US20050103071A1

US20050103071A1 - Key holder

Info

Publication number: US20050103071A1
Application number: US10/934,710
Authority: US
Inventors: Kwok Ng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-18
Filing date: 2004-09-03
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: CN2652199Y

Abstract

A key holder comprising a key ring made of steel wire stock employs a holder body with an annular locking member. The locking member employs a groove for receiving a connector of the key ring and a spring and a steel ball.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The utility model relates to a holder for holding small articles, and more particularly to a key holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a conventional similar key holder, one end of a key ring is fixedly connected with a holder body, while the other end thereof is detachably connected with the holder body. With this conventional construction, there exists a defect in that the active connecting end of the key ring is easily taken off from its connecting mechanism in the holder body, which brings inconvenience to its usage. China Patent CN2262361Y discloses a convenient key holder, wherein: one end of a key ring made from steel wire stock is fixed in a holder body, the other end thereof is provided with a connector which extends into a groove formed in the holder body and may be connected with a positioning member by a screw thread. The above-mentioned construction with its key ring made from steel wire stock solves the problem that the key ring may be pulled off from the holder body due to its heavy rigidity. Its connection by a screw thread is relatively firm. However, this construction is inconvenient to use because of its fussy connecting mode and complicated manufacturing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a safe and reliable key holder which is easy to use and has a simple structure, thereby solving the aforementioned disadvantages.
In order to achieve the above described object, according to one embodiment of the invention, a key holder comprises a key ring made of steel wire stock for retaining keys and a holder body, wherein one end of the key ring is fixedly connected with the holder body, the other end thereof is provided with a connector. It is characterized in that an annular locking member is disposed in the holder body, and the connector may be detachably locked into the annular locking member.
The holder body comprises a main body and two holder plates secured rotatably against both sides of the main body, respectively. There is a through hole at the center of the main body. The inner surface of one of the holder plates is formed with a connecting post with a hollow chamber. The connecting post may go through said through hole. Correspondingly, the inner surface of the other holder plate is provided with a key pole that may be inserted into the hollow chamber. The main body and the two holder plates secured against the both sides of the main body are rotatablely assembled together to form an integrative unit by the engagement formed between the connecting post going through the through hole in the main body and the key pole of the other holder plate.
The locking assembly comprises: a groove formed in one side of the main body for receiving the connector, whose opening is bent inwardly to form a bayonet; a notch formed in the sidewall of one holder plate to facilitate the placement or withdrawal of the connector, and a locking sub-assembly located between the main body and one of the holder plates and comprised of a spring and a steel ball. At least one blind hole which receives a spring and a steel ball is formed in the main body. The spring is located at the bottom end of the blind hole, and the steel ball is positioned above the upper portion of the spring and located at the upper portion of the blind hole. A recess for holding the steel ball is formed in the inner wall of said holder plate at a position corresponding to the blind holes.
The working process and principles of the invention are as the follows: if the key ring made of steel wire stock is intended to be locked into the holder body, the holder plates may be rotated such that the notch in the sidewall of the holder plate is aligned with the groove, and then the connector is placed into the groove and locked into the groove through the bayonet formed by the opening of groove bending inwardly; the holder plate is rotated again to locate the notch away from the corresponding groove; when the recess in the inner wall of the holder plate is aligned with the blind hole in the main body, the steel ball is borne against and held in the corresponding recess formed in the inner wall of the holder plate with the aid of the spring. In this way, the key ring made of steel wire stock can be firmly locked in the holder body. When the key ring made of steel wire stock is intended to be taken out of the holder body, it may be implemented just by pressing against the holder plates beside both sides of the main body such that the steel ball and the spring are forced to fall into the blind holes in the main body, meanwhile, rotating both the holder plates to make the notch move to a position aligned with the groove, and taking the connector out of the holder body.
In one embodiment of the invention, an annular locking member is provided subtly in the holder body, thereby the connector is detachably locked into the annular lock member. The connector can be taken out from or firmly locked into the holder body just by rotating holder plates to a suitable position as desired. In this way, the object of placing or taking out the key ring and keys expediently can be achieved. The key holder according to the utility model has a simple construction with low manufacturing cost, and is safe, reliable, easy to manufacture and use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The key holder according to the invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a structural view schematically showing the key holder in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a structural view schematically showing the key holder with one of holder plates having been removed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a key holder is comprised of a key ring 1 made of steel wire stock for retaining keys and a holder body. One end of the key ring 1 is fixedly connected with the holder body, the other end thereof is provided with a connector 2. The key holder is characterized in that an annular locking member is disposed in the holder body, and the connector can be detachably locked into the annular locking member.
The holder body comprises a main body 3 and two holder plates 4 which can be rotatably secured against the both sides of the main body. When the holder plates 4 are rotatably locked to the both sides of the main body 3, for the purpose of making its construction more simple and safe and its assembling more easier, a through hole 5 is formed in the center of the main body. A connecting pole 6 with a hollow chamber therein is formed in the inner surface of one of the holder plates 4. The connecting pole 6 can go through the through hole 5. A key pole 7 for inserting into the hollow chamber is provided correspondingly at the inner surface of the other plate 4
The main body 3 and the two holder plates 4 located besides both sides of the main body 3 are rotatably assembled together by engagement formed between the connecting post 6 going through the through hole 5 in the main body 3 and the key pole 7 at the other plate 4. In order to provide more convenience for the placing or taking out the key ring made of steel wire stock, the annular locking member comprises: a groove 9 formed in one side of the main body 3 for receiving the connector 2, whose opening is bent inwardly to form a bayonet 8; a notch 10 formed in the side of one holder plate 4 to facilitate the withdrawal or placement of the connector 2; and a locking member located between the main body 3 and one of holder plates 4 and comprising a spring 11 and a steel ball 12. At least one blind hole 13 is formed in the main body 3 for receiving the spring 11 and the steel ball 12. The spring 11 is positioned at the bottom of the blind hole 13, and the steel ball 12 is positioned above the top of the spring 11 and located at the upper portion of the blind hole 13. A recess 14 for holding the steel ball 12 is formed in the inner wall of the plate 4 at a position corresponding to the blind hole 13.
For providing more convenience for usage and assembling, in the present embodiment, a locking member comprised of a spring 11 and a steel ball 12 is disposed between the main body 3 and each of the holder plates 4. Moreover, in order to form a more firm engagement between each of the holder plates 4 and the main body 3, three blind holes 13 for receiving springs 11 and steel balls 12 are provided in the main body 3, and three recesses 14 for holding steel balls 12 are formed correspondingly in the inner wall of said holder plates 4.

Claims

1. A key holder comprised of a key ring made of steel wire stock for retaining keys and a holder body, wherein one end of the key ring is fixedly connected with the holding body while the other end thereof is provided with a connector, characterized in that:

the holder body is provided with an annular locking member, and the connector may be detachably locked in the annular locking member.

2. The key holder as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the holder body comprises a main body and two holder plates that may be rotatably secured against opposing sides of the main body.

3. The key holder as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that:

a through hole is formed in the center of the main body;

a connecting pole with a hollow chamber therein is disposed at the inner surface of one holder plate and can go through the through hole;

the inner surface of the other plate is provided correspondingly with a key pole for inserting into the hollow chamber;

the main body and the two holder plates located besides both sides of the main body are rotatably assembled together by the engagement formed between the connecting pole being inserted into the through hole in the main body and the key pole of the other plate.

4. The key holder as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a locking assembly comprises:

a groove formed in one side of the main body for receiving the connector, whose opening is bent inwardly to form a bayonet; a notch formed in the sidewall of one of the holder plates to facilitate the withdrawal or placement of the connector; and a locking sub-assembly located between the main body and one of the holder plates and comprised of a spring and a steel ball,

wherein at least one blind hole is formed in the main body for receiving the spring and the steel ball, said spring being positioned at the bottom of the blind hole, and said steel ball being positioned above the upper portion of the spring and located at the upper portion of the blind hole, a recess for holding the steel ball being formed in the inner wall of said plate at a position corresponding to the blind hole.

5. The key holder as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a locking assembly comprises: