Abstract:
An example key fob assembly includes a fob portion and a releasable portion releasably connected to the fob portion. A locking mechanism moves along a curved path between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The disengaged position permits separation of the fob portion from the releasable portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/861522, which was filed on 27 Nov. 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates generally to a key fob assembly with a release mechanism that moves along a curved path. Key fob assemblies are known and used to initiate a wide variety of functions, particularly vehicle functions. Some key fobs include buttons for locking and unlocking a vehicle, for example. Vehicle operators often transport the key fob in their pocket or purse when not operating the vehicle. Although key fob assemblies include a vehicle keys, many vehicle operators also secure other keys to the key fob assembly, such as home keys and office keys. 
         [0003]    Vehicle operators drive their vehicles to various establishments, some of which encourage or require valet parking. Although the vehicle operators give a vehicle key to the valet, turning over other keys to the valet is not desired. Key fob assemblies often include releasable vehicle keys that can be turned over to the valet. The retained portion of the fob includes other keys and personal items. 
         [0004]    Incorporating releasable vehicle keys into key fobs often requires complex mechanisms and significant packaging space, which undesirably limit the styling options and increase the overall size of the key fob. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An example key fob assembly includes a fob portion and a releasable portion releasably connected to the fob portion. A locking mechanism moves along a curved path between an engaged and a disengaged position. The disengaged position permits the fob portion from the releasable portion. 
         [0006]    The example key fob assembly may include a fob portion having a first vehicle key and a releasable portion having a second vehicle key The releasable portion releasably connects to the fob portion. A locking mechanism moves along a curved path between an engaged position and a disengaged position that permits more relative movement between the fob portion and the releasable portion than the disengaged position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of an example key fob assembly; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  key fob assembly with the valet key removed from an engaged position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the  FIG. 1  key fob assembly through line III-III of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the  FIG. 3  sectional view; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of the  FIG. 1  key fob assembly through line IV-IV of  FIG. 3  with the valet key in an engaged position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example key fob assembly  20  includes a releasable portion  24  and a fob portion  28 . A home key  36 , a luggage key  40 , and other personal items connect to the releasable portion  24  through a key ring  44 . The fob portion  28  includes a lock button  50 , an unlock button  54 , a panic button  58  and a vehicle key  62 . 
         [0014]    When the assembly  20  is in an engaged position, the fob portion  28  engages the releasable portion  24 . In this example, moving a locking mechanism  66  permits movement of the releasable portion  24  relative to the fob portion  28 . In the engaged position, the locking mechanism  66  limits movement of the releasable portion  24  relative to the fob portion  28 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates the releasable portion  24  removed from the engaged position. A vehicle operator removes the releasable portion  24 , which contains a second vehicle key  26 , and gives the fob portion  28  to a valet. The vehicle key  62  on the fob portion  28  allows the valet to access the vehicle, and the second vehicle key  26  on the releasable portion  24  allows the vehicle operator to access the vehicle. The personal items, such as the home key  36  and the luggage key  40 , remain with the vehicle operator on the releasable portion  24 . Thus, the vehicle operator can permit the valet to access the vehicle using the vehicle key  62  without giving personal items to the valet. 
         [0016]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the key fob assembly  20  includes an axis Y. The locking mechanism  66  moves along a curved path relative to the axis Y. In this example, curved section line aligns with the curved travel path of the locking mechanism  66 . The locking mechanism  66  of  FIG. 1  is shown in a first position that engages the removable portion  24  within the fob portion  28 . The locking mechanism  66  is moveable to a second position that permits disengaging the removable portion  24  from the fob portion  28 . 
         [0017]    The releasable portion  24  includes an upper housing  70  defining a guide  78 , which limits movement of the locking mechanism  66 . In this example, the guide  78  directs the locking mechanism  66  toward the axis Y when moving the guide  78  toward the second position. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the locking mechanism  66  includes a spring  86 , a housing  88 , and a thumb switch  90 . The spring  86  biases the housing  88  and the switch  90  toward the first position corresponding to the engaged position of the key fob assembly  20 . The housing  88  includes a recessed area  92  for receiving the switch  90 . Accordingly, movement of the thumb switch  90  moves the housing  88  against biasing force of the spring  86   
         [0019]    In the engaged position, a lock pin  94 , a type of locking member, extending from the housing  88  is received within a recessed area  95  of the second vehicle key  26 . The lock pin  94  contacts the second vehicle key  26  to prevent removing the releasable portion  24  from the fob portion  28 . In this example, the housing  88  and the lock pin  94  are a metallic material, which is a stronger material than the polymer thumb switch  90 , and facilitates maintaining the releasable portion  24  in the engaged position with the locking mechanism  66  is in the first position. 
         [0020]    An axis X bisects the fob portion  28  in  FIG. 3 . As the locking mechanism  66  moves against the bias of the spring  86  from the first position to the second position, the locking mechanism  66  follows a curved path relative to axis X. In the first position shown, the locking mechanism  66  is further from the axis X than when the locking mechanism  66  is in the second position. The curved path of travel for the locking mechanism  66  facilitates the switch  90  following the outer surface profile of the upper housing  70 , which is concave in this example. Accordingly, in this example, the path of travel for the locking mechanism  66  moving from the first position curves relative axis X and axis Y. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows the lock pin  94  within the recessed area  95  of the key  26 . Moving the lock pin  94  from the recessed area  95  to the second position permits removal of the releasable portion  24  as the lock pin  94  no longer contacts the key  26 . 
         [0022]    In the engaged position, the fob portion  28  contacts the releasable portion  24  along a curved interface  98 . The path of travel for the locking mechanism  66  curves away from the interface  98  in this example. 
         [0023]    Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.