DE8703040U1 - Key and spring ring for hanging keys - Google Patents

Description

Description

This invention relates to a key and snap ring for hanging keys, consisting of a wire made of metal or the like, which has two free ends and is bent into a spiral shape with more than one full turn, with adjacent turns lying elastically against one another.

Such key and spring rings for hanging keys

\ have been on the market for a long time. They consist of preferential

\ ,-* made of a metal wire made of hardened steel, which is spirally

\ mig bent and usually has two full turns.

Neighbouring turns lie elastically against each other.

These known key and spring rings cause problems when threading the key. In order to thread a key, the wire must be spread outwards in the area of one of the two free ends so that the round recess of the key can be pushed onto this free end. To do this, the user must preferably insert the fingernail of the thumb between the adjacent and elastically adjoining turns so that a certain spreading is achieved in a first step ^. Then the fingernail and with it the front tip of the finger must be turned in order to achieve an even greater spreading so that the key can be threaded. This spreading of the turns using the user's fingernail often results in the fingernail breaking.

Based on this, the invention is based on the task of further developing the known key and spring ring in such a way that the keys can be threaded in without any problems.

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As a technical solution, the invention proposes that the wire has a radial inner bend in the winding adjacent to the area of one of the free ends of the wire.

A key and spring ring designed in this way has the advantage that the keys can be threaded through without any problem, without the risk of fingernails breaking. This is achieved by placing the edge of a key in the radial inner bend so that the edge essentially lies sideways against the adjacent winding Γ) of the wire, i.e. in the area of one free end of the wire. This lateral position allows this free end of the wire to be spread outwards so that enough space is created to allow the key to be inserted into this space according to its thickness. As soon as this position is reached, it is then easy to slide the ring recess of the key onto the free end of the wire and finally thread and hang the key into the ring. During this entire threading process, the key and spring ring only needs to be held, and the windings can be spread out solely using the key to be threaded, without the need for fingernails.

In a preferred development of the inner bend, it is proposed that it should at least correspond to the diameter of the wire. In this way, a relatively large lateral contact surface is created for the edge of the key, so that the adjacent turns can be easily spread apart.

Finally, the invention proposes that the inner bend substantially has a triangular or arched shape.

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* Both shapes essentially correspond to the edge shape of keys, so that an optimal attack surface for the attachment process is realized,

Further details and advantages can be found in the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of a key and spring ring for hanging keys is shown schematically. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 is a view of a key and snap ring;

Fig. 2 the key and spring ring from Fig. 1 in

a view from above.

The key ring shown consists of a wire 1 made of hardened steel, which is bent into a spiral shape with two full turns 2, 2 ^1. At the transition from one turn 2 to the other turn 2 ^1, the wire 1 has a bend 3.

In the described embodiment, the key ring is made of metal. It is also conceivable in principle that plastic is used instead, as long as it is ensured that a plastic key ring meets the same requirements as a metal key ring.

In the basic state of the key ring, the two adjacent turns 2, 2' of the wire 1 lie elastically against each other, and the two free ends 4, 4' of the wire 1 end in the area of the bend 3. In the area of the end 4 of one turn 2 of the wire 1, the adjacent turn 2' has a radially inward-directed inner bend 5, which essentially has a triangular shape. The deflection of this indentation from the normal ring course is approximately twice the wire diameter.

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To thread a key 6 indicated by dashed lines, its edge 7 is inserted into the inner bend 5 so that the edge 7 of the key 6 rests laterally on the adjacent winding 2 in the area of the free end 4 of the wire 1. By applying light pressure with the edge 7 of the key 6, this free end 4 can be spread outwards, which is indicated in Fig. 2 by the arrow P. In this spread position, a gap is formed between the two windings 2, ²¹ , into which the key 6 can be pushed. By appropriately moving the key 6 into this gap, the threading eye 8 of the key 6 can then be pushed onto the free end 4 of the wire 1 and the key 6 as a whole can be hooked into the key ring.

The inner bend 5 has the advantage that fingernails do not have to be used to spread the windings 2, ²¹ in the area of one end 4 of the wire 1, thus preventing it from breaking off. The key 6 can therefore be threaded in without any problem.

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Claims (4)

PATENT ATTORNEYS " .* .'" . i &igr;'.'./'!.·' DIPL.-ING. ALEX STENGER Kaiser-Friedrich-Ring 70·!·· '· '..'.'.,. '..' I DIPL.-ING. WOLFRAM WATZKE D-4000 DÜSSELDORF 11 DIPL.-ING. H E I N Z J. RING \ EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS j OurSign: _2Q Q ₅₉ Date: _2g> February 1987 j Monheimer chain and metal goods industry ! Pötz & Sand GmbH & Co. KG, Opladener Strasse 6, 4019 Monheim Key and spring ring for hanging keys Expectations 1. Key and spring ring for hanging keys consisting of a wire (1) made of metal or the like having two free ends (4, 4·) and helically bent with more than one full turn (2, 2'), wherein adjacent turns (2, 2') lie elastically against one another, characterized in that the wire (1) has a radial inner bend (5) in the turn (2 ¹ ) adjacent to the region of one (4) of the free ends (4, 4 ¹ ) of the wire (1). ^- 2. Ring according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner bend (5) corresponds at least to the diameter of the wire (1). 3. Ring according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner bend (5) has a substantially triangular shape. 4. Ring according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner bend (5) has essentially an arc shape. &diams; · * &igr; Telephone (0211) 572Ul Telcx:«5 6»429patecl TilefaxWil) 5»82>5! fdetglrolconEo Cologne (bank code 37010050) 227610-503