Abstract:
The invention relates to an electronic key comprising electronic components for receiving or transmitting signals. Said components are integrated in a housing ( 20 ). A mechanical emergency key ( 30 ′) is provided in case of an electronics failure. Said emergency key ( 30 ′) can be inserted into a recess ( 27 ) in the housing ( 20 ) together with its key shaft ( 31 ′). The aim of the invention is to produce a key which can be handled easily. To this end, one end of the housing is provided with a recess which is undercut at least in places and which usually prevents the inserted emergency key ( 30 ′) from being pulled out. Usually, the key is in a holding position in the housing ( 20 ) with an essentially positive fit. However, the emergency key can be turned in the recess ( 27 ) of the housing ( 20 ) from a holding position to a release position ( 30 ′) in which the positive fit between the widening ( 32 ′) in the key ( 30 ′) and the recess is eliminated in the pull-out direction of the emergency key.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a key, in particular, for motor vehicles, comprising a housing which receives and contains electronic components for sending or receiving signals for activating a corresponding electronic or electromechanical lock, and comprising a mechanical emergency key which is insertable with a key shaft into a receptacle of the housing and is secured in the insertion situation in the housing, wherein the emergency key is provided with a widened portion. It is not only embodied as an electronic key but also comprises a mechanical emergency key. The emergency key serves for mechanically opening the lock if the electronic device fails. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In keys known from DE 29722 484 U1, the housing of the electronic key has a receptacle for the emergency key. When it is to be used, the emergency key can be gripped at a widened portion or the like functioning as a key head. A problem resides in that the insertion position of the emergency key in the receptacle is to be secured. However, this securing action should not impair handling of the emergency key during insertion and removal. 
     DE 44 44 913 A1 discloses a mechanical emergency key which is inserted into the interior of the housing of an electronic key. For securing the insertion position, an additional locking element for the emergency key in the receptacle is shown so that the emergency key is captively secured in the receptacle. In order to remove the key from the receptacle, the locking element, for example, a two-arm lever or a spring tongue, must be manually released beforehand by means of a pushbutton. This securing action of the emergency key is realized by additional locking elements and is thus complex. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a key which can be easily handled and which is secured reliably in the housing in the insertion position. This is achieved according to the invention in that one housing end has a cutout which is undercut at least over portions thereof and normally, with the emergency key inserted, prevents its pulling-out movement, wherein the key head is positioned inside the housing in a substantially positive-locking securing position, and that the emergency key in the receptacle (blind hole) of the housing can be rotated out of this securing position into a release position in which the positive locking action between the widened portion and the cutout is released in the direction of the pulling-out movement of the emergency key. 
     The widened portion of the key serves expediently also as a grip portion of the emergency key and is, in general, a key head. It is understood that such a widened portion must not have the function of a grip portion of the emergency key. For reasons of simplicity, in the following the widened portion is, however, to be referred to as the key head. With respect to the housing the key head can be moved between two rotationally displaced positions, i.e., a securing position in which it is secured in the housing and a release position in which it can be removed from the housing. In the securing position, a positive-locking securing is provided where the widened portion or the key head is positioned at least partially in a cutout of one housing end. In the securing position it is not possible to pull the emergency key out of the housing. Removal is, however, quickly and easily possible because the key head is not covered by the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cutout and can be moved into the release position that is rotated relative thereto. This movement is carried out as a rotation about a rotational axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the key shaft. In the release position the key head is no longer positive-lockingly secured. Now a translatory movement of the emergency key in the direction of pulling it out is possible. The pulling out of the emergency key from the housing in the release position is thus carried out in a rotationally displaced plane relative to the position between the housing and the key head provided in the securing position. 
     This movement of the components during coupling and decoupling can be described as a righting movement. The widened portion of the key or the key head used for handling the key can have a sufficiently large surface without endangering the safety function in the securing position. Accordingly, handling during coupling as well as decoupling and, finally, for actuating the key is facilitated. This holds true especially-when the key head and the housing are plate-like which ensures in the securing position a flush transition of the outer surfaces of these components. Disruptive edges or projections are not present. Accordingly, the storage of the key in pant pockets of the user is particularly comfortable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further measures and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. In the drawings the invention is illustrated in the form of one embodiment. It is shown in: 
     FIG. 1 a plan view onto the housing of the electronic key with inserted emergency key; 
     FIG. 2 schematically a longitudinal section of the housing of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS.  3 + 4  two cross sections of the housing of FIGS. 1 and 2 along the section line III—III and IV—IV, respectively; 
     FIG. 5 the position of the components of FIG. 4 in another rotationally displaced position in a representation corresponding to FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 after the emergency key has been removed from the housing; 
     FIG. 7 in a plan view the emergency key removed from the housing; and 
     FIG. 8 in a perspective stretched position the flexible circuit board for receiving electronic components which are housed in the housing in a folded state. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The key according to the invention comprises a combination of the actual electronic key  10  and the mechanical emergency key  30 . The electronic key  10  can act across a larger distance onto a lock, not illustrated in detail, arranged on a vehicle by encoded signals  15 . For this purpose, the housing  20 , which can be comprised of several housing parts  21  to  24 , has suitable electronic components  11  and actuating locations  13 ,  14  which generate this signal  15  and, optionally in dialogue, conduct it further to the corresponding complementary sending and receiving unit in the vehicle. In the successful situation, i.e., when the code of the signal  15  has been accepted, an electronic or electromechanical lock, not illustrated in detail, is activated. In the area of this actuation location  11  to  14 , micro switches  17  are arranged which have switching members  62  illustrated in FIG.  8 . They are seated, together with the components  11 , on a foil  60 , preferably also comprising electric conductor strips, which foil is illustrated in FIG.  8 . This foil  60  can have at portions thereof depressions  61  in which some of the elements  11  or members  62  can be arranged in a recessed way. The foil  60  can be folded and can be housed in a more or less cylindrical space in the interior of the housing  20 . The housing  20  is configured with longitudinal symmetry relative to the longitudinal center  16  illustrated in FIG.  1 . The housing  20  is plate-shaped as can be seen at  63  in. FIG.  4  and determines a center plane  18  illustrated in FIG. 4 in a dash-dotted line. 
     The basic configuration of the emergency key  30  can be taken from FIG.  7 . It comprises a key shaft  31  with profiled cuts or tracks, not illustrated in detail, for corresponding control means in the lock. At its outer end a widened portion is provided which can be a unitary part or a separate part relative to the key shaft  31 . In the present case, it is a key head  32  of plastic material. The key shaft  31  has a flat profile  50  which is preferably comprised of metal. The key head  32  also defines a center plane  38  which is illustrated by the dotted line  38  in FIG.  4 . The flat profile  50  of the key shaft  31 , as can be seen in FIG. 4, is rotated relative to the preferably symmetrical cross-sectional profile of the key head  32 , as illustrated by the dash-dotted cross-sectional plane  50 , by an angle  39  relative to this center plane  38 . The contour of the housing  20  as well as that of the key head  32  are plate-shaped  63 ,  64 , according to FIG. 4, but can also be provided with profiles within. Normally, the emergency key  30  is in its rest position illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, which in the following is referred to as “securing position” of the emergency key. In this case, the center plane  18  of the housing  20  is substantially at the same level as the center plane  38  of the key head  32 . 
     As can be seen best in FIG. 6, the rearward housing end  28  has a cutout  40  which is formed here as a fork opening. Accordingly, fork legs  41 ,  42  result which delimit the cutout  40 . The end wall  26  which delimits the cutout.  40  in the inward direction is provided with a receptacle  27  for the already described key shaft  31  of the emergency key  30  when the securing position  30  according to FIGS. 1 through 4 is present. The receptacle  27  is formed here by a quiver  25  which is a unitary part of the end wall  26  which forms an inner housing and is positioned in this embodiment in the already aforementioned longitudinal center  16  of the housing  20 . In the holding position according to FIGS. 1 through 4, the emergency key  30  is initially secured in an insertion position in the receptacle  27  and cannot be pulled out without effort in the direction of arrow  47  of FIG.  2 . For this purpose, the following measures are proposed. 
     The cutout  40  is at least partially undercut at  43 ,  44 . In the present situation, this is achieved on the two legs  41 ,  42  by more or less convergently extending inner surfaces  43 ,  44  of the two legs  41 ,  42 . By this measure, at least at certain points there is positive locking interaction between the legs  41 ,  42  generating an undercut  45 ,  46  according to FIG. 6, on the one hand, and the key head  32 , on the other hand. In this securing position the key head  32  is in a position as flush as possible relative to the housing  20  which can be seen by the already mentioned coinciding levels of the center planes  18 ,  38  of the two plate shapes  63 ,  64  of FIG.  4 . As an additional securing action of the securing position of FIGS. 1 through 4, interacting locking elements  51 ,  52  can be provided at the contact locations of the legs  41 ,  42  and in the circumferential area, for example, a projection  51  and a depression  52 , as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. This requires a kind of righting connection in order to be able to pull the emergency key  30  out of the housing  20  in the direction of arrow  47 . This will be explained with the aid of FIG. 5 in more detail. 
     The cutout  40  in the housing  20  is open in the upward and downward directions so that a rotation of the key head from the securing position in the direction of arrow  49  of FIGS. 3 through 5 is possible. This rotation is carried out about a rotational axis  19  which in the present case coincides with the aforementioned longitudinal center  16  of the housing. In this way, the other position of the components  20 ,  30 ′, illustrated in FIG. 5, is reached which, in the following, is referred to as the “release position” of the emergency key for very good reasons. In this release position  30 ′, the aforementioned positive-locking action is no longer present. The emergency key  30  can now be removed in the direction of the arrow  47  already mentioned several times. A collision of the components  20 ,  30 ′ can no longer take place. The aforementioned rotation  49  can be limited by end stops  53 ,  54  in the interior of the receptacle  27 . In the present case, the rotational angle  39  of FIG. 4 is approximately half as large as the rotational angle  48 , relative to the center plane  16  of housing  20 . 
     According to FIG. 1, the emergency key  30  is provided with a surprisingly large key head  32  which, for the purpose of clarity, is illustrated with point hatching. This provides a comfortable handling during the aforedescribed removal  47  as well as the later rotational actuation of the emergency key  30  in the lock. The key head  32  can even project with a residual piece  59  in the securing position past the outer limitation of the housing  10  at the ends of the two legs  41 ,  42 . 
     The form locking action between the cutout  40  and the emergency key  40  according to the invention is thus realized by axial support and optionally by radial rotational stops in the area of the key head  32 . Instead of the key head  32  widened portions of the key shaft  31  or the like can be used. It is beneficial in this connection to provide a surface contact for which reasons the aforedescribed inner surfaces  43 ,  44  of the two legs  41 ,  42  have rounded portions corresponding to the rotation  49  and come to rest with gaps as narrow as possible at a corresponding counter profile at  33 ,  44  of the key head  32 . In the present case, the two oppositely positioned side surfaces  33 ,  34  of the head taper substantially linearly in the direction toward the free end  37  of the head along the auxiliary lines  35 ,  36  of FIG.  7 . This results in a positive-locking action by surface contact between  33 ,  43 , on the one hand, and  34 ,  44 , on the other hand. As a result of the rotation  49  for decoupling and, as will be demonstrated, also during coupling, the engagement of the components  20 ,  30  in the securing position could also be effective at other locations, for example, at the free end  37  of the head. Because of the good engagement, the emergency key  30  positioned in the securing position can also not be removed by large axial forces in the direction of removal arrow  47 . The emergency key is secured in its securing position  30  so reliably in the cutout  40  relative to pulling-out forces that its key head  32  can be provided without problems with a hole. 56  for a key chain or the like. 
     The described righting movement is carried out in the reverse direction when, starting with a removed emergency key, the key is to be positioned again in the cutout of the housing  20  of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrow  58  of FIG. 6 into the housing  20 . In this case, the emergency key is first in its release position  30 ′ external to the housing  20  and is then moved in the direction of arrow  58  of FIG. 6 into the receptacle  27  until the end position has been reached at axial stops. Now the emergency key is turned in the counter direction relative to the rotation arrow  49  into its securing position  30  of FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     The housing  20  is comprised of, as already mentioned, several housing parts  21  to  24 . They comprise an upper shell  21  and a lower shell  22  in the central area and two side parts  23 ,  24 . The side parts are engaged by cams  57  or the like which are seated on the upper and lower shells  21 ,  22  and ensure a connection of these housing parts. The cutout  40  is realized by an extension of the housing side parts  23 ,  24  past the end of the upper and lower shells  21 ,  22  so that the already mentioned fork legs  41 ,  42  result. The forward housing end  29  is formed by the combined upper and lower shells  21 ,  22  and has a blunt shape at  65  of FIG.  2 . At this forward housing end  29  the two side parts  23 ,  24  begin at an axial spacing  66  relative to the blunt front  65 . 
     List of reference numerals 
       10  electronic key 
       11  electronic components 
       12  first actuation location of  10   
       13  second actuation location of  10   
       14  third actuation location of  10   
       15  signal of  10   
       16  longitudinal direction of housing, longitudinal center 
       17  microswitch 
       18  center plane of  20 , housing plane 
       19  rotational axis for  30  in  30 ′ 
       20  housing, entire housing 
       21  upper shell of  20   
       22  lower shell of  20   
       23  first side part of  20   
       24  second side part of  20   
       25  quiver for  31  in  20   
       26  end wall of  25  between  21 ,  22   
       27  receptacle in  25  for  31   
       28  rearward housing of  20   
       29  forward housing of  20   
       30  emergency key (securing position; secured) 
       30 ′ release position of  30   
       31  key shaft of  30  (securing position) 
       31  ′ release position of  31  at  30 ′ 
       32  key head of  30  (securing position) 
       32 ′ release position of  32   
       33  counter profile for  43  on  32  (FIG.  7 ), first head side surface of  32   
       34  counter profile for  44  on  32  (FIG. 7, second head side surface of  32   
       35  tapering of  33   
       36  tapering of  34   
       37  free head end of  32   
       38  plane of the key head; center plane of  32  (in securing position, FIG. 4) 
       38  ′ release position of  38  (FIG. 5) 
       39  rotational angle between  31 ,  38   
       40  cutout in  28 , fork opening 
       41  first leg of  23 , fork leg 
       42  second leg of  24 , fork leg 
       43  inner surface of  41   
       44  inner surface of  42   
       45  angle of undercut of  43   
       46  angle of undercut of  44   
       47  translatory pulling-out arrow of  30 ′ 
       48  rotational angle between  30 ,  30 ′ 
       49  rotational arrow of  30   
       50  flat profile of  31   
       51  first locking element on  33 ,  34 , projection 
       52  second locking element on  43 ,  44 , depression 
       53  first rotational stop in  27  for  31   
       54  second rotational stop in  27  for  31 ′ 
       55  plane of  50   
       56  suspending hole in  32  (FIG.  7 ). 
       57  lateral cam on  22  or  21 , for  23  or  24   
       58  translatory arrow of insertion movement of  30 ′ FIG. 6) 
       59  projecting remainder piece of  32  (FIG. 1) 
       60  foil in  12  and  17   
       61  depression in  60  for  17   
       62  switching member on  17  (FIG. 8) 
       63  plate shape of  20  (FIG. 4) 
       64  plate shape form of  32  (FIG. 4 
       65  blunt front of  29   
       66  axial spacing of  23 ,  24  relative to  29  (FIG. 1)