Mechanical Key Socket Structure for Stable Key Plate Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recent mechanical keys used in electronic key systems have become shorter to improve portability, making it difficult to ensure proper positioning and secure insertion of the key plate into the grip, leading to potential looseness and instability.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical key design featuring a grip with a socket that includes movement restriction and guide features, such as inclined surfaces and tapered surfaces, to securely position and fix the key plate, preventing movement and pivoting, ensuring accurate alignment and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the mechanical key is made shorter to improve portability, then the key plate insertion depth is reduced, but the positioning accuracy and stability of the key plate relative to the grip deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grip as an intermediary component between the key plate and the external environment. The grip includes a socket with movement restriction portions that actively constrain the key plate's shank, preventing inclination and loosening. This intermediary structure compensates for the reduced insertion depth caused by the shorter key design, maintaining positioning accuracy without requiring the key to be longer.
2Volume of moving object
If the mechanical key is made shorter to improve portability, then the overall device size is reduced, but the key plate may become loose and difficult to position
Solution Approach 1:
The grip serves as a mediator that enhances key plate stability through its socket structure. The socket includes movement restriction portions that abut against the shank, preventing the key plate from becoming loose. This intermediary mechanism ensures reliable positioning even with the reduced key length required for compact portable device accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the grip's socket to include specific movement restriction portions. These structural parameter changes create active constraints on the key plate's shank, preventing inclination and loosening. By modifying the socket's geometric parameters to include these restriction features, the system maintains key plate stability despite the shorter key length needed for compact device size.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical key for accommodation in a portable device for use in an electronic key system. The mechanical key is provided with a grip including a socket and a key plate fixed to the grip. The key plate includes a blade and a shank, which is inserted into the socket. The shank includes a first edge for abutting against the socket when the shank is inserted into the socket and a shoulder extending from the blade. The socket includes a guide for abutting against and guiding the first edge of the shank when the shank is inserted into the socket. The guide is mated with the first edge under pressure. The socket further includes a second edge for abutting against the shoulder when the shank is inserted into the socket. The second edge is mated with the shoulder under pressure.