Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Key-carried indicia
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2003-08-12
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Key-carried indicia
C040S634000, C040S649000, C040S490000, C070S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06604308
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a key with an identifying system, which makes the key easily distinguishable from other similar keys. More particularly, the invention relates to a key with an identifying system, such as a card, fit into an aperture of a head portion of the key.
2. Description of the related Art
The use of keys is increasing, due to an increased need for security. This has led to the development of the safety industries. For example, doors which in the past were kept open are now commonly locked with a key. Locks and hence keys have been incorporated in a number of appliances which formerly were not normally locked, such as refrigerators, freezers, various electric appliances and control panels, and the like. As a result, the use of locks, padlocks and their respective keys has increased greatly. In view of this trend, it is expected that the need for keys will continue to increase.
As a result of the increased use of keys, it is common to have a key chain with many keys. In such chains, it is difficult for a user to identify each key. This problem hinders the use of the keys and involves a significant loss of time when the user needs to try several keys in a lock or padlock until the correct one is found. Obviously, this problem is important when the user's key chain has keys for a house, an apartment complex, a commercial building, or a building undergoing construction. In the latter case, the construction manager may have to carry hundreds of keys for padlocks and locked doors.
In order to solve this problem both at home and in the commercial and industrial arena, various methods or systems have been created over time for the identification of keys. A majority of keys bear no identification at all, or at least bear no identification which lasts and remains reliable over time.
A widely used identification system for keys uses colors to distinguish the keys. For example, a colored rubber or plastic fitting adheres to a head portion of the key and partially covers the key head. Similarly, colored metal alloys, such as anodized aluminum, have been used in the key manufacturing industry to distinguish keys.
A disadvantage of the above methods is that the identifying means or accessory are normally separately manufactured increasing the costs for such methods. Also, the above methods do not fully solve the identification problem, because the user relies on his or her memory which color is for which lock or padlock. This makes this identification system not very reliable, because the user may forget the color-key assignment. Also, the number of colors used both in the colored keys and rubber head devices is limited, which makes it difficult to mark a large number of keys used by a person in a house or commercial building.
Another known identifying system uses the shape or design of the key or its head. For example, car manufactures use such a system in which a generally black plastic material embraces all or part of the key head and bears a stamped logotype or brand of the vehicle on it. This system is costly compared to the cost of the key itself and is only justified as an advertising means. Also it lacks a significant identification value as to which vehicle the key is intended for. Such a system is too expensive for domestic or commercial use and, further, does not comply with the fundamental requirement of accurately indicating the lock or padlock to which it belongs. On the other hand, the size of a key with a plastic form over the head of the key makes it difficult to handle more than three or four keys on a key ring or key chain. In addition, a user would have to submit to the key manufacturer a list that instructs the key manufacture how each key should be marked. Obviously this solution is not very practicable.
In addition to the industrial or semi-industrial methods described in the preceding paragraphs, relatively crude and home-made devices have been used in attempts to solve the problem of key identification. For example, wedges, holes or scratches have been made in the key heads, and the keys and locks have been assigned with numbers. However, all these actions have been ineffective, as with the passing of time the meaning of such marks is forgotten.
In attempts to solve this identification problem, it is known to use a plastic card case where the key destination is recorded in the card. This card case is attached to the key by means of a ring. Although this system solves the memory-associated problem, it duplicates or triplicates the price of the key, which is the main product. It also has the serious inconvenience of substantially increasing the volume of the key rings bearing such keys. For this reason, in addition to its high price, the system is not practical.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,410 describes a key that has a flexible strip attached to the head of the key to identify the key. The flexible strip is a plastic or rubber strip and is secured by various mechanisms which are difficult to implement due to the limited space available. To provide an identification system desired information is directly stamped on the plastic or flexible material. A disadvantage is that the stamped information may be become illegible or completely erased when the user repeatedly touches the key head. Another disadvantage is that it is difficult to write on the strip using an ordinary pencil or a pen.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,006 discloses a key that includes an identification strip. The strip is formed by a hard material which makes it difficult to write the desired information on it. Furthermore, the fastening means used for the identification or strips is far from being practical and safe. For example, the identification strip adheres to the key by folding itself around and embracing the central part between the slots without a reliable fastening system. Thus, after a short time it may become loose and the identification may be lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the invention involves a key that has a stem connected to a head and an identification system positioned within the head. The head has two opposing surfaces and an aperture that forms a visible area. The aperture extends along the opposing surfaces and interior walls of the aperture connect the opposing surfaces. The identification system is configured to be positioned within the aperture and includes a cover and an identification card that carries a key identification. When inserted, the cover extends across the visible area within the aperture so that the key identification is visible.
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of identifying a key having a stem connected to a head. The head is provided with an aperture which forms a visible area and extends along opposing surfaces of the head. Interior walls of the aperture connect the opposing surfaces. An identification system is inserted into the aperture and has a cover and an identification card carrying a key information. The cover extends across the visible area within the aperture so that the key information is visible.
The key in accordance with the invention provides an identification system that carries written identification which allows to accurately and permanently indicate the correct key-lock pairing. The identification system is easy to update when needed. In addition, the identification system can be manufactured at the same time the key is made, without adding extra cost. As the identification system is completely positioned within the key head and does not extend beyond the head's surfaces, no extra volume is added to the key head.
More particularly, a piece of metal is die-cast to form the key blank or bit—including the head and an extension or stem, which is subsequently abraded to form the key according to needs of the respective lock—and is manufactured by submitting the metal plates made of different alloys to press strokes or swaging.
The identification system is introduced and fixed within the aperture and may be fastened therein through rails, needles, a blank or
Browne Lynne H.
Hewitt James M.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
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