US2066033A - Key case - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1936. c. H. .DAHLGRE'N 2,066,033

KEY CASE Filed Jan. 15, 1932 I I I ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to key cases or key purses and more particularly to a key case the construction of which combines a number of novel and useful features. I

An important object of the invention is the provision of a key case which has a single removable key holding member which may be pivotally swung outward and inward of the case and which may be readily detached therefrom to receive or discharge one or a number of keys.

Another important object of the invention is the provision in a key case of a key holding member, which, while capable 'of holding a plurality of keys, permits a selected key to be readily separated from the remainder, without removal from the holder, swung outward from the case as far ,nlaway from the other keysas possible and readily manipulated for the opening operation without interference with the other keys.

Still another important object of the invention is the provision in a key case of a backing plate, made of a single piece of sheet metal and adapted to perform four important functions: 1. To serve as a novel bearing for the key holding member,

2. To hold a removable sheet or card bearing the name and address of the owner of the key case, 3. To act as a stiffening or reinforcing member for the whole case and 4. To provide an anchorage for a key case chain.

Yet another important object of the invention is the provision of a key case, having the foregoing combined advantages, which has few and simple parts, which may be manufactured with economy and speed, and which when finished will take up little space and present an attractive appearance.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the case in open position with a selected key ready for its opening operation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the closed key case.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the back of the closed case.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section,

showing a side flap of the flexible cover and the keys in resting position within the case.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the bearing part of the backing plate and the pivotal part of the key holding member in outwardly extended position, as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken along the lines 56 of Fig. 5, and illustrating how the backing plate is secured to the flexible cover by riveting.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, reference numeral I indicates a cover or casing of leather or other suitable flexible material. This cover comprises a back portion 2 and side wings or flap portions 3 and 4. The flap 3 of the cover is adapted to fold '10 over the keys when the key case is in closed position (as in Fig. 2) and the flap 4 being slightly larger than flap 3 is adapted to overlie flap 3 and to be removably secured to the back 2 by means of a snap button 5, secured adjacent the tip or 15 tongue 6 of the flap 4, taking over a snap boss I, projecting from the back 2 at about its longitudinal center.

Substantially co-extensive with the back 2 and secured to its inner surface by means of rivets 8 20 and 9, is a backing plate I I made from a single, substantially rectangular, piece of sheet metal or other suitable material slightly widened at one end. The longitudinal marginal edges of the plate II, up to the widened part, are turned up- 5 wardly and inwardly in reverse directions to form guide grooves or flanges I2. A name plate I3 of celluloid or other suitable material and bearing the name and address of the owner of the keys, may be slid between the guide flanges i2 of the 30 plate. One end of the plate II may be slightly tapered to conform to the tapered cut of the cover and may be used as an anchorage. A chain I4 may be suitably secured to the rivet 9 at the tapered end of the plate. The opposite widened 35 end of the plate I I serves as a hearing or anchoring means for the key holding member. This end has the material of its side edges bent upwardly and outwardly to provide bearing flanges I5 and I6, having circular bearing holes I! and I8 of a 40 diameter equal or slightly larger than the diameter of a key holding member I9.

This key holding member or wire loop I9, preferably, is substantially U-shaped in outline, bent from a single piece of resilient wire and has a 45 rounded closed U-bottom 2| and U-legs 22 and 23. The legs 22 and 23 are bent inwardly at right angles to provide bearing pins 24 and 25 adapted to take through the bearing holes I! and I8. U-leg 23 is a little longer than leg 22 50 and its free end is bent at a right angle to the pin portion 25 to provide a stop 26 for the latter and prevent its accidental detachment from the bearing hole I8.

When keys are placed upon the key holder, a 55 preferable manner of accomplishing this operation is as follows:

The key holderv is grasped by the rounded bottom 2| and is held at a right angle to the plate 'I I, with the stop 26 inserted through the hearing hole l8. The holder is then swung around into parallelism with the 'plate ll, with the pin 24 stillfree of engagement with the bearing hole [1. 'As many keys as are desired to be placed *upon'the holder and can becarried'by it are now inserted by their perforated heads upon the pin 24 and slid along the leg 22 until the bunch of keys come to ride upon the rounded part 2! of the holder. The leg 22 is then sprung outwardly and the pin 24 snapped into the bearing hole 11. The bunch of keys with theirperforated heads riding upon the rounded part '2 l are then grasped and swung towards the tapered end of the plate H, together with the holder l9, which come'to rest against the plate II. The keys are given another pivotal movement, a kind of jackknife movement relative to the now resting holder until the keys come to lie between the legs 22 and 23 with their heads restingjupon the tapered end of the plate (as in Fig. 4;) and their shanks extending toward the bearing end of the plate.

The flanges I5 and 16 of the plate H may be shaped or bent in such manner as to function as reversely directed cam surfaces and key holder looks or stops.- Their construction, as shown in Fig. '5, will cause the inner, surfaces of the legs 22 and 23 adjacent the pins 24 and 25 .to ride upon the outer edges of the flanges, forcing the legs apart, when the key holder is moved from resting position shown in Fig. 4 to extended position shown in Fig. l. The natural resiliency or spring-like quality of the legs will then cause them to snap back under said flanges when they have cleared the wide outer edges of the flanges andthe latter will hold the legs in yielding lockin position as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The flaps 3 and 4 at the tapered end of the plate ll may be stitched or otherwise secured together in a seam 21 (Fig. 2) to present a nice- 7 ly finished appearance.

It will thus be seen that the finished key case parts, compactly and economically put together with a view to place upon the market a useful, inexpensive and neatappearing article.

. It is thought that theflinvention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and' it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the g form, construction and'arrangement of the parts cured, to said plate and adapted to hold a plu plate connected with said cover, a U-shaped key" holder'having its free ends pivotally connected with said plate adjacent one end of said plate, the metal of said plate adjacent said end being turned in opposite directions to' provide cam flanges adapted to spread said holder when the latter is moved in one direction and adapted 'to lock said holder when moved in the opposite di rection. V

CHARLES H. DAHLGREN.

CIT

consists of a well planned combination of simple

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