US2294808A - Key holder - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1942. h. M..SCHUPBACH KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 17, 194? INVENTOR %1/ 25ac)% BY WSW Patented Sept. 1, 1942 KEY HOLDER Rene M. Schupbach, Cranston, R. L assignor to Freeman-Daughaday Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 17, 1942, Serial No. 427,159

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a key holder of the type adapted for attachment to the end of a key chain to be carried on the person of the wearer.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a key holder to which a key may be easily attached or removed, the arrangement being such that the end over which the key is positioned may be separably engaged to prevent the escape of the key from the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder which may be opened for the reception of a key and which will maintain itself in such open position until manually closed'by the user, without the keeper obstructing the entrance for the key onto the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder which will maintain its same compact relationship whether it is in open or closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a keeper which forms substantially the sector of a circle and which .by swinging about the center of the circle may be moved from open to closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the key holder in closed position with a key mounted on the holder and the suspending chain shown in attached position thereto.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 omitting the key and the chain, and showing the holder in open position for the reception or discharge of a key therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the keeper member in section, and in closed position.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the showing in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the keeper just before moved completely to closed position.

With reference to the drawing, Ill designates the body of the key holder which consists of a resilient piece of stock, generally circular in cross section, and which may be either metal or plastic, and is formulated generally looped-shaped, that shown here being along the path of a circle, or of generally annular form, having one terminal end ll provided with a hook l2 and a cam surface l3 while the'other end ofthis body I4 is spaced from the end ll toprovide an entrance opening 16 for the passage of keys over the end II and along the body Ill. An arm l5 extends inwardly from the end I4 substantially along a radial line. A key is indicated at I! having an opening [8 for the reception of the end II.

An opening I9 is located in the arm 15 at substantially the center of the annular body I0 and provides a pivot bearing for a keeper designated generally 20 which has a bridge portion 2i provided with an opening 22 to receive the hook end l2 of the body. A sector-shaped portion 23 extends radially inwardly from the bridging portion 2! on either side of the body to the pivot bearing center I9 and a U-shaped strap 24 also extends to the pivot bearing and spaced from the keeper to provide an eye 25 for the reception of the ring 26 attaching the chain 2'1 thereto. The U-shaped strap is fixed to the keeper as by solder. A pivot pin 28 extends through the bearing 19 and suitable registering openings in the keeper 20 and the U-shaped member 24 so as to pivotally mount the keeper with reference to the body.

As the keeper is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 toward the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the cam surface l3 engages the under side of the bridging portion 2| of the keeper so as to flex the end ll inwardly as shown in Fig. 5 until the hook-shaped end registers with the opening 22, when this end will enter the opening 22 and then lock the keeper securely in closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The keeper 2!] being pivoted at substantial the center of the annular body will frictionally engage the outer surface 29 of the body adjacent the end I4 and thus serve to maintain the keeper in open position such as shown in Fig. 2 where free access to the end H by key 11 may be had without the danger of the keeper accidentally closing the opening.

Further, by reason of the sector-shaped portion 23 of the keeper it maintains symmetry and ballance and occupies substantially the same compact space whether the keeper be in open or closed position. From the construction shown it will be apparent that when no keys are on the body, the keeper may be swung a complete revolution by merely flexing inwardly the hook end ll. Of course, should a key be strung on the body, it would be forced over the end i I when the keeper is swung counter-clockwise as shown in Fig. 2 during any such rotation.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a generally annular body having spaced ends, an arm on one end of the body extending inwardly to substantially the center thereof, and the other end provided with a hook, and a keeper to extend across said spaced ends and having a portion pivoted at the center of said annular body to close said space between the ends of said body, said keeper having an opening therein to receive said hook to hold the keeper in closed position.

2. A key holder comprising a generally annular body having spaced ends, an arm on one end of the body extending inwardly to substantially the center thereof and the other end provided with a hook, and a keeper to extend across said spaced end and having a portion pivoted at the center of said annular body to close said space between the ends of said body, said keeper having an opening therein to receive said'hook to hold the keeper in closed position the surface of the hook engaged by the keeper beingshapedto earn the hook into the opening in the-keeper.

3. A key holder comprising a generally annular body having spaced ends, an arm on one end of the body extending inwardly to substantially the center thereof, and a generally U-shaped keeper to extend across said spaced ends and with the sides thereof pivoted to the said arm at the center of said annular body to close said space between the ends of said body, and with the bight of said keeper positioned at a location to be moved over the outer surface of said body when moved to opened position.

4. A key holder comprising a generally annular body having spaced ends, an arm on one end of the body extending radially inwardly to substantially the center thereof, and a generally U-shaped keeper to extend across said spaced ends and with-the sides thereof straddling said arm and pivoted thereto at the end portion thereof to close sai'd'space between the ends of said body, and with the bight of said keeper frictionally engaging the outer surface of said body and movable over said outer surface when moved to opened position.

RENE M. SCHUPBACH.

Images