US1877910A - Combined cardcase and key holder - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l Mar/BUZZ Sept. 20, 1932. c. LENFANT COMBINED CARDCASE AND KEY HOLDER Filed Oct. 11, 1929 P 1932- c. 1. ENFANT COMBINED CARDCASE AND KEY HOLDER Filed Oct. 11, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 one STATES CHARLES LENFANT, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

' COMBINED GARDCASE AND KEY HOLDER Application filed. October 11, 1929. SeriaLNo. 398,885;

This invention relates to a combined card case and key holder, and has for its general object and purpose to provide certain improvements in a device of the character shown L and described in my co-pending application for patent Serial No. 349,343, filed March 23, 1929.-

In the above-mentioned application, I have disclosed a case or holder constructed of leather or other flexible material having a plurality of separate pockets for receiving the individual keys and each of which pockets is provided with means permitting of the easy. insertion and complete enclosure of the key within the pocket or its ready withdrawal therefrom to a position for use. In my present improvements, I retain the essential features of this key holder,and propose to combine the same in a relatively simple structure with a card case having one or more pockets in addition to the individual key receiving pockets for the purpose of containing cards, memoranda and the like.

In one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, I provide a body wall for the case of leather or other flexible material having its end portions inwardly turned and a It is also another object of my inventionto provide a novel means for forming the key receiving pockets whereby the insertionof the key into any oneof the pockets or its complete removal therefrom is facilitated, While th keys when enclosed within the pockets, will nevertheless be closely confined and held. Thus, when the two sections of the case are folded upon each other, the two series of keys contained in the pockets will lie in compact superimposed relation so that the case as a whole will present a comparatively fiat appearance.

It is also an additional object of the invention to provide each of the individual key re-.

ceiving pockets in one wall thereof with an opening, preferably covered by a-sheet of transparent material through which the key contained in'the pocket may be seen, and identified. An additional feature is theprovision at the inner end of each pocket in the opposite walls thereof with fingerreceiving notches yor recesses whereby the end of the key shank maybe easily; grasped and withdrawn beyond said end of the pocket to a position for use.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a combined card case and key holder of the above character which may be fabricated, and the several parts thereof easily and quickly. assembled at very low manufacturing cost. I

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved com bined key care and card holder, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequentl-y incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have disclosed several simple and practical embodiments of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout'the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior appearance of a device embodying my present improvements;

Fig. 2 isa sectional view'on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the case open;

Fig. 4 is an inner face view of the body Wall of the case; 7 I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank which forms parts of one series of the key receiving pockets;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly modified form of the device;

Fig. 7 is an exterior plan view of the case illustrating a further modification;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 8 -8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary interior face view of the case shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary inner face View of a further modification of the device;

Fig. 11 is an outer face view showing another alternative form of the invention;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional View thereof taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an inner face view of the open case shown in Fig. 11, and

Fig. 141 is a detail fragmentary View partly in section showing a further modification of one feature of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and

for the present more particularly to Figs. 1 V

to thereof, the body wall of the case generally indicated at 5 consists of, a sheet of leather or. other suitable flexible material of the requisite length and width. The opposite end portions 6 of this leather sheet are somewhat reduced in width and folded in wardly and clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the folds indicated at 7 forming the closed ends of key receiving pockets. 'Preferably, though not necessarily,

each of the parts 6 of the flexible body sheet in spaced relation to the fold 7 is provided with openings indicated at 8 spaced apart across the width of the sheet and corresponding in number to the number of the key receiving pockets. To the inner side of each of the parts 6 and extending over the openings 8, the strip of celluloid or other transparent material indicated at 9 is secured,the extreme end edge of the part 6' being folded over one edge of this celluloid strip and secured to one of the lines of stitching indicated at 10 whereby the strip 9 is securely attached to the part 6 of the body sheet.

Preferably, the inner surface of the flexible body sheet 5 between the folds 7 thereof is reinforced by the silk lining sheet shown at 11.

With each of the inwardly folded parts 6 of the body sheet forming portions of a series of key receiving pockets, a flexible leather sheet 12 is associated. This leather sheet is of the same width as the end portions 6 of the body sheet and in spaced relation to one of its ends is folded upon itself as at 13. This leather sheet 12 is also preferably provided on its inner face with the reinforcing lining of silk or other fabric material indicated at 14. The relatively short folded end portion 15 of the sheet 12 has its end edge provided with the folded seam 16 and is adapted to lie substantially in the same plane as one of the folded end portions 6 of the body wall 5 while the longer part of the sheet 12 extends over the inner side of the part 6 of the body sheet for substantially the entire length thereof. These two flexible sheets of material 6 and 12 are secured together at spaced points across the width of the case by the lines of stitching shown at 17, such lines of stitching being continued as at 17 beyond the ends of the parts 6 and securing the portions 15 to the opposed parts of the leather sheets 12. Thus, there is formed upon the inner side of each half of the body wall or sheet 5 of the case two series of key receiving pockets 18. 7

From reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings, itwill be observed that the sheet 12 is provided at the fold 18 thereof with spaced circular openings 19. Thus when this sheet is folded to form the inner end portions of the pockets, there is provided at the inner end of each pocket in the opposite side walls thereof the semi-circular notches or recesses as indicated at 20. It will further be observed that the parts 12 and 6 are secured together so that the extremity of the folded end portions 15 of the sheets 12 are in close abutting contact with the inner end edges of the folded end portions 6 of the body sheet 5, as clearly indicated at 21 in Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawings. Therefore, it will be seen that normally, the inner side walls of the respective pockets are substantially completely closed. The distance between this line of contact 21 between the edges of the two sheets forming the pockets and the fold 18 of the sheet 12, is slightly less than the diameter of the head, portion of the average Yale lock key.

After the pocket forming sheets 12 have been secured to the parts 6 of the body sheet 5, the opposite side edges 22 ofthe wider portion of the body sheet extending between the end portions 6 thereof are folded inwardly over the lateral side edges of said end portions 6 of the sheet 5 and of the sheet 12 including its end portions 15, and are stitched or o herwise permanently secured thereto as indicated at 28. Thus, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is provided upon the inner side of the body sheet 5 and at opposite sides of its center, the two series of key receiving pockets, each of which is adapted to substantially completely enclose and confine a single Yale lock 1: y in se regated relation from the other keys in the case. It will be seen that the inner opposed ends of the two series of key pockets are suitably spaced apart, and that the spaces between the sheets 12 from which the respective series of peck? ets are formed and the opposed portionsof the body sheet 5 provide capacious pocket-s indicated at 2d having their inner open ends 1 extending entirely across the width of the case and within which cards, automobile licenses, memoranda or the like may be conveniently carried. Also the spacing between the two series of pockets provides a central section of the body wall or sheet 5 indicated at 25 permitting of the necessary flexible folding of this part of the body sheet without cracking or mutilation thereof so that the two sections of the case may be arranged the pocket of the case.

in compact superimposed relation asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, a case is provided which is capable of carrying a comparatively large number of keys, but since the keys are maintained in fiat segregated relation to each other, the case when folded always presents a neat, non-bulky appearance and can be readily carried in the vest pocket.

In .the use of the device, any desired key may be readily selected, and by grasping the exposed end of the key shank at the finger recesses 20, said shank can be withdrawn from the-key pocket until the edge of the key head abuts against the fold 7 at opposite sides of the recesses 20. By then first reversely folding the two sections of the case so that the outer faces of the case sections are incontact, the key shank'may be readily in serted in the look without removing it from However, should it be necessary in any instance, in order to enable the proper insertion of the key into the lock, the selected key can be easily and quickly removed by simply relatively flexing the abutting edges 21 of the parts 6 and 15 forming the outer wall of the pocket so that the key head may be projected outwardly through the opening thus provided. In inserting a key into the pocket, these edge portions are thus relatively flexed and the shank of the key is first inserted therebetween and projected through the inner open end of the pocket until the head portion of the key is positioned in said inner end of the pocket so that the end edge of the part 16 may be engaged thereover. The key is then moved in the opposite direction until the head abuts against the closed end of the pocket. In this position, the extremity of the shank ofthe key lies within the recesses 20. If desired, as a further means for facilitating the se lection of the proper key, I may provide one of these side pockets, of either or both series, in the outer wall thereof, with a small opening as indicated at 26. In the event that the key heads are of substantially the same form and are 'ornamentally marked in the same manner so that they cannot be readily distinguished from each other by sight through the openings 8, the owner may locate a particular key by the sense of touch againstthe edge of the opening 26, and having knowledge of the keys in the respective remainmg pockets, .he may thus readily locate the desired key even in the dark. I

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, I show a slightly different form of the devicein which instead of providing the openings 8 in the part 6 of the body sheet. these openings as indicated at 8 are provided in the folded end portions 15 of the sheet 12, and the strips of celluloid or other transparent material 9 secured behind said openings to the inner faces of the parts 15.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I show another construction in which these transparent windows are provided in the body sheet 5 forming the outer wallof the case, and in this instance, said sheet may be provided with a single opening 8 extending across substantially the entire width of the'series ,of key receiving pockets adjacent the folds .7 of the body sheet,the' transparent celluloid strips 9 being secured-to the inner face of the body sheetbehind the openings 8e.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings, I have shown another construction inwhich the key receiving pockets are arranged to extend across the width of the case, said pockets being constructed substantially in the same manner as above described, but the open ends thereofv being located adjacent to one longi-, tudinal edge of the case sothat in this instance, it will be understood that these open ends of the two series ofpocketsare not opposed to each other. This construction is particularly designed for receiving an ordinary house door key of the common type used for interior as well as exterior doors.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13, a simplified embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the article is not provided with the card receiving pockets and wherein the case consists of but a single sheet of leather having its end portions folded inwardly and secured to the body of the case to form the series of relatively short pockets 18. The depth of these pockets is only slightly greater than the diameter of the key head and the inner side wall of each pocket adjacent the fold?" of the body sheet is provided with a narrow slit 30 extending across substantially the full width of the pocket while said wall adjacent the other or inner closed end of the pocket is provided with a relatively short slot 31. Throughthis slot the shank portion of the key extends as clearly shown in Fig. 13 so that in this case, it will be understood that the shanksof the keys are not enclosed within the pockets, but extend upon the inner face of the body wall. However, the opposed ends of the key shanks of the two series are sufficiently spaced apart to permit of'the folding of the case as shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14: shows a modification of the device of Fig. 13, in which the inner wall of the case is provided with a flap extension32 associated with each pocket and adapted to extend upwardly from the lower edge of the slit 30 and beneath the upper edge thereof. When the key is to be inserted, this flap must be withdrawn through the slit. After insertion, by then folding the flap under the portion of the pocket wall above the slit 30, all possibility of the key head working outwardly through said slit is obviated.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of use and several advantages of. the several embodiments of my present invention will be readily understood. It will be appreciated that a device of this kind consisting of the few parts of very simple form may be readily produced at minimum manufacturing cost. It will be apparent of course, that the device can be constructed so as to provide any desired number of the key receiving pockets in each series and may be produced in various ornamental leathers or other flexible materials.

While I have herein shown and described several practical forms of my present inven tion, it will nevertheless be understood that the essential features thereof may also be incorporated in various other alternative structures, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: v

1. A case of flexible material having a card receiving pocket, one side of said pocket having parallel flexible walls stitched together along spaced parallel lines to provide a plurality of individual key receiving pockets having their lengthwise dimension disposed at right angles to the open side of the card receiving pocket, each of said hey receiving pockets at the end thereof adjacent the open side of the card receiving pocket having its wall centrally cut away to expose the shank of the key contained in said pocket to permit the same to be grasped and withdrawn therefrom, the remaining portion of said pocket end being closed to prevent the movement of the key head therethrough.

2. A case of flexible material having a card receiving pocket, one side of said pocket having parallel flexible walls stitched together along spaced parallel lines to provide a plurality of individual key receiving pockets having their lengthwise dimension disposed at right angles to the open side of the card receivin pocket, each of said key receiving poczets at the end thereof adjacent the open side of the card receiving pocket having its wall centrally cut away to expose the shank of the key contained in said pocket to permit the same to be grasped and withdrawn therefrom, the remaining portion of said pocket end being closed to prevent the movement of the :ey head therethrough, and said pocket wall being provided with a slit extending across the width thereof and spaced from said end of the pocket for a distance less than the diameter of the key head but permitting of the insertion of the key into the pocket or its removal therefrom by relatively flexing the edge portions of said pocket walls at opposite sides of said slit.

3. A case of flexible material having a card receiving pocket, one side of said pocket having parallel flexible walls stitched together along spaced parallel lines to provide a plurality of individual key receiving pockets having their lengthwise dimension disposed at right angles to the open side of the card receiving pocket, each of said key receiving pockets at the end thereof'adjacent the open side of the card receiving pocket having its wall centrally cut away to expose the shank of the key contained in said pocket to permit the same to be grasped and withdrawn therefrom, the remaining portion of said pocket end being closed to prevent the movement of the key head therethrough, and said pocket wall being provided with a slit extending across the width thereof and spaced from said end of the pocket for a distance less than the diameter of the key head but permitting of the insertion of the key into the'pocket or its removal therefrom by relatively flex ing the edge portions of said pocket walls at opposite sides of said slit, and each of said pocket walls being further provided with an opening therethrough and a sheet of transparent material secured to the inner side of said wall over said opening and through which the key contained in the pocket is; visible.

4. combined card case and key holder comprising a body sheet of flexible material having reduced end portions folded inwardly and downwardly upon one side of said sheet, an additional sheet of flexible material associated with each of said end ortions of the body sheet extending along the inner side thereof and having an end portion folded and disposed in substantially the same plane as the end portion of the body sheet with the opposed edges of said folded portions of said sheets in close abutting contact, spaced lines of parallel stitching securing the folded portions of said second sheet of material to each other and also securing said material to the folded end portion of the body sheet, the side edges of said body sheet being turned inwardly and secured upon the corresponding edges of said folded endof the body sheet and the second named'sheet of material secured thereto, thereby forming a card receiving pocket and a pluralitv of individual key receiving pockets, the ends of the latter pockets at the open side of the card receiving pocket being provided with openings through which the shank of the key contained in the pocket may be withdrawn while preventing the removal of the key head therethrough.

5., A combination card case and key holder comprising a body sheet of flexible material having end portions folded inwardly on one side of said sheet, and means attached to each of said end portions of the body sheet to form in conjunction therewith a series of individual key receiving pockets at one side of a main card receiving pocket located on opposite sides of the center of the body sheet whereby said body sheet may be centrally lee its

folded to dispose the two series of key receiving pockets in face to face contact, and each of said key receiving pockets having an open; ing at the inner end thereof through which the key shank may be withdrawn while preventing the removal of the key head therethrough. I

6. An article of the character described comprising a flexible body sheet having opposite end portions folded inwardly upon one side of the sheet and secured thereto to form I parts of a plurality of key receiving pockets, each pocket having a slit in'one wall thereof extending across substantially the entire width of the pocket and through which the head of the key may pass, and said pocket wall being also provided with a relatively narrow slot spaced from said slit for a distance less than the diameter of the key head and through which only the shank portion of the key may protrude, said flexible body sheet adapted to be centrally folded upon itself to position the two series of keys contained in said pockets in superimposed relation to each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

CHARLES LENFANT.

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