KR20040024497A - Key-coupler for coupling key to key-holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a key ring for holding a key by suspending the key allowing easy attachment/detachment of the key. CONSTITUTION: A first closed ring part 10a in the key ring 10 is formed by superposing first and second closed ring forming parts 11 and 12. The first and second closed ring forming parts are formed in the open-ring shape with opening parts 11a and 12a. The opening part of one closed ring forming part is closed by the other closed ring forming part with the first and second closed ring forming parts superposed on each other. A second closed ring part 10b is formed by a connection part 13 as the first and second closed ring forming parts are superposed. The connection part is connected to the first and second closed ring forming parts and formed nearly in an U-shape. When the key ring is deformed by opening the connection part 13, the key ring is opened to be in the open-ring shape. Accordingly, as the closed ring forming parts are inserted into a hole 21 of the key 20 with the key ring in that state, the key can be easily suspended from the connection part.

Description

Key coupler for joining keys to key holders {KEY-COUPLER FOR COUPLING KEY TO KEY-HOLDER}

The present invention relates to a key coupler for coupling a key or keys to a key holder.

The double ring key coupler shown in Fig. 12A is well known. The key coupler 70 is made of spring wire. One end of the spring wire forming the key coupler 70 is open to insert the key coupler 70 into the hole 21 of the key 20. The key 20 is then rotated along the ring of the key coupler 70 to engage it. The key coupler 70 can also be coupled with a key holder (not shown), and the key 20 is coupled to the key holder through the key coupler 70. A plurality of keys 20 can likewise be coupled to the key holder.

Another well known key holder is shown in Figure 12b. The key coupler 80 is made into a triangular shape with an opening. In order to couple the key coupler 80 to the key 20, the opening of the key coupler is forcibly opened, and the key 20 is inserted through the opening. Thereafter, the opening of the key coupler is forcibly closed again to keep the key 20 coupled to the key coupler 80. The key coupler 80 may be further coupled with a key holder (not shown) such that the key 20 is coupled with the key holder through the key coupler 80.

It is not very easy to engage or disengage the key 20 using these conventional key couplers 70 and 80. In the double ring key coupler 70, one end of the spring wire must be forcibly opened against the spring action of the spring wire to couple the key 20 to the key coupler 70. The key 20 then has to be rotated along the ring of spring wire. If the engagement and disengagement of the key 20 to the key coupler 70 is repeated many times, the spring action of the key coupler 70 may deteriorate and the key coupler 70 may not function properly. Can be. Moreover, when the key 20 is made of a soft material such as resin, the key 20 may be damaged by the end of the spring wire. In the case of the key coupler 80 shown in Fig. 12B, it is usually too difficult to manually deform the key coupler 80, so a tool for opening and closing it may be necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved key coupler that can be easily engaged or decoupled to a key or keys.

The key coupler according to the invention comprises a first closing ring and a second closing ring. For example, the key or the keys are connected to the second closing ring and the key holder is connected to the first closing ring. Thus, the key or keys are coupled to the key holder via a key coupler. It is most desirable to form the key coupler integrally from a single spring wire. The first closing ring is formed by overlapping a pair of circular portions each having openings that are closed to the other circular portions when the circular portions overlap. The pair of circular portions are connected to each other by a connecting portion. The second closing ring surrounded by the connecting portion is also formed when the pair of circular portions overlap.

By separating the circular portion from the other circular portions, both the first and second closing rings are opened simultaneously. When opening the rings, the key or keys are inserted into the second closing ring and the key holder is inserted into the first closing ring. By releasing the separating force, the two rings are closed due to the spring restoring action of the spring wire forming the key coupler. Thus, the key or keys are coupled to the key holder via a key coupler. To remove the key from the key holder, the two rings are opened by separating the circular part from the other circular part. A small gap can be formed between the pair of circular portions, such that the overlapping pair of circular portions is easily separated by pressing the back of the key against the small gap.

The key or keys can be easily engaged or disengaged with the key holder via the key coupler according to the invention. The key coupler can be easily opened or closed by simply separating the circular part from the other circular part, and the key coupler can be used repeatedly for a long time without being damaged. Other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from a better understanding of the preferred embodiments described with reference to the following figures.

1A-1D are front, top, rear, and left side views, respectively, of a key coupler according to the present invention;

2A and 2B are cross-sectional views respectively showing key couplers taken along lines IIA-IIA and IIB-IIB shown in FIG. 1B;

3A-3C are perspective views showing the key coupler, showing the process of engaging the key holder and the key via the key coupler.

4A to 4D are front views, top views, rear views, and left side views showing a modification 1 of the key coupler, respectively.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views respectively showing a modified form 1 taken along lines VA-VA and VB-VB shown in Fig. 4B.

6A and 6D are a front view, a plan view, a back view, and a left side view showing a modification 2 of the key coupler, respectively.

7A and 7B are cross-sectional views respectively showing a modified form 2 taken along lines XA-XA and XB-XB shown in Fig. 6B.

8A to 8D are front, top, rear and left side views, respectively, illustrating the modified form 3 of the key coupler.

9A and 9B are sectional views respectively showing a modification 3 taken along lines XA-XA and XB-XB shown in Fig. 8B.

10A to 10D are a front view, a plan view, a rear view, and a left side view showing a variation 4 of the key coupler.

11A and 11B are sectional views respectively showing a modified form 4 taken along the lines XXXA-XIA and XXXB-XIB shown in FIG. 10B.

Fig. 12A is a perspective view showing a conventional key coupler.

Fig. 12B is a perspective view showing another conventional key coupler.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10, 30, 40, 50, 60: key coupler

10a, 30a, 40a, 50a, 60a: first closing ring

10b, 30b, 40b, 50b, 60b: second closing ring

11, 12, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62: circular part

11a, 12a, 31a, 32a, 41a, 42a, 51a, 52a, 61a, 62a: opening

13, 33, 43, 53, 63: connection

20: key

21: hole

25: key holder

50c, 60c: gap

51b, 52b, 61b, 62b: angled part

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1A-1D, 2A and 2B and 3A-3C. First, referring to Figs. 1A to 1D and Figs. 2A and 2C, the structure of the key coupler 10 will be described. The front view, the top view, the back view, and the left side view of the key coupler 10 are shown in Figs. 1A to 1D, respectively. Not shown.

The key coupler is made of a single spring wire with a diameter of 1 mm. The key coupler 10 is composed of a first circular portion 11, a second circular portion 12, and a connecting portion 13 (see FIG. 3B). The first closing ring 10a is formed by superimposing the first circular portion 11 on the second circular portion 12. The second closing ring 10b is also formed when the first and second circular portions 11, 12 overlap. The second closing ring 10b is partly surrounded by the connecting portion 13 and positioned between the first closing ring 10a and the connecting portion 13 (see FIG. 1B).

The first circular portion 11 is formed into a circular shape having the first opening 11a, and the second circular portion 12 is formed into the same circular shape having the second opening 12a. The two openings 11a and 12a are symmetrically positioned with respect to the center line IIA-IIA when the two circular portions 11 and 12 overlap (see Fig. 1B). When forming the first circular portion 11, one end of the spring wire is wound counterclockwise by 315 °. The second circular portion 12 is formed by winding the other end of the spring wire clockwise by 315 °.

When the two circular portions 11 and 12 overlap, the first opening 11a is closed by the second circular portion 12 and the second opening 12a is closed by the first circular portion 11. Thus, the first closing ring 10a is formed. The second closing ring 10b surrounded by the connecting portion 13 is also formed when the first and second circular portions overlap.

When the first and second circular portions are forcibly separated, the first and second openings 11a and 12a are open, and thus the first closing ring 10a is open. The second closing ring 10b is also open at the same time when the first and second circular portions are separated. When the force for forcibly separating the two circular portions 11 and 12 is released, the two circular portions 11 and 12 are returned to their initial positions by the spring restoring force of the spring wire, and are in contact with each other. Thus, the first closing ring 10a and the second closing ring 10b are formed again.

3A to 3C, a process of coupling the key 20 to the key holder 25 through the key coupler 10 is described. A key coupler 10 with no external force applied and nothing connected is shown in FIG. 3A. As shown exaggerated in Fig. 3B, the first circular portion 11 and the second circular portion 12 are forcibly separated from each other. That is, by applying an external force, the first closing ring 10a and the second closing ring 10b are simultaneously opened. The key 20, or a plurality of keys, is coupled to the second closing ring 10b by inserting the key 20 through the opening between the two circular portions 11, 12. The key holder 25, or key holder ring, is likewise coupled to the first closure ring 10a. By releasing the force forcibly separating the circular portions 11 and 12, the key coupler 10 is returned to its original shape by its spring restoring force as shown in Fig. 3C. The key 20 may be coupled to the second closing ring 10b by connecting the hole 21 of the key 20 to the second closing ring 10b. Thus, the key 10 (or keys) is coupled to the key holder 25 via the key coupler 10.

The above-described key coupler 10 can be easily opened by separating the first circular portion 11 from the second circular portion 12, and the key 20 and the key holder 25 are each a second closing ring ( 10b) and the first closure ring 10a. It is not necessary to turn the key 20 after the key 20 is inserted into the key coupler 10. By simply releasing the separating force, the key coupler 10 returns to its original shape by its spring restoring force, thus drawing the key 20 on the second closing ring 10b and the key holder on the first closing ring 10a. (25) can be kept reliably.

The key 20 and the key holder 25 are easily disengaged from the key coupler 10 by simply separating the first circular portion 11 from the second circular portion 12. In addition, since the first closing ring 10a and the second closing ring 10b are positioned substantially in the same plane, the key coupler 10 can be manufactured in a thin and compact size.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, which can be variously changed. Some variations will be described below. As a variation 1, the key coupler 30 is shown in Figs. 4A to 4D and Figs. 5A and 5B. In variant 1, the first closing ring 30a is formed in a triangular shape (change from circular shape) with rounded corners as shown in Fig. 4B. Other structures and functions of the variation 1 are the same as those of the key coupler 10 described above. Reference numerals used in the key coupler 10 correspond to reference numerals used in the modification 1 as follows. Key coupler 10 → 30; First circular portion 11 → 31; Second circular portion 12 → 32; First closing ring 10a → 30a; Second closing ring 10b → 30b; First opening 11a → 31a; Second opening 12a → 32a; And connections 13 → 33.

As a variant 2, the key coupler 40 is shown in Figs. 6A-6D and Figs. 7A and 7B. In this variant 2, the first closing ring 40a is formed in a triangular shape (same as variant 1) with rounded corners as shown in Fig. 6B. In addition, the second closing ring 40b is formed in a trapezoidal shape (change from round shape). Other structures and functions of Modification 2 are the same as those of the key coupler 10 described above. The reference numerals used in the key coupler 10 correspond to the reference numerals used in the variation 2 as follows. Key coupler 10 → 40; First circular portion 11 → 41; Second circular portion 12 → 42; First closing ring 10a → 40a; Second closing ring 10b → 40b; First opening 11a → 41a; Second opening 12a → 42a; And connection 13 → 43.

A key coupler 50 as a variant 3 is shown in Figs. 8A-8D and 9A and 9B. In this modification 3, the first circular portion 51 is formed to include the angled portion 51b, and the second circular portion 52 is formed to include the angled portion 52b. As best shown in Fig. 8D, the two angled portions 51b, 52b form a gap 50c therebetween when the two circular portions 51, 52 overlap each other. Since the gap 50c is formed in this modified form 3, the circular portions 51 and 52 can be easily opened by simply pressing the back surface of the key 20 against the gap 50c. Thus, the key 20 is easily coupled with the key coupler 50. The key holder 25 can also be easily coupled with the key coupler 50 in the same manner.

Other structures and functions of the variation 3 are the same as those of the key coupler 10 described above. The reference numerals used in the key coupler 10 correspond to the reference numerals used in the modification 3 as follows. Key coupler 10 → 50; First circular portion 11 → 51; Second circular portion 12 → 52; First closing ring 10a → 50a; Second closing ring 10b → 50b; First opening 11a → 51a; Second opening 12a → 52a; And connections 13 → 53.

As a variant 4, the key coupler 60 is shown in Figs. 10A to 10D and Figs. 11A and 11B. The modification 4 is the same as the modification 3 described above except for the position of the gap 60c. In the modification 3 described above, the gap 50c is positioned on the opposite side of the second closing ring 50b. In this variant 4, the gap 60c is positioned on the side facing the second closing ring 60b as well shown in Fig. 10D. The first circular portion 61 is formed to include the angled portion 61b, and the second circular portion 62 is formed to include the angled portion 62b. As shown in Fig. 10D, the two angled portions 61b and 62b form a gap 60c therebetween when the two circular portions 61 and 62 overlap each other. Since the gap 60c is formed, the circular portions 61 and 62 can be easily opened by simply pressing the back of the key 20 against the gap 60c. Thus, the key 20 coupled to the key coupler 60 can be easily removed therefrom. In addition, the key holder 25 coupled to the key coupler 60 can be easily separated therefrom in the same manner.

Other structures and functions of variant 4 are the same as those of the key coupler 10 described above. Reference numerals used in the key coupler 10 correspond to reference numerals used in the variation 4 as follows. Key coupler 10 → 60; First circular portion 11 → 61; Second circular portion 12 → 62; First closing ring 10a → 60a; Second closing ring 10b → 60b; First opening 11a → 61a; Second opening 12a → 62a; And connections 13 → 63.

The present invention is not limited to the examples and their modifications described above, and may be further modified. For example, the key 20 may be coupled to the first closure ring 10a instead of the second closure ring 10b. Likewise, the key holder 25 can be coupled to the second closing ring 10b. In this way, the key 20 (or keys) is coupled with the key holder 25 via the key coupler 10. Although the key coupler is integrally made from a single spring wire in the above-described embodiment, the key coupler can be made by connecting the first and second circular parts made separately with a connection made of spring material.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to the above preferred embodiments and variations thereof, it is understood that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The present invention provides an improved key coupler that can be easily engaged or disengaged from a key or keys.

Claims (11)

A key coupler 10 for coupling a key to a key holder, The first circular portion 11, The second circular portion 12, A connecting portion 13 connecting the first circular portion to the second circular portion; A first closing ring 10a formed by overlapping the first circular portion with the second circular portion, A second closing ring 10b defined by the connecting portion and the first closing ring and formed by superimposing the first circular portion on the second circular portion, The first closing ring 10a and the second closing ring 10b are opened by applying a force forcing the first circular portion away from the second circular portion, and the two rings are removed by forcibly removing the force for separating the first circular portion. Key coupler, characterized in that closed. The method of claim 1, wherein the first circular portion 11 includes a first opening 11a which is closed by the second circular portion 12 when the two circular portions overlap each other. The second coupler (12) is characterized in that it comprises a second opening (12a) which is closed by the first circle (11) when the two circles overlap each other. Key coupler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection (13) is made of a material having a spring action. 3. A key coupler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first circular part (11), the second circular part (12) and the connecting part (13) are all made integrally from a single spring wire. 5. A key coupler according to claim 4, wherein the first and second circular portions comprise separate angled portions (51b, 52b; 61b, 62b) that form a gap therebetween when the two circular portions overlap each other. 5. A key coupler according to claim 4, wherein the first closing ring (10a) and the second closing ring (10b) are formed such that the two rings are positioned on substantially the same plane. 7. A key coupler according to claim 6, wherein the first ring (10a) is formed in a circular shape on a plane. 7. A key coupler according to claim 6, wherein the first ring (30a) is formed in a substantially triangular shape on a plane. 9. A key coupler according to claim 8, wherein the second ring (40b) is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape on a plane. 6. A key coupler according to claim 5, wherein the gap (50c) is formed at a position opposite the second closing ring on the first closing ring. 6. A key coupler according to claim 5, wherein the gap (60c) is formed in a position facing the second closing ring on the first closing ring.