Patent ID: 7021095

Claim:
A key control apparatus comprising a plurality of key control units, each said key control unit comprising: i) a unique key holding element corresponding to said key control unit comprising a head adapted to have a key removably attached thereto and an elongated shaft connected to said head; and ii) an access control element comprising an elongated shaft; wherein each said key control unit further comprises a cylindrical key holding element passage having a closed end and an open end and a diameter less than the head of said unique key holding element for alternately receiving and releasing said shaft of said key holding element and a cylindrical access control element passage parallel to said key holding element passage having a closed end and an open end for alternately receiving and releasing said shaft of said access control element; biasing means located in said key holding element passage and said access control element passage adjacent the closed ends thereof and adapted to bias said key holding element and said access control element out of said passages when said elements are inserted thereinto; reciprocating means for movement in a direction perpendicular to said key holding element passage and said access control element passage between a first position, extending into said key holding element passage but not extending into said access control element passage and a second position extending into said access control element passage but not extending into said key holding element passage, whereby when said shaft of said key holding element is inserted into said key holding element passage, said reciprocating means is in said first position and engages and retains said key holding element in said key holding element passage while said access control element is biased out of said access control element passage, and when said shaft of said access control element is inserted into said access control element passage, said reciprocating means is in said second position and engages and retains said access control element in said access control element passage while said key holding element is biased out of said key holding element passage, and wherein said reciprocating means is moved by the force of said biassing means acting through one of said key holding element or said access control element to move said reciprocating means in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of said key holding element or said access control element; whereby said unique key holding element can be removed from said key control unit by inserting said access control element into said access control element passage but said access control element can only be removed when said unique corresponding key holding element is inserted into said control unit.