US1766563A - Pocket key carrier - Google Patents

Description

R..H. THAYER POCKET KEY CARRIER June 24,' 1930.

Filed May 14, 1926 2. 4

lNl/E/VTU/i REUEL H. THAYER Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REUEL THAYER, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THAYER TELKEE CORPORATION,

OF SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA POCKET KEY CARRIER Application filed May 14,

This invention relates to key carriers of the type which comprise a flexible casing for the keys which may be carried in the pocket to protect the pocket from the keys.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a key carrier in which the number' of key retainers in the carrier may be m-' creased or diminished as desired.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide a key carrier in which each key retainer comprises an identification means which may be permanently attached t,o the key, the identification means being removed from the key retainer when the key is removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key carrier having a plurality of key retainers, such that a key may be freely turned in a look without turning the carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key, carrier in which the key retainers are pivotally mounted in the carrier to rotate about an axis and at the same time are slidable along that axis. Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation viewof a key carrier embodying my invention; I

Figure 2 is a plan view of the key carrier so shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional end view of the key retaining means taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side View of one of the key retaining members;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a key carrier showing a modification of my invention;

Figure dis a sectional end View of the key retaining means shown in Figure 5 taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side View of thekey retaining means shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a front view of a modified means for mounting the key retainers shown in Figure 5.

1926. serial No. 108,999.

may be releasably held at the other end by a spring hook 18. A plurality of chains 19 are adapted to be suspended from the rod 16 by eyelets 20,which are attached to the upper ends of the chains 19. The chains 19 may have identification tags 21 attached to their ends. These identification tags may comprise a flat member 22 and a loop 23 which is adapted to be attached to a key 24 and which is also non-removably attached to the fiat member 22. This identification ta is more fully described in my prior apphcation, Serial No. 39,922. Any convenient number of the chains 19 with their identification tags 21 and keys 24 may be slid upon the rod 16 when the rod is extended from the reinforming strip, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and securely but pivotally retained thereon when the rod is closed against the reinforcing strip and held by the spring hook 18. If desired, a spacing sleeve or washer 25 may be introduced between every two chains to hold the chains apart and prevent them from becoming entangled when the key carrier is in the pocket.

In Figure 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of the carrier shown in Figure 1. In place of the rod 16, a tube 26 is hinged to the reinforcing strip 14 at one end thereof and releasably held at the other end by the spring clip 27 A plurality of chains 28 having balls 29 at their upper ends are adapted to be suspended from the tube 26 by the balls 29 fitting inside of-the tube 26 and the chains 28 passing through a slot 30 provided for that purpose in the side of the tube 26. I prefer to use chains comprising hollow balls held together by pins as are commonly used in electric light pull chain sockets, and in usin such a chain, the slot 30 need be only wi e enough to accommodate the pin connecting the two upper balls of the chain. However, any chain may be used with a ball attached to the upper end thereof. In Figure 5 I have also illustrated a modified form of identification tag which comprises a tubular body 31 having an opening 32 in the side adjacent each end thereof. Slots 33 connect the openings 32 with the open ends of the tubular body 31. The openin s 32 are large enough to admit the end bafi of the chain 28, whereupon the adjacent link may be forced through the slot 33 so that it protrudes from the opening in the end of the tubular body. This opening is small enough so that the ball of the chain 28 can not pass therethrough and the identification ta is therefore releasably attached to the chain. Another chain 34 is permanently attached by one end to the lower end of the identification tag 31 and the free end of this chain may be introduced through the hole in the key and attached to the identification tag by inserting the end ball in the hole 32 similar to the way in which the chain 28 is attached to the identification tag. The end of the tube 26 adjacent the hinge is permanently closed by the hinge and when the tube is rotated about the hinge into the position shown in dotted lines in Fi re 5, the other end of the tube is open an the balls 29 may be introduced into the tube or removed therefrom, whereupon thetube may be snapped into its closed position where it is held by the spring clip 27 which also closes the end of the tube and revents the balls 29 from coming out of t e tube. The slot 30 may be located at the lower side of the tube as shown in Figures 5 and 6 or it may be located along the outer side of the tube as shown in Figure 8, and if desired a plurality of transverse slots 30 may be provided to permit the chain to sw g more freely about the tube when a key 1s m use.

In the modification shown in Figure 1, the identification ta is permanently attached to the key and w en it is desired to remove a key from the key carrier, the key together with the identification tag is removed therefrom so that the key may he therefore permanently identified and may be replaced in the carrier without changing the identity thereof as distinguished from the usual wallet type of key case wherein a fixed number of key snaps are provided in the mind of the user. In the modification shown in Figure 5, the key may be removed from the identification tag, if desired, or both may be removed as in the first instance. Any convenient number of keys may be carried in my carrier and where it is only desired to carry two or three keys, the remaining chains and identification tags may be removed to lighten the carrier and provide its folding over into a less bulky package and the number of keys carried may e changed at will. Any desired insignia mav be provided on the key tags 21 and 31, such as letters or numbers being embossed thereon or the tags ainted a certain color.

Various modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not therefore desire to limit myself to the speci fic embodiment shown but to interpret the invention broadly within the scope of the appsnded claims.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a key container comprising a flexible covering for said keys, a od pivotally attached to said container by one end thereof, a releasable catch to secure the other end of said rod-to said container, a plurality of chains slidably-mounted on said rod and means to attach a key to each of said chains.

2. In a key container comprising a flexible covering for said keys, a rod pivotally attached to said container by one end thereof, a' releasable catch to secure the other end of said rod to said container, a lurality of chains, an eye at one end of eac chain and adapted to receive the end of said rod and slidably retain said chains thereon, and means to secure a key to the other end of each of said chains.

3. In a key container comprising a flexible covering for said keys, a rod pivotally attached to said container by one end thereof, a releasable catch to secure the other end of said rod to said container, a plurality of chains, an eye at one end of each chain adapted to receive said rod whereby said chains are slidably mounted on said rod, an identifying means on each of said chains and means to permanently secure a key to each chain.

4. In a key container comprising a flexible covering for said keys, a plurality of chains, means comprising a releasable catch to slidably secure one end of each of said chains in said container, an identification means on each of said chains and means to attach a key to each of said chains.

5. In a key carrier comprising a folder of flexible material, a reinforcing strip, a rod hinged to said strip at one end thereof, a releasable catch to secure the'other end of said rod to said strip, a plurality of chains, an eye at the end of each chain adapted to receive said rod whereby said chains are slidably and releasably secured on said rod, a key identification tag permanently attached to the other end of each of said chains and means to permanently secure a key to each of said tags.

6. In a key carrier a rod pivotally secured to said carrier by one end thereof, a releasable catch to secure the other end of said rod to said carrier, a plurality of chains slidably mounted on said rod, a spacing washer slidably mounted on said rod between every two of said chains and means to permanently secure a key on each of said chains.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

REUEL H. THAYEB.

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