Electronic key

Claim 1

A key-like device having head and insert-body portions, the insert-body portion being adapted for insertion into a receptacle and rotation therein to a "locked" position and including: two sets of generally oppositely disposed spaced grooves transversely extending over the surface of the insert-body of the key so as to be in alignment with the rotational movement of the insert-body when rotated in a receptacle, an electrical circuit element encapsulated within the key, a plurality of spaced electrical contacts formed by a plurality of electrical leads connected to the electrical circuit element, each of the leads extending outwardly from the key body and lying in a respective groove thereby forming a plurality of spaced electrical contacts on the key body, each contact having a certain contact dimension in each respective groove and defining leading and trailing ends with respect to the rotational direction of key rotation, and at least one switch contact in a respective groove, the switch contact having a certain contact dimension defined by leading and trailing ends which is smaller than that of the spaced electrical contacts, the leading ends of the switch contact being spaced behind the leading ends of the other contacts with respect to rotation to the "locked" position whereby switch contact is 37 made" after the other contacts are "made."