JPH10280746A - Key light - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily put various keys in a lock and easily put it out from the lock, even such a particular key that a resin processing is applied on the lug or an accesorriy is attached and obtain a compact and light-weight key and light it without troubles such as a contact defect. SOLUTION: A lithium polymer cell 2 and a light-emitting diode 3 connected to the cell are arranged between the external face of a holder body 1 in which a key A can be put or from which the key A can removed and an elastic cover 4 covering the outside thereof. And a projection 4a is formed at the rear face of the cover 4 so that one side of a terminal 3a of the light-emitting diode 3 comes into contact with one pole face of the lithium polymer cell 2 by the projection 4a when the cover 4 is pressed. The base end of the terminal 3a is covered with an insulation cover 8 to isolate it from the lithium polymer cell 2 and only other part of the terminal 3a comes into contact with the other pole face of the lithium polymer cell 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a key light provided with a light emitting diode (LED) as a light source and a lithium polymer battery as a power source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of key lights capable of illuminating the tip of a key have been developed (for example, JP-A-60-163301 and JP-A-61-233181).
And JP-A-3-107979). And
Some of these include light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources
Some use. These conventional key lights are of a type in which a key is fixed to a plastic cover, and a light source and a power supply are mounted on one of the covers and fixed on the other cover, or the power supply is supported by a spring.

[0003]

In the conventional case, the handle portion of the key is embedded in the resin as the plastic cover and cannot be removed, and at least the key may be pulled out or inserted. Not only is it impossible, but it is not possible to attach various keys.
Therefore, there are drawbacks in that the size of the key is limited, the handle is resin-processed, or a special key with accessories cannot be used. There is also a disadvantage that once damaged, it is difficult to repair. On the other hand, regarding the switch portion, since an elastic piece or a spring capable of performing leverage is used, the switch portion is not only considerably large but also has a drawback that it becomes thick.

As described above, the conventional key light has various disadvantages. An object of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages. In particular, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a key light that can be easily attached to various types of keys, especially, special keys having a resin processed handle portion, and that can be easily removed. Things. It is a second object of the present invention to reduce the size and weight and to enable trouble-free lighting with less contact failure. In addition to the resin handle on the key handle, special keys with accessories such as wireless door openers and anti-theft alarms can be firmly fixed to the holder. Is the third purpose.

[0005]

In order to achieve the first object, according to the present invention, a key A is inserted between an outer surface of a holder 1 and an elastic cover 4 covering the outer surface of the holder 1. The flat battery 2 and the light emitting diode 3 connected to the flat battery 2 are arranged, and a protrusion 4a is formed on the back surface of the cover 4 so that when the cover 4 is pressed, the protrusion 4a is formed.
Allows one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 to be in contact with one pole surface of the battery 2.

[0006] In this manner, various keys A can be inserted into the holder 1 without being restricted by the size of the keys A. For example, the handle portion a is processed with resin or an accessory is attached. Holder 1 with special key
Can be used as a key light.
Further, the key A inserted in the holder 1 can be easily removed.

When the elastic cover 4 is pressed by a finger or the like, a protrusion 4a formed on the back surface pushes down one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3, and the flat battery 2 is pressed.
Contact one of the polar surfaces. Therefore, the light emitting diode 3 is energized and can be turned on. Note that the other terminal 3b of the light emitting diode 3 is in direct contact with the other pole surface, which is the back side of the flat battery 2. When the pressing of the elastic cover 4 is released, the protrusion 4a formed on the back surface does not press the one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3, so that the protrusion 4a is in contact with one of the polar surfaces of the flat battery 2. The terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 is separated therefrom, the energized state is released, and the light emitting diode 3 is turned off.

In order to achieve the second object, according to the present invention, the light emitting diode 3 pushed down by the projection 4a is provided.
The base end of one terminal 3a is insulated from the flat battery 2 and only the other portion of the terminal 3a is flat battery 2.
In contact with one of the polar surfaces. By doing so, the base end of one terminal 3a is in an insulated state with respect to the flat battery 2 and only the other part of the terminal 3a is brought into contact with one pole surface of the flat battery 2. be able to.

When the flat battery 2 and the one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 disposed on the outer surface of the holder 1 are in such a situation, the light emitting diode 3 remains in its original shape without processing. Can be combined with a flat battery. Accordingly, processing such as bending the terminals 3a and 3b of the light emitting diode 3 into a predetermined shape or engaging other components on the contact surface between the terminals 3a and 3b and the flat battery 2 to form an insulating state is performed. There is no need to make the keylight compact, and the weight can be reduced. In addition, only the base end of one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 pressed down by the protrusion 4a is insulated from the flat battery 2 to form a gap between the flat surface of the flat battery 2 and the pole. The light emitting diode 3 can emit light only when the terminal 3a is pushed down by the protrusion 4a and comes into contact with one of the pole faces of the flat battery 2. Then, when the elastic cover 4 is released from being pressed, the base end of one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 in the insulated state becomes a cushion, and the terminal 3a is returned to the original state by the leverage. In addition, it can be prevented from contacting one of the pole faces of the flat battery 2. Therefore, occurrence of poor contact can be significantly improved.

The battery 2 may be an existing coin-type battery,
It is desirable to use a lithium polymer battery. Since the lithium polymer battery is extremely thin as compared with the coin-type battery, the thickness of the key light itself can be reduced accordingly, and the key light can be made more compact and lighter.

By the way, the lithium polymer battery 2 is
This is an extremely thin battery using a gel or solid electrolyte, which is completely different from a coin-type battery. 1.6mm is the thinnest coin cell battery currently on the market
However, the thickness of the lithium polymer battery can be at least 1.4 mm or less. Therefore, the thickness of the entire key light can be reduced accordingly. In addition, the shape can be designed in various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, etc. in addition to a square shape, and lithium polymer batteries designed in various shapes depending on the use and the type of key can be used.

When the flat battery 2 and the light emitting diode 3 connected to the flat battery 2 are arranged between the outer surface of the holder 1 and the elastic cover 4 which covers the outer surface of the holder, the flat battery 2 is distorted. These may be fixed to the holding body 1 by welding or other means so as not to move, but various holding means such as providing ribs and fitting holes for holding the holding body 1 are provided. It may be detachable. In particular, when a lithium polymer battery which is extremely thin compared to a coin-type battery is used, it is preferable to provide such a fixing means. Also, the light emitting diode 3 can be detached by forming a hole in the holder 1 through which the light emitting diode 3 can be inserted and withdrawn.

In order to achieve the third object, two side covers 1e and 1f are preferably arranged on the left and right sides of the holder 1 so as to be able to be freely inserted and removed. In this way, after the handle portion a of the key A is processed with resin or a special key with accessories is inserted into the holder 1, the two side covers 1e and 1f arranged on the left and right sides thereof are inserted. When the key is pressed, the left and right sides of the handle a of the key A inserted into the holder 1 are covered and covered with the side covers 1e and 1f, so that the key A can be firmly fixed to a predetermined position of the holder 1. A device having a conventional function such as a wireless door opening / closing device or an anti-theft alarm can also be used.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a key light according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 3 shows an outline of a key light according to the present invention. Especially,
Fig. 1 shows the most common key light equipped with a normal key with no handle on the handle, and Figs. 2 and 3 show special keys with resin on the handle. Although a key light equipped with a key is shown, in the present invention, any type of key can be inserted into the holder 1 shown in FIGS. Here, a case where a lithium polymer battery which is extremely thin as compared with a coin type battery is used as a power source is illustrated.

As shown in each of the drawings, a lithium polymer battery 2 and a resilient cover 4 are provided between one side (appearing on the upper side in the drawing) of a holder 1 from which a key A can be inserted and removed and an elastic cover 4 covering the outside. And the light emitting diode 3 connected to the light emitting diode 3. In addition, the light emitting diode 3 faces forward from the opening 5. The lithium polymer battery 2 is an extremely thin special battery as described above. As the light emitting diode 3, a commercially available light emitting diode can be used as it is. The holder 1 may be made of a synthetic resin and may be of an assembling type that can be separated vertically or horizontally, or may be joined by welding or other methods so that it cannot be disassembled.
However, at least a space in which the key A can be inserted when the holder 1 is assembled is formed so that at least the various keys A can be held by the holder 1 after assembly.

Note that an extremely thin lithium polymer battery 2
For example, a lithium polymer can be easily inserted between the holder 1 and the cover 4 and can be easily taken out from between the holder 1 and the cover 4. One end of the battery 2 (FIG. 1 (b), FIG.
(b), a knob 2a sandwiching the knob 2a may be attached to the right end in FIG. 3 (b). If you pick this knob,
An extremely thin lithium polymer battery 2 can be easily inserted between the holder 1 and the cover 4, and conversely, it can be easily removed from between the holder 1 and the cover 4.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the holding body 1 from which the key A can be inserted and removed has the simplest structure consisting of case covers 1a and 1b of a vertically fitting type. In this case, when the upper and lower covers 1a and 1b are joined up and down, a space for inserting the key A is formed at a predetermined position between the two covers 1a and 1b. The key A can be held by the holder 1 by inserting it from the right side of the figure and projecting its tip from the holder 1 and covering the handle a of the key A with the holder 1.

FIG. 2 shows a holding member 1 from which the key A can be inserted and removed. The holding member 1 includes two upper and lower plate covers 1c and 1d and two plate covers 1c and 1d.
An example is shown in which side covers 1e and 1f are located between c and 1d and can be freely inserted into and removed from both plate covers 1c and 1d. In this case, the upper and lower two plate covers 1
The space between c and 1d is a space into which the key A can be inserted. The key A is inserted into this space from the right side in the figure, and the tip protrudes from the holder 1. Then, with the handle portion a of the key A positioned between the upper and lower two plate covers 1c and 1d,
When the side covers 1e and 1f which can be freely inserted into and removed from 1c and 1d are pushed in, the right and left sides of the handle portion a of the key A are covered with the side covers 1e and 1f, and the key A is firmly fixed to a predetermined position of the holder 1. Can be fixed.

The upper and lower two plate covers 1c and 1d
To make the two side covers 1e and 1f freely put in and out, for example, as shown in FIG.
1f is substantially sectorial in plan view, and shaft pins 6 and 6 projecting in the vertical direction are formed in the center portion thereof.
May be fitted into holes (not shown) formed in the upper and lower two plate covers 1c and 1d. In this case, slide stoppers are formed inside the fan-shaped side covers 1e and 1f on the arcuate surface side so as to protrude vertically (not shown), and both slide stoppers are formed by two upper and lower plate covers 1c. , 1d are fitted into guide grooves (not shown) formed in a flat arcuate shape on the lower surface and the upper surface of the shaft pin 6,
It is convenient to push in and pull out the two left and right side covers 1e and 1f around the center 6, and more firmly fix the handle a of the key A inserted into the holder 1 with both side covers 1e and 1f. be able to. It is preferable to provide a click mechanism so that when the left and right side covers 1e and 1f are pushed farthest, they are more firmly fixed there. The form in which the two left and right side covers 1e and 1f can be freely inserted and removed with respect to the upper and lower two plate covers 1c and 1d is not necessarily limited to the above-described case, but is a form in which the slide covers are simply inserted and removed. May be used.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the holder 1 from which the key A can be inserted and removed consists only of the upper case cover 1g. In this case, the lower surface and the left and right surfaces of the handle a of the key A are covered with a cover 7 made of synthetic resin (including natural rubber) having a U-shaped cross section, and the upper case cover 1g The key A is inserted from the right side of the figure into the space formed under the key A, and the tip end protrudes from the upper case cover 1g. Both sides are fixed to the left and right sides of the upper case cover 1g. By doing so, the key A can be held by the holder 1 by covering the left and right sides of the handle portion a of the key A with the cover 7. The upper case cover 1g and the cover 7 can be fixed to each other by welding or other various methods.

A protrusion 4a is formed on the back surface of the elastic cover 4 located outside one surface of the holder 1, and when the cover 4 is pressed, the protrusion 4a is connected to one terminal of the light emitting diode 3. 3a (for example, a cathode terminal) can be brought into contact with one pole face (cathode face) of the lithium polymer battery 2. The drawing shows a state in which the protrusions 4a of the cover 4 are all in contact with the terminals 3a from the beginning. Although not shown in the drawing, a groove for fitting the terminal 3a is formed on the lower surface of the protrusion 4a, and the terminal 3a which is easy to hang when the terminal 3a is fitted in this groove is formed by the protrusion 4a. When the cover 3 is held and the cover 4 is pressed, the terminal 3 a reliably contacts the lithium polymer battery 2. 1 (b), 2 (b) and 3
As shown in (b), the portion is insulated from the lithium polymer battery 2 by covering the portion with an insulating cover 8 or the like, and only the other portion of the terminal 3a is connected to one of the pole faces ( (Cathode surface). The other terminal 3b is directly in contact with the other pole surface on the back side (the lower side in the drawing) of the lithium polymer battery 2 as it is. The cover 4 can be made of, for example, an elastic amide-based resin or a resin which is made to have elasticity by compounding a rubber material. In addition, any material may be used as long as it is restored when the pressure is released.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key A is formed so that the hole a ₁ formed in the handle portion a of the key A projects from the holder 1.
Is held on the holder 1, the key light can be hung somewhere as it is, which is convenient. Also, if a hole for suspending a key holder or the like is formed in the case covers 1a and 1b, even if the hole a ₁ is in the key light when the small key A is mounted on the holder 1, It is convenient because the key holder can be pulled out of the holder 1 from the holes formed in the covers 1a and 1b. In the drawings, only the outline of the key light of the present invention is shown, and the detailed portions are not described and shown in the drawings, but are described in the claims as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. Various design changes are possible within the scope.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, various keys can be inserted into the holder without being restricted by the size of the keys. Even a special key with accessories can be inserted into the holder and used as a key light, which is extremely convenient. In addition, the key inserted into the holder can be easily removed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, not only can the key light be made compact and the weight can be reduced, but also the occurrence of poor contact can be greatly reduced. effective.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the key light can be made more compact and the weight can be further reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the handle of the key is processed with resin or a special key with an accessory is attached, the key is firmly fixed to the holder while retaining its accessory function. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a key light according to the present invention, which is the most basic one.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing another example of a key light according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing still another example of a key light according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 holder, 1a, 1b case cover, 1c, 1d plate cover, 1e, 1f side cover, 1g upper case cover, 2
─Lithium polymer battery, 3─Light emitting diode, 3a, 3b
{Terminal, 4} cover, 4a projection, 5 opening, 6 axis pin, 7 cover, 8 insulating cover, A key, a handle.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 30, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0022

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As shown in FIG. 1 , when the key A is held in the holder ₁ so that the hole a1 formed in the handle portion a of the key A projects from the holder 1, the key light is kept as it is. It is convenient because it can be hung somewhere.
Case The case cover 1a, idea to form a hung holes and key chain 1b, when attached to key A small sized holder 1, even if holes a ₁ is not contained within the key light It is convenient because a key ring can be attached to the holes formed in the covers 1a and 1b. In the drawings, only the outline of the key light of the present invention is shown, and the detailed portions are not described and shown in the drawings, but are described in the claims as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. Various design changes are possible within the scope.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A flat battery 2 and a light emitting diode 3 connected thereto are disposed between an outer surface of a holder 1 from which a key A can be inserted and withdrawn and an elastic cover 4 covering the outer surface of the holder. Also, a protrusion 4a is formed on the back surface of the cover 4 so that when the cover 4 is pressed, the protrusion 4a can bring one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 into contact with one pole surface of the battery 2. Key light characterized by doing. 2. The base of one terminal 3a of the light emitting diode 3 pushed down by the projection 4a is insulated from the flat battery 2 and only the other part of the terminal 3a is the flat battery 2. 2. The key light according to claim 1, wherein the key light comes into contact with one of the pole faces. 3. The key light according to claim 1, wherein the battery 2 is a lithium polymer battery. 4. The key light according to claim 1, wherein two left and right side covers 1e and 1f are respectively disposed on both right and left sides of the holding body 1 so as to be freely taken in and out.