GB2306305A - Key fob - Google Patents

Abstract

A key fob is provided with permanent magnet means, preferably in the form of an element (12) of flexible sheet material having permanent magnetic properties. The fob may have a pattern or ornament printed on or adhered to one or both of its faces.

Description

Title: KEY FOB Description of Invention This invention relates to a key fob.

Key fobs commonly are provided to enable keys to be identified or for advertising, or possibly simply for decorative purposes. When not in use or being carried by a person using them, keys usually are stored in drawers or cupboards, or in many cases on hooks possibly in a special purpose cabinet. The last mentioned possibility enables individual keys to be readily identified if it provides, as usually is the case, a number of rows of hooks on which the keys may be hung. However, it is necessary to provide such a cabinet which is expensive and bulky.

It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide a key fob which enables more convenient storage of a key or keys.

According to the invention, I provide a key fob having permanent magnet means.

Preferably the key fob is in the form of an element of flexible sheet material having permanent magnetic properties. Such a material may be sheet plastics material having particles of permanent magnet material embedded in it.

Such an element of sheet material may be of any desired shape and may be provided on one or both of its opposite surfaces with any desired pattern or ornament, for example advertising matter or the like.

Such pattern or ornament may be applied, e.g. by printing directly on to the sheet material or may be in the form of an element or elements of plastics or paper material adhered to the sheet material.

Preferably the fob forms part of a key holder assembly further comprising a key-holding means such as a split ring and possibly also a chain or other connecting element connecting the ring to the fob.

Such a key-holding means may engage with an aperture in the fob, which aperture preferably is surrounded by a reinforcing means, e.g. an eyelet.

A key fob in accordance with the present invention has the advantage that it can adhere magnetically to any surface to which the permanent magnet means is magnetically attracted. Such surfaces are commonly to be found in the domestic environment (e.g. the casings of washing machines, refrigerators or the like) or in the office environment (e.g. filing cabinets) and accordingly use of a key fob in accordance with the invention enables a key or keys to be placed on such a surface which may be vertically oriented, to enable them readily to be found when required.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of a key-holding assembly incorporating a fob in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a key holder assembly comprises a split key ring 10, a chain 11, and a fob 12.

The fob 12 is an element of flexible sheet plastics material in which particles of permanent magnet material are embedded. It has an aperture 13 with which an end link of the chain 11 engages, the aperture being bounded by a reinforcing eyelet 14 so that potential damage to the fob from the chain is resisted.

The fob has on its upper surface which is visible in the drawing a pattern or ornament which in the illustration is a stylised representation of a motor vehicle "character". Such pattern or ornament may be printed directly on the surface of the fob or may be on a separate sheet of material adhered thereto. The peripheral shape of the fob is chosen to suit the pattern or ornament which is represented on its surface. Both surfaces of the fob may be thus treated if desired: a further possibility is that advertising matter and/or name and/or address could be provided on one or both surfaces of the fob.

The area of the material of the fob must be chosen such that in view of the magnetic strength of the material the force with which the fob magnetically adheres to a vertical surface is sufficient to support a key or keys of reasonable weight.

The invention thus provides a key fob, and key holding assembly incorporating same, which enables keys to be magnetically suspended from any appropriate surface.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (14)

1. A key fob having permanent magnet means.

2. A key fob according to claim 1, in the form of an element of flexible sheet material having permanent magnetic properties.

3. A key fob according to claim 2 wherein said material is sheet plastics material having particles of permanent magnetic material embedded in it.

4. A key fob according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said element of sheet material is provided with a pattern or ornament on one or both of its opposite surfaces.

5. A key fob according to claim 4 wherein said pattern or ornament is printed directly on the sheet material.

6. A key fob according to claim 4 wherein said pattern or ornament comprises an element or elements of plastics or paper material, adhered to the sheet material.

7. A key holder assembly comprising a fob according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a key-holding means.

8. A key holder assembly according to claim 7 wherein said key holding means comprises a split ring.

9. A key holder assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8 comprising a connecting element connecting the key holding means to the fob.

10. A key holder assembly according to any one of claims 7-9 wherein said key holding means or connecting element engages with an aperture in the fob.

11. A key holder assembly according to claim 10 wherein said aperture is surrounded by a reinforcing means.

12. A key fob substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A key holder assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.