Abstract:
A mechanical key is to be prevented from coming apart, a head portion of the mechanical key is to be attached to a main body for use and the main body is to be prevented from being disassembled unintentionally when using the mechanical key. In a key lock structure of a mechanical key of a portable device in which a mechanical key is storable in a main body, the main body is configured in a two-piece structure including a first case and a second case, the first case includes a first storage section for storing the mechanical key and a second storage section for storing a key lock mechanism of the mechanical key, the lock mechanism locks the mechanical key stored in the first storage section to prevent the mechanical key from coming off and unlocks in response to a predetermined operation to allow the mechanical key to be pulled out.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable device. More specifically, for example, to a portable device used as a remote control device in a remote keyless entry system for automotive vehicles or the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A remote keyless entry system is a convenient system which allows users to lock and unlock doors only by operating a push button of a small portable device without using a mechanical key. As an advanced type, there is a system which does not require the push button operation with the portable device. With the advanced type system, the user is able to lock and unlock the door by pushing an entry button on the vehicle door or to start engine by pushing a starter button on a dash board in a state of carrying the portable device with him/her, and it is not necessary to take the portable device out from the pocket every time. 
         [0005]    The buttery of the portable device of this type may be run out after long time of use, and hence a mechanical key (also referred to as an emergency key) is integrated in the portable device to be used in case of emergency (see JP-A-2004-225350 (Patent Document 1), for example). 
       &lt;First Related Art&gt; 
       [0006]      FIGS. 13A to 13C  are drawings illustrating a mechanical-key-integrated portable device.  FIG. 13A  illustrates a portable device  1  in a state in which a main body  2  and a mechanical key  3  are integrated. Hereinafter, the portable device  1  is referred to as “integrated”. The integrated portable device  1  has an advantage that the mechanical key  3  is user-friendly because it is operated by holding the main body  2  with the hand. However, since the mechanical key  3 , which is not normally used, is sticking out from the main body  2 , it is a hindrance and the size (specially, the entire length) of the portable device  1  is disadvantageously increased. 
       &lt;Second Related Art&gt; 
       [0007]    As an improved type, for example, as shown in  FIG. 13B , a type in which a mechanical key  6  is stored in the interior of a main body  5  of a portable device  4  is conceivable. This is referred to as “stored-type”. A structure in which a head portion Ca of the mechanical key  6  pulled out from the main body  5  of the portable device  4  is preferably attachable to the main body  5 . In this configuration, the mechanical key  6  is also user-friendly because it is operated by holding the main body  5  with the hand as in the case of the integrated portable device  1  described above and, in addition, when the mechanical key  6  is not necessary, the mechanical key  6  may be stored in the main body  5 , so that the size of the portable device  4  is not increased. 
         [0008]    The main body  5  of the portable device  4  has a two-piece structure including an upper case  5   a  and a lower case  5   b  as shown in  FIG. 13C . In addition, it has a structure in which the upper case  5   a  and the lower case  5   b  are separable (for example, a fitting type) considering battery replacement. 
         [0009]    Formed between the upper case Ma and the lower case  5   b  is a storage section  5   c  for storing the mechanical key  6 . For example, when the mechanical key  6  is used to start an engine, the user follows a procedure including steps of: 
         [0010]    (1) pulling out the mechanical key  6  from the storage section  5   c  of the main body  5   
         [0011]    (2) attaching the head portion  6   a  of the mechanical key  6  to the storage section  5   c,    
         [0012]    (3) holding the body  5  with the hand, 
         [0013]    (4) inserting the mechanical key  6  into a keyhole for starting the engine, and 
         [0014]    (5) turning the main body  5  with a required force. 
       &lt;Third Related Art&gt; 
       [0015]      FIG. 14  is a drawing illustrating another example of the stored type. In this drawing, a portable device  7  is the same as the portable device  4  described above (second related art) in that a main body  8  includes an upper case  8   a  and a lower case  8   b  of a two-piece type and is different in that a storage section  10  for storing a mechanical key  9  is formed only on one of the cases (the upper case  8   a  in the drawing), and in that a holding portion  11  is integrally formed at a head portion of the mechanical key  9 . 
         [0016]    A measure for preventing the mechanical key  9  attached to the storage section  10  of the main body  8  from coming off is achieved by forming a wide portion  9   a  at part of the mechanical key  9  and using friction between the wide portion  9   a  and the inner wall of the storage section  10 . 
         [0017]    However, in the second related art, when an excessive force is applied to the portion of the main body  5  where the mechanical key  6  is mounted (the entry portion of the storage section  5   c ) in the procedure ( 5 ), the upper case  5   a  and the lower case  5   b  may disadvantageously come apart (disassembled) unintentionally. 
         [0018]    In the third related art, since the storage section  10  for storing the mechanical key  9  is formed only in one of the cases (the upper case  8   a  in the drawing), the problem in the portable device  4  in the second related art (unintentional disassembly of the case  8 ) does not occur. However, when the mechanical key  9  is removed from the main body  8 , the main body  8  is separated from the mechanical key  9 , and hence there arises a problem that the main body  8  or the mechanical key  9  may be lost. 
         [0019]    In addition, in the third related art, the measure for preventing the mechanical key  9  from coming off is achieved by friction between the wide portion  9   a  of the mechanical key  9  and the inner wall of the storage section  10 , the friction is gradually reduced with repeated operation of insertion and pulling off of the mechanical key  9 , so that the mechanical key  9  may disadvantageously come off easily. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable device in which storage section of a mechanical key in a main body is ensured without causing unintentional coming off of the mechanical key from the main body, the mechanical key is used by attaching a head portion of the mechanical key to the main body as needed, and the main body is not unintentionally disassembled when using the mechanical key. 
         [0021]    The invention according to a first aspect of the invention is a key lock structure for a mechanical key of a portable device in which the mechanical key is storable in a main body, in which the main body is a two-piece structure including a first case and a second case, the first case includes a first storage section for storing the mechanical key and a second storage section for storing a lock mechanism of the mechanical key, the first storage section and the second storage section are integrally formed in the interior of the first case in a hollow shape opened on one side of the first case, the first case is formed with an opening on the side opposite from the side which is combined with the second case, and the lock mechanism is configured to lock or unlock the mechanical key stored in the first storage section according to a predetermined operation. 
         [0022]    The invention according to a second aspect of the invention is based on the key lock structure according to the first aspect, in which the lock mechanism includes a key lock base stored in the second storage section in a fixed state, a slide part slidably assembled onto the key lock base, a resilient member which urges the slide of the slide part in a predetermined direction, and operating means which is capable of sliding the slide part in the direction against the urging force of the resilient member, and in which the mechanical key stored in the first storage section is locked by the slide part to prevent the mechanical key from coming apart and the lock is released by the operating means. 
         [0023]    The invention according to a third aspect of the invention is based on the key lock structure according to the second aspect, in which the mechanical key includes an engaging portion which is capable of engaging part of the slide part, and prevention of coming apart is achieved by the engagement between the engaging portion and the part of the slide part. 
         [0024]    The invention according to a fourth aspect of the invention is based on the key lock structure according to the first aspect, in which the first storage section is adapted to be able to accept insertion of head portion of the mechanical key pulled out from the main body. 
         [0025]    In the present invention, since the mechanical key is prevented from coming apart by the lock mechanism in the first case of the main body, storage section of the mechanical key in the main body is ensured and, in addition, unintentional coming off of the mechanical key from the main body is avoided. 
         [0026]    When the first storage section is configured to be able to accept insertion of the head portion of the mechanical key pulled out from the main body, the mechanical key may be used by attaching the head portion of the mechanical key to the main body as needed. In addition, since the first storage section is formed in the first case, the main body is prevented from being disassembled unintentionally when using the mechanical key. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a general block diagram of a portable device  100  according to an embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 2A to 2C  are block diagrams showing a configuration of an upper case. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the upper case taken along the line A-A. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 4A to 4F  are explanatory drawings of components of a key lock mechanism. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is an assembly drawing of the key lock mechanism. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating a procedure to insert the key lock mechanism into the upper case. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating a state in which the insertion of the key lock mechanism is completed. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating a state in which the rest of the component (knob) of the key lock mechanism is assembled. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating a procedure to insert a mechanical key into the upper case. 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating a state in which insertion of the mechanical key is completed. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating a procedure of unlocking. 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating a procedure of setting a head portion of the pulled out mechanical key into an attachment and detachment port of the upper case for use. 
           [0039]      FIGS. 13A to 13C  are drawings illustrating first and second related arts. 
           [0040]      FIG. 14  is a drawing illustrating a third related art. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]    Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Specific or actual examples of various details and examples such as numerical values, character strings and other signs in the description shown below are informative only for clarifying the idea of the present invention, and it is apparently understood that the idea of the present invention is limited thereto neither entirely nor partly. Known methods, known procedures, known architecture and known circuit structures (hereinafter, referred to as “known matters”) are not described in detail. However, it is for the sake of simplification of description only, and such omission is not intended to exclude the known matters entirely or partly. These known matters are knowable by those skilled in the art at the time point of application of the present invention, and are included in the description given below as a matter of course. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  is a general block diagram of a portable device  100  according to the embodiment. In this drawing, the portable device  100  includes a main body  200  and a mechanical key  300  detachably stored in the main body  200 . 
         [0043]    The main body  200  includes two upper and lower cases (hereinafter, referred to as an upper case  400  and a lower case  500  according to the upper side and the lower side in the drawing) separably combined by a fitting system or other combining methods. The upper case  400  and the lower case  500  are sealed from each other by a water-proof seal or the like, so that an electronic substrate or a buttery, not shown, mounted in the interior of the tower case  500  are water-proofed. 
         [0044]    In this manner, the lower case  500  is used as an electronic part storage section for a remote key entry system or the like. However, description of the lower case  500  is omitted since it has no direct relationship with the present invention. 
         [0045]    The upper case  400  has two roles shown below. The first role is to serve as an “upper lid” of the lower case  500 , and the second role is to serve as a “lock-mechanism-provided key storage section” for detachably storing the mechanical key  300 . 
         [0046]    The second role (the role as the “lock mechanism provided key storage section”) will be described in detail. As shown in the drawing, the mechanical key  300  is stored in the interior of the upper case  400 , and a key lock mechanism  600  having a plurality of components is built in the interior of the upper case  400 . Although detailed description will be given later, the key lock mechanism  600  has functions of: 
         [0000]    (a) bringing the mechanical key  300  stored in the interior of the upper case  400  in a locked state to prevent the mechanical key  300  from unintentionally coming off; and
 
(b) unlocking the mechanical key  300  by sliding one of the components of the key lock mechanism  600  (hereinafter, referred to as a knob  601 ), which is projected from an opening  401  formed in an upper surface of the upper case  400 , in the direction indicated by an arrow  700  for allowing the mechanical key  300  to be pulled out from the upper case  400 .
 
         [0047]    The structure of the upper case  400  will be described. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 2A to 2C  are block diagrams showing a configuration of the upper case  400 , in which  FIG. 2A  is a plan view, FIG.  2 B and  FIG. 2C  are side views. In these drawings, a lower surface lid of the lower case  500 , and the lower surface  402  is a flat plane without opening such as a hole or the like. 
         [0049]    Integrally defined in the interior of the upper case  400  area storage section for the key lock mechanism  600  (hereinafter, referred to as a lock mechanism storage section  403 ) and a storage section for the mechanical key  300  (hereinafter, referred to as a key storage section  404 ). These two storage sections (the lock mechanism storage section  403  and the key storage section  404 ) communicate with each other, and has an opening on the side of the one short side (the left side of the drawing) of the upper case  400 . The opening serves as an attachment and detachment port  405  for the mechanical key  300 . The attachment and detachment port  405  is also used as an insertion port of the key lock mechanism  600  when assembling the portable device  100 . 
         [0050]    The lock mechanism storage section  403  includes a first side wall  406  extending substantially linearly along one side surface  405   a  of the attachment and detachment port  405 , a second side wall  407  intersecting the first side wall  406  at a predetermined obtuse angle, a third side wall  408  and a fourth side wall  409  continuing to the second side wall  407  extending substantially parallel to the attachment and detachment port  405   r  a bottomed long hole  410  having a predetermined length extending from between the third side wall  408  and the fourth side wall  409  in the longitudinal direction of the upper case  400 , and a substantially triangular space  411  formed on the bottom (a far end) of the bottomed long hole  410 . The “bottomed long hole” means a long hole formed in a tunnel shape, and in particular, the far end thereof is closed by a “wall”. The “wall” may also be referred to as a “bottom” of the hole, it is a “long hole having a bottom” and hence is referred to as “bottomed long hole”. 
         [0051]    On the other hand, the key storage section  404  includes a first side wall  412  extending substantially linearly along the other side surface  405   b  of the attachment and detachment port  405 , a second side wall  413  continuing to the first side wall  412  and extending substantially in parallel to the attachment and detachment port  405 , and a third side wall  414  continuing to the second side wall  413 , extending in parallel to the first side wall  412  and extending to the fourth side wall  409  of the lock mechanism storage section  403 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the upper case  400  taken along the line A-A (see  FIG. 2B ). As shown in this drawing, the upper case  400  is opened on the left side in the drawing, and the opened portion is used as the attachment and detachment port  405  of the mechanical key  300  (and also serves as the insertion port of the key lock mechanism  600 ), and is formed integrally with two hollow bag-shaped storage sections (the lock mechanism storage section  403  and the key storage section  404 ) continuing to the attachment and detachment port  405  in the interior thereof. 
         [0053]    Subsequently, the structure of the key lock mechanism  600  will be described. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 4A to 4F  are explanatory drawings of components of the key lock mechanism  600 . As shown in this drawing, the key lock mechanism  600  is composed of following four components (the knob  601 , a key lock base  602 , a slide part  603  and a spring  604 ). Hereinafter, these components are described one by one. 
         [0055]    The key lock base  602  is a component which serves as a base of the key lock mechanism  600  as shown in  FIG. 4A , and the key lock base  602  includes a sliding portion  605  which guides the sliding movement of the slide part  603  and a locking portion  606  to be locked with the upper case  100 . The sliding portion  605  is configured in such a manner that the slide part  603  is able to be set to a substantially rectangular-shaped plane  610  surrounded by projecting edges  607  to  609  on the upper, left and right sides in the drawing. In the set state, the slide part  603  is adapted to be slid in the vertical direction in the drawing while being guided along the left and right projecting edges  608 ,  609 . However the downward sliding of the slide part  603  is restricted at positions of stoppers  611 ,  612  formed at midsections of the left and right projecting edges  608 ,  609 . 
         [0056]    The locking portion  606  includes a pair of long arms  613 ,  614  extending rightward in the drawing in substantially parallel to each other and hook portions  615 ,  616  formed at distal ends of the long arms  613 ,  164 , respectively. The long arms  613 ,  614  of the locking portion  606  are inserted into the bottomed long hole  410  of the lock mechanism storage section  403  of the upper case  400  to the end, and the hook portions  615 ,  616  of the locking portion  606  are engaged with the space  411  formed at the bottom (far end) of the bottomed long hole  410 , so that the key lock base  602  and the upper case  400  are integrated. 
         [0057]    The sliding portion  605  which guides the sliding movement of the slide part  603  is formed with an opening  617  in a vertically elongated rectangular shape, and the upper side in the drawing of the opening  617  comes into contact with the projecting edge  608  at the center from among the projecting edges  607  to  609  which surround the sliding portion  605 , and a projection  618  for holding the spring  604  is formed on the lower surface in the drawing of the projecting edge  608 . 
         [0058]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  ( FIG. 4C  is a drawing viewed with the slide part  603  in  FIG. 4B  from the reverse side), the slide part  603  is formed with stoppers  620 ,  621  which oppose the stoppers  611 ,  612  of the slide part  603  on the both left and right sides surfaces of a substantially rectangular-shaped main body  619 , a spring groove  622  for holding the spring  604 , a knob attaching hole  623  for attaching the knob  601 , and knob fixing grooves  624 ,  625  for fixing the knob  601 . The side of the main body  619  on the lower side in the drawing is formed into a substantially arcuate shape, and the arcuate shaped portion is utilized as a locking portion  626  for locking the mechanical key  300 . 
         [0059]    Subsequently, as shown in the drawings  FIGS. 4D and 4E  ( FIG. 4E  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 4D ), the knob  601  has a shape which is attachable to the knob attaching hole  623  of the slide part  603  as a whole and has projections  627 ,  628  engaged with the knob fixing grooves  624 ,  625  of the slide part  603  and an operating portion  629  to be operated with a finger tip or the like for unlocking when the slide part  603  is attached to the knob attaching hole  623 . 
         [0060]    Finally, the spring  604  is a minute compression spring (the compression spring or the coil spring) to be inserted into the spring groove  622  of the slide part  603  in a compressed state. 
         [0061]    Subsequently, an assembling procedure of the key lock mechanism  600  will be described. 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is an assembly drawing of the key lock mechanism  600 . As shown in this drawing, first of all, the slide part  603  is mounted to the sliding portion  605  of the key lock base  602  in a sliding movement (see an arrow  701 ), then, the spring  604  is inserted into the spring groove  622  of the slide part  603  (see arrows  702 ,  703 ), so that the key lock mechanism  600  composed of the three components (the key lock base  602 , the slide part  603  and the spring  604 ) except for the knob  601  is assembled (see an arrow  704 ). 
         [0063]      FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating a procedure to insert the key lock mechanism  600  assembled in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  into the upper case  400 ,  FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating a state in which the insertion of the key lock mechanism  600  is completed (a cross-sectional view which is similar to  FIG. 3 ), and  FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating a state in which the rest of the component (the knob  601 ) of the key lock mechanism  600  is assembled. 
         [0064]    As shown in these drawings, the key lock mechanism  600  is inserted from the attachment and detachment port  405  of the upper case  400  along an arrow  705  and the long arms  613 ,  614  of the key lock mechanism  600  are pushed into the bottomed long hole  410  of the upper case  400  by applying a required force in the direction indicated by an arrow  706 , whereby the hook portions  615 ,  616  at the distal ends of the long arms  613 ,  614  are inserted into the space  411  of the upper case  400  and fixed thereto (see  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 ). Then, in this state, the knob  601  is inserted from the opening  401  of the upper case  400  (see an arrow  707  in  FIG. 8 ) and the knob  601  is attached to the knob attaching hole  623  of the slide part  603  to complete the attachment of the key lock mechanism  600  to the upper case  400 . When attaching the knob  601  to the knob attaching hole  623  of the slide part  603 , it is necessary to press the knob  601  from above with a relatively strong force so as to fit the projections  627 ,  628  of the knob  601  into the knob fixing grooves  624 ,  625  of the slide part  603 , respectively. 
         [0065]      FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating a procedure to insert the mechanical key  300  into the upper case  400  (a cross-sectional view which is similar to  FIG. 3 ), and  FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating a state in which insertion of the mechanical key  300  is completed (a cross-sectional view which is similar to  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0066]    The mechanical key  300  is integrally formed with a head portion  301 , a key portion  302  continuing from the head portion  301  and having a predetermined length, and a depression  303  formed on the key portion  302  in the vicinity of the head portion  301  for locking the key with metallic material or the like. 
         [0067]    In a stage of inserting the mechanical key  300  into the upper case  400  (see an arrow  708  in  FIG. 9 ), since the lock portion  626  of the slide part  603  of the key lock mechanism  600  is pushed upward in the drawing (see an arrow  709  in  FIG. 9 ) by the key portion  302  of the mechanical key  300 , the depression  303  of the mechanical key  300  does not engage the lock portion  626  of the slide part  603  of the key lock mechanism  600 . 
         [0068]    When the mechanical key  300  is inserted to the end (see an arrow  710  in  FIG. 10 ), the lock portion  626  of the slide part  603  of the key lock mechanism  600  falls into the depression  303  of the mechanical key  300  (see an arrow  711  in  FIG. 10 ), and the depression  303  of the mechanical key  300  engages the lock portion  626  of the slide part  603  of the key lock mechanism  600 , so that the mechanical key  300  is brought into a locked state. The locked state is maintained from then on as well by an urging force of the spring  604 , and hence the mechanical key  300  does not come apart. 
         [0069]    Subsequently, unlocking of the mechanical key  300  by manual operation will be described 
         [0070]      FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating a procedure of unlocking (a cross-sectional view which is similar to  FIG. 3 ). As shown in this drawing, when the operating unit  629  of the knob  601  is operated with a fingertip or the like and is slid upward in the drawing (see an arrow  713  in the drawing), the spring  604  is deformed by compression, and the slide part  603  of the key lock mechanism  600  is moved in the same direction, so that the engagement between the lock portion  626  of the slide part  603  of the key lock mechanism  600  and the depression  303  of the mechanical key  300  is released. Therefore, the mechanical key  300  is able to be pulled out from the upper case  400  (see an arrow  714 ). 
         [0071]    The mechanical key  300  pulled out from the upper case  400  in this manner is able to be used independently as a matter of course, and may also be used by setting the head portion  301  of the mechanical key  300  to the attachment and detachment port  405  of the upper case  400  as in the second related art described at the beginning. 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating a procedure of setting the head portion  301  of the pulled out mechanical key  300  into the attachment and detachment port  405  of the upper case  400  for use (a cross-sectional view which is similar to  FIG. 3 ). As shown in this drawing, it is also possible to invert the mechanical key  300  pulled out from the upper case  400 , set the head portion  301  to the attachment and detachment port  405  of the upper case  400 , and hold the upper case  400  to operate the mechanical key  300  if necessary. 
         [0073]    In this configuration, the portable device  100  of this embodiment achieves the following advantages. 
         [0074]    (a) When the mechanical key  300  is stored in the main body  200 , the mechanical key  300  is locked by the key lock mechanism  600 . Therefore, the mechanical key  300  is prevented from coming apart unintentionally. 
         [0075]    (b) By sliding the operating unit  629  of the knob  601  with a fingertip or the like, the mechanical key  300  is able to be pulled out from the main body  200  by one-touch operation. 
         [0076]    (c) The mechanical key  300  may be used in a state in which the head portion  301  of the pulled out mechanical key  300  is inserted into the attachment and detachment port  405  of the main body  200  by holding the main body  200  with hand. In this case, since the head portion  301  of the mechanical key  300  is inserted into the attachment and detachment port  405  formed on one side (upper case  400 ) of the main body  200 , the upper case  400  and the lower case  500  are prevented from separating unintentionally by a force associated with the usage of the mechanical key  300 .