FR1465611A - Improvements to key rings and the like - Google Patents

Description

Improvements to key rings and the like. The present invention relates to improvements made to key rings and the like.

It is known that rings of this kind are generally made of metal. For reasons of cost price, it would be interesting to manufacture them in plastic material, but it has proved impossible to limit oneself to effecting a simple change of material without modifying the shape of the various organs of the ring.

The invention aims to solve this problem and relates to a novel key ring which can be conveniently made of plastic.

A key ring according to the invention is mainly noteworthy in that it comprises on the one hand, an open annular body provided at least at one of its ends with a hook whose spout is directed towards the exterior and, on the other hand, a lower bar provided with at least one vertical perforation intended to receive the hook of the body after deformation of the whole thereof, this hook then returning elastically to fit in following a movement oriented longitudinally and outwardly relative to the bar, behind a stop provided laterally, means being moreover provided on the central part of the bar rette to hang thereon a chain or the like capable of being connected to a medallion or to a toothpaste.

According to a first possible embodiment of the invention, the bar is made in one piece with the body to which it is connected by that of its ends which is devoid of ratchet perforations.

According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the bar is produced separately and it comprises a latching perforation at each of its two ends, the body being in this case provided with two hooks oriented symmetrically to each of its ends. ends.

The appended drawing, given by way of example, will make it possible to better understand the invention, the characteristics which it presents and the advantages which it is likely to provide.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the body of a key ring according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a section along II-II (fig. 1). Figure 3 is an elevational view of the corresponding bar.

Figure 4 is a side view.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the assembled key fob.

FIG. 6 represents a possible variant embodiment of a key ring according to the invention.

The key ring shown in Figures 1 to 5 com takes two main elements, namely a body A and a bar B, both made separately from plastic.

The body A has the shape of an open ring, each of the two ends of which is provided with a hook 1. The two hooks 1 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a diametral plane II-II and their shanks 1a are preferably parallel to these latter. Each hook 1 comprises a spout lb directed towards the outside of the ring.

As will be seen below, the body A is intended to be elastically deformed by bringing the two hooks 1 closer together. To ensure a homogeneous distribution of the bending stresses inside the plastic material, preference is given to to the body Has a cross section which is maximum in the vicinity of the bottom 2 located in the plane II-II, and which decreases progressively as one approaches the hooks 1.

The bar B has a generally rectilinear profile and it is crossed at each of its two ends by a perforation 3. The width 4 of each perforation 3 is greater than or equal to the greatest width 5 of the hooks 1 measured at their level. spouts lb.

Furthermore, the outer body of each perforation 3 is produced at a height 6 which is substantially equal to the height 7 of the shank 1a of each hook 1, measured under the spout lb.

Finally, there is provided in the center of the bar B a broken ring 8 which is made in one piece with it and is in the form of a hook almost completely closed, that is to say whose end 8a is in the immediate vicinity of bar B.

The operation is as follows To assemble the ring, for example after having engaged one or more keys on the body A, tin press the latter so as to bring the two hooks 1 together as indicated in FIG. 5 by the arrows 9 and 10. The two hooks 1 are then capped by means of the bar B, each engaging them in one of the perforations 3. The bar B is lodged at the level of the rods 1a and it suffices to release the body A so that the latter returns elastically towards the outside and causes the separation of the hooks 1 in the direction indicated by arrows 11 and 12. The jaws and the shanks of the hooks 1 then come to fit exactly against the adjacent walls of the bar B , which ensures the closure of the key ring.

The ring 8 is used to suspend the assembly A-B from a chain or the like of known type. For this, it suffices to remove the free end 8a in the direction indicated in FIG. 4 by the arrow 13 and to engage in the ring 8, thus temporarily or green, the last link of the chain envisaged. The ring 8 then closes by returning elastically on itself.

According to the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 6; the body Al and the bar B, _ of the key ring were made in one piece. When the assembly is at rest, as it comes out after demoulding; it is in the form shown in Figure 6, that is to say that the free end of the body A, _, equipped with a hook 21, is located at a certain distance from the free end of the bar B, . through which a perforation 23 passes. The hook 21 and the perforation 23 operate in a manner similar to what has already been described for the hooks 1 and the perforations 3. In the example shown in FIG. 6, it has been assumed that the height 27 of the shank of the hook 21 was less than the thickness 29 of the bar B1. Of course, the same applies to the height 26 of the stop provided on the outer wall of the perforation 23, so that this stop can fit as exactly as possible under the spout 21d of the hook.

The operation is similar, in that the key ring is closed by elastic deformation of the body A,., By fitting the hook 21 against the stop 26, inside <B> the </B> perforation 23.

The assembly shown in Figure 6 has the advantage of not giving rise to any protruding part when the key ring is closed.

ri must moreover be understood that the preceding description has been given only by way of example and that it in no way limits the field of the invention, from which one would not depart by replacing the details of execution described by all other equivalents.

In particular, one would not depart from the scope of the invention by replacing the broken ring 8 by any other means of suspension making it possible to mount a chain or the like. For example; said net chain could be fixed to the bar B or B1, by crimping, by fitting, by gluing, by hard welding or by any other known means.

Claims (1)

SUMMARY Key ring, mainly remarkable in that it comprises, on the one hand, an open annular body provided at least at one of its ends with a hook whose beak is directed outwards and , on the other hand, an upper bar for view of at least one vertical perforation intended to receive the hook of the body after deformation of the whole thereof, this hook then returning elastically to fit in a movement oriented longitudinally and outwardly relative to the bar, behind a stop provided laterally, means being moreover provided on the central part of the bar to hang there dear a chain or the like capable of being connected to a medallion or to a pendant.