Key

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9758988-B2
Application number	US-201715425349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2017
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing a key for operating a mechanical lock, the method comprising:
providing a head portion of the key;
providing a lock-engaging portion of the key;
providing a joining portion for joining the head portion to the lock-engaging portion, the joining portion comprising a shape memory material, the shape memory material reversibly deforming without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, the first turning force being lower than a second turning force, the second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of one of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion; and
forming the key from the head, lock-engaging and joining portions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material is a shape memory metal alloy.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises:
positioning the head portion and the lock-engaging portion at opposite ends of the joining portion; and
fixing the head portion and the lock-engaging portion to the joining portion at their respective opposite ends.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fixing comprises one of:
a bonding process; a push-fit process; or a metallurgical process.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises a casting process.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the head portion or the lock-engaging portion further comprises the shape memory material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the joining portion comprises a hollow cross-section for at least part of the joining portion's length.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a weaker portion of the lock-engaging portion, the weaker portion being constructed so as to break when the second turning force is exceeded.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing the lock-engaging portion with a hollow chamber fully enclosed once key construction is complete and exposed on breaking at the weaker portion, the hollow chamber containing an air-setting fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the air-setting fluid comprises an air-setting adhesive composition.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Baki Abdul
• Holyoake Colin I
• Kockott Matthew J
• Owen John A
• Postlethwaite Richard
• Woods Joanne E

Classifications

• E05B19/04

  Construction of the bow {or head} of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank · CPC title

• E05B19/26 Primary

  Use of special materials for keys {(fluorescent E05B17/106; magnets E05B47/0038)} · CPC title

• B22D25/02

  by its peculiarity of shape; of works of art {(cylinders, pistons B22D15/02)} · CPC title

• B23K31/02

  relating to soldering or welding · CPC title

• B22D21/005

  with high melting point, e.g. Be 1280 degrees C, Ti 1725 degrees C · CPC title