TAGGING OF KEYS

THIS INVENTION relates to the tagging of keys. In particular, the invention relates to a key holder and a key tag assembly, the key tag assembly including such key holder. The invention also relates to a method of tagging a key.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Access to a key in a cabinet may be controlled by a key tag attached to the key and containing a micro-chip which stores a unique identifier of the key. The key tag is attached to the key by means of a flexible security seal, for example a cable, and includes electronic control means for mechanically locking and unlocking the key tag in a position in the cabinet, the control means including an interface. Access to the key in the cabinet by a user is determined by the user permissions associated with the unique identifier of the key. Key tags of the kind are known in the trade as, for example, a Traka iFob. The iFob key tag comprises an elongated, cylindrical body, the body housing the micro-chip and the body including a bullet-shaped interface through which the micro-chip is read and programmed.

Trapped-key interlocks are mechanical control mechanisms attached to pipe fittings (such as a valve which regulates the flow of substances in an industrial plant). Such interlocks implement a safe sequence of operation in a process activity by determining a user's ability to lock or unlock a valve by inserting or removing a key from the interlock. When removed from the interlock, the key is stored at a central location, such as a key cabinet, and uniquely identified by the key's physical location in the cabinet. Keys of the kind in question are known by trade names such as Smith Flow Control keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a key holder which includes a rigid housing, the rigid housing including key attachment means operable to attach at least one key to the key holder and tag attachment means, the tag attachment means operable to slideably receive at least one key tag, the housing including a cavity, the cavity including at least two openings to an outside of the rigid housing, at least one of the at least two openings being substantially cylindrical in shape and dimensioned to insertably receive the at least one key tag of similar form. In use, the at least one of the at least two openings may provide access to an interface of the key tag, by for example a key tag reader.

The key attachment means may be operable to slideably attach the at least one key to the key holder.

The at least another of the at least two openings to the outside of the rigid housing may be operable to receive a slideable handle of the at least one key tag whereby the at least one key tag may be accessed and shifted. The slideable handle may be in the form of a locating pin screw that may be attached to the key tag. In use, the locating pin screw may be attached to the key tag after inserting of the key tag into the cavity via the at least one opening such that a screw thread of the locating pin screw is aligned with the at least another opening of the rigid housing to allow the pin screw to be fastened to the key tag. The handle, i.e. the pin screw, may be operable to shift the key tag from a position in which the key tag is fully inserted into the cavity to a position in which the key tag is partly inserted into the cavity so that the interface of the key tag is exposed.

The key attachment means may be in the form of a slot extending along an outer side of the rigid housing, the slot operable to slideably locate the at least one key on the rigid housing. A cross-sectional profile of the slot may correspond to and be complimentary of a cross-sectional profile of a grip of the at least one key.

The outer side of the rigid housing may define a recessed channel substantially along the outer side of the housing, the channel including a restrictive ledge integrally formed with the rigid housing and whereby the grip of the at least one key may be slideably retained.

The another of the at least two openings to the outside of the rigid housing may be a groove, the groove extending substantially along the length of the rigid housing and the groove including a hook end.

The cavity may include biasing means, such as a spring, at an end of the cavity furthest from the at least one of the at least two openings, the spring operable to urge the slideable handle against the hook end of the groove to locate the key tag in the cavity.

The recessed channel may include at least one locating hole operable to receive a key locating pin for substantially restricting sliding of the at least one key.

The restrictive ledge may be widened at one end of the rigid housing to operably receive a security seal, such as a cable seal, the cable seal operable to lock the at least one key in the key holder. To this end, the rigid housing may include cable holes through which a cable of the security seal may be threaded and looped.

The rigid housing may be of an anodized machined aluminium alloy. The aluminium alloy may ideally be specified as having elements of 6061 and a temper of T6. Ideally, the housing may be green or red anodized.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a key tag assembly, the assembly including: a key holder as hereinbefore described having the rigid housing, the rigid housing including key attachment means operable to slideably attach the at least one key to the key holder, the tag attachment means wherein the at least one key tag is slideably received, the at least one key tag having an electronic interface, such as an iFob key.

The at least one key tag of the assembly includes the slideable handle for operatively shifting the at least one key tag in the cavity, the slideable handle inserted through the another of the at least two openings.

The assembly may include the at least one key at least partly slideably attached to the key holder.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of tagging a key, the method including: attaching a key of a trapped-key interlock to key attachment means of a key holder which includes a rigid housing, the rigid housing including key attachment means operable to slideably attach a key to the key holder and tag attachment means, the tag attachment means operable to slideably receive a key tag; and attaching the key tag to the key holder.

The method may include, prior to attaching the key of the trapped-key interlock to the key attachment means of the key holder, inserting of the key into the trapped key interlock.

Attaching of the key to the key attachment means may include inserting of the key into a slot of the key holder.

Attaching of the key to the key attachment means may include securing the key in the key holder.

Attaching of the key tag to the key holder may include urging of the key tag against biasing means of the key holder.

Attaching of the key tag to the key holder may include inserting of the key tag into the key holder by a bolt-action.

The invention is now described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings:

DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a key holder in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a sectional side-elevation of a key holder in accordance with the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a three dimensional view of a key holder in use and according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a sectional side-elevation of a key tag assembly in use and according to another aspect of the invention.

Unless otherwise indicated, like reference numerals denote like parts in the figures.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In figure 1 and figure 3, reference numeral 100 generally designates a key holder according to one aspect of the invention. The key holder 10 has a rigid housing 12 of a machined aluminium alloy 6061 -T6. The rigid housing 12 is anodized in either red or green.

The body 12 has key attachment means defined by a slot 14, the slot 14 extending along an outer side 18 of the rigid housing 12 and operable to slideably receive a trapped-interlock key, for example a Smith Flow Control key or Nether Lock key (not shown here). A cross-sectional profile of the slot 14 corresponds to and is complimentary to a cross-sectional profile of a grip of the key. The slot 14 is defined by a recessed channel 20 which extends substantially along the outer side 18 of the housing 12, the channel 20 having a restrictive ledge 22 and 24 integrally formed with the rigid housing and whereby the grip of the key may be slideably retained. The ledge

is operable to restrict movement of the trapped-interlock key along the width of the rigid body 12. The recessed channel 20 has locating holes in the form of screw holes (of which only one is designated by numeral 26), the screw holes operable to receive key locating pins, i.e. screws (not shown) for substantially restricting sliding of the key. Thus, in use, the screws are fastened in the screw holes to restrict movement of the trapped-interlock key in the channel 20 when the key is inserted into the key holder 100.

The rigid housing 12 has tag attachment means that include a cavity 16 within the rigid body 12 for slideably attaching a key tag, in this case a cylindrical key tag in the form of what is known in trade as an iFob (not shown here) to the key holder 100. The cavity 16 has one opening 28 of at least two openings to the outside of the rigid housing, the opening 28 cylindrically shaped and dimensioned to insertably receive the key tag. In use, the opening 28 provides access to an interface of the key tag, by for example a key tag reader (not shown).

Another opening of the at least two openings to the outside of the rigid housing is a groove 30, the groove extending substantially along the length of the rigid housing 12 and the groove including a hook end 31.

In figure 2, reference numeral 200 designates a sectional side-elevation of the key holder 100 of figure 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In figure 2, the key holder 100 again shows the rigid housing 12.

The rigid housing 12 has the key attachment means defined by the slot 14, the slot 14 extending substantially along the outer side 18 of the rigid housing 12. The outer side 18 has locating means in the form of the screw holes (of which the one is designated as 26). The housing 12 has the tag attachment means defined by the cavity 16 and has the one opening 28 of the at least two openings. The body 12 has the groove 30.

Referring now to figure 3, reference numeral 300 generally shows the key holder of figures 1 and 2 in use with a key, in this case a Smith Flow Control key 302 of a trapped-key interlock (not shown) attached to the key holder 300.

The key 302 is slideably inserted into the slot 14 of the key holder. The key 302 is located in the slot of the key holder by locating screws (of which only one is designated as 26) for substantially restricting sliding of the key in the slot . At 305, a widening in the slot is clearly visible. The widening 305 is operative to receive a security seal i.e. a cable seal 303 (shown in broken lines for illustrative purposes), the cable seal 303 operable to lock the key 302 in the slot 14 of the key holder 300. To this end, the rigid housing 12 includes cable holes, of which one is numbered as 309, through which a cable 307 of the seal 303 is threaded and looped.

Referring now to figure 4, numeral 400 designates a sectional side-elevation of a key tag assembly according to another aspect of the invention in use, the assembly including the key holder 300 of figure 3 and a key tag namely an iFob 304. The assembly is shown using the Smith Flow control key 302 in broken lines for illustrative purposes, the key 302 having a grip 306.

The at least another opening to the outside of the rigid housing in the form of the groove 30 receives a slideable handle in the form of a locating pin screw 40 attached to the key tag 304 whereby the key tag 304 may be accessed and shifted. In use, the locating pin screw 40 may be attached to the key tag 304 after inserting of the key tag into the cavity 16 through the groove 30 by screwing the locating pin screw 40 into the key tag 304. The slideable handle, i.e. the pin screw 40, is operable to shift the key tag 304 from a position in which the key tag is fully inserted into the cavity to a position in which the key tag is partly inserted into the cavity so that the interface of the key tag is exposed.

The cavity 16 includes biasing means in the form of a spring 402 at an end of the cavity 16 furthest from the opening 28, the spring 402 operable to urge the slideable handle 40 against the hook end 31 of the groove 30 to locate the key tag 402 in the cavity 16 of the key holder.