Patent ID: 7448238

Claim:
A portable device for an electronic key system, wherein an emergency key inserted and encased in a housing formed in a body of the portable device is formed with an engaging portion constituting a selected one of a groove and a hole in addition to a keyway of the emergency key, the engaging portion being formed substantially in a forward end of the emergency key disposed opposite to a grip of the emergency key, wherein a lock mechanism included in the body of the portable device to removably hold the emergency key inserted in the housing includes a rotatable member rotatably supported on the body of the portable device, the rotatable member including a first end and a second end, the rotatable member being adapted to rise outward of the body of the portable device as the result of the first end of the rotatable member being pushed inward of the body of the portable device, wherein the second end of the rotary member is arranged nearer to an insertion hole of the housing in which the emergency key is inserted, and wherein a part of the rotatable member nearer to the second end of the rotary member than to a rotary shaft is formed with a protrusion extending into the housing and adapted to be fitted in the engaging portion of the emergency key held in the housing, wherein the rotary shaft is arranged at right angles to the direction in which the emergency key is slid into or out of the housing, wherein the rotary shaft is located on a longitudinal center axis of the emergency key held in the housing inside the body.