There was a time when my key ring held about 10 keys (work, school, PO Box, etc.) Lugging all that jangly metal around made me resemble Jacob Marley.
Today I carry just two: car and house. What a relief! Partially made possible by years of casting most off lockable possessions, and storing certain keys only where needed (e.g. the bike lock key is kept on the bike lock when it’s not locked.) However, the most important innovation was moving into a house that had identical locks on the front door and garage.
I would like to extend this pattern to further reduce the number. My intention is to go to the hardware store and buy a set of six locks that all use the same key. I will install them on the front door and back door of my house, the garage door, and (here’s the original idea) the doors and ignition of my car.
Sure, it will look a little funny using a house key to start my car, (not to mention the handsome brass knobs on the doors) but it will allow me to carry a single key.-- AO, May 16 2003 Single Car House Key http://www.halfbake...Door_2fCar_20Toggle [DrCurry, Oct 05 2004] Single Electronic Key http://www.halfbake...computerized_20lockGoing even further. [DrCurry, Oct 05 2004] Smells Similar http://www.halfbake...27s_20Best_20Friend [theircompetitor, Oct 05 2004] I saw a program a couple of years ago that invented central lock for a house which locked all doors and windows with just one press of a button.-- sufc, May 16 2003 I like it, but have concerns about the security issue. It's one big basket full of eggs should you lose it...-- saker, May 16 2003 So in day to day use your going to save carrying ONE key around?
How about storing a Public Key encrypted key on your IR/bluetooth/802.11b mobile phone that accesses your house, car, bike, garage, office and wife's chastity belt?-- scubadooper, May 16 2003 True, saker, but as it now, if I lose one key, I’ve lost them both since they’re connected via the key ring.-- AO, May 16 2003 I will give a croissant for the image of a handsom brass knob on my car.-- Worldgineer, May 16 2003 Someone famous (like Frank Sinatra) used a single key for every house he had in the world.-- DrCurry, May 16 2003 So it’s a master key?-- Shz, May 16 2003 [Worldgineer] Agreed. I think we could all use a handsome brass knob. On the other hand, [AO], I'm convinced that cars are going to dispense with the key altogether soon. Then you'll just carry the key fob remote and put your other keys on it.-- ConsultingDetective, Feb 19 2004 While I don't like the security risks, I love the idea of brass doorknobs on my car......Of course, my front grille is made out of PVC pipe.....-- normzone, Feb 19 2004 How about a deadbolt for your front door that works like your remote key on your car. It would be set to work on the same frequency as your car, so when you push the button to lock your car, the house unlocks and vise versa. This would free up your hands when carrying items, and reduce the number of keys you need to carry.-- bkokoski, Jul 03 2008 I have a deadbolt on my front door that works on a remote. Best thing I ever bought. So really I have a fob that opens the front door and the garage, a fob for the car and key for the car. If I had a Lexus then you don't need a key you just have a fob. My boss has a fob that operates his car and opens his garage door. So baked, not one key, but one fob.-- MisterQED, Jul 03 2008 Reading this again, I think you'd actually solve another issue. Ever lose your car key? It's not a small or cheap matter to re-key your car locks and ignition. It's expensive because you have to go to your car dealer to do this, and they can charge whatever they want. Now if these all used interchangable door locks, they'd be cheap and easy to re-key.
(yes this is becoming less of an issue with fobs, but I hate how large and bulky fobs are compared with a house key)-- Worldgineer, Jul 03 2008 random, halfbakery