AU2001100103A4 - Key selector - Google Patents

Description

KEY SELECTOR This invention was invented as an answer to the problem of finding the correct key in a hurry, from the multitude of keys, we are required to carry on ourselves these days. In creating the invention another problem was inadvertently solved, that of the untidy look that is presented by having a variety of keys dangling from a key ring, which quite often results in them becoming entangled and snared in pockets and purses.

The invention enables a person to carry a variety and multiple amount of keys in a compact housing. When a specific key is required it can be selected by the push of a button,(each button can be labeled with the name of the key it activates) which then ejects that key for immediate use.

The invention has a Main Body which can be manufactured from a variety of materials, ie:-plastic or metal. The Main Body houses each Key in a separate Compartment. (The number of Key Compartments can very from one to several, depending on the size of the Main Body) The Keys will be attached to the Main Body by a removable Key Locator Pin, which will slide through the hole incorporated into the top of all Keys. The Key can then be manually pushed on it's axis from the Locator Pin into it's separate Compartment.

As the Key enters the Compartment it will push aside a Key Retainer which is hinged into a cut out section of the wall of the Compartment. The Key Retainer is spring loaded and will snap back into position against the far side of the wall of the Compartment as the Key passes below it, thus retaining the Key. As the Key was pushed into it's retained position it compressed another spring located at the bottom of the Compartment, thus providing the force to eject the Key once the Key Retainer is moved to one side by pushing of the appropriately labeled Button The pushing of the Button(the Button is itself spring loaded to return to it's normal position after use) moves the stem of the Button up the inside of the separating wall to come into contact with the underside of the Key Retainer. The top of the Key Retainer is tapered so that when it comes into contact with the underside of the Key Retainer, which is also tapered, it is able to push the Key Retainer to one side, thus enabling the Ejection Spring to eject the Key.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be drawn to the accompanying drawings which show one example of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG 1. Shows the view from the top of the invention, in this instance a Three Key capacity Key Selector. Compartment One C1 shows a Key 2 in the retained position in the Main Body 1. Compartment Two C2 shows a Key 2 which has been ejected ready for use, and Compartment Three C3 has no Key 2 fitted.

The Key Locator Pin 3 can be seen at the top and the Buttons 4 are located in the middle of the Main Body 1.

FIG 2. Shows a cutaway side view of the invention. In this view the Key 2 has been ejected from the Main Body 1 on it's axis from the Key Locator Pin 3 The Key Ejector Spring 7 can be seen in it's uncompressed position. The Button 4 and it's Stem 4 can be seen in position underneath the Key Retainer which hinges on it's Locator Pin 6.

FIG 3 Shows the bottom view of the invention, with the Keys 2 in the same position as in FIG 1 In Compartment One C1 the Key 2 is being held in position by the Key Retainer 5 The Key Retainer 5 is itself being held against the far wall of Compartment One C1 by the Key Retainer Spring 5A .In Compartment Two C2 the Key 2 has just been ejected by the Key Ejection Spring 7 with the Key Retainer 5 having been moved on it's axis of the Key Retainer Locator Pin 6 into the cut out section of the Compartment wall, thus compressing the Key Retainer Spring 5A, which when the Button 4 (not shown in Compartment Two C2) on the top of the Main Body 1 is released, will move the Key Retainer 5 back into position against the far wall. In Compartment Three C3, there is no Key 2 fitted and the Key Retainer 5 and it's Spring 5A has been removed to show the positioning of the Button Stem 4.

FIG 4. Shows an end cutaway view of the invention with the Key 2 retained in Compartment One C1 and the Key 2 in Compartment Two C2 having just been ejected by the Ejection Spring 7 and the Button 4 still in the depressed position, with it's associated Spring 4A compressed, and the Key Retainer still being held in the cut out section of the Compartment wall by the Button Stem 4.

Claims (3)

1. A Key Selecting device comprising separate compartments to retain keys internally untill the appropriate key is required, which is then ejected by a spring after the corresponding button is pushed.

2. The Key Selecting device of claim 1 wherein a key is stored in it's compartment after being manually pushed on it's axis from the locator pin at the top of the Key Selector into the compartment, after having pushed aside a spring loaded retainer, which snaps back into position once the key passes below it, thus holding the key in the compartment.

3. The Key Selecting device of claim 1 wherein the key is ejected after a button is pushed which moves aside a key retainer allowing the key to pass by the retainer and be ejected out on it's axis from the main body, by a spring which was compressed when the key was intially pushed into the compartment.