CA1114159A

CA1114159A - Keyholder of modulated and mountable components

Info

Publication number: CA1114159A
Application number: CA326,701A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Alberto Bazan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-05
Filing date: 1979-05-01
Publication date: 1981-12-15
Also published as: AU4654179A; EP0016765A1; ES242966Y; WO1979001032A1; ES242966U; IT7921507V0; BR5800541U; DE2948822A1; GB2058426A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A key tag having removable indicia components can be made of translucent or opaque material. The key tag has a rec-tangular plate with two or more channels in the front face or side thereof. Small indicia plates bearing literal and/or nume-ric characters are inserted in the channels and are retained in position by a locking member which closes an open end of each channel.

Description

This invention relates to a key tag.
Several different types oE ornamental and utilitarian key tags are known. The most preferred for automobiles and vehicles in general are those that are in the form of a rectan-gular plate bearing license number and county of the vehicle.
In the prior art each plate was stamped, by any suitable method, with the necessary numerals and letters. However, this process is costly and time consùming as each key tag requires a different die.
The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages by using a modular assembled key tag.
According to an aspect of the invention there i5 pro-vided a key tag comprising a rigid rectangular body having at least two channels running lengthwise along the body, a strip separating the channels and small indicia plates bearing literal or numeric characters thereon and removably held in the channels.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key tag;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly of -~
the key tag; and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the key tag.
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In accordance with the drawings, the improved key tag is composed of a substantially rectangular body or plate 1 and which plate represents the features of a vehicle license. Plate 1 has in its upper face two parallel channels, 2 and 3 running lengthwise and . ~:

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separated by strip 6 which does not extend for the whole length of plate 1, but forms a lug 7 at its end. Channels 2 and 3 `
have laterally extending slots or grooves 4 and 5 respectively along each of their longitudinal sides.
In channel 2 there are inserted small plates 8, of the same width, with literal characters 9 to compose the name of the county. Plates 8 in their lower base open into lateral wings or projections 10 cooperating in a locking mode and receiv-ed within the slots 4. Similarly, in channel 3 there are inserted plates 11 with numeric and literal characters 12 to compose the identification of the vehicle license, which plates also project at their base to form projections or wings that cooperate with the slots 5.
Plates 8 and 11 thus inserted in plate 1 are locked in the respective channels by means oE a locking member or terminal 14 with lateral wings 15 that cooperate in end slots 4 and 5. Terminal 14 has a central recess 16 where lug 7 fits `~ and a hole 17 in register with hole 18 of plate 1 enabling the attachment of loop 19 of any key tag 20.
On the lower side, plate 1 is provided with a housing 21 suitable for inserting a card into. This card can carry any desired words which words can also and optionally be applied ` by suitable means in the external part as indicated by dotted lines 22. ~ -~,~ .'.

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- 2 -The above-described key tag can obviously and within the scope of the invention herein described assume other functions :~
such as, for example, identifying the name, address and full -qualification of the owner, identifying animals when attached to their collars, giving firm names, listing useful telephone numbers and many others.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A key tag having removable indicia components comprising a base plate having in the upper side thereof at least two parallel channels open at one end and separated by a strip, plates with literal or numeric characters removably in-serted in said channels, and retaining means cooperating in the channels and blocking the open end of each channel, said retain-ing means being provided with a recess into which a lug formed by one end of said strip fits.

2. A key tag having removable indicia components comprising a rectangular base plate having in the upper side thereof at least two parallel channels open at one end and sepa-rated by a strip, small plates with literal or numeric characters removably inserted in said channels, and retaining means coopera-ting in the channels and blocking the open end of each channel.

3. A key tag having removable indicia components according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said channels have laterally extending slots along their longitudinal sides and adjacent the.
bottom of the channels, said plates and said retaining means each having laterally extending wings which are engaged in said slots.

4. A key tag according to claim 2 wherein said chan-nels have laterally extending grooves along their longitudinal sides and said plates each have laterally extending projections on opposite sides thereof, said projections being receivable within and cooperating with respective grooves in said channels.

5. A key tag according to claim 2 wherein said strip terminates short of the side edge of said base plate adjacent the open end of said channels so as to provide an enlarged space bounded on two opposite sides by the outer side of each channel and said retaining means comprises a locking member slidably received within said enlarged space and abutting against an adjacent end of said strip.

6. A key tag according to claim 5 wherein said lock-ing member has an opening formed therein, said base plate has an opening aligned with said opening in said locking member, and a retaining means is inserted through the openings to secure said locking member.

7. A key tag comprising a rigid rectangular body having at least two channels running lengthwise along said body, a strip separating said channels and small indicia plates bearing literal or numeric characters thereon and removably held in said channels.