Keys are commonly in use which comprise a head portion, which in use is grasped by the user, and a body portion, from which extends a shank adapted to operate a lock, in which the body portion is mounted for movement relative to the head portion, such that when the key is in a position of use, the risk of injury is reduced by the capability of the head portion moving relative to the body portion.

Such a key is hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified.

Conventionally, in a key of the kind specified the body portion and head portion are provided with inter-fitting formations provided with bores through which a hinge pin is inserted. In this manner the key may be operated by rotation of the head portion and hence of the shank, about the longitudinal axis of the shank, whilst relative movement is permitted of the head portion relative to the body portion about the pivot axis.

Thus when the key is inserted into a lock. the likelihood of injury or hurt being caused by inadvertent contact with the head portion is reduced.

Such keys are commonly used in office furniture, such as desk drawers, and in motor vehicles.

Conventionally, keys of the kind specified are complicated in their construction and thus expensive to manufacture, and in consequence their use is not widespread.

According to this invention there is provided a key of the kind specified wherein the head portion is hingeable relative to the body portion, being connected thereto by a web of a flexible material, said web providing means whereby the head portion may move relative to the body portion.

Preferably the head portion is capable of movement relative to the body portion in both directions : in this way injury or hurt is reduced in the event of inadvertent contact with the head portion in either of two opposite transverse directions.

Thus, preferably the head portion and body portion are moulded in one piece, preferably of resilient plastic material, the web constituting a"live" hinge.

The body portion may be moulded around the shank so as to be integral therewith, but preferably means is provided to enable the shank to be secured to the body portion. Thus a supplementary body portion may be utilised (hereinafter referred to for convenience as the second body portion) adapted to be secured to the first said body portion (hereinafter referred to for convenience as the first body portion) in a manner whereby the shank is retained captive therebetween.

Such securement may be effected by the use of adhesive, one of said body parts at least being provided with a recess in which a part of the shank may be located, enabling surface to surface contact between the two body parts securely to retain the shank in a desired position.

Alternatively, or in addition, the second body portion may be press- or snap-fitted onto the first body portion with the shank located there between.

Preferably the first and second body portions are integral, being inter- connected by a web of resilient material, said web providing means whereby one of said body portions may be moved relative to the other between an open position in which a portion of a key shank may be positioned therebetween and a closed position in which the shank may be fixedly retained therewith.

Said body portions may be secured together by adhesive, and/or by press- or snap-fitting as aforesaid.

According to this invention there is also provided a key comprising a head portion, a first body portion, a second body portion and a key shank, the head portion being secured to the first body portion by a first "live"hinge, and the first body portion being secured to the second body portion by a second "live"hinge, the second live hinge providing means whereby the first and second body portions may be moved relative to one another to enable a portion of a key shank to be secured therebetween, and the first live hinge providing means whereby the head portion may be moved relative to the body/shank assembly in either direction about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shank Preferably an aperture is provided between the first and second body portions to enable the shank to be passed partially therethrough, preferably said aperture being located adjacent to the axis of the second live hinge. Preferably each body portion is provided with a recess into which part of the shank may be located, on assembly of the key, at least one or preferably both said recesses being through-extending recesses.

Preferably the head and body portions are moulded of resilient plastics material in one piece.

Preferably the first and second body portions comprise means to enable them to be located relative to one another on movement to their closed positions.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a key which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the key which is the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the components of the key in unassembled condition; FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled key; and FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the key in unassembled condition.

The key which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a head portion 6 and a body 8, comprising first and second body portions 8a, 8b. The assembly of head and body is moulded from resilient plastics material in one piece, the head portion 6 being connected to the first body portion 8a by a transverse web 10 of plastics material of reduced thickness, constituting a "live"hinge and permitting relative pivotal movement between the portions 6 and 8a about the first transverse axis T/A1.

The first and second body portions 8a, 8b are similarly connected together by a web 12 of plastics material of reduced thickness, said web 12 similarly constituting a"live"hinge enabling the two body parts 8a and 8b to be moved relative to one another about a second transverse axis T/A2.

The key also comprises a shank 20, comprising an elongate body 22 and a transversely enlarged head 24.

Extending into an inner face 14 of the first body portion 8a is a recess 15, and extending into an inner face 16 of the second body portion 8b is a recess 17, and extending between the two body portions 8a and 8b, generally on the transverse axis T/A2, is a central aperture 18. Extending upwardly from the inner face 16 is a resilient catch member 19.

In the assembly of the key which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, with the two body portions 8a and 8b in their relative open positions as shown in Figure 2 and 4, the key shank 20 is inserted through the aperture 18, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, generally in the direction indicated by the arrow A. When the key shank 20 is in the mid position, as shown in Figure 4, the key shank 20, and the second body portion 8~, are rotated generally about the axis T/A2, in the directions indicated by the arrows B and C, such that the shank head 24 enters into the recess 15 of the first body portion 8a, and as the two faces 14 and 16 are moved into engagement, the shank head 24 is enclosed by the recess 17 of the second body portion.

The catch member 19 passes through a through-extending portion 15a of the aperture 15, into engagement behind the first body portion, to securely retain the second body portion in its closed position relative to the first body portion, as is shown in Figure 1 and 3. In this position it will be appreciated that the shank projects through the aperture 18, with the live hinge between the head portion and the body portion permitting flexing movement of the assembly consisting of the head portion in either of the opposite directions X and Y about the transverse axis T/A1 relative to the assembly consisting of the body portions and key shank 20 whilst operation of the key, involving the rotation of the shank 20 about the longitudinal axis L/A, may be effected by manual grasping and turning movement of the head portion 6.

In this manner a key of the kind specified may be manufactured and assembled quickly and inexpensively, readily permitting substitution of the moulded part, consisting of the head portion and body portions, or the shank 20, should this be necessary.