Starting button apparatus for vehicle

A starting button apparatus for a vehicle includes a switch body, an antenna coil, a reciprocation housing, and a rotation housing. The switch body includes a key hole therein, into which a key fob is inserted, and a starting button mounted thereto. The antenna coil is provided to the switch body to allow power to be applied to the key fob inserted into the key hole. The reciprocation housing is secured to an outer surface of the starting button and has a first inclined guide. The rotation housing is fitted around the reciprocation housing and has a second inclined guide which is slidably engaged with the first inclined guide so as to push the starting button when the inserted key fob is rotated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2007-0112083, filed on Nov. 5, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a starting button apparatus for a vehicle which allows a vehicle to be started using a key fob.

2. Background Art

A PIC (personal identification card) system applied to a vehicle allows opening and closing of a door, starting of a vehicle, etc. to be implemented through communication without using a conventional key.

In the PIC system, communication between the vehicle and a driver is conducted using a key fob. The key fob is provided with a transponder for preventing communication from being disabled in the event of discharge of a battery. A fob holder is installed in the cabin of the vehicle as a separate device to supply power to the transponder when the key fob is fitted therein.

However, since the fob holder is installed in the cabin of the vehicle as a separate device, the aesthetic appearance inside the cabin is likely to be deteriorated, and limitations are imposed on the layout of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a starting button apparatus for a vehicle which allows a vehicle to be started even when the battery of a key fob is discharged.

In order to achieve the above object, a starting button apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a switch body, an antenna coil, a reciprocation housing, and a rotation housing. The switch body defines therein a key hole, into which a key fob is inserted, and includes a starting button mounted thereto. The antenna coil is provided to the switch body to allow power to be applied to the key fob inserted into the key hole. The reciprocation housing is secured to the outer surface of the starting button and has a first inclined guide. The rotation housing is fitted around the reciprocation housing and has a second inclined guide which is slidably engaged with on the first inclined guide so as to push the starting button when the inserted key fob is rotated.

In a preferred embodiment, the key fob includes a transponder mounted thereon, which can receive power from the antenna coil and transmit and receive a signal in an emergency situation.

In another preferred embodiment, the starting button apparatus may further include holders. The holders are coupled to the rotation housing via springs to allow edge portions of the key fob to be received therein.

In still another preferred embodiment, the key hole has insertion grooves into which the key fob is inserted. Engagement grooves may be defined adjacent to the end of the key fob to guide the rotation of the key fob in the key hole.

In a further preferred embodiment, the reciprocation housing is formed in the shape of a ring, the starting button is secured to the inner surface of the reciprocation housing, and the first inclined guide is inclinably mounted on the outer surface of the reciprocation housing. The rotation housing is formed in the shape of a ring, and the second inclined guide is inclinably mounted on the inner surface of the rotation housing.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like.

Other features of the invention are discussed infra.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood that the description is not intended to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiment. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiment, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a starting button apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is generally installed adjacent to a steering column which is provided in front of a driver's seat.

The starting button apparatus includes a switch body100, into which a key fob600is inserted, an antenna coil200, which is provided in the switch body100, a reciprocation housing300, which is fastened to the outer surface of a starting button120, a rotation housing400, which is fitted around the reciprocation housing300to press the starting button120via the reciprocation housing300when the key fob600is inserted into the switch body100and rotated, and holders500, into which the key fob600is fitted.

The switch body100has a space in which the antenna coil200, the reciprocation housing300and the rotation housing400are disposed. A side cover130is provided on a side of the switch body100to cover the space. A PCB (printed circuit board)140for controlling the antenna coil200is mounted to the switch body100.

When the key fob600is disabled upon the discharge of the battery thereof, the antenna coil200allows power to be supplied to the key fob600, which is inserted into the key hole110defined in the switch body100. The key fob600is provided with a transponder which can transmit and receive a signal to and from the antenna coil200. If a key fob600, the battery of which is discharged, is inserted into the key hole110, the antenna coil200generates an electric field, and the transponder can transmit the signal to the antenna coil200through the electric field.

The key hole110for insertion of the key fob600is defined in the front part of the switch body100. The starting button120is fitted into the key hole110and is coupled to the switch body100. The starting button120includes a button body122and a button cover121mounted to the front surface of the button body122. The vehicle can be started when the starting button120is pushed. The starting button120can be actuated only when the signal, transmitted from the transponder of the key fob600, matches the signal inputted in advance to the vehicle.

Insertion grooves111, into which the key fob600is inserted, are defined in the switch body100and communicate with the key hole110. Adjacent to an end of the key fob600, engagement grooves610are defined to guide the rotation of the key fob600in the key hole110. As a result, after the key fob600is inserted into the insertion grooves111, the key fob600can be rotated with portions of the switch body100engaged in the engagement grooves610of the key fob600, by which the starting button120is pushed via the rotation housing400and the reciprocation housing300.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4A, the reciprocation housing300is formed in the shape of a ring which surrounds the outer surface of the starting button120. The inner surface of the reciprocation housing300is fastened to the outer surface of the starting button120. A first inclined guide310is formed on the outer surface of the reciprocation housing300in the shape of a band which extends at an incline.

The rotation housing400is formed in the shape of a ring which surrounds the outer surface of the reciprocation housing300. A second inclined guide410is formed on the inner surface of the rotation housing400in the shape of a band which extends at an incline. The second inclined guide410is placed on the first inclined guide310.

Also, holder grooves420, in which the holders500are received, are defined in both opposite sides of the rotation housing400. The holders500are coupled to the rotation housing400via springs510, and function to securely hold the key fob600which is inserted into the key hole110.

Referring toFIG. 4B, when the key fob600is rotated with both edge portions of the key fob600inserted into the holders500, the rotation housing400is rotated. By the rotation of the rotation housing400, the second inclined guide410slides on and presses the first inclined guide310. As a result, because the reciprocation housing300is pushed by the rotation of the rotation housing400, the starting button120can be pushed by the rotation of the key fob600.

A decorative ring700can be attached to the front surface of the rotation housing400. The decorative ring700is fitted around the front end of the rotation ring400and has introduction grooves710through which the key fob600is inserted.

Hereafter, the operation of the starting button apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described.

As shown inFIG. 2, the key fob600, which is disabled due to the discharge of the battery thereof, is inserted into the key hole110of the starting button apparatus. As the key fob600is inserted into the key hole110, the antenna coil200generates an electric field, and the transponder transmits the signal through the electric field. If the signal transmitted from the transponder corresponds to the signal inputted in advance to the vehicle, the starting button120is ready to be pushed.

As shown inFIG. 5, if the key fob600is rotated with the end of the key fob600inserted into the holders500, the second inclined guide410of the rotation housing400slides on and presses the first inclined guide310. As the first inclined guide310is pressed, the reciprocation housing300is pushed. As a consequence, the starting button120is pushed by the rotation of the key fob600, whereby the vehicle can be started.

After the vehicle is started, by rotating the key fob600to its initial position, the key fob600can be removed from the insertion grooves111of the key hole110.

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides advantages in that, even when the battery of a key fob is discharged, thus disabling communication, a vehicle can be started through the simple manipulation of inserting the key fob into a key hole and rotating the key fob.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to prevent the aesthetic appearance in the cabin of a vehicle from being deteriorated due to the installation of a fob holder.