Key storage device

Abstract

A key storage device () has a tubular housing () having an open proximal end () and a distal end (), and a sliding carriage () which is insertable into the proximal end () of the housing (). The sliding carriage () has a compartment () for a key to be stored, and is displaceable between an open position in which a majority of the sliding carriage () is outside of the housing () and the compartment () is accessible for key retrieval, and a closed position in which the majority of the sliding carriage () is inside the housing () and the compartment () is inaccessible. A lock mechanism () is arranged within the tubular housing (). It has a locked state in which the sliding carriage () is kept locked in its closed position and prevented from being displaced to its open position, and an unlocked state in which the sliding carriage () may be displaced to its open position. The lock mechanism () has a piston () and a catch member () which are both movable between respective first positions in the locked state of the lock mechanism () and respective second positions in the unlocked state of the lock mechanism (). An electric motor () is coupled for causing movement of the piston () of the lock mechanism (). A control unit () is adapted to cause the lock mechanism () to switch from its unlocked state to its locked state by actuating the motor () and thereby causing movement of the piston () from its second position to its first position, the movement of the piston () in turn causing movement of the catch member () from its second position to its first position. The control unit () is also adapted, based on an external input (), to allow the lock mechanism () to switch from its locked state to its unlocked state by actuating the motor () and thereby causing movement of the piston () from its first position to its second position, the movement of the piston () in turn allowing movement of the catch member () from its first position to its second position.