Soft key

Details Soft key Soft key

2000-06-21

2002-04-30

Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)

Locks

Operating mechanism

Key

C070S395000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06378345

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a soft key that is shorter for convenient carriage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 162749 issued on Jul. 1, 1991 and entitled “LOCKSET HAVING A LOCK CORE WITH A ZIGZAG KEYWAY”, as illustrated in
FIG. 7A
of the drawings, discloses a lockset having a lock core
91
with a zigzag keyway
92
. As illustrated in
FIG. 7B
, the key
93
for the zigzag keyway may be bent so as to move along the zigzag keyway.
FIGS. 8A through 8C
illustrate a typical key
93
that includes a resilient, bendable shank
931
and a plurality of guide blocks
932
that are connected in series. A plurality of teeth
933
are formed on a side of the shank
931
for pushing tumbler pins (not shown) in the lock core
92
. The teeth
933
are formed on only one side of the shank
931
. Such a key has a larger width.
FIG. 9
illustrates another typical key
93
′ that includes a rigid shank cashing
94
′ and a telescopic casing
95
′ through which a plurality of guide blocks
932
′ are extended. The guide blocks
932
′ may extend into the zigzag keyway
92
of the lock core
91
. Each guide block
932
′ includes a depression
933
′ in only one of a pair of relatively larger lateral sides thereof such that the key has a larger width. Use of the key is inconvenient, as the insertion direction of the key is limited. In addition, both the keys shown in
FIGS. 8A through 8C
and in
FIG. 9
have a rigid casing
94
,
94
′ and a telescopic casing
95
,
95
′ such that the keys have a considerable length and are thus inconvenient for carriage. Further, the shank
931
in
FIGS. 8A through 8C
and the guide blocks
932
′ in
FIG. 9
are exposed outside the telescopic casing
95
′ and thus tend to hook and cause damage to pockets of clothes receiving the keys.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a soft key that provides a larger operational torque and that is durable and shorter.
A soft key in accordance with the present invention includes a main body, a shank casing, and a shank. The main body includes a compartment defined by a pair of wall tracks. The shank casing is mounted in the main body and movable along the wall tracks between a first position in the main body and a second position out of the main body. The shank is extended through a longitudinal hole of the shank casing and the compartment of the main body. The shank includes a first end positioned in the main body and a second end, a plurality of key sections being attached to the second end of the shank in series. Each two adjacent key sections are connected by a pin, thereby allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween. Each key section includes a depression in a side thereof An outermost key section that is most distal to the shank includes at least one slanted face.
Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1994095 (1935-03-01), Caldwell
patent: 4111019 (1978-09-01), Rabinow
patent: 4977767 (1990-12-01), Prunbauer
patent: 5076081 (1991-12-01), Boris, Jr.
patent: 5086632 (1992-02-01), Hsu
patent: 5526662 (1996-06-01), Diekhoff et al.
patent: 6401629 (2000-03-01), Huges
patent: 6105404 (2000-08-01), Field et al.
patent: 162749 (1991-07-01), None

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