Abstract:
Devices, methods, and systems for providing physical retention of a key or keys, such one or more vehicle keys or keys to a safe, and for providing an input feature, such as a breath or blood analysis device, and other features to prevent access to the keys until a suitable input is provided. For example, each key may be physically retained and prevented from being used until a breath, blood, or other sample input has been received that indicates a blood alcohol level is below a pre-determined limit, such as a legal limit for driving a vehicle. Various features then allow release of the key upon the legal limit being met.

Description:
This application claims priority to Applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/324,795 titled “KEY TRAPPING DEVICE” filed Apr. 16, 2010, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to the field of securing and preventing or deterring unwanted access to a key, such as a vehicle key or a safe key, and for providing only authorized access of such key, such as via one or more security features. In particular, such security features may include features to prevent access to the key by an individual having a blood alcohol level above a predetermined level. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There remains an unmet need for devices, methods, and systems for preventing access to keys, such as vehicle keys, by individuals having blood alcohol levels above predetermined limits, such as legal limits for driving. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to devices, methods, and systems for providing physical retention of a key, such as vehicle key or a key to a safe, and for providing an a sampling, such as a breath or blood input mechanism and analysis device (e.g., a breathalyzer, as is known in the related art), and other features which are used to prevent access to the key until a suitable input is provided. For example, the key may be physically retained and prevented from being used until a breath input has been received that indicates a blood alcohol level below a pre-determined limit, such as a legal limit for driving a vehicle. 
     In use, for example, a user, such as a person in a bar who plans to drive after drinking (or, for example, a bar representative, such as a bartender) may engage a key with a key retention device so that the key is secured and cannot be easily removed and used for operation of a vehicle. Upon the person indicating a desire to operate a vehicle, that person may be required to provide a sample (e.g., blow into a breath receiving mechanism on or operably connected to the key retention device). The sample is then analyzed to determine blood alcohol content, and the result of that analysis is compared to a pre-determined level, such as a legal blood alcohol limit for driving. The key is then released only upon the result being acceptable. 
     The device may also be used by the individual driving the car, for example, to allow the individual to prevent themself from driving in an unacceptable condition. 
     The key retention device of some variations in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be combined with or separate from the sample input mechanism and/or combined with or separate from the analyzing features. For example, if separate, such features may communicate in a system via couplings, such as wired, wireless, or fiberoptic links. 
     Features in accordance with aspects of the present invention may further include a power supply, either located within or separate from the device or system, sensors and/or other features for chemically or otherwise sensing the sample, a processor and memory, such as an internal processor or external terminal for providing the logical analysis, comparison, and/or other logical functions, and for accessing data, such as via a data repository coupled to the processor, electrically or otherwise operated mechanisms for providing key retention, such as a key tumbler for engaging the key and/or a solenoid and other mechanisms for engaging the tumbler with the key. Alternatively, for example, the key may be retained by a tensioning mechanism, such as a wire or other flexible securing feature tensionable via, for example, a winding mechanism operated by the motor. 
     Additional advantages and novel features relating to aspects of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration and example only and thus not limited with respect to aspects of the present invention, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a representative cutaway view of an example standalone device for retaining a key pending analysis of a sample (e.g., a breath input) reflecting an acceptable blood alcohol level; 
         FIG. 2  shows a representative view of another variation of a device, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, for retaining and releasing a key under predetermined conditions, such as acceptable blood alcohol level of a user; 
         FIG. 3  shows an external perspective view of an example key retention and release device in accordance with the features of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a representative diagram of an example key retaining system in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a representative diagram of an example computer system for use in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention are designed to retain one or more keys and make such keys inaccessible until each person desiring to use a key has reached an acceptable blood alcohol level. 
       FIG. 1  shows a representative cutaway view of an example standalone device for retaining a key pending analysis of a sample (e.g., a breath input) reflecting an acceptable blood alcohol level. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the device  10  may have a housing that contains and/or retains various features, such as: a sampling mechanism  15  (e.g., a tube for receiving a breath input of a person seeking to retrieve the key from the device  10 ); one or more sensing features  20  for determining via the sample the blood alcohol level of the person; and various key retaining features  25 , such a motor  26 , a tensioning mechanism  27  for tensionably retaining the key (e.g., by winding a wire or other tensioning features  28 ), and a power supply or input  29 , such as one or more batteries retained in the housing or a power input (e.g., a cord that may be connected to a power outlet); and a controller  30 , such as a processing device, for receiving and processing data received from the sensing features  20 , for example, and for controlling operation of the motor  26  (e.g., to determine that received data from the sensor  20  reflects a suitable blood alcohol level, based on comparison to a predetermined level, and for causing the release the key  40 , such as via turning of the motor  26  to return the tensioning feature  28  to an untensioned state, allowing retrieval of the key). The key retaining features  25 , in operation, may retain a key  40 . 
     The device  10  may further include an operation engaging feature  35 , such as a button depressable to cause retention of the key. The device  10  may also have other features, such as a display to display sensed blood alcohol level, one or more signal lights (e.g., lights signaling the operation of the key retaining features  25 , a sensed level test failure, and/or a sensed level pass), and other signal features, such as audible output. 
     In operation, the user may initiate key retention, for example, by inserting a key  40  into the device  10  and depressing the operation engaging feature  35 , which, in turn, may cause the motor  26  to operate (e.g., via power from the power source  29 ), turning the tensioning mechanism  27 , which winds the tensioning feature  28  (e.g., a wire having a loop for tensionably retaining the key). Upon the tensioning mechanism  27  and the tensioning feature  28  suitably tensioning about the key  30  (e.g., continually operating until sensed resistance to further turning of the tensioning mechanism  27  reaching a predetermined level, such as via monitoring of stall of the motor  26 , upon which power to the motor  26  may be automatically discontinued), the motor  26  will stop, and the key  40  will be retainably held within the device  10  via the tensioning feature  28 . The controller  30  may, for example, receive motor speed or other information to determine when to discontinue tensioning. 
     The key  40  may then continue to be retained in the device  10  until suitable conditions for release are met. For example, a sample (e.g., a blood or breath sample) from a person desiring to retrieve the key  40  may be input into the sampling mechanism  15  for delivery to the sensing features  20  (e.g., a breath alcohol analyzer). A signal may be transmitted from the sensing features  20  to the controller  30 , such as data reflecting the blood alcohol level sensed. For example, the signal may vary with blood alcohol level, or no signal may output in the absence of reaching a predetermined blood alcohol level. 
     Upon the signal from the sensing features  20  being received by the controller  30 , the controller  30  may determine whether to transmit a signal to the motor  26 , to cause release of the key  40 . For example, the data transmitted from the sensing features  20  may vary with blood alcohol level, and the controller  30  may compare the transmitted data to predetermined data (e.g., reflecting an acceptable blood alcohol level) to determine whether to transmit a signal to the motor  26  to operate so as to release the key  40 . The controller  30  may also output other information relating to the sensed data or operational state, such as converting the sensed data to a display output of a blood alcohol level or to audibly announce the blood alcohol level. The controller  30  may similarly cause lights or other outputs reflecting operational state and/or a pass/fail for the sensed information. 
       FIG. 2  shows a representative view of another variation of a device, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, for retaining and releasing a key under predetermined conditions, such as acceptable blood alcohol level of a user. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the device  100  includes a key retention mechanism  105 , such as a tumbler for rotationally securing the key, similar to a key engaging lock, or a compression device for compressibly or frictionally securing an inserted key. For example, with a tumbler, upon the key being turned in the tumbler a pre-determined rotational motion (e.g., a quarter turn), a locking feature  106 , such as a spring loaded pin or other biased mechanism, may engage a lock receiving feature  105   a , such as a tumbler pin receiving opening, which prevents further rotation of the tumbler, thereby trapping the key in the tumbler until the locking feature is unlocked (e.g., a solenoid  110  operably engaged with the pin is caused to retract the pin from the pin receiving opening in the tumbler, allowing the tumbler to be rotationally returned to a position allowing release of the key). 
     Power for operation of the solenoid  110  may be provided by an onboard or external power source  115 , such as batteries contained within the housing  101  of the device  100  or an external power input (e.g., a cord input from a power outlet). Control of the solenoid  110  may be governed by a sensing, analyzing, and control device  120 , which, in turn, may variably operate, depending on input of sensed information for a sample. The sample may, for example, be a blood or breath input received via an input mechanism  125 . The sensing, analyzing, and control device  120  may include, for example, a blood alcohol analyzer for sensing blood alcohol level based on the sample input. The sensing, analyzing, and control device  120  may further include a processor and/or memory for comparing the sensed input to an acceptable level (e.g., blood alcohol level below a predetermined level) and for outputting a signal upon the acceptable level being reached. The output signal may, for example, include a signal to a switch device (e.g., a transistor) to communicate power to the solenoid, thereby causing the pin  106  to be disengaged from the tumbler, thus enabling the tumbler to be rotated and the key removed. 
     In some variations in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the tumbler, for example, may be designed such that any key can be inserted so as to allow rotation of the tumbler and retention of the key; in these variations, the design would allow a wide range of types of keys to be retained. 
       FIG. 3  shows an external perspective view of an example key retention and release device in accordance with the features of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 4  shows a representative diagram of an example key retaining system in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The system of  FIG. 4  may used, for example, in a bar or restaurant, to retain and selectively release multiple keys using a single sample input device. As shown in  FIG. 4 , multiple keys may be retained in key retaining bank  300 . For example, keys may be retained and released via the various retaining and releasing mechanisms shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 . Selective release of each of the retained keys in the retaining bank may be controlled via a terminal  310  coupled to the key retaining bank  300 , the terminal comprising, for example, a personal computer (PC), minicomputer, mainframe computer, microcomputer, telephonic device, or wireless device, such as a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) or other hand-held wireless devices for receiving, storing, and processing data. The terminal  310  may include a processor and a repository for data and/or couplings to a repository for data, via, for example, a network, such as the Internet or an intranet. The couplings may include, for example, wired, wireless, or fiberoptic links. The data, for example, may include, in addition to that received from sampling and predetermined level information, individual identification information and corresponding key/location identification information to allow matching of data for individuals to specific keys in the key retaining bank  300 . 
     The terminal  310  may, in turn, be coupled to a sample sensing device, such as a blood or breath sample sensor for receiving a sample via a sample input device, along the lines of the sample input and sensing devices shown and described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 . A separate input may be provided to associate the sample input with an individual. Such output may be provided via an input device (e.g., a keyboard input for terminal  310 ), for example, of an individual identifier corresponding to a key retained in the key bank  300 . Operation for retention and release of each key for each individual may otherwise be similar to that shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     Aspects of the present invention may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In an aspect of the present invention, features are directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of such a computer system  400  is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Computer system  400  includes one or more processors, such as processor  404 . The processor  404  is coupled to a communication infrastructure  406  (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software aspects are described in terms of this example computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement aspects hereof using other computer systems and/or architectures. 
     Computer system  400  may include a display interface  402  that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure  406  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on a display unit  430 . Computer system  400  may include a main memory  408 , preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  410 . The secondary memory  410  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  412  and/or a removable storage drive  414 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive  414  may read from and/or write to a removable storage unit  418  in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit  418 , represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which may be read by and written to removable storage drive  414 . As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit  418  may include a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
     Alternative aspects of the present invention may include secondary memory  410  and may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  400 . Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit  422  and an interface  420 . Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  422  and interfaces  420 , which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  422  to computer system  400 . 
     Computer system  400  may also include a communications interface  424 . Communications interface  424  may allow software and data to be transferred among computer system  400  and external devices. Examples of communications interface  424  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface  424  may be in the form of signals  428 , which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  424 . These signals  428  may be provided to communications interface  424  via a communications path (e.g., channel)  426 . This path  426  may carry signals  428  and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link and/or other communications channels. As used herein, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive  480 , a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  470 , and/or signals  428 . These computer program products may provide software to the computer system  400 . Aspects of the present invention are directed to such computer program products. 
     Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) may be stored in main memory  408  and/or secondary memory  410 . Computer programs may also be received via communications interface  424 . Such computer programs, when executed, may enable the computer system  400  to perform the features in accordance with aspects of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, may enable the processor  410  to perform the features in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs may represent controllers of the computer system  400 . 
     Where aspects of the present invention may be implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  400  using removable storage drive  414 , hard drive  412 , or communications interface  420 . The control logic (software), when executed by the processor  404 , may cause the processor  404  to perform the functions described herein. in another aspect of the present invention, the system may be implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). 
     In yet another variation, aspects of the present invention may be implemented using a combination of both hardware and software. 
     Exemplary aspects of the present invention have now been described in accordance with the above advantages. It will be appreciated that these examples are merely illustrative hereof. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.