Locks – Operating mechanism – Key
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-02
2001-04-03
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Key
C070S019000, C070S45600R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209370
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the industry of key-locking devices. There are several types of key-locking devices. The designs range from completely enclosing the key to a clamping device which locks the working part of the key. Most of the latter devices use a mechanical clamping method.
b) Description of the Related Art
There has always has been and will always be a need in the market for a key securing system to prevent access by unauthorized personnel, but which is user friendly. This is true whether it is a house key for real estate brokers to show homes for rent or sale, or whether it is your local parking garage. The need is especially crucial with valet style parking garages which typically retain the customer's keys after parking the car. Parking garages that retain the customer's keys have a great administrative burden. A choice between retaining the key in a central secure location or leaving the keys in the car. The former is a logistical burden to the attendant due to the time required to drop the key off after parking the car and that required to pick it up prior to retrieving the car. Also, the keys need to be tagged and organized in the secure location. This unfortunately leads to keys being misplaced or mis-tagged. The alternative of leaving the keys in the car is not much better in that more attendants are required to police the garage to prevent unauthorized personnel from stealing the car. Either way the options are not desirable since they are either a logistical nightmare or an unnecessary increase in overhead costs, or both.
The present invention solves this dilemma. The invention is a portable key locking device which can be kept in the car, thereby eliminating the logistical nightmare of a central locking area. It secures the key from use by unauthorized personnel, thereby eliminating the need for unnecessary overhead required to police the entire garage.
Prior designs have either totally encapsulated the key or left part of the key exposed while using a hard steel locking mechanism.
The encapsulating designs have several disadvantages. One disadvantage is the fact that since the key is fully hidden from view it is not readily apparent which key is in the lock. Secondly, if the lock is destroyed, the key remains intact. The problem here is breaking the lock leaves a perfectly functional key thus rendering the security aspect of the design moot. These shortcomings are overcome by the present invention, which leaves the head of the key exposed thereby allowing easy identification of its contents. Secondly, it is designed to break the key if same is removed by force. Accordingly, the key is rendered useless to unauthorized personnel.
The designs which leave the key exposed use a metal clamping mechanism which holds the key in place. The Bianco design (U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,380) uses metal ‘vice jaws’ which clamp the key in place. Unfortunately, these jaws damage the key rendering the key inoperative in the ignition. This damage occurs even though the lock was solely used by authorized personnel. Other designs use several moving parts to clamp the key which increase the cost of the device. Furthermore, the more moving parts that exist increase the chance that something will fail in the device.
The present invention resolves these shortcomings among the exposed key devices, since it uses revolutionary non-damaging substrates to clamp the key thereby eliminating the damage to the key. It has few moving parts which decreases the likelihood of the device failing and decreases its overall cost.
In summary, the present invention is a simply designed portable key securing system which does not damage the key when used by authorized personnel. It provides a simple solution to the market areas which require the flexibility obtained from a portable key securing system.
For the foregoing reasons stated above, there is a need for an inexpensive, reliable, non-damaging key locking device that is portable to provide flexibility for the person using the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the need of securing a key with the flexibility of a portable device that is inexpensive and will not damage the key during authorized operation. The device is comprised of fives components namely: a housing to enclose the key, two deformable substrates, an unique locking screw, and a master key. There is a bore inside the housing that runs longitudinally within the housing. The bore has a threaded section that contains the locking screw and a non-threaded section that contains the two deformable substrates. There is a blind slot at the base of the housing which runs perpendicular to the bore from one side of the housing through the non-threaded section of the bore. The functional section of the key is placed through the blind slot, into the non-threaded section of the bore, and between the two deformable substrates. The master key then turns down the screw which clamps the deformable substrates around the functional section of the key. The unique design of the substrates will not damage the key upon clamping but will immobilize the key to prevent removal. The key is simply removed by turning back the screw using the master key and pulling the key out of the blind slot.
Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a securing system that can immobilize a key to prevent unauthorized use.
Another object of the invention is that it only secures the working section of the key thereby leaving the non functioning section exposed for easy identification.
A third object of the invention is to provide a portable securing system which provides flexibility to markets such as real estate brokers and parking garages whom need the portability to save overhead costs and logistical problems.
A fourth object of the invention is to provide a unique securing device that does not damage the object being secured during the operation of the invention.
A fifth object of the invention is that once secured, the object can not be removed by unauthorized personnel without rendering the key inoperable thereby increasing the security of the invention.
A sixth object of the invention is that it is inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in design, durable, easy to operate, and contains few moving parts thereby decreasing the likelihood of failure.
A seventh object of the invention is the blind slot in the housing which prevents access from one side thus increasing the security and immobilization of the object.
An eighth object of the invention is that the deformable substrates can be easily removed, interchanged, inverted, and/or replaced thereby extending the life of the product.
A ninth object of the invention is a specially designed protrusion on the locking screw that can not be defeated with commercially available tools.
A tenth object of the invention is that enough of the key is exposed so that the clamping mechanism does not touch the area of the key where computer chips are presently embedded.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1016541 (1912-02-01), Boone et al.
patent: 3535898 (1970-10-01), Allport
patent: 3575024 (1971-04-01), Schlage
patent: 3636742 (1972-01-01), Raney
patent: 3708032 (1973-01-01), Suzuki
patent: 4083210 (1978-04-01), Bergin
patent: 4090380 (1978-05-01), Bianco
patent: 4160369 (1979-07-01), Pearson
patent: 4441348 (1984-04-01), Neilson
patent: 4448051 (1984-05-01), Neilson
patent: 4570469 (1986-02-01), Neilson
patent: 4641509 (1987-02-01), Batchelor et al.
patent: 4662199 (1987-05-01), Neilson
patent: 5051724 (1991-09-01), Morrow
patent: 5209090 (1993-05-01), Stillwagon
patent: 5505066 (1996-04-01), Baucom
patent: 5713224 (1998-02-01), Liou
patent: 5878613 (1999-03-01), Tabacchi et al.
patent: 2213342 (1973-09-01), None
patent: 2855019 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 2539448 (1984-07-01), None
Larson Erik S.
Nie Richard L.
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Engineered Plastics Solutions Group, Inc.
Hagar Thomas E.
LandOfFree
Non damaging key lock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Non damaging key lock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Non damaging key lock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2482009