CN112424435A

CN112424435A - Emergency key for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN112424435A
Application number: CN201980047898.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R.巴蒂
Original assignee: U Shin France SAS
Current assignee: Minebea AccessSolutions France SAS
Priority date: 2018-07-16
Filing date: 2019-07-12
Publication date: 2021-02-26
Also published as: DE112019003608T5; FR3083812B1; FR3083812A1; BR112021000825A2; WO2020016507A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a key (21), in particular an emergency key, comprising: a head (23) comprising a cavity (39) open externally, or comprising an end; and an insert (25) for operating the lock, comprising an end inserted into the cavity (39) or a cavity in which the end of the head (23) is inserted. The invention is essentially characterized in that the insert (25) is made of a material having a melting point lower than the melting point of the head (23). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a key (21) comprising a head (23) comprising a cavity (39) open at the outside or comprising an end. The method of the invention is characterized in that it comprises an injection moulding step of injection moulding a material having a melting point lower than that of the head (23), said injection moulding step being carried out at the cavity (39) or at a cavity of an insert (25) into which the end of the head is inserted, so that the material fills the cavity (39) or fills the cavity of the insert (25) until an insert (25) for manoeuvring the lock is obtained.

Description

Emergency key for a motor vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a key for motor vehicles, intended to lock/unlock security door leaves, the lock of starters, etc.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a key.

More particularly, the present invention relates to emergency keys.

Background

Indeed, "keys" are now increasingly identifying authorized users of motor vehicles, for example in the form of electronic badges, allowing to lock and/or unlock one of the door leaves of their vehicle.

In order to increase safety and in the event of an electrical fault, it is often provided, for example, to insert an emergency key into the badge. The emergency key can be removed to gain access to the vehicle and start it.

According to international application WO 2004/076783 a1, a motor vehicle key housing is disclosed, comprising:

an emergency key comprising a key head and a metal insert fastened to each other by a joint, the key head forming a grip portion, the metal insert being intended to be inserted in use into an emergency lock of a vehicle; and-an insert receiving portion for receiving a metal insert when the emergency key is not in use.

The main disadvantage of the emergency key is its space requirement within the badge. In fact, in order to ensure the correct use by the user of the emergency key, it is necessary to provide a key head which is large enough to be gripped while reducing its bulk so as to occupy as little space as possible within its housing in the badge.

Another disadvantage to be considered is the strength of the connection of the key head/insert in use. In practice, the key insert is fastened in the key head by a plastic or metal enclosure covering one of its ends. The connection may be made by additional connector means.

Thanks to the key 1 shown in fig. 1 according to document FR 2945568 a1, the above-mentioned drawbacks are overcome.

The key 1, in particular for use as an emergency key, comprises a key head 3 and an insert 5. The insert 5 comprises a first end 7, which first end 7 is adapted to cooperate with a lock for unlocking/locking a door leaf of a vehicle or a lock for unlocking/locking a steering column or a starter. The insert 5 comprises a second end 9 adapted to cooperate with the key head 3.

The insert 5 is fastened to the head 3 of the key by means of mechanical connection means 11, such as pins or screws.

Although the key 1 allows to occupy a minimum space inside an electronic badge which must meet the requirements for ever decreasing dimensions while comprising an increasingly larger electronic part, thanks to this configuration a gap occurs between the insert 5 of the key and the head 3 of the key. In use, the gap weakens the mechanical strength of the key and the key insert can be disengaged from the key head.

In addition, the addition of fastening means complicates the manufacturing process of such emergency keys, thereby increasing the production time and the production cost of such keys.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to solve the above drawbacks and for this purpose relates to a key, in particular an emergency key, comprising:

a head comprising a cavity open to the outside of said head or comprising an end, and

an insert for manipulating a lock, the insert comprising an end inserted into the cavity or comprising a cavity open to the exterior of the insert, the end of the head being inserted into the cavity.

Notably, the insert is made of a material having a melting point lower than that of the head.

Thus, by providing that the material of the insert has a melting point lower than the melting point of the key head, the insert can be moulded by injection moulding of the material until the end of the insert fills the cavity of the key head. By injection moulding the insert comprised at the cavity of the key head, the presence of mechanical connection means as in the prior art, such as pins, screws, etc., is eliminated, which can greatly improve the cohesion between the insert and the head of the key.

The pull-out resistance of the insert with respect to the key head is increased with respect to the prior art. The key of the present invention provides better resistance to twisting, bending and traction relative to the prior art.

Other features of the key according to the invention:

-the head comprises a cavity open to the outside of the head, and the insert comprises an end inserted in the cavity;

the insert is made of plastic material and the head is made of metal material;

the insert and the head are made of a metallic material;

-the head comprises a body comprising a recess forming a female element receiving in a complementary manner a male element of the insert;

-the cavity of the head comprises said female element and a hole open to the outside of said head;

the female element comprises a groove arranged on the inner periphery of the recess;

-the male element comprises:

o-tab, filling the interior of the female element of the head, and

o a protrusion extending transversely with respect to said tab, which fills the inside of the hole of the head.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a key, in particular an emergency key, said key comprising a head comprising a cavity or one end opening out to the outside of said head, said method being remarkable in that it comprises a step of injection-molding a material having a melting point lower than that of said head, said injection-molding step being carried out at least at said cavity of said head or at a cavity opening out to the outside of an insert into which the end of said head is inserted, so that said material fills said cavity of said head or fills said cavity of said insert until an insert is obtained that is intended to operate a lock.

According to one embodiment, the head comprises a cavity open to the outside of said head, and the injection molding step is performed at least at said cavity of said head, so that the material fills said cavity of said head until an insert is obtained intended to manipulate the lock.

According to an additional step of the manufacturing method of the invention, the code on the insert of the key code is machined.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a prior art key in exploded isometric view;

FIG. 2 shows a key according to the present invention in an exploded isometric view;

FIG. 3 shows the body of the key head in cross-section;

FIG. 4 shows a key head in isometric view;

FIG. 5 shows an insert of the present invention in isometric view;

fig. 6 shows the key, insert and head of the present invention assembled.

Detailed Description

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar components or groups of components.

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a key according to the present invention.

The key according to the invention is indicated by the general reference numeral 21, for example intended for locking and/or unlocking the door leaf of a motor vehicle, the lock of an anti-theft device and/or of a starter of such a vehicle.

Door leaf refers to any component of a vehicle that can be opened and closed relative to the body of the vehicle, for example by means of a hinge or a rail. As non-limiting examples, the door leaf may designate a door, a tailgate window, a motor vehicle trunk, and the like.

The key 21 comprises a key head 23 and a bit or insert 25, which has in particular the general shape of a blade.

The key head 23 has a length, width and thickness as defined by the manufacturer. The key head 23 is made of a metallic material such as "Zamak", which is an alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper.

The key head comprises a main body 27 which may have a general "U" shape and a rim 29.

The body 27 has a reduced thickness with respect to the thickness of the edge 29, the edge 29 constituting a grip portion of the key 21.

The body 27 surrounds the second end 28 of the insert 25. To this end, the main body 27 comprises a recess 31 which accommodates the second end 28 of the insert 25.

Reference is made to fig. 3 and 4, in which the body 27 of the key head 23 is shown in cross section according to the section of fig. 2 and the key head 23 is shown in isometric view, respectively.

The recess 31 forms a female element 33, which female element 33 is able to receive in a complementary manner the male element of the insert at the second end 28 of the insert.

The female element 33 is arranged on a portion of the key head 23. The female element 33 is obtained, for example, by forming a groove on the inner periphery 35 of the recess 31 of the body 27 of the key head 23. The groove may have a "U", "V", "Y" or "C" shape.

The key head 23 also comprises a hole 37 which opens to the outside of the key head 23 and which, in the prior art constructions, is intended to receive a mechanical connection means, such as a pin or a screw, then passes through a complementary hole provided at the insert of the key.

The female element 33 and the hole 37 form a cavity 39 in the key head 23, which cavity 39 is open to the outside of the key head to receive the second end 28 of the insert 25.

Referring to fig. 5, there is shown an insert 25 of the present invention.

According to the invention, the insert 25 is made of a material having a melting point lower than that of the key head.

For example, when the key head is made of a metallic material such as "Zamak", i.e. zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper alloys, the insert 25 may be generally made of a plastic material. By using a plastic material, injection moulding is easy to achieve.

According to another example, both the key head 23 and the insert 25 are made of a metallic material. The head 23 may thus be made of chromium, for example, and the key insert may be obtained by die-casting on the key head from "Zamak", whose melting temperature is lower than that of chromium.

Die-casting of metal material is more complex to implement than plastic injection moulding, but has the advantage of providing increased mechanical strength relative to keys in which the insert is made of plastic.

By providing that the material of the insert 25 has a melting point lower than that of the key head, the insert can be moulded by injection moulding of the material until the second end fills the cavity 39 of the key head, which cavity 39 is formed by the female element 33 and the bore 37.

The second end 28 of the insert 25 thus defines a male element 41, the male element 41 being complementary to the hole 37 and to the female element 33 of the key head.

The male element 41 comprises a tab 43 which fills the interior of the female element 33 of the key head 23.

From this tab 39, two projections 45 extend transversely, which fill the inside of the hole 37 of the key head 23.

By injection moulding the insert comprised at the cavity 39 of the key head, the presence of mechanical connection means as in the prior art, such as pins, screws, etc., is eliminated.

By eliminating the presence of mechanical connection means, the mechanical cohesion between the insert 25 and the head 23 of the key 21 is greatly increased.

The resistance to extraction of the insert 25 with respect to the key head 23 is increased with respect to the prior art.

Furthermore, the key 21 of the present invention provides better resistance to twisting, bending and traction forces relative to the prior art.

According to a subsequent step of the method for manufacturing a key according to the invention, a code of the key (not shown in the figures) is machined on the insert 25 at the first end 47 of the insert 25, allowing it to cooperate with a lock for unlocking/locking a vehicle door leaf lock or for unlocking/locking a steering column or a starter.

Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible to obtain a key, in particular an emergency key, the key head of which can come from the prior art constructions, and the connection between the key head and the key insert does not require any mechanical connecting means.

As shown in fig. 6, representing the key 21 of the invention obtained by the method of the invention, the insert 25 of the key 21 comprises an outer wall 49 flush with the outer wall 51 of the body 27 of the key head 23 when the insert 25 is moulded on the key head 23.

The thickness of the body 27 of the key head 23 is equal to the thickness of the key insert 25.

A flat key is thus obtained which can be integrated well inside the badge.

Furthermore, the flat key thus obtained resists the transmission of forces during its use.

The invention has been described with respect to a key comprising a key head 23, the key head 23 comprising a cavity 39 formed in said head and open to the exterior of said head, and an end of the insert 25 being inserted in said cavity 39. According to a variant of the invention, it is considered to provide a key comprising a key head having one end, while the insert comprises a cavity open to the outside of the insert, the end of the key head being inserted in the cavity.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of the key and to the method for manufacturing the key described above, purely by way of illustrative example, but on the contrary it covers all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described, as well as their combinations, provided that the latter fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A key (21), in particular an emergency key, comprising:

a head (23) comprising a cavity (39) open to the outside of said head (23) or comprising an end, and

an insert (25) for actuating a lock, the insert (25) comprising an end (28) inserted into the cavity (39) or comprising a cavity open to the outside of the insert (25), the end of the head (23) being inserted into the cavity of the insert,

characterized in that the insert (25) is made of a material having a melting point lower than the melting point of the head (23).

2. The key (21) according to claim 1,

the head (23) comprises a cavity (39) open to the outside of the head (23), and the insert (25) comprises an end (28) inserted in the cavity (39).

3. The key (21) according to claim 1 or 2,

the insert (25) is made of a plastic material and the head (23) is made of a metal material.

4. The key (21) according to claim 1 or 2,

the insert (25) and the head (23) are made of a metallic material.

5. The key (21) according to claim 3,

the head (23) is made of an alloy of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper.

6. The key (21) according to any one of claims 2 to 5,

the head (23) comprises a body (27) comprising a recess (31) forming a female element (33) receiving a male element (41) of the insert in a complementary manner.

7. The key (21) according to claim 6,

the cavity (39) of the head (23) comprises the female element (33) and a hole (37) open to the outside of the head (23).

8. The key (21) according to claim 6 or 7,

the female element (33) comprises a groove arranged on an inner periphery (35) of the recess (31).

9. The key (21) according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

the male element (41) comprises:

a tab (43) filling the interior of the female element (33) of the head (23), and

a protrusion (45) extending transversely with respect to the tab (43) fills the interior of the hole (37) of the head (23).

10. A method for manufacturing a key (21), in particular an emergency key, the key (21) comprising a head (23) comprising a cavity (39) or one end open to the outside of the head (23),

the method is characterized in that it comprises an injection moulding step of injection moulding a material having a melting point lower than that of the head (23), said injection moulding step being carried out at least at the cavity (39) of the head (23) or at a cavity open to the outside of the insert (25) into which the end of the head (23) is inserted, so that the material fills the cavity (39) of the head (23) or fills the cavity of the insert (25) until the insert (25) for manoeuvring the lock is obtained.

11. The method of claim 10,

the head (23) comprises a cavity (39) open to the outside of the head (23), and the injection moulding step is carried out at least at the cavity (39) of the head (23) so that material fills the cavity (39) of the head (23) until an insert (25) for manoeuvring the lock is obtained.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11,

the material injected by moulding is plastic.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12,

it comprises an additional step aimed at machining the code on the insert (25) on the key (21).