Mechanical key

A mechanical key comprising:

• a grip including a socket;
• a key plate fixed to the grip and having a thickness, a length, and a width, the key plate including a blade and a shank at opposite ends of the length, each having a width in a lateral direction perpendicular to the length, which is inserted into the socket in an insertion direction, with the shank having a distal part;
• the socket of the grip including a movement restriction portion for abutting against the shank of the key plate and restricting movement of the shank relative to the grip in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction;
• and
• the width in the lateral direction of the entire shank of the key plate being smaller than the width in the lateral direction of the entire blade, and the shank including a pivot restriction portion for restricting pivoting of the key plate about the distal part of the shank;
• wherein the pivot restriction portion includes a shoulder having two opposed inclined surfaces extending continuously from the blade, with the distance between the inclined surfaces being increased toward the blade;
• the socket includes an edge for each of the inclined surfaces of the shoulder, with the edge abutting against the corresponding one of the inclined surfaces of the shoulder when the shank is inserted into the socket so that the edge is mated with the shoulder under pressure to restrict pivoting of the key plate;
• and
• the movement restriction portion and the pivot restriction portion are spaced apart from each other in the insertion direction so as to restrict displacement of the key plate at different locations in the insertion direction in a state in which the shank is inserted into the socket, with the pivot restriction portion being located closer to the blade of the key plate than the movement restriction portion in such inserted state;
• and
• the shank includes a further edge, extending in the insertion direction, for abutting against the movement restriction portion when the shank is inserted into the socket;
• and
• the movement restriction portion includes a guide for abutting against and guiding the further edge of the shank when the shank is inserted into the socket, the guide being mated with the further edge under pressure so as to restrict movement of the key plate;
• and
• wherein the further edge is one of two abutment edges, the guide is one of two guides, and the two guides are mated with the corresponding abutment edges under pressure to restrict movement of the key plate relative to the socket.