The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1996
D Scott Christie, Weymouth, MA (US);
Thomas Wouters, Port St. Lucie, FL (US);
Audiovox Corporation, Hauppauge, NY (US);
Abstract
A signal transmitter for transmitting control signals is fitted to a key element so that signals can be transmitted to an operating device with which the key is used. Illustrative is the fitting of an automobile ignition key to a fob housing in which the signal transmitter is carried. The head part of an ignition key is subjected to a punching operation to shear off a first portion of the head part leaving a remaining head part portion with wings disposed laterally at opposite sides of the key shank part. Holes are drilled in the remaining head part portion and the remaining head part portion is received in an anchorage in the housing with the key shank extending through a notch in the housing. The remaining head part is then secured to the housing with screws passing through the lateral wing openings and into anchorage posts formed in the housing. A punch unit is provided for modifying a regular ignition key head part and the punch unit has a station at which the modified key is held so that the openings in the lateral wings can be drilled at specified locations related to the locations of the housing anchorage posts. The housing includes two housing parts, one which holds the transmitter and the anchorage area and a second which is assembled together with the first to constitute a closed housing.