Abstract:
The present remote key device includes an annular frame member disposed about a central axis. The frame member includes an inner frame portion that defines a central void region interior thereto, which is adapted to house a remote access transmitter device therewithin.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application incorporates by reference in toto, and claims the benefit of priority to, the disclosure in copending Provisional application Ser. No. 61/496,415, attorney docket number JAME-110PR/CETE-0116PR, filed on Jun. 13, 2011, in the name of Joseph A. Mendoza, entitled “Improved Remote Key”, which discloses the same subject matter as disclosed herein. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present device is an improved remote key device that provides a durable device for remote car keys. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Existing remote key devices used by car manufacturers are constructed from a shell, having one side molded or attached to a key blank, and the other side attached to the front with a connecting lip (to snap hold) or using other fasteners to secure the one side to the key blank. Because the body is integral with the remote elements, the torque placed on a prior art key device body whenever a user inserts the key blade into the car starter is great. Over time, or as a result of how the operator holds the device, the cumulative torque forces lead to a failure in the shell case above the key blade. This causes the key blade to move and, eventually, fall out of the casing. As a result, the entire remote key device must be replaced, usually at great cost. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need for a remote key device that can be manufactured for a variety of car keys, and that maintains integrity and distributes torque evenly to avoid failure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    As described herein, the present remote key device includes an annular frame member disposed about a central axis and extending from a first end to a second end. The frame member includes an inner frame portion that defines a central void region interior thereto, which is adapted to house a remote access transmitter device therewithin. 
         [0006]    The body frame member includes an upper body, a body base, and two opposing reinforced elongate side elements extending between the upper body and the body base, all of which are disposed along a key blade axis. The upper body includes an interior upper body region and the body base includes an interior body base region, each of which are adjacent the central void region. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the body frame member includes at least one recess for receiving a fastening device. In an embodiment, the interior body base region includes a groove or channel for receiving at least one cover plate. In an embodiment, the body base has a width that is greater than the width of the upper body and/or the elongate side elements to define a shelf for securely receiving one or more cover plates. 
         [0008]    The remote key device further includes a remote access transmitter device, which fits within the central void region. The transmitter device may fit securely within the central void region, or may be held in place by a front cover plate and/or a back cover plate. The bottom ridge of one or both cover plates may fit within the groove included in the interior body base, and may further be held in place by the shelf element. 
         [0009]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention as described herein and as illustrated in the drawings. The present remote key device is further described in the figures, the detailed description, and more particularly in the claims herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device, including a remote transmitter. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a back plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of an embodiment of the remote key device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present remote key device  100  includes an annular body frame member  102  and a key blade  104 . The body frame member  102  disposed about a central axis CA and extending from a first end to a second end. The frame member  102  includes a body base  106  and an upper body portion  108 , having two reinforced elongate side elements  110   a,    110   b  extending therebetween. The body frame member  102  preferably is manufactured from metal, durable plastics, synthetic materials, or blends that have a high tensile strength and low conductivity to electrical signals. Because the frame member is used to house a remote device in a remote key assembly, it is important that the materials from which it is manufactured do not interfere with the remote signals from the assembly. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the frame member  102  is casted, but alternative methods of manufacturing, such as pressing, stamping, punching, forging, machining, and other methods known to those in the art, may be used. 
         [0019]    The integrity of the frame member  102  comes, in part, from the custom design of the  central void region  118 . This region, which is framed by the interior upper body portion  109  and interior body base  107 , which are adjacent the central void region  118 . The elongated side elements  110  provide a structural reinforcement against torque applied against the key blade  104  when in use. In a preferred embodiment, to ensure this reinforcement and integrity, the body frame member  102  is manufactured as a single unit, instead of an assembly of connected parts. The actual dimensions of the body frame, including the thickness, depends on the specific configuration required by the inserted remote transmission element (described below) and/or the materials from which it is manufactured. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the central void region  118  is shaped to receive a remote access device (not shown in this figure). In the illustrated embodiment, the upper body portion  108  includes a plurality of channels  120   a,    120   b  for receiving fasteners therethrough. These channels  120  may be located on one or both of the elongate side elements  110 , in the body base  106 , or in any combination of such locations. There may be a single channel or multiple channels, depending on the desired configuration of the remote key assembly and the remote access transmitter device contained within the central void  118 . 
         [0021]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the body base  106  includes a groove  112  for receiving one or more cover elements (not shown). As shown, the upper body  108  includes a key ring aperture  114  which allows a user to secure the device  100  to a key ring. This element is optional, but preferable in a commercial embodiment of the device. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment of the remote key device  100  the body base  106  has a width W that is greater than the width of the elongate side element  110 , thus forming a shelf element  116 . The shelf  116  provides further support and structure to the remote key assembly having a front and back cover, as described in further detail below. In alternative embodiments, the upper body portion  108  may extend to form a shelf element, or both the upper body portion and body base may include a shelf element. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment of the remote key device  100  the body base  106  includes a key blade recess  122  shaped to receive a complementary top section of a key blade  104 . The key blade recess  122  receives the corresponding top portion  105  of a key blade  104 , which then is held in place by either casting, pressing and/or welding methods, or simply by using the front and back covers to hold it in the central void. In an embodiment, the key blade  104  and the body  106  base are integral with the body frame  102 . In a preferred embodiment, the key blade  104  is molded around a large solid base  106  to give it stability. The upper body portion  108  and the elongate side elements  110  then are connected directly to the solid body base  106  using casting, pressing, or welding methods known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, a transponder is inserted in the key blade and the remote transmitter is a separate unit. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the remote key device  100  includes a front cover  204  and a back cover  206 . The front cover includes a series of apertures  208  to allow a user to access the activating buttons located on the remote access transmitter device  202  secured in the central void  118  of the body frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom of the front cover  204  and/or the back cover  206  includes a flange  212  that fits into the groove  112  of the body base  106  to hold the cover in place. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows the remote access transmitter device  202  positioned in the central void  118  of the body frame member  102 . The number of apertures  208  included on the front cover  204  will depend on the number of buttons contained on the remote access transmitter device  202 , which allows the remote key device  100  to be customized for different car manufacturers and other users. Although the illustrated embodiment shows three apertures, the front cover may include only one aperture, or multiple apertures. The remote access transmitter devices  202  may be provided by any car manufacturer or others (such as house alarms) that may desire to have a remote key device of this type. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a front plan view of a remote key device  100  having the front cover  204  in place. The illustrated embodiment includes three apertures  208  on the front cover  204 . The front cover  204  or the back cover  206  may include an aperture for an LED light display indicator  214 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a back plan view of the remote key device of  FIG. 5 , in which the back cover  206  does not include any apertures. In alternative embodiments, and depending on the specific remote access transmitter device used for the remote device, the back cover may include one or more apertures for accessing buttons on the transmitter device. Most noticeable in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 6  are the fastening devices  210 , in this instance the devices  210  are screws, used to secure the front cover (not shown) to the back cover  206 . In alternative embodiments, the front and back covers may be glued, welded, snapped, or otherwise held together by means known in the relevant art. The means for securing the front and back covers does not affect the integrity of the remote device, because it does not affect the torque placed on the body frame by the key blade during use. However, if the front and back covers are not secured, then the internal remote access transmitter device will fall out, making the device unworkable. 
         [0028]    One advantage of using screws as the fastening devices  210  is that it allows the user, or a third party, to remove the front cover  204  and back cover  206  to replace the internal transmitter device or any related batteries, without having to replace the entire remote key device. The covers may be manufactured from the same materials as used to manufacture the body frame member. In a preferred embodiment, the covers  204 ,  206  are manufactured using injection molding method from a durable nylon plastic material that is pliable, but not brittle. The specific shape of the cover is primarily decorative, and may be rounded or flat, have a textured or smooth surface, and otherwise have decorative elements that are not functional. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , showing the front cover element  204  and back cover element  206  in position on the body frame member  102 . As shown, the bottom of the covers fits on the shelf element  116 . 
         [0030]    The above disclosure is not intended as limiting. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the restrictions of the appended claims. The invention may be made using a variety of materials and using a variety of manufacturing and assembly methods generally known to those skilled in the art. Specific configurations may change based on the specific application and the availability of parts and materials. All such variations are considered to be part of the claimed invention described herein, including in the claims.