US 5,842,362 A · Key management device, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

Abstract

A key management device, comprising a housing member; an access key; a mechanism for locking a key ring to the housing member and releasing the access key when the locking mechanism is in a first position, and for locking the access key to the housing member and releasing the key ring when the locking mechanism is in a second position; wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first member which is movable between the first position in which the key ring is locked to the housing by the first member and the second position in which the key ring is unlocked therefrom, and a second member which is connected to the first member, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the first position the second member releases the access key from the housing member and when the first member is in the second position the second member locks the access key to the housing; and wherein the access key is slidingly received by the housing member and engages with the first member such that insertion of the access key within the housing moves the locking mechanism from the second position to the first position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A key management device for use with a key ring, said device comprising:

an access key;
a hollow housing member;
means for locking a key ring to said housing member and releasing said access key when said locking means is in a first position, and for locking said access key to said housing member and releasing said key ring when said locking means is in a second position;
said locking means comprising:
a first member which is adapted to be movable between said first position in which the key ring is lockable to said housing by said first member and said second position in which the key ring is unlockable therefrom, and
a second member which is connected to said first member,
wherein when said locking means is in said first position said second member releases said access key from said housing, and when said locking means is in said second position said second member locks said access key to said housing;
and further wherein said access key is slidingly received by said housing member and engages with said first member such that insertion of said access key within said housing moves said locking means from said fist position to said second position, without requiring turning movement of said access key.

5 more elements

A device for use with and for retaining one or more key rings, comprising:

at least one housing member;
at least one access key;
locking means for retaining a key ring by said housing member and releasing an access key therefrom when in a first state, and for retaining said access key and releasing the key ring when in a second state;
wherein said locking means is adapted to be movable from said first state to said second state by insertion of said access key within said housing member without requiring turning movement of said access key, and adapted to be movable from said second state to said first state by engagement of the key ring with at least one of said housing member and said locking means;
and
wherein said locking means includes a resilient portion which is adapted to unlock said locking means from said second state when said resilient portion is temporarily displaced from its position at rest by engagement with the key ring.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Key management device, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

Life of this patent

Key management device, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20