Combined mechanical and electronic key, in particular for the locks of motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a combined mechanical and key comprising a key housing for electronic components and an L-shape flat key ( ). Said flat key consists of a bearing limb ( ) which enables the key to pivot into a storage position and a shank ( ) which mechanically operates the lock. The shank ( ) of the flat key ( ) can be displaced between an inoperative position, retracted into the key housing and an operative position, in which it projects out of the hosing. A push-button preferably also acts as the pivoting axis for the flat key ( ). The push-button and the housing have profiled sections and the bearing limb has co-operating profiled sections ( ), to subject the flat key ( ) to a force in the operative position and to lock the key in one of its positions. The invention aims to produce a simple, cost-effective key. To this end, the flat key is configured as a planar plate ( ) with an L-shaped outline, the shank ( ) sharing the same plane as the bearing limb. The bearing limb ( ) has an opening ( ) in the plate for receiving, in a rotationally fixed manner, an insert ( ) that has the co-operating profiled section ( to ).