Retractable Key Holder Non-Coaxial Release Button Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key-holders with retractable keys for vehicle locks have aesthetic drawbacks due to a small and edge-located release button, limiting design flexibility and causing the trademark or logo to rotate with the key, resulting in an unattractive and restricted geometric design.
Innovation Solution
A key-holder design featuring a supporting body with a non-coaxial release button that is angularly fixed, allowing for a larger surface area for branding and independent positioning, along with an elastic mechanism and angular retaining device to facilitate key rotation and automatic extension, while housing a remote control for antitheft activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the release button is located close to an edge of the supporting body and made coaxial with the hinge axis, then the key-holder structure is compact, but the trademark or logo area is limited and rotates with the key, reducing aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The release button is repositioned from a coaxial location on the hinge axis to a non-coaxial location offset from the hinge axis. This spatial reconfiguration in another dimension allows the button to maintain compactness while providing sufficient area for branding and preventing logo rotation during key operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The release button is deliberately positioned asymmetrically relative to the hinge axis, breaking the coaxial symmetry. This asymmetric placement allows the button to remain compact while providing a stable, non-rotating reference point for logos or trademarks, thereby improving aesthetic appeal without sacrificing compactness.
2Volume of moving object
If the release button is located close to an edge of the supporting body, then the key-holder structure is compact, but the design flexibility and geometric freedom are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the release button from the hinge axis to a non-coaxial position offset from the hinge axis, the design gains freedom in the spatial arrangement dimension. This allows the button to be positioned optimally for both compactness and design flexibility, enabling greater geometric freedom while maintaining a compact overall structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the release button is made coaxial with the hinge axis, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the trademark or logo rotates with the key during extraction and retraction, affecting aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The release button is positioned asymmetrically relative to the hinge axis, breaking the coaxial arrangement. This asymmetric positioning prevents the logo or trademark on the button from rotating with the key during extraction and retraction operations, maintaining consistent logo orientation and improving aesthetic appearance while remaining manufacturable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances aesthetics by maintaining a consistent logo orientation and providing a more compact, user-friendly, and customizable key-holder with improved geometric flexibility, accommodating a larger branding area without compromising functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The key is pushed automatically by an elastic device into the extracted position when the key release button is pressed
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A key-holder (1) with a retractable key (2), in particular for a vehicle lock; the key (2) is fitted to a supporting body (3) to rotate about a hinge axis (19) between an extracted position for insertion inside a lock, and a withdrawn position alongside the supporting body (3); an angular retaining device retains the key (2) in the withdrawn position; a button (31) is movable along a release axis (20) from a raised position to a lowered position to release the angular retaining device and permit rotation of the key (2); and the hinge and release axes (19, 20) are parallel and spaced apart.