Key With Movable Element Integrated Into Blade Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiple-part keys with movable elements often project outside the rectangular profile of the key blade, increasing the risk of damage and key size, and fail to integrate the movable element within the blade's shape to match the keyway contours.
Innovation Solution
A key with a movable element integrated into the blade, featuring a recessed design where the element slides within the blade, maintaining the rectangular profile and matching keyway contours, allowing it to move between positions to interact with locking elements without extending beyond the blade's dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the movable element projects outside the rectangular profile of the key blade, then the movable element can effectively engage with locking elements, but the key blade size increases and the movable element becomes more susceptible to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The movable element is nested within a recess in the key blade, allowing it to be contained within the blade's rectangular profile while still performing its engagement function. The recess provides a controlled environment for the movable element to slide between engaged and disengaged positions without projecting outside the blade boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing the movable element to project outward in the horizontal dimension, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by creating a recess that accommodates the movable element's sliding motion. This dimensional reorganization allows the element to maintain effective engagement while staying within the blade's external profile.
2Reliability
If the movable element projects outside the rectangular profile of the key blade, then the movable element can effectively engage with locking elements, but the movable element becomes more susceptible to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The movable element is nested within a recess in the key blade, allowing it to be contained within the blade's rectangular profile while still performing its engagement function. The recess provides a controlled environment for the movable element to slide between engaged and disengaged positions without projecting outside the blade boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess acts as a protective cushioning structure that absorbs and distributes forces applied to the movable element. By providing a recessed environment rather than an exposed position, the design beforehand cushions the movable element against damage from impact, bending, or other harmful external factors.
3Shape
If the movable element is integrated into the key blade with a recessed design, then the key blade maintains its rectangular profile, but the movable element must precisely match keyway contours
Solution Approach 1:
The key blade exhibits local quality variation where the majority of the blade maintains a simple rectangular profile, while the recess area contains the complex contoured movable element. This allows the manufacturing precision requirements to be localized to the recess and movable element interface, rather than requiring the entire blade to have complex contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The key blade is segmented into two functional zones: the main blade body with rectangular profile and the recess containing the contoured movable element. This segmentation separates the simple structural requirements from the complex engagement requirements, allowing each part to be optimized and manufactured independently with appropriate precision levels.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A key with one or more movable elements (110) that slide within the blade (100) of a substantially flat key for operating a lock includes a blade (100) configured to be inserted into a keyway of a lock and including contour features formed on an outer surface of the blade that mate with corresponding contour features of the keyway. The key includes at least one movable element (110) disposed within a recess formed in the blade (100) and including a contour surface exposed to the exterior of the key blade (100). The contour surface may include external contour features that correspond in shape to at least a portion of the contour features of the keyway. The movable element (110) may be movable within the recess, when it engages a blocking member within the keyway, and after such movement, the element will engage a locking element within the lock.