JPH0738598Y2 - Vehicle key - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a vehicle key for operating a mechanically and electrically unlockable lock device provided on a vehicle door. Regarding

(Prior Art) Conventionally, for example, a lock device provided on a door of an automobile can be unlocked or locked from the inside and the outside of the automobile. Here, unlocking and locking of the lock device from the outside of the vehicle can be performed mechanically using a vehicle key suitable for the vehicle. By the way, in order to unlock and lock the lock device using such a vehicle key, the vehicle key must be inserted into a key cylinder provided in the door, and the inserting operation is troublesome, especially at night. With, it becomes more difficult to confirm the position of the key cylinder, which is more troublesome.

Therefore, in recent years, in addition to the structure in which the lock device can be mechanically unlocked and locked, a vehicle key having a structure in which the lock device can be electrically unlocked or locked at a position (shortest distance) from the automobile is provided. ing. That is, a transmitter for transmitting an unlocking signal or a locking signal, for example, by an electromagnetic wave is integrally provided on the vehicle key, and the locking device is electrically unlocked in the transmitting state of the unlocking signal and locked in the transmitting state of the locking signal. The device is configured to be electrically locked. Therefore, by wirelessly transmitting the unlocking signal or the locking signal from the vehicle key transmitting device, it is possible to quickly unlock or lock the locking device at a position away from the automobile.

FIG. 4 shows an example of this type of vehicle key in a disassembled state.

That is, the key plate 2 is integrally provided on the main body case 1, and the transmitter 3 including the printed wiring circuit board 3a is fixed to the main body case 1 with an adhesive, for example. The transmitting device 3 includes a small battery (not shown), and wirelessly transmits an unlocking signal or a locking signal composed of a combination of pulse signals according to the operation of the switch 4. The main body case 1 is sealed by the upper lid 5 and the lower lid 6, whereby the airtightness of the main body case 1 is maintained.

On the other hand, the lock device for the vehicle door (not shown) has a key cylinder, and the lock device can be mechanically unlocked or locked by operating the key plate 2 on the key cylinder. Further, the lock device is provided with a receiving device, and unlocks the door when the unlocking signal is received, and locks the door when the locking signal is received.

Therefore, since the lock device can be mechanically unlocked and locked by the key plate 2 and the lock device can be electrically locked and unlocked by operating the switch 4 of the transmission device 3, one vehicle The lock key can be used to lock and unlock the lock device directly or at a position away from the vehicle.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) Incidentally, the formation of the key groove in the key plate 2 is generally performed after the entire vehicle key is assembled. Therefore, when the key plate 2 and the transmitting device 3 are integrally provided as in the above-described conventional configuration, the key plate 2
When the formation of the keyway for the key fails, the entire vehicle key must be discarded and the loss is large.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the transmitter 8 is fixed to the main body case 7, and the main body case 7 and the lid 9 are attached.
With the configuration in which the key plate 10 is sandwiched between and screwed, if the formation of the key groove in the key plate 10 fails, only the key plate 10 can be replaced. However, in such a configuration, the body case 7 is replaced when the key plate 10 is replaced or when the key plate 10 is used for a long time.
There is a possibility that the waterproof function is lost, and rainwater invades the transmitter 8. Furthermore, since the key plate 10 is only sandwiched between the main body case 7 and the lid body 9, when the key plate 10 is inserted into the key cylinder and operated, the key plate 10 may rattle. There is also a problem that the operation feeling is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to replace only a key plate in a vehicle key provided with a key plate and a transmitter, and to reliably exert a waterproof function for the transmitter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle key that has the effects of being able to perform the following.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention outputs a key plate for mechanically unlocking a locking device and an unlocking signal composed of an airborne signal to the locking device. In a vehicle key provided with a transmitter for unlocking it, a waterproof case accommodating the transmitter is provided, and a substantially flat base on which the key plate is insert-molded is provided, and then the waterproof is provided. The case is detachably connected to the side surface of the base.

(Operation) To mechanically release the lock device, the lock device is operated by the key plate. To electrically unlock the lock device, the transmitter is operated. Then, since the unlocking signal is output from the transmitting device, the locking device is unlocked.

Here, since the transmitter is stored in the waterproof case,
The waterproof function of the transmitter is not deteriorated. Further, since the key plate is insert-molded in the base, the key plate does not rattle with respect to the base. Furthermore, since the waterproof case and the base are detachably connected, even if the formation of the key groove on the key plate fails, only the key plate can be replaced.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First showing an exploded perspective view and a vertical side view of a vehicle key, respectively
1 and 2, the waterproof case 11 is a flat container-shaped storage case 12 in which a printed wiring circuit board 13 and a small battery (not shown) are stored, and the opening of the storage case 12 is sealed with a lid 14. Consists of Here, the storage case 12 is formed with a pair of holes 12a and 12b, and
Rubber bushes 15 and 16 are provided and sealed on a and 12b. Further, on the printed wiring circuit board 13, a transmitter 17 including the board 13 is formed. The transmitting device 17 is configured to have a pair of push button switches 18 and 19, and when the push button switch 18 is on, wirelessly transmits an unlocking signal composed of a pulse signal and when the push button switch 19 is on. An unlocking signal composed of a pulse signal is wirelessly transmitted. Here, the unlocking signal and the locking signal are set to different pulse periods, for example. The push button switches 18 and 19 face the rubber bushes 15 and 16 provided in the storage case 12. With the above configuration, the push button switches 18 and 19 are turned on / off in response to the pressing operation on the rubber bushes 15 and 16, and the unlocking signal or the locking signal is output as an air propagation signal accordingly.

On the other hand, the base 20 is formed in a substantially flat shape, and is formed by insert-molding a key plate 21 in a blank state (key groove is not formed). The recess 20 formed on the side surface of the base 20
The waterproof case 11 is fitted to a, and the waterproof case 11 and the base 20 are integrated by screwing in the fitted state. Then, a predetermined key groove is formed on the key plate 21 integrated in this way.

Referring to FIG. 3 showing a vehicle door of an automobile, the door 22 is provided with a key cylinder 23 and a lock device 24 that responds to a switching position of the key cylinder 23. That is, the key cylinder 23 is provided so as to be switchable between the unlocked position and the locked position, and the lock device 24 is mechanically unlocked or locked by the switching operation to the unlocked position or the locked position.
Further, the door 22 is provided with an opening / closing device 25 mainly composed of a motor, and the lock device 24 is electrically unlocked and locked by driving the motor. That is, the opening / closing device 25 unlocks the lock device 24 when it determines that the received signal from the automobile antenna (not shown) includes the unlock signal, and determines that the lock signal is included. At this time, the lock device 24 is locked. The lock device 24
Can be unlocked and locked from the inside of the vehicle by operating the opening / closing knob 26 provided on the door 21, and can only be locked from the outside of the vehicle by operating the opening / closing knob.

Now, the operation of unlocking or locking the lock device 24 at a position distant from the vehicle by using the vehicle key having the above configuration will be described.

That is, in order to unlock the locked lock device 24, the rubber bush 15 provided on the waterproof case 11 is pressed. Then, since the push button switch 18 is turned on in response to the pressing, the unlocking signal is transmitted from the transmitting device 17. Then,
The opening / closing device 25 determines that the received signal from the antenna includes the unlock signal, drives the motor, and unlocks the lock device 24. As a result, the lock device 24 can be unlocked at a position away from the vehicle, so that the door 22 can be opened quickly.

When the rubber bush 16 is pressed, the transmitter
Since the lock signal is transmitted from 17, the lock device 24 is locked by the opening / closing device 25. This allows the door 22 to be locked at a position away from the vehicle.

Now, according to the vehicle key having the above configuration, since the waterproof case 11 and the base 20 are detachably connected, after the waterproof case 11 and the base 20 are connected and integrated, the key groove for the key plate 21 is formed. Even if the formation of the base fails, it can be dealt with only by replacing the base 20. Therefore, unlike the conventional example in which only the key plate cannot be replaced, the transmitting device 17 can be reused, and the loss due to the failure to form the key groove of the key plate 21 can be minimized.

Further, since the transmitter 17 is housed in the waterproof case 11 which is a separate member from the base 20 even though the key plate 21 can be replaced as described above, regardless of the replacement of the key plate 21. The waterproof function for the transmitter 17 is not deteriorated. Further, since the key plate 21 is insert-molded on the base 20, the key plate 21
There is no rattling, and thus the unlocking and locking operability of the key plate 21 with respect to the key cylinder 23 does not deteriorate.

In the above embodiment, the transmitting device 17 is configured to transmit the unlocking signal and the locking signal composed of the pulsed electromagnetic waves, but instead of this, the transmitting device transmits the unlocking signal or the locking signal composed of the pulsed light, for example. You may make it output. Further, the transmitting device may be configured to transmit only the unlocking signal.

Further, although the waterproof case 11 and the base 20 are connected by screwing in the above-mentioned embodiment, the engaging case may be connected instead.

In addition, the above invention may be applied to a door other than the driver side or a trunk door.

[Effect of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the vehicle key of the present invention, the waterproof case accommodating the transmitter and the substantially flat base into which the key plate is insert-molded are provided, and Since the case is detachably connected to the side surface of the base, it is possible to replace only the key plate in the vehicle key equipped with the key plate and the transmitter, and to reliably exert the waterproof function for the transmitter. Produce an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a vertical side view, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a vehicle door. Further, FIGS. 4 and 5 are views corresponding to FIG. 1, respectively, showing a conventional example. In the figure, 11 is a waterproof case, 12 is a storage case, 17 is a transmitter, 21 is a key plate, 22 is a vehicle door, 23 is a key cylinder, 24 is a locking device, and 25 is an opening / closing device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A lock device provided on a door for a vehicle, the lock device being mechanically and electrically unlockable.
In a vehicle key comprising a key plate for mechanically unlocking the lock device, and a transmission device for outputting an unlock signal consisting of an airborne signal to the lock device to unlock the lock device, A vehicle characterized by comprising a waterproof case accommodating the transmitter and a substantially flat base in which the key plate is insert-molded, the waterproof case being detachably connected to a side surface of the base. Key.