U.S. patent number 3,579,183 [Application Number 04/747,670] was granted by the patent office on 1971-05-18 for signalling device to prevent leaving a key in a lock.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Societe d'Exploitation des Brevets Neiman S. A.. Invention is credited to Paul Lipschutz.
United States Patent |
3,579,183 |
Lipschutz |
May 18, 1971 |
SIGNALLING DEVICE TO PREVENT LEAVING A KEY IN A LOCK
Abstract
A signalling device to prevent leaving a key in a lock. The
device includes a lock which has a number of different positions
and a key coacting with the lock to displace it between these
positions. An electromechanical means coacts with the key and lock
to give a warning signal when the key places the lock in at least
one of its positions, such as the position which the lock has when
the key is introduced into and removed from the lock. The device is
particularly suited for use in connection with ignition switches of
vehicles, and the signal which is provided can either be visible,
audible, or vibratory so as to be felt by the fingers of the
operator.
Inventors: |
Lipschutz; Paul (Croissy sur
Seine (Yvelines), FR) |
Assignee: |
Societe d'Exploitation des Brevets
Neiman S. A. (Neuilly-Seine, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
8639639 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/747,670 |
Filed: |
July 25, 1968 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/457; 70/395;
340/692; 340/407.1; 340/691.5; 340/691.7; 340/542 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
45/0605 (20130101); Y10T 70/7802 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
45/00 (20060101); E05B 45/06 (20060101); B60q
001/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/52,274
;70/408,441,393,395 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Mooney; Robert J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A signalling assembly, particularly for an ignition switch,
comprising: a lock having a plurality of positions; a key coacting
with said lock to displace the latter between said positions; an
enclosure carried by said key, in an outer portion thereof,
situated outwardly beyond said lock; electrical-signalling means in
said enclosure; and means in said lock for actuating said
signalling means in at least one of the positions of the lock, for
warning the operator that the key has not been removed from the
lock.
2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said
electrical-signalling means is constructed and arranged to provide
a vibratory sensation to the fingers of the operator during
handling of the key.
3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said
electrical-signalling means is constructed and adapted to provide
an audible signal.
4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said enclosure is at
least partially transparent and said electrical-signalling means is
adapted to provide a visible signal.
5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said
electrical-signalling means includes a lamp and an electrical
circuit for the lamp, also extending into the lock, and means for
closing said circuit when the key places the lock in said one
position.
6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein the electrical-signalling
means includes a conductive member forming part of the circuit of
said lamp, substantially located in the walls of said enclosure but
having a free end directed toward said lock, said lock having a
spring-pressed, insulated contact member, which is engaged by said
conductive member at said end thereof when the lock coacts with the
key and is in said one position.
7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the key has a metallic
conductive component which is grounded through the lock when the
key is in the lock.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said conductive component of
the key extends into said enclosure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to signalling devices.
In particular, the present invention relates to devices of this
type used in connection with locks so as to prevent an operator
from leaving a key in the lock.
It is well established that the best of locks, ignition switches,
switch-keys, and the like, will be of no avail if the user forgets
to remove the key from the lock. As a result, it is highly
desirable to be able to direct the attention of the operator to the
fact that he has not yet carried out all of the manipulations
necessary to protect his property, as when the operator forgets to
remove a key from a lock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to
provide a device which will reliably signal to the operator the
face that a key has not been removed from a lock.
In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a signal
of this type which can be visible, audible, or vibratory so as to
be felt by the operator.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a structure which will produce such a signal when the key has in
the lock a position corresponding to that where the key should be
removed from the lock. Thus, in the case of a vehicle ignition
switch, the signal should be provided when the contact is open or
in any position of the switch selected by the operator when the
engine of the vehicle is stopped, as when the vehicle is in a
parking or garaged position.
It is thus one of the more particular objects of the invention to
provide a construction of this type which is particularly suited
for use in connection with vehicles.
In accordance with the invention, the signalling device includes a
key and a lock which can be moved to a number of different
positions by the key. In at least one of these positions an
electromechanical means which coacts with the key and locks
provides a signal indicating that the key has not been removed from
the lock. This signal may be either a visible signal, an audible
signal, or a vibratory signal which can be felt by the fingers of
the operator when the operator engages the key.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying
drawings which form part of this application and in which:
FIG. I is a partly sectional, partly schematic side elevation of an
ignition switch of a vehicle shown with a key therein and having
the signalling device of the invention;
FIG. II is an end view of the structure of FIG. I without the key
illustrating the indicia which is located at the outer end face of
the lock;
FIG. III is a sectional, fragmentary view of the outer end of the
lock, key, and signalling structure with part of the electrical
structure which coacts therewith this view being taken generally
along the lines III-III in FIG. I;
FIG. IV is a wiring diagram;
FIG. V is a fragmentary transverse section similar to FIG. III but
showing a different embodiment;
FIG. VI is a transverse fragmentary section illustration similar to
FIG. III but showing still another embodiment; and
FIG. VII is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. I shows a vehicle ignition
switch 1. This ignition switch has a lock 2 capable of being
displaced between its several positions by a key 3. The lock
operates a switch 4 which provides for distribution of the current
according to a predetermined program as is generally known in the
art of ignition systems; the well-known circuits providing for such
a program are not illustrated herein but will readily be remembered
upon inspection of FIG. II. In the particular case illustrated
rotary movement of the key will successively establish closing of
the ignition circuit, closing of the circuit for starting the
engine, or opening of the latter circuits.
Accordingly and as may be seen from FIG. II, the lock has, among
its different positions, the position 5 for ignition, the position
6 for starting, and the position 7 for stopping or opening the
circuits. In addition, as generally shown at 4' in FIG. IV, the
lock also has (FIGS. I and III) an electrical-switching or
-contacting system for giving indication with regard to presence or
absence of the key in the lock. In this system, an electrically
conductive spring-pressed pin 8, shiftable within an insulated
guide 9, is electrically connected with a positive terminal 10
shown in FIG. I. The shank 11 of the key 3 is grounded.
The outer end of the key which extends beyond the lock, is situated
within an elastic enclosure made partially or entirely of a
transparent plastic 12 and forming in its interior a chamber for
accommodating a lamp 13. Thus, as may be seen from FIG. 1, the
outer portion of the key forms part of the circle which is enclosed
within the entire circular space defined by the enclosure 12 so
that the part of this latter space which is not occupied by the
outer end of the key forms a free space defining the chamber in
which the lamp 13 is accommodated. Since this enclosure 12 is
partly or entirely transparent the light of the lamp 13 will be
visible through the wall of the enclosure 12.
An elongated electrically conductive member 14 is situated within
the enclosure 12 and has an outer exposed free end directed toward
the lock for directly engaging the spring-pressed contact or pin 8.
One of the terminals of the filament of the lamp 13 is electrically
connected with the member 14 so that through the latter the lamp 13
is connected to the contact 8. The other terminal of the lamp is
connected by a conductor 15 directly with the key 3 which has its
shank 11 grounded, as pointed out above, when the key is inserted
into the lock 1, so that in this way this other terminal of the
lamp 13 is grounded. As may be seen from FIG. III a spring 16 urges
the contact 8 outwardly, and this outward movement is limited by a
stop 17 which engages a suitable shoulder of the fitting which
guides the contact 8 and which carries the spring 16. The conductor
18 which is connected to the contact 8 at one end has it opposite
end connected to the positive terminal 10 of the ignition switch
4.
FIG. IV schematically illustrates how the lamp 13 is located in the
electrical circuit 20 which includes the switch 4 to open and close
the circuit of the lamp 13 and which may, if desired, include a
resistor 19 which in certain installations may be required.
FIG. V 28 shows, according to a variation of the invention, in a
transverse section through the outer end of the key similar to that
of FIG. III, an arrangement where instead of a lamp which provides
a visual signal there is a sound-producing device 22 of
miniaturized construction located in the interior of the enclosure
12 for providing an audible signal when the circuit is closed.
According to another embodiment of the invention illustrated
schematically in FIG. VI there is an electrically operable device
24 which provides a small vibration, this device being in the form
of a small vibrator which will transmit its vibrations to the
fingers of the operator making it necessary for the operator to
remove the key in order to eliminate the disagreeable sensation
resulting from the vibrations.
When using the structure of the invention the key will initially be
introduced into the lock. When, as a result, switch 4' is closed
and the lamp 13 is illuminated, or when the signalling devices of
FIGS. 5 and 6 operate, an indication is given in this way to the
operator that the key has been introduced into the lock through a
distance sufficient to permit the key now to be rotated so as to
operate the lock. When the key moves beyond the spring-pressed
contact 8, the lamp, the audible signal, or the vibrations will
terminate. The rotary movement of the key can be continued in a
normal manner. Upon return of the key to its initial position the
signal is again produced by the electromechanical means of the
invention at the position of the key which corresponds to the
opening of the ignition circuit. Now the key is in a position to be
withdrawn.
It is also possible to connect the end of the conductor 18, not to
the terminal 10, but instead to an independent additional terminal
situated at the base of the switch. This latter additional terminal
is itself connected, by any suitable conductor, to one of the
contacts of a switch which is operated by a door of the vehicle,
such as the door beside the driver, in such a way that this latter
switch closes when the door opens. The other contact of the door
control switch is connected to the battery.
Thus, referring to FIG. VII, it will be seen that the circuit shown
in FIG. IV and described above has been amplified to include a
switch 30 normally maintained in an open position by a spring 32. A
schematically illustrated door 34 of the vehicle is swung in the
direction of the arrow 36 when opened, this being the door which is
situated beside the driver of the vehicle. The door 34 carries an
extension 38 which acts on the switch 30 to close the latter when
the door 34 is opened. Thus, if, with this construction, the door
is opened while the key is still in the ignition switch, the signal
13 will be energized to warn the operator of this fact.
Therefore, with this construction a signal, such as a blinking or
steady light or a buzzing sound or the like will be provided
whenever two conditions are simultaneously fulfilled, namely,
leaving of the key in the ignition switch after the ignition is
turned off, and opening of the vehicle door. In this way also the
operator will be warned to remove the key from the lock when he
opens the door to leave the vehicle.
In any event, with all of the embodiments of the invention, the
signal is terminated upon removal of the key.
* * * * *