Key Holder

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to any application where keys as those commonly found in homes and offices must be periodically handled and used. It is particularly applicable to the use of pocket key cases to prevent wear and unsightly bulges in clothes where compactness and ease of selection of the proper key is essential.

2. Prior Art

The use of keyholders within key cases has been prevalent for many years wherever keys must be used and selected in an orderly manner, and carried where damage might occur to clothing or compactness is desirable. The prior art includes the following patents:

R. H. Wendt, U.S. Pat. No. 2,564,242

Castro, U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,537

Rubenstein, U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,137

Campbell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,541,333

Hawes, U.S. Pat. No. 2,360,675

Wright, U.S. Pat. No. 2,270,015

Nevesink, U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,041

Heiring, U.S. Pat. No. 1,843,923

Nasser, U.S. Pat. No. 2,130,469

This invention stems from the inventor's own dissatisfaction with such prior and current art. This dissatisfaction culminated in a new method of retaining keys inside a key case in a more compact manner while also allowing greater flexibility, spacing, and ease of use of a selected key for its intended purpose than earlier designs.

An important part of this invention lies in the unique combination of two developments. The first development is the use of a single loop keyholder within the case of a triangular configuration with semicircular corners where the legs and the base of the triangle intersect. The triangular shape allows for more compact storage of the keys in an upside-down disposition within the key case due to its flat base. When the keys are in their "storage" disposition, the key case need only be as long as the longest key with no bulk above or below the keys necessary for their attachment to the key case (see dimensional arrows B, FIG. 3). The triangular shape of the key holder loop also allows for more freedom of movement of the keys. The legs of the triangle facilitate random manipulation of all the keys in the "key-in-use" position, FIG. 1, as it allows maximum spacing between the triangular configuration and the key case. The corner attachment of the triangular key holder further allows a point to which unused keys may fall in the "key-in-use" position. Since a key in use always seeks the corner of the triangular configuration and the corner of the triangle is always the furtherest distance from the key case due to the universal coupling, there is greater freedom of movement and separation of the key in use from the other keys than in previous designs (note dimensional arrows A of FIG. 1).

The semicircular corners of the triangular configuration allow the keys to move freely from the triangle base to the legs of the triangle during the transitions between the "key-in-use" mode and the "storage" mode. They also allow better control of the key in use because it is "confined" to the semicircle corner and cannot slide about as it might if a completely circular key holder configuration were used.

The second unique development which contributes to the advantages of this invention is the double hinged pivot means universally attaching the triangular loop keyholder to the case body. This allows a greater degree of freedom in manipulation of the triangular loop keyholder while it is in the "key-in-use" position, FIG. 1, and aids in storage of the keys.

Therefore, the combination of the unique developments of the triangular loop keyholder and the universal means of attaching it to the key case create advantages in ease of use and selection of keys, and in compact storage size not found in the prior art. (See height and depth dimensional arrows B and C in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the key case of the present invention with the case open showing the triangular loop keyholder in the "key-in-use" disposition with the position of the exemplary key not in use hanging from one of its legs.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the flaps of the cover completely open showing the first step in repositioning the keys and the triangular keyholder for storage; note that the directional arrows indicate one of the two degrees of freedom allowed by the double hinge attachment mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a plan view with the flaps of the closed cover in phantom line showing the internal triangular keyholder in the same position as in FIG. 2, but with the keys rotated up about the base of the triangular keyholder to their storage disposition.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the key case with the flaps closed showing the compact nature (depth C) of the key case with the keys in storage disposition.

FIG. 5 is a partial, side, cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment, taken along sections lines 5--5 of FIG. 2, showing the back of the key case and its connection with the key holder and illustrating the other degree of freedom of the triangular keyholder due to the double hinge mechanism (note directional arrows).

The preferred embodiment of the key case 10 of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a soft, flexible case body of leather or like synthetic or cloth material which is capable of enclosing the keys 30, 31 in their storage position (FIG. 3). Contained within the case 10 is a single key holding loop means 20 having a triangular configuration to retain and hold the keys 30, 31, with a universal double hinge mechanism 21 for attaching the loop means 20 to the case body 10. It is noted that the keys 30, 31 have holes at their bases through which the loop 20 extends with the key shanks extending away from the loop 20.

The case body 10, which includes a back section 15 and side, cover flaps 16 and 17, can be made of a hinged, rigid material, but a soft, tough, flexible material, as used in the prior art, is preferred. In the unfolded, flat position of FIG. 2 the case body 10 is generally of rectangular shape and is equipped with a securing male/female snap 13, 14 which keeps the case body 10 in the closed, storage disposition shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is noted that, when in the storage disposition, the keys lie side-by-side at an angle (for example fifteen degrees) to the base 23 with the keys in partial face-to-face engagement (note FIG. 4) with the shanks of the keys extending from the base side 23 upwardly toward the attachment mechanism 21.

The single loop key holding means 20 for retaining the keys 30, 31 in the key case 10 has a triangular configuration to maximize the efficiency of size in the "B" dimension, note FIG. 3, and facilitates selection and use of the keys as needed. A spring hook 25 at the end of the first leg 24 of the triangular configuration may be unhooked from the second leg 22 due to the elasticity or springiness of the wire material of the triangular key holder 20. The wire material of the loop 20 is rigid in the sense that it is at least self-supporting and retains a basic, set shape in use but can be of springy material at least at its hook end 25 to usually hold itself together in its latched position. This allows keys to be added or substracted from the triangular keyholder 20. The triangular keyholder 20 allows keys 30, 31 to be positioned in the case body 10 in such a way that the longest key in storage should just about equal the entire length B of the case body as shown in FIG. 3. The triangular keyholder 20 further allows greater separation of the key 30 in use from the key(s) 31 not in use and from the case body 10 (see generally dimension A, FIG. 1). This allows greater flexibility and control of the exemplary key 30 when in use.

Semicircular corners 27, 28 connect the legs 22, 24 with the triangle base 23. The semicircular corners 27, 28 facilitate the movement of the exemplary keys 30, 31 between the "key-in-use" disposition, FIG. 1, and the "storage" disposition about the triangle base 23, FIGS. 3 and 4.

The double hinge connection 21 of the key holding loop 20 to the case 10 allows the triangular configured key-holder 20 to swing into the "key-in-use" disposition, FIG. 1, from the "storage" disposition, FIGS. 3 and 4, along any combination of the two directional arrow arcs illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. Also see FIG. 1. The metal double hinge or swivel mount mechanism 21 attaches to the back 15 of the case body 10 at a metal base strip 11 by means of rivets 12.

The double hinge or swivel mount 21, as best seen in FIG. 5, comprises a base socket 21 in which a pin 21a rotatably rides allowing for complete rotational freedom of movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the back side 15 of the case 10 (as indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 2). Additionally the key-holder loop 20 terminates in two lateral pins 26 which rotatably ride in opposed sockets in the sides of the pin 21a, allowing for complete rotational freedom of movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the side of the pin 21a (as indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 5). The opposed sockets in the pin 21a can be formed merely by putting a lateral hole through and across the pin 21a into which the loop pins 26 are inserted.

In order to better understand the interrelationships of the case body 10, the triangular configured loop 20, and the double hinge pivot mechanism 21, the following exemplary method of operation is described.

The following sequence of operation allow use of the key case 10 beginning in the closed or storage disposition, FIGS. 4 and 5:

1. Snap 13, 14 is unsnapped and the flaps 16 and 17 of the flexible case 10 are opened to expose the keys 30, 31, in their storage disposition, FIG. 3.

2. A key 30 may be selected from the neat, orderly row of keys (two being illustrated for exemplary purposes, but usually many more would be present) retained along the triangle base 23. By grasping only the selected key 30, the case body 10 and the other unselected key(s) 31 will fall down to the attachment corner of the triangular configuration as illustrated in FIG. 1. The key 30 in use is thus fully exposed and separated from the case 10 and the other keys by a significant distance (note dimensional arrows A), allowing for easy handling and manipulation of the key 30 (note directional arrows in FIG. 1) when being inserted into a lock.

In order to store the keys after use of the preselected key 30, the following steps can be used.

1. The case 10 is held in one hand in an upright position as indicated in FIG. 1. With a slight flip of the case body 10 in a circular, upward motion, the triangular key holder 20 will swing down into the position shown in FIG. 2 primarily about the second axis of rotation indicated by the directional arrows of FIG. 5.

2. The keys 30, 31 are then pivoted in an upward direction about the triangle base 23. This may be done by placing the case body 10 in the palm of one hand and placing the thumb on the upper, attachment corner of the loop 20 in order to hold it stationary and flipping the keys in an upward direction about the triangle base 23 with a quick flipping or upward, rotational jerking motion. The keys will thus fall in an orderly manner into the storage disposition shown in FIG. 3. This allows for "one hand" operation, should for example the user's other hand being occupied in carrying something. If necessary or desired, the other hand can be used to move the keys up by direct hand contact into their "upside-down" storage disposition.

3. The flexible case body 10 is then closed and the snap 13, 14 secured.

Approximate, exemplary dimensions for the preferred embodiment of the present invention are outlined below:

Of course such dimensions are subject to substantial variation depending for example on the maximum size and maximum number of keys for which the case is to be used.

This completes the description of the embodiment illustrated herein. However, this invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, components and processes described as many equivalents will suggest themselves to those schooled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad interpretation commensurate with the scope of the invention in the art.