Minimalized keys and blanks for same

An improved conventional key blank for forming a minimalized key to operate a particular lock, comprising:

• a conventional key blank corresponding to the lock, having an elongate body with a front end and a rear made contiguous with a wider head, the body having a cross-section defined between parallel sides and parallel edges;
• and
• a transverse groove cut part way into a thickness of the body to extend between the parallel edges, located so that a distance measured from the front end of the body to the transverse groove is larger than a predetermined operational depth of insertion of the body into the lock.

A method of improving a conventional key blank that has an elongate body with a front end and a rear end contiguous with a head and is structured for forming a conventional key for a particular lock, to form a minimalized key blank for the same lock, the method comprising the step of:

• forming into one side of the body a transverse groove located so that a distance measured from the front end of the body to the transverse groove is larger than a predetermined operational depth of insertion of the body into the lock and extending across the width of that side, to a depth sufficient to enable deliberate breaking off of the head from the body at the transverse groove.

A method of forming a minimalized key from a conventional key that has an elongate body with a front end and a rear contiguous with a head and is structured for operating a particular lock, comprising the step of:

• forming an aperture through a thickness of the body at a distance from a distal end of the body that is not less than a predetermined operational depth of key insertion into the lock;
• and
• separating the head from the body.