Key storage box

Abstract

The objective is to propose a key storage box that is less prone to becoming fatally sealed and allows keys to be retrieved from inside. [Solution] The device includes a restricting member 35 that restricts the movement of the engaging member 22 and prevents the engaging member 22 from being released from its engagement with the main body, an earthquake detection means, a drive member 37 that operates when the earthquake detection means detects an earthquake, a lock 40 that is rotated by a key, and a key-side drive piece 41 that is interlocked with the lock 40. The key operates the key-side drive piece 41, which applies an external force to the restricting member 35, changing its position from the locked position to the unlocked position. It is also possible to apply an external force to the restricting member 35 by the force based on the drive member 37, changing its position from the locked position to the unlocked position. When an earthquake occurs, the drive member 37 is driven and the restricting member 35 is moved to the unlocked position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a key storage box for storing keys, and particularly to a key storage box that can be unlocked when an earthquake occurs and the keys inside can be freely taken out.

Background Art

[0002] Robust buildings such as schools and government offices often serve as evacuation sites during earthquakes. In addition, robust and tall buildings are constructed to prepare for tsunamis and may be designated as evacuation sites during earthquakes. These buildings are locked平时 to prevent mischief and theft. When an earthquake occurs, the administrator rushes to the site quickly, unlocks the key, and accepts the evacuees.

[0003] However, the administrator himself / herself is often affected by the disaster, and there are cases where the evacuation site cannot be opened during an earthquake. As a measure to solve this problem, a key storage box that automatically unlocks when an earthquake is detected has been proposed. The key storage box is a box attached to a wall or the like, and the key to the evacuation site is stored inside. The key storage box is locked to prevent theft. For example, when a school auditorium is designated as an evacuation site, the key to the auditorium is stored in the key storage box. The key to the key storage box is held by the administrator. Normally, the administrator opens the key storage box with the key (the key to the key storage box) he / she holds, takes out the key inside (the key to the auditorium or the like), and opens the door of the auditorium or the like. When an earthquake occurs, the key storage box is automatically unlocked, and the key inside (the key to the auditorium or the like) can be freely taken out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, conventional key storage boxes have a large number of parts and a complex structure. Therefore, there is a concern that the door of the key storage box may become stuck during an earthquake, preventing it from opening. In other words, conventional key storage boxes have the potential to become stuck during an earthquake, which is a critical point. This invention addresses the aforementioned problems of the prior art and aims to propose a key storage box that has a simple structure, is less prone to becoming fatally locked, and allows keys to be retrieved from inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problems is a key storage box having a main body and a door that seals the main body, and storing keys inside, the key storage box having an engaging member provided on the door side that engages with the main body side, and an operating member provided on the door side that changes the position of the engaging member, wherein the door cannot be opened when the engaging member engages with the main body side, and the door can be opened by operating the operating member to release the engagement between the engaging member and the main body side, The key storage box is characterized by having a locking device, the locking device comprising a restricting member that restricts the movement of the engaging member and prevents the engaging member from being released from its engagement with the main body, an earthquake detection means, a drive member that operates when the earthquake detection means detects an earthquake, a key lock that is rotated by a key, and a key-side drive piece that is interlocked with the key lock, the restricting member being able to take a locked position in which it can contact the engaging member and an unlocked position in which it does not contact the engaging member, the restricting member being normally in a locked position and being able to be opened when subjected to an external force, the key operating the key-side drive piece and applying an external force to the restricting member with the key-side drive piece to change the position of the restricting member from the locked position to the unlocked position, and also being able to apply an external force to the restricting member with a force based on the drive member to change the position of the restricting member from the locked position to the unlocked position, and in the event of an earthquake the drive member is driven and the restricting member is opened.

[0007] The key storage box in this embodiment has a main body and a door that seals the main body, and can store keys inside. The door has an engaging member, which engages with the main body to prevent the door from opening. The engaging member can be changed by a person operating an operating member, releasing the engagement between the engaging member and the main body and allowing the door to be opened. The key storage box of this embodiment has a unique locking device that can lock the door. The locking device used in the key storage box of this embodiment has a restricting member that restricts the movement of the engaging member and prevents the engaging member from disengaging from the main body. The restricting member can assume a locked position in which it can contact the engaging member and an unlocked position in which it does not contact the engaging member. That is, when the restricting member is in the locked position, the restricting member contacts the engaging member and prevents the engaging member from disengaging from the main body, and the door is locked. On the other hand, if the regulating member is in the unlocked position, the door is unlocked and can be opened by operating the operating member. In this embodiment, the key storage box can be operated by a key to activate a key-side drive piece, which in turn applies an external force to the regulating member, changing the regulating member from a locked position to an unlocked position. That is, the door can be unlocked with a key, and the key can be taken out from inside the door. Furthermore, the key storage box in this embodiment includes an earthquake detection means and a drive member that operates when the earthquake detection means detects an earthquake. The force from the drive member can apply an external force to the restricting member, changing its position from locked to unlocked. Therefore, when an earthquake occurs and the earthquake detection means detects it, the drive member operates and applies an external force to the restricting member, changing its position from locked to unlocked. Thus, when an earthquake occurs, the drive member operates and the restricting member becomes unlocked. In the key storage box in this embodiment, when an earthquake occurs, the door becomes unlocked, and the door can be opened without using the key to the key storage box, allowing the keys to the evacuation center to be taken out from inside.

[0008] In the above-described embodiment, the restricting member swings about a pivot point, and the engaging member rotates. The locked position is a state in which the restricting member enters the rotational trajectory of the engaging member, and it is desirable that the restricting member contacts the engaging member to prevent the engaging member from rotating.

[0009] When the restricting member is in the locked position, the restricting member enters the rotational trajectory of the engaging member. As a result, the locked position comes into contact with the engaging member, preventing the engaging member from rotating, and the door becomes locked.

[0010] In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable that the driving member is a solenoid that is driven by the flow of energy and maintains its state when the energy is released.

[0011] According to this embodiment, when an earthquake occurs, the door becomes unlocked, and this state is maintained even after the earthquake subsides.

[0012] In each of the embodiments described above, it is desirable that the key-side drive piece is located on the open side of the door relative to the regulating member and pushes the regulating member toward the center of the door to bring it into the unlocked position, and that the drive member is located closer to the center of the door relative to the regulating member and pulls the regulating member toward the center of the door to bring it into the unlocked position.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the volume occupied by the main components can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The key storage box of this invention has a simple structure and is unlikely to become fatally locked. Therefore, in the event of an earthquake, it will reliably unlock, allowing the keys to be retrieved from inside. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a key storage box according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the door in a closed state and (b) shows the door in an open state. [Figure 2] The perspective view which observed the vicinity of the locking part of the key storage box of Fig. 1(a) from the outside, the door is in the closed state, the manual operation part is in a state where the engaging member is engaged with the main body part side and the door is in a fixed state, the regulating member is in the unlocking posture, and the locking device is in the unlocked state is shown. [Figure 3] The perspective view which observed the vicinity of the locking part of the key storage box of Fig. 1(a) from the inside, the door is in the closed state, the manual operation part is in a state where the engaging member is engaged with the main body part side and the door is in a fixed state, the regulating member is in the unlocking posture, and the locking device is in the unlocked state is shown. [Figure 4] The perspective view which observed the vicinity of the locking part of the key storage box of Fig. 1 from the outside, the door is in the closed state, the manual operation part is in a state where the engaging member is not engaged with the main body part side and the door is in a state where it can be opened, the regulating member is in the unlocking posture, and the locking device is in the unlocked state is shown. [Figure 5] The perspective view which observed the vicinity of the locking part of the key storage box of Fig. 1 from the inside, the door is in the closed state, the manual operation part is in a state where the engaging member is not engaged with the main body part side and the door is in a state where it can be opened, the regulating member is in the unlocking posture, and the locking device is in the unlocked state is shown. [Figure 6] The front view which observed the locking device and the engaging member from the inside, the regulating member is in the unlocking posture, (a) shows the state where the engaging member is engaged with the main body part side and the door is in a fixed state, (c) shows the state where the operation member (handle) is rotated and the engagement between the engaging member and the main body part side is released and the door can be opened, and (b) shows the intermediate state. [Figure 7] The front view which observed the locking device and the engaging member from the inside, (a) shows the state where the regulating member is in the locking posture and is locked by the key, and (b) shows the state after an earthquake occurs. [Figure 8] It is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the key storage box of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view of the main part of the locking device of the key storage box of the embodiment of the present invention, in which the regulating member is shown by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of the main part of the locking mechanism part of the key storage box of the embodiment of the present invention, in which the regulating member and the connecting member are shown by a two-dot chain line, and the inside of the connecting member is shown by a solid line. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the locking device of the key storage box according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the inside of the connecting member. [Figure 12] This is a front view of the locking device and the engaging member observed from the inside. (a) shows the state where the door is closed, the locking device is in the locked state, and the manual operation part is in a state where the engaging member is not engaged with the main body part side. (c) shows the state where the operation member (handle) is rotated, the engaging member is engaged with the main body part side, and the door cannot be opened. (b) shows the intermediate state.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The invention described in the claims is not limited to the embodiments described below. The key storage box 1 of the present embodiment is a box for storing the key 100 inside, as shown in Fig. 1(b), and can be locked and unlocked with the key 200, as shown in Fig. 1(a). For the sake of avoiding confusion, the key 100 stored in the key storage box 1 is referred to as the building key 100, and the key 200 for locking and unlocking the key storage box 1 is referred to as the box key 200. The key storage box 1 of the present embodiment has a key hanger 101 inside, as shown in Fig. 1(b), and can store the building key 100 in a state where it is hooked.

[0017] The key storage box 1 of the present embodiment is attached to a wall 201 or a pillar and cannot be carried by itself. The key storage box 1 of the present embodiment can be locked with the box key 200 for the door 2. However, when an earthquake occurs, it will be automatically unlocked, and the door 2 can be opened to take out the building key 100 inside.

[0018] The key storage box 1 of the present embodiment has a main body part 3 and a door 2. The main body part 3 is a box with an open front side and has a rear wall 5, a top wall 6, a bottom wall 7, and side walls 8 and 10. Door 2 seals the open side of the main body 3 and is attached to one side wall 10 of the main body 3 by a hinge (not shown). Door 2 swings around the side wall 10 of the main body 3.

[0019] The open end on the front of the main body 3 is folded back as shown in Figures 1(b), 2, and 3, forming the inner flange portion 12. The key storage box 1 of this embodiment has a manual operation unit 15 and a locking device 20. The manual operation unit 15 is a known manual closing mechanism and is attached to the door 2. In this embodiment, the manual operation unit 15 is composed of an operating member 21 and an engaging member 22. The operating member 21 is a member that is held and operated by a person's hand, and in this embodiment, it is a lever handle. The operating member 21 is not limited to a lever handle, and may be something like a knob.

[0020] The engaging member 22 is wing-shaped and has an opening-preventing portion 33 and a rotation-preventing portion 36. That is, the engaging member 22 is a spatula-shaped, elongated member, with one end being wide and forming the opening-preventing portion 33, and the other end being narrow and forming the rotation-preventing portion 36. The tip of the opening-preventing portion 33 protrudes in a stepped manner. The tip of the opening-preventing portion 33 is rounded.

[0021] The operating member 21 of the manual operation unit 15 is mounted on the outside of the door 2, as shown in Figure 1. The engaging member 22 of the manual operation unit 15 is mounted on the inside of the door 2. The operating member 21 and the engaging member 22 of the manual operation unit 15 are connected by a shaft (not shown). The operating member 21 of the manual operation unit 15 is rotatable relative to the door 2, and when the outer operating member 21 is rotated, the inner engaging member 22 rotates.

[0022] The manual operation unit 15 is attached to the free end of the door 2, and when the door 2 is closed, the opening prevention unit 33 can engage with a part of the main body 3 inside the key storage box 1. In other words, with the door 2 closed and the main body 3 sealed, when the operating member 21 is rotated to a vertical position as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the opening prevention portion 33 of the engaging member 22 engages with the inner flange portion 12 of the main body 3, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 6(a). As a result, the door 2 is fixed to the main body 3, and the door 2 cannot be opened. From this state, when the operating member 21 is rotated to a horizontal position, the engaging member 22 rotates inside, as shown in Figures 6(b) and 6(c). When the operating member 21 is in a horizontal position, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6(c), the release-preventing portion 33 of the engaging member 22 separates from the inner flange portion 12 of the main body 3, releasing the engagement between the release-preventing portion 33 of the engaging member 22 and the main body, making it possible to open the door 2.

[0023] Next, the locking device 20 will be described. The locking device 20 consists of an earthquake detector (earthquake detection means) 30 and a locking mechanism 31. The earthquake detector (earthquake detection means) 30 is a well-known device that switches on and energizes when it receives vibrations exceeding a certain level. For example, one has a structure in which a ball is placed on a stand, and when the ball falls from the stand due to vibration, the switch is activated and energizes.

[0024] As shown in Figure 8, the lock mechanism 31 includes a regulating member 35, a solenoid (drive member) 37, a dog 48, a connecting member 38, a spring 70, a key lock 40, and a key-side drive piece 41. First, I will explain the regulating member 35, the solenoid (driving member) 37, the dog 48, the connecting member 38, and the spring 70. The restricting member 35 is an elongated member with a groove-shaped cross-section, and has a bottom plate portion 57 and a side wall portion 58. A pin 43 is inserted through the vicinity of the upper end of the restricting member 35, and it is supported on the inner wall of the door 2 so as to be able to swing with the pin 43 as a pivot point. In this embodiment, the restricting member 35 is pivotable around the pin 43, and can change its orientation in response to external forces, thereby taking on a locked and unlocked position. In this embodiment, the locked position is when the restricting member 35 is in a near-vertical position, and the unlocked position is when it is in an inclined position. A connection hole 45 is provided in the middle portion of the regulating member 35.

[0025] The solenoid (drive member) 37 has a main body 46, from which a cylindrical movable piece 47 protrudes. The movable piece 47 is normally in a protruding state, and when energized, the movable piece 47 is slightly retracted into the main body 46. In this embodiment, the solenoid (drive member) 37 maintains the retracted state of the movable piece 47 even when the energization is released. As shown in Figure 8, the movable piece 47 is provided with a slit 65 in the vertical direction. The movable piece 47 is also provided with a mounting hole 66 that penetrates horizontally. A sensor 52 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 46 of the solenoid 37. The sensor 52 has a projection 67 that protrudes horizontally from the upper surface of the main body 46 of the solenoid 37, and a slit 68 is provided in the projection 67.

[0026] Dog 48 detects the orientation of the regulating member 35. Dog 48 is a strip-shaped plate with a mounting hole (not shown) in the center. The upper end of the dog 48 is near the sensor 52 attached to the solenoid 37. When the solenoid 37 is not energized and the movable piece 47 is extended, the upper end of the dog 48 is away from the sensor 52. When the movable piece 47 is retracted, the upper end of the dog 48 enters the slit 68 and is detected by the sensor 52.

[0027] The connecting member 38 is a cylindrical member that connects the solenoid (drive member) 37 and the regulating member 35. The connecting member 38 is provided with an elongated hole 50 on its cylindrical side surface that penetrates the opposing wall surface, and a rounded hole 42 on its cylindrical side surface that also penetrates the opposing wall surface. The connecting member 38 is also provided with a slit 72.

[0028] Next, the positional relationship between the regulating member 35, the solenoid (driving member) 37, the connecting member 38, the dog 48, and the spring 70 will be explained. As described above, the regulating member 35 is supported on the inner wall of the door 2 so as to be able to swing with the pin 43 as the pivot point. In this embodiment, the intermediate portion of the regulating member 35 and the movable piece 47 of the solenoid (driving member) 37 are connected via a connecting member 38. The connecting member 38 has one end with an elongated hole 50 formed therein, which is attached to the movable piece 47 of the solenoid (drive member) 37, and a connecting pin 51 is inserted between the two. That is, the connecting pin 51 is inserted between the mounting hole 66 of the movable piece 47 and the elongated hole 50 of the connecting member 38. The dog 48 passes through the slit 72 of the connecting member 38 and penetrates the connecting member 38 vertically. The connecting pin 51 passes through a mounting hole (not shown) provided in the dog 48.

[0029] The other end of the connecting member 38 is located in a groove enclosed by the bottom plate portion 57 and the side wall portion 58 of the regulating member 35. A connecting pin 73 is inserted through the round hole 42 of the connecting member 38 and the connecting hole 45 of the regulating member 35. Therefore, the movable piece 47 of the solenoid 37 and the regulating member 35 are connected via a connecting member 38. However, since the movable piece 47 of the solenoid 37 and the connecting member 38 are connected via an elongated hole 50, linear relative movement between them is permitted within the range of the elongated hole 50. In other words, there is a slight clearance between the movable piece 47 of the solenoid 37 and the connecting member 38. A spring 70 is positioned between the movable piece 47 of the solenoid 37 and the bottom plate portion 57 of the regulating member 35. One end of the spring 70 is substantially in contact with the dog 48. In this embodiment, the regulating member 35 is biased by the spring 70 in a direction away from the solenoid 37.

[0030] Next, the key lock 40 and the key-side drive piece 41 will be described. The lock 40 is a known cylinder lock, with a keyhole 60 at one end and a pivot piece 55 at the other end. When a standard box key 200 is inserted into the keyhole 60 and turned, the pivot piece 55 rotates. The key-side drive piece 41 has a shape that is close to a rectangle when viewed from the front, and has a bulge 53 on the side of one end. Each corner of the key-side drive piece 41 is a gentle arc shape. The key-side drive piece 41 rotates around the pivot center 61. As mentioned above, the key-side drive piece 41 has a shape that is close to a rectangle when viewed from the front, so it has a long side surface 62 and a short side surface 63. If we let X be the perpendicular line drawn from the pivot center 61 to the long side surface 62 and Y be the perpendicular line drawn from the pivot center 61 to the short side surface 63, there is a difference between the two. In this embodiment, the perpendicular line Y drawn from the pivot center 61 to the short side surface 63 is longer than the perpendicular line X drawn to the long side surface 62.

[0031] The key-side drive piece 41 is attached to the rotating piece 55 of the lock 40. When the regular box key 200 is inserted into the keyhole 60 and turned, the rotating piece 55 rotates, and the key-side drive piece 41 attached to the rotating piece 55 rotates around the pivot center 61.

[0032] Each component of the lock mechanism 31 is attached to the inside of the door 2. Focusing on the inside of door 2, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lock mechanism 31 is located on the inside of door 2, near the engaging member 22 of the manual operation unit 15. In other words, in this embodiment, the engaging member 22 of the manual operation unit 15 is located near the free end side (open side) of the door 2, and the lock mechanism 31 is located closer to the center of the door 2 than the pivot point of the engaging member 22. As described above, the lock mechanism 31 includes a regulating member 35, a solenoid (driving member) 37, a connecting member 38, a key lock 40, and a key-side driving piece 41.

[0033] As described above, the regulating member 35 is pivotably supported on the inner wall of the door 2. The key-side drive piece 41 is located on the open side of the door relative to the regulating member 35. The solenoid (drive member) 37 is located closer to the center of the door relative to the regulating member 35. The lock 40 is attached to the inner wall of the door 2, and the keyhole 60 is open to the outside of the door 2 as shown in Figure 1(a). A spring 70 is attached to the dog 48 which is mounted on the solenoid 37, constantly pressing the regulating member 35 toward the key-side drive piece 41. However, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, there is a stopper 56 near the key-side drive piece 41, and the regulating member 35 does not rotate beyond a certain angle, as shown in Figure 7(a). In this embodiment, it is pressed by a spring 70, but it does not move beyond the vertical position. Therefore, the regulating member 35 is always in the vertical position and maintains the locked position.

[0034] The solenoid (driver) 37 is connected to a power source (not shown) via an earthquake detector (earthquake detection means) 30. Therefore, when an earthquake occurs, the switch on the earthquake detector (earthquake detection means) 30 turns on, and power is supplied to the solenoid (driver) 37 from the power source (not shown), causing the movable piece 47 to be pulled in. The power source is a battery and is disconnected from the commercial power supply.

[0035] In this embodiment, the key storage box 1 can be locked with a key 200 for the box. Figure 7(a) shows the positional relationship of each component when the door 2 is locked with the key 200 for the box. In other words, when locking the door 2 with the box key 200, as shown in Figure 7(a), the pivot piece 55 of the lock 40 is rotated so that the long side of the key-side drive piece 41 faces the regulating member 35. As a result, the regulating member 35 is pressed by the spring 70 and becomes vertical. In other words, the regulating member 35 is in the locked position. As a result, the lower end of the restricting member 35 enters the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22, preventing the engaging member 22 from rotating.

[0036] In other words, as described above, in order to open the door 2, it is necessary to operate the operating member 21 to rotate the engaging member 22, changing the engaging member 22 from a horizontal position to a vertical position as shown in Figures 6(a), (b), and (c), thereby disengaging the opening prevention portion 33 of the engaging member 22 from the inner flange portion 12 of the main body portion 3. However, when the long side of the key-side drive piece 41 faces the regulating member 35, the lower end of the regulating member 35 enters the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22, and even if the operating member 21 is to be rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 7(a), the rotation-blocking portion 36 of the engaging member 22 collides with the regulating member 35, preventing further rotation.

[0037] That is, as shown in Figure 7(a), when the regulating member 35 is in the locked position, the lower end of the regulating member 35 enters the rotational trajectory of the rotation-blocking portion 36 of the engaging member 22. From the state in Figure 7(a), when the engaging member 22 is rotated to the left to open the door 2, the rotation-blocking portion 36 collides with the lower end of the regulating member 35 and pushes the regulating member 35 upward. Here, the regulating member 35 is pivotally supported at its upper end by a pin 43, and swings around the pin 43 as a fulcrum. Therefore, even when pressed from below by the rotation-blocking portion 36, no moment is generated with the pin 43 as the fulcrum. As a result, the regulating member 35 remains in the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22 without changing its position. Consequently, the rotation-blocking portion 36 of the engaging member 22 collides with the regulating member 35 and prevents further rotation. In other words, the key storage box 1 becomes locked and the door 2 cannot be opened.

[0038] When the standard box key 200 is inserted into the keyhole 60 and turned, and the short side of the key-side drive piece 41 faces the regulating member 35, as shown in Figure 6, the regulating member 35 is pushed by the short side of the key-side drive piece 41, causing the regulating member 35 to swing against the spring 70, and the free end of the regulating member 35 moves towards the center of the door 2. As a result, the regulating member 35 assumes an unlocked position. In other words, the regulating member 35 swings due to an external force from the key-side drive piece 41 and assumes an unlocked position.

[0039] Although the restricting member 35 is connected to the solenoid (drive member) 37 via the connecting member 38, the connecting member 38 is connected to the movable piece 47 via the elongated hole 50. Therefore, the connecting member 38 and the solenoid (drive member) 37 can move linearly relative to each other within the range of the elongated hole 50. Consequently, when the restricting member 35 is pushed by the short side of the key-side drive piece 41, the solenoid (drive member) 37 does not hinder the swinging of the restricting member 35. As a result, the regulating member 35 is in the unlocked position, the lower end of the regulating member 35 is removed from the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22, and the operating member 21 can be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Therefore, door 2 will be unlocked.

[0040] When an earthquake occurs, the earthquake detector (earthquake detection means) 30 is switched on, and the solenoid (drive member) 37 is energized from a power source (not shown), causing the movable piece 47 to be pulled in. As a result, the restricting member 35 is pulled towards the solenoid (drive member) 37 via the connecting member 38. That is, receiving an external force from the solenoid (drive member) 37, the restricting member 35 swings against the spring 70, and the free end of the restricting member 35 moves towards the center of the door 2. As a result, the restricting member 35 enters the unlocked position, the lower end of the restricting member 35 is removed from the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22, and the operating member 21 can be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Therefore, door 2 will be unlocked.

[0041] In this embodiment, the building key 100 is hooked onto the internal lock 101 of the key storage box 1. With the door 2 closed in this state, the box key 200 is used to move the key-side drive piece 41 to a vertical position, eliminating contact between the key-side drive piece 41 and the regulating member 35, and allowing the regulating member 35 to enter the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22, thereby locking the box. Normally, door 2 cannot be unlocked without using the box key 200, thus preventing the theft of the building key 100.

[0042] When an earthquake occurs, the earthquake detector (earthquake detection means) 30 detects the vibration and switches on, energizing the solenoid (drive member) 37 from a power source (not shown), which pulls in the movable piece 47, and the restricting member 35 is pulled towards the solenoid (drive member) 37 by the external force, changing to the unlocked position, and the lower end of the restricting member 35 comes out of the rotational trajectory of the engaging member 22, resulting in the unlocked state. As a result, evacuees can open the door 2, take out the building key 100 from inside, and go to the evacuation center.

[0043] The key storage box 1 has a reset switch (not shown), and by operating this reset switch, the movable piece 47 of the solenoid (drive member) 37 protrudes. In this embodiment, the solenoid (drive member) 37 maintains the retracted state of the movable piece 47 even when the power supply is released, so the unlocked state is maintained until it is manually reset.

[0044] In this embodiment, when the key storage box 1 is in a state where the door 2 is closed and the locking device 20 is locked, and the manual operating unit 15 is in a state where the engaging member 22 is not engaged with the main body 3, rotating the operating member 21 causes the engaging member 22 to rotate and engage with the inner flange portion 12 of the main body 3. That is, as shown in Figure 12(a), the initial state is with the door 2 closed, the locking device 20 locked, and the manual operating unit 15 with the engaging member 22 disengaged from the main body 3. When the operating member 21 is rotated from this state, as shown in Figure 12(b), the rotation-preventing portion 36 of the engaging member 22 (a) comes into contact with the middle portion of the restricting member 35, pushing the middle portion of the restricting member 35 toward the center of the door 2.

[0045] Here, the restricting member 35 is pivotally supported at its upper end by a pin 43, and since it swings around the pin 43 as a fulcrum, when it is pressed laterally by the rotation-blocking part 36, a moment is generated with the pin 43 as the fulcrum, causing the restricting member 35 to change its orientation. That is, the restricting member 35 swings, allowing the rotation-blocking part 36 to pass through. As a result, the engaging member 22 rotates 90 degrees, and the opening-blocking part 33 of the engaging member 22 engages with the inner flange part 12 of the main body 3. As a result, the door 2 is fixed to the main body 3, and the door 2 cannot be opened. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1: Key storage box, 2: Door, 3: Main body, 15: Manual operation unit, 20: Locking mechanism 21: Operating member, 22: Engaging member, 30: Earthquake detector (earthquake detection means), 31: Locking mechanism, 33: Opening prevention part, 35: Restricting member, 36: Rotation prevention part, 37: Solenoid, 38: Connecting member, 40: Key lock, 41: Key-side drive piece, 47: Movable piece, 70: Spring

Claims

1. A key storage box having a main body and a door that seals the main body, and containing keys inside, comprising an engaging member provided on the door side that engages with the main body side, and an operating member provided on the door side that changes the position of the engaging member, wherein the door cannot be opened when the engaging member engages with the main body side, and the door can be opened by operating the operating member to release the engagement between the engaging member and the main body side, The locking device comprises a regulating member that restricts the movement of the engaging member and prevents the engaging member from being released from its engagement with the main body, an earthquake detection means, a drive member that operates when the earthquake detection means detects an earthquake, a key lock that is rotated by a key, and a key-side drive piece that is interlocked with the key lock. The regulating member can assume a locked position in which it can contact the engaging member and an unlocked position in which it does not contact the engaging member, and the regulating member is normally in the locked position and will assume the unlocked position when subjected to an external force. The key operates the key-side drive piece, and the key-side drive piece applies an external force to the regulating member, making it possible to change the regulating member from a locked position to an unlocked position. It is also possible to apply an external force to the restricting member by the force based on the drive member, thereby changing the position of the restricting member from the locked position to the unlocked position. A key storage box characterized in that, when an earthquake occurs, a drive member is activated and a regulating member is moved to the unlocked position.

2. The regulating member swings around a pivot point. The engaging member is rotatable, The locking position is a state in which the restricting member enters the rotational trajectory of the engaging member, and the key storage box according to claim 1 is characterized in that the restricting member contacts the engaging member and prevents the engaging member from rotating.

3. The key storage box according to claim 2, characterized in that the driving member is a solenoid, which is driven by the flow of electricity and maintains the state it was in when the electricity was flowing even when the electricity is released.

4. The key-side drive piece is located on the open side of the door relative to the regulating member, and pushes the regulating member toward the center of the door, thereby putting the regulating member into the unlocked position. The key storage box according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive member is located closer to the center of the door relative to the regulating member, and the regulating member is brought into the unlocked position by pulling the regulating member toward the center of the door.

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