GB2262879A - Key-holder. - Google Patents

Abstract

A key-holder comprises a body (31), and an elongate resilient key-holding member (32) which has both ends (33 and 34) connected to the body in order to form a closed configuration to hold keys. Interlocking means (36) is provided at the body (31) for releasably connecting at least one end (33) of the key-holding member (32) to the body, this end (13) being held interlocked with the body by means of the interlocking means (36) under the action of resilience of the key-holding member. As shown the second end of the member (32) is fixed to the body (31) which has an undercut recess (47) in which the enlarged heads (57) of further key-holders (54) are retained by a spring loaded bolt (50). <IMAGE>

Description

KEY-HOLDER The present( invention relates to a key-holder.

According to the invention, there is provided a key-holder which comprises a body, a elongate resilient key-holding member which has both ends connected to the body in order to form a closed configuration to hold keys, and interlocking means provided at the body for releasably connecting at least first end of the key-holding member to the body, said first end being held or being arranged to be held interlocked with the body by means of the interlocking means under the action of resilience of the key-holding member.

Preferably, the interlocking means comprises a recess formed in the body, said recess having an opening behind which said first end of the key-holding member interlocks or is arranged to interlock with the body.

It is preferred that the opening of the recess has a relatively larger end through which said first end of the key-holding member is arranged to pass into or out of the recess and a relatively smaller end behind which said first end interlocks or is arranged to interlock with the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the second end of the keyholding member is connected to the body by screw engagement.

In a different preferred embodiment, the same interlocking means or separate interlocking means equivalent to the first said interlocking means provided at the body is arranged to releasably connect the second end of the keyholding member to the body, said second end being held or being arranged to be held interlocked with the body by means of the same or the separate interlocking means under the action of resilience of the key-holding member.

Preferably, the interlocking means comprises a elongate recess having a elongate opening which has both ends behind which the first and second ends of the key-holding member interlock or are arranged to interlock respectively with the body and an enlarged intermediate portion through which each end of the key-holding member is arranged to pass into or out of the recess.

In a specific construction, the first or each end of the key-holding member has at the extremity a spherical part with which the said first or each end interlocks or is arranged to interlock with the body by means of the or the respective interlocking means.

In a yet different preferred embodiment, the key-holder further comprises at least one subsidiary key-holding unit which is removably engaged with the body, and wherein the body has an internal passenger within which the second end of the key-holding member is slidably located such that its extremity is movable between a first position to prevent removal of said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit and a second position to permit removal of said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit.

Preferably, the body includes a rail along which said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit engages and at one end of which rail said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit is removable, and the second end of the key-holding member is arranged to block said one end of the rail in its first position and to reveal said one end of the rail in its second position.

The second end of the key-holding member may be resiliently biassed into its first position by a spring.

It is preferred that said at least one subsidiary keyholding unit is confined to the side of the body opposite the key-holding member.

In a particular construction, the key-holding member is formed by a stainless steel multi-strand cable or wire.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a key-holder in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a front view of the key-holder of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which a key-holding member is releasably connected to a body of the key-holder of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a key-holder in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the key-holder of Figure 4, in a different operating condition.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a key-holder 10 according to the invention, which key-holder 10 comprises a flat rectangular body 11 and a elongate key-holding member 12 releasably connected at both ends 13 and 14 to corresponding opposite ends of an end face 15 of the body 11. In the body end face 15, there is formed a generally constant width elongate recess 16 which has a elongate opening 17 co-extending therewith from one end of the end face 15 to the other end. The opening 17 has a generally constant width, which is smaller than that of the recess 16, along its length except at the middle where it is enlarged in a circular manner to form an entrance/exit 18 for the recess 16.

The key-holding member 12 is formed by a multi-strand stainless steel wire or cable 21 having each end thereof force-fitted within a corresponding metal end piece 19.

Each end piece 19 includes a cylindrical body 20 which has an open end through which the corresponding end of the cable 21 is force-fitted within the cylindrical body 20 and a closed end to which a spherical head 22 is connected by an integral cylindrical neck 23. The spherical heads 22 have a diameter slightly smaller than that of the entrance/exit 18 but larger than the general width of the opening 17, whereas the diameter of the necks 23 is slightly smaller than the general width of the opening 17.

The key-holding member 12 is connected to the body 11 by firstly inserting the spherical head 22 of the end piece 19 at one end 13 into the recess 16 in the body end face 15 through the entrance/exit 18 of the opening 17. The end piece 19 is subsequently slid to the corresponding end of the recess 16, at which the spherical head 22 is interlocked behind the opening 17, thereby connecting the end 13 of the key-holding member 12 to the body 11. The other end 14 of the key-holding member 12 is likewise connected to the body but at the opposite end of the end face 15. Under the action of resilience of the cable 21, the two ends 13 and 14 of the key-holding member 12 are sprung apart against opposite ends of the opening 17 and are as a result maintained in position.

It is appreciated that the key-holding member 12 and the body 11 form a closed configuration for holding keys (not shown) on the key-holding member 12.

In order to fit a key to or remove a key from the keyholder 10, either one end 13 or 14 of the key-holding member 12 is disconnected from the body 11 through a reverse sequence of operations, namely sliding that end 13 or 14 against the resilient force of the cable 21 to the entrance/exit 18 through which the spherical head 22 of the associated end piece 19 is then withdrawn from the recess 16.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, in which there is shown a second embodiment of a key-holder 30 according to the invention. The key-holder 30 comprises a flat rectangular metal body 31 and a elongate key-holding member 32 connected at both ends 33 and 34 to corresponding opposite ends of an end face 35 of the body 31. In normal use, the end 33 of the key-holding member 32 is disconnectable from the body 31 whilst the other end 34 is permanently connected thereto. In the end of the body end face 35 to which the end 33 of the key-holding member 32 is connected, there is formed a elongate recess 36 which has a generally constant width and a keyhole-shaped opening 37. The opening 37 has a relatively larger end 38 and a relatively smaller end 44, with the smaller end 44 pointing outwardly.

The width of the smaller end 44 of the opening 37 is smaller than that of the recess 36, whilst the larger end 38 has a width generally the same as that of the recess 36 and provides an entrance/exit 38 for the recess 36.

The key-holding member 32 is formed by a multi-strand stainless steel wire or cable 41 having one end thereof force-fitted within an end piece 39 to form the end 33. The end piece 39 is identical in construction with the end pieces 19 of the key-holder 10, namely having a cylindrical body 40, a spherical head 42 and an integral neck 43. The spherical head 42 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the entrance/exit 38 but larger than the width of the smaller end 44 of the opening 37, whereas the diameter of the neck 43 is slightly smaller than the width of the smaller end 44 of the opening 37.

In use, with the end 34 of the key-holding member 32 permanently connected, the key-holding member end 33 is connected to the body 31 by firstly inserting the spherical head 42 of the end piece 39 into the recess 36 through the entrance/exit 38 of the opening 37 (Figure 5). Under the action of resilience of the cable 41, the key-holding member end 33 will move automatically to and be urged against the opposite end of the recess 36, with the spherical head 42 interlocked behind the smaller end 44 of the opening 37. The key-holding member end 33 can be disengaged from the recess 36 through reverse operation.

The manner in which the end 34 of the key-holding member 32 is connected to the body 31 is now described. The body 31 has an internal passage 45 on the side opposite to that of the recess 36. The passage 45 extends from the body end face 35 to slightly short of an opposite end face 46 of the body 31, along which end face 46 a elongate recess 47 is formed in the body 31. The recess 47 extends at right angles to the passage 45 and forms an entrance/exit 48, slightly beyond where it meets the passage 45, at a side face 58 of the body 31. The recess 47 has a co-extending opening 53 which has a smaller width than the recess 47.

At the key-holding member end 34, the end of the cable 41 is jointed to a shaft 49 by being force-fitted within an upper end 49a of the shaft 49. The passage 45 is divided into an upper portion 45a and a lower portion 45b by a restricted neck portion 45c. The shaft 49 is partially located within the upper portion 45a of the passage 45, and is maintained in position therein by a nut 50. The nut 50 has a shaft 51 which extends from the lower portion 45b of the passage 45 through the neck portion 45c and is then screw-threaded into a lower end 49b of the shaft 49. A coil spring 52 is disposed on the shaft 51 and co-acting between the nut 50 and the bottom side of neck portion 45c of the passage 45 so as to bias the shaft 49 downwards.In the rest position, the shaft 49 abuts at its lower end 49b against the top side of the neck portion 45c and the nut 50 extends from the lowermost end of the passage 45 into the open end of the recess 47, thereby blocking the entrance/ exit 48, as shown in Figure 4.

Upon upward movement of the shaft 49 along the passage 45 against the action of the -spring 52, the nut 50 is retracted wholly into the lowermost end of the passage 45, thereby revealing the open end of the recess 47 or unblocking the entrance/exit 48, as shown in Figure 5.

The key-holder 30 further includes three subsidiary keyholding units 54 which are releasably connected to the end face 46 of the body 31. Each key-holding unit 54 is formed by an openable key ring 55 and a connector 56 for connecting the key ring 55 to the body 31. Each connector 56 has an integral spherical head 57 which is arranged to be placed into the recess 47 through the entrance/exit 48 and interlocked behind the opening 53. The bodies of the connectors 56 and the associated key rings 55 remain outside the body 31.

With the shaft 49 in the rest position (Figure 4), the entrance/exit 48 of the recess 47 is blocked and as a result no key-holding unit 54 can be added to or disengaged from the body 31. Addition or disengagement of key-holding unit 54 will, however, be possible when the entrance/exit 48 is cleared by upward movement of the shaft 49 relative to the body 51.

The key-holding units 54 are slidable along the recess 47 which serves as a rail.

It will be appreciated that in a slightly different embodiment from the key-holder 10, the interlocking engagement between each end of the key-holding member and the key-holder body may take the form as in the key-holder 30 between the key-holding member end 33 and the body 31.

In a yet different embodiment, only one end of the keyholding member is releasably connected to the key-holder body by the quick-release interlocking engagement, and the other end may simply be permanently connected such as by screw engagement or force-fitting.

Insofar as the key-holder body is concerned, it may be formed by two or more separate pieces loosely connected together instead of a single piece, for example in the form of a principal piece to which a tube is connected by a chain, the tube providing the interlocking means.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A key-holder comprising a body, a elongate resilient key-holding member which has both ends connected to the body in order to form a closed configuration to hold keys, and interlocking means provided at the body for releasably connecting at least first end of the key-holding member to the body, said first end being held or being arranged to be held interlocked with the body by means of the interlocking means under the action of resilience of the key-holding member.

2. A key-holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlocking means comprises a recess formed in the body, said recess having an opening behind which said first end of the key-holding member interlocks or is arranged to interlock with the body.

3. A key-holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the opening of the recess has a relatively larger end through which said first end of the key-holding member is arranged to pass into or out of the recess and a relatively smaller end behind which said first end interlocks or is arranged to interlock with the body.

4. A key-holder as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the second end of the key-holding member is connected to the body by screw engagement.

5. A key-holder as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the same interlocking means or separate interlocking means equivalent to the first said interlocking means provided at the body is arranged to releasably connect the second end of the key-holding member to the body, said second end being held or being arranged to be held interlocked with the body by means of the same or the separate interlocking means under the action of resilience of the key-holding member.

6. A key-holder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the interlocking means comprises a elongate recess having a elongate opening which has both ends behind which the first and second ends of the key-holding member interlock or are arranged to interlock respectively with the body and an enlarged intermediate portion through which each end of the key-holding member is arranged to pass into or out of the recess.

7. A key-holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first or each end of the key-holding member has at the extremity a spherical part with which the said first or each end interlocks or is arranged to interlock with the body by means of the or the respective interlocking means.

8. A key-holder as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, further comprising at least one subsidiary key-holding unit which is removably engaged with the body, and wherein the body has an internal passenger within which the second end of the key-holding member is slidably located such that its extremity is movable between a first position to prevent removal of said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit and a second position to permit removal of said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit.

9. A key-holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the body includes a rail along which said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit engages and at one end of which rail said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit is removable, and the second end of the key-holding member is arranged to block said one end of the rail in its first position and to reveal said one end of the rail in its second position.

10. A key-holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second end of the key-holding member is resiliently biassed into its first position by a spring.

11. A key-holder as claimed in any one of claim 8 to claim 10, wherein said at least one subsidiary key-holding unit is confined to the side of the body opposite the keyholding member.

12. A key-holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the key-holding member is formed by a multi-strand cable or wire.

13. A key-holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the keyholding member is of stainless steel.

14. A key-holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.