored very easily. In addition, by using the key box 1 in combination with the remote controller 12, it is possible to easily and reliably perform warning setting and warning cancellation, and it is possible to construct a monitoring system with excellent usability and operability.

  In the above embodiment, the cover 3 of the key box 1 is provided with an indicator lamp 19 such as an LED for displaying the storage state of the key 11 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. For example, the cover 3 may be formed of a transparent plate so that the presence or absence of the key 11 can be recognized from the outside by the tilt position of the displacement plate 7. You can also Further, an indoor lamp (not shown) made up of an LED or the like is disposed at an appropriate position in the box body 2 in a constantly lit state (or so as to be lit when the cover 3 is opened) to illuminate the inside of the box body 2 and The key 11 may be easily put in and out even in the dark. Further, in the above embodiment, the displacement plate 7 is configured to return to the vertical position by its own weight. However, for example, a biasing force that always returns to the vertical position is applied to the displacement plate 7 by a spring, for example, to quickly return to the initial position. And it can also be configured to perform reliably.

  Further, the shape of the displacement plate 7 and the guide plate 10, the position of the detection means, the block diagram of the remote controller 12 and the key box 1, the shape of the cover 3 and its opening / closing mechanism, etc. in the above embodiment are merely examples. In the present invention, the plate 7 and the guide plate 10 are integrated to provide a stopper mechanism on the side surface of the key storage portion 4 to restrict the position of the displacement plate 7, or the remote control 12 and the key box 1 are integrated. Modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the inventions concerned.

  The present invention is not limited to a key box for a gymnasium door, and can be applied to a key box for all doors having locks for various buildings and warehouses, for example.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the key box concerning this invention Longitudinal sectional view of the key not stored Schematic block diagram of the control system of the connection state of the key box and remote control Perspective view of the remote control Explanatory drawing showing an example of the same operation A longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Key box, 2 ... Box main body, 3 ... Cover, 4 ... Key storage part, 4a ... Front opening, 7 ... Displacement plate (lid body), 7a ... Upper end, 7b ... Lower end, 9 ... Optical sensor, 10 ... Guide plate, 10a ... Inner surface, 10b ... Stopper, 11 ... Key, 12 ... Remote control, 18 ... security company, 19 ... indicator light.

Claims (3)

A box main body having a key storage portion in which a key is stored in a predetermined state; a lid for closing a front opening of the key storage portion of the box main body; and a detecting means for detecting a storage state of the key in the key storage portion; A key box comprising:
The key box characterized in that the detection means detects a key storage state based on a displacement of the lid that moves in conjunction with a key storage operation when the key is stored.   The lid body is formed to have an outer shape smaller than the inner shape of the front opening of the key storage portion, and a lower end portion is disposed so as to be tiltable via a shaft provided at an upper portion in the front opening. The key box according to claim 1, wherein the lower end portion is pushed into the key storage portion when stored in the key storage portion.   3. The key box according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface portion of the key storage portion is formed in an arc shape corresponding to a tilting locus of a tip portion of the lid.

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