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US4922736A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Key device incorporating an electronic circuit

Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-10-27
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2008-10-27
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Abstract

Abstract A key device including a key main body for actuating a mechanical lock device, a knob fixedly secured to the base end of the key main body, and an electronic circuit incorporated in the knob of the key device, wherein: the electronic circuit is carried by a flexible printed circuit board which is folded around an edge of the base end of the key main body and at least partly cover the two major surfaces of the base end. Thus, even when the size of the base end of the key main body is increased so as to improve the resistance of the knob against the force which tends to pry open the knob due to the twisting torque acting upon the key main body during use, through such efficient utilization of the internal space of the knob, the circuity can be fitted into the knob without increasing its size. Furthermore, the base end of the key main body serves as a heat sink and a firm support for the circuit and the accessory component parts.

Inventors

  • 👤 Akira Tanaka
  • 👤 Takanori Arima
  • 👤 Ryuji Mori

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 04:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/216; E; E05; E05B; E05B17/00; E05B17/10; E05B17/103; G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00944; G07C2009/00753; G07C2009/00769; G07C2009/00785; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7051; Y10T70/7062; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791; Y10T70/7802; Y10T70/7876

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 84 words
A key device including a key main body for actuating a mechanical lock device, a knob fixedly secured to the base end of said key main body and defining a hollow space therein, and an electronic circuit incorporated in said internal space of said knob, wherein: said base end of said key main body is substantially planar, and said electronic circuit is carried by a printed circuit board which is arranged on a major surface of said base end of said key main body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 84 words
A key device including a key main body for actuating a mechanical lock device, a knob fixedly secured to the base end of said key main body and defining a hollow space therein, and an electronic circuit incorporated in said internal space of said knob, wherein: said base end of said key main body is substantially planar, and said electronic circuit is carried by a printed circuit board which is arranged on a major surface of said base end of said key main body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A key device as defined in claim 1, wherein the knob is provided with a push-button switch which comprises a switch main body which is attached to said printed circuit board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A key device as defined in claim 2, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a transmission circuit for transmitting a radiation signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
A key device as defined in claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board consists of a flexible circuit board which is folded around an edge of said base end of said key main body and at least partly cover the two major surfaces of said base end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 78 words
A key device as defined in claim 4, wherein a part of said printed circuit board is placed on one of said two major surfaces of said base end of said key main body defines a power circuit which includes a contact for an internal battery while the other part of said printed circuit board placed on the other major surface of said base end of said key main body defines a main part of said electronic circuit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4322719A Cited
US4642734A Cited
US4562712A Cited
US4734693A Cited
US4663952A Cited
US4726205A Cited
US4789859A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-05-07 1993-11-06 1994-05-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-05-07 1997-11-06 1998-05-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-05-07 2001-11-06 2002-05-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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