US2400424A - Key holder - Google Patents

Description

MaY14, 1946- A H. LEVESQUE 2,400,424

' KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 3, 1945 %r%ufffl edesyzze Patented May 14, 1946 UNITED ,5TA E F C KEY LuEBJ Arthur H. Levesque, North Attleborm Mass, as-

signor to R. F. Simmons-Company; Attleboro,

I Mass, a partnership Application January I I I I v I I v fi' Claims This invention relates to animprotiedfkeyholder or key-keepfas it'is sometimes called,

for retaining a collection of keys-in convenient for'm'for carrying on the person. I I

One object 'of the invention is to provide a *key-holder of small dimension and light weight for retaining a collection of 'keys in compact form.

Another object is to providea key-holder of the type indicated comprising a member adapted for attachment jto a suspension chain and having means for connecting the'endsof a looped chain on which the keys may be strung.

. Another object is to provide a key-holder of the type indicated having a central member with a fixed loop at one end for attachment to the suspension chain and a releasable loop at its opposite end for connecting the ends 'of the chain strung with keys.

Another object is to provide a key-holder of the type indicated having manually-operable .clasping or latching means for securely fastening the releasable loop against accidental or unwarranted release irom the central member.

Another object is to provide a key-holder of the type indicated which may be constructed from. sheet-metal stampings and bent wire to render it economical to manufacture while being strong and durable in use and proof against re- 7 lease of the keys held thereby] Further objects of the invention are set forth inthe following specification which describes a preferred form. of construction of the device, by

way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, In the drawing: I I

.Fig. 1 is a side View of the key-holder several I times enlarged and illustrating it with a; suspension chain attached at. oneendand a looped keysustaining'chain connected to its opposite end;

Fig. 2 is a similar enlarged view showing the latching or clasping means of the device as opened for releasefof the chain-holding,loop-member at its end; 1

Fig. 31s a similar view showing the chain-holding loop-member as released and slid outwardly from the central member of the key-holder to adapt it to be rotated for applyingthe looped chain thereto or removing it therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged end view of the device;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-5 of Fig. 1; and f I Fig. 7 is a similar enlarged sectional view show- 3, 1945,5eria1 No. 571,132

(01. 70-459)} A I I ing'theclasp or latch of the device in open posi- 'tion. I

The present improved key-holder comprises, in general; a relatively fiat rectangular central mem- 5 ber'3 having tubular-bearings4, 5, 6 and 1 at its opposite'sides for receiving the ends of substantially U-sh'aped wire loop- members 9 and 10. One loop-member 9 is adapted for permanent attach- I merit to a suspension chain H and the opposite loiloop-m'ember I is for connection with the end slinks l2 'ofi-a chain l'for holding the keys strung l thereon. 11,; :The two tubularbearings 4 and 5 are of sub stantially theIsame length extendinginwardly from the ends of the central member 3 with their :inner ends spaced apart to provide an opening therebetween. The bearings 6 and I are connectedjto the bearings 4 and 5 by a relatively thin plate or web-l6 having its ends cut awayor ;,recessedin arcuate contour to save metal and ,reducethe weight of the central member 3. The .;bearing-;6 is somewhat shorter'than the bearings -4- and 5 and the hearing I, while of greater over- I all length-is cut away on the outside leaving a relatively short arcuate portion I8 joined to the central Web or plate lfi; this form of construc tion being for a purpose later explained. I" he l l-shaped loop-member 9 is formed by .bending alength oi wire insemicircular shape ,and 'opntinuingit in parallel legs '20 and 2+.- Its -:re l atively long leg 20 is inserted through the bearing .4: and partway into the bearing 5' as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. ,The o'pposite leg 2| of the loop-member 9 extends for onlyla short distance,.just sufiicient for it to be supported within the end of the bearing-B. .The

jloopr member 9. is held in this relationship perii ethebearingji and into'the bearing. 5 with another f shorter leg 23 adapted for insertion'part way into 5 the bearing 5. The leg 22 ofthe loop-member I0 i is slidably mounted in the bearings B and T and also rota'table therein after its shorter leg 23 has been withdrawnfrom the bearing 5. Through this arrangement the loop-member H) is adapted SO f to be rotatedon'the axis of its'longer leg 22 into open position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3,

' "W hreOf thelinks 12 of the chain {5 maybe connected'therewith, as shown'inFig'. l or one end link detached therefrom' For holding the loop-member H! in closed releg 22 of the loop-member against sliding-movement in abutment or boss 30 end of 'thearcuate inward portion I8 of the bearing 7 which' forms. a

ber 3 with both 'Fig. 2.

lationship and looking it against sliding movement to release its leg 23 from the bearing 5 on the member 3, I provide a manually-operable clasping means or latch 25 hingedly mounted on the longer leg 20 of the loop-member 9 between the inner ends of the bearings 4 and 5. As shown most clearly in Fig. 7, the clasping means or latch 25 is constructed from a strip of sheet-metal curled around at one-end to provide a cylindrical bearing 26 encircling the leg 20 of the loop-member 9 and shaped at its opposite end with a curved hook 2'! adapted to clasp around the longer leg 22 of the loop-member II] with a snap action,.

see Fig. 6. The outer periphery of the hook 21 is formed with a protuberance or rib' 28 adapted to be engaged by the fingernail to lift the latch 25 to free its hook 2'! from engagement with the leg 22 to open the clasp and releasetheloopmember I as shown in Fig. 3. The outer surface of the clasping element or latch 25 is grooved or indented longitudinally at its center for the sake of ornamentation or it may be chased, engraved or otherwise embellished if desired.

The longer leg 22 of the releasable loop-member I0 is providedwith' an abutment or formed integral therewith or fastened thereon in any suitable manner, and serving as astop or-detent to prevent the loop-member I I! from being slid outwardly when'the-latch is closed around this leg of themember. That is to say,- the hook 21 on the clasping element or latch 25 is adapted to snap into engagement with the IU' at one :side of the abutment or boss 30 to lock theloop-member 7. When the latch 25 is released and'swung open" as shown inFig. 2 the loop-member I0 may be slid outwardly from the central member 3 until its shorter leg 23 is clear of the bearing as shown'in Fig; 3 and at'this juncture the will bring up against the stop to prevent complete release of the loop-member Ill. The boss 30 also serves to limit the inward sliding movement of the loop-member I0 by engaging the end of the bearing 6 on the member'3.

In use the present improved'device operates as follows: It has been stated that the 'loopmember 9 is fixedly secured to the central memends closed so that a chain II or other suspension -means may be fastened thereto by opening anend link thereof and engaging it with the loop. To apply the keys to the holder, the clasping-means. or latch 25 is swung open as shown in Figs. 2 and 7 with'its bearing 26 pivoting onthe' leg 'of the loopmember 9 between thebearings 4 and 5. The

loop-member Ill then may bedrawn outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 and rotated on the axis of its leg 22 to open it to the position indicated by dotted lines in this view.v One end link I2 of the chain I5 then can be slipped onto the free end of the loop-member I0 and after the'keys have been strung on the chain the opposite link I2 may be engaged with the loop member I 0 in the same manner. .The .loopmember. I0 is then rotated backto the position shown by full lines in Fig. 3 and its into the central member 3to engage its shorter leg 23 in the end of the bearing5as-shown in The clasping element or latch.25 is swung on its pivot anditshooked-end 2'I snapped I over the leg- 22. of the. loop-member :Ill between.-

the bearings 6 and 1 leg 22 slid carried in the pocket or to the boss 30 and the end of the bearing 1. As the latch is thus engaged around the leg 22 of the loop-member I0 abutting the boss the releasable loop-member will be held securely from sliding movement in the bearings 6 and "I so that the looped key-holding chain I5 is fastened to the device Without chance of accidental disconnection therefrom. Due to the keys strung thereon will be held suspended from the device in close contact, one with another, and in compact form to avoid bulging the pocket or receptacle in which they are contained. It thus will be observed that the present invention provides an extremely neat and compact form of key-holder or key-keep adapted to be Worn on a chain and be used without a suspension chain: .and contained in a handbag or other receptacle.

"While the improved key-holder is herein shown as-embodied in a preferred form of construction it isto be understood that various modifications may be made in-gthe structure. and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention 'as' expressed in' the accompanying claims. Therefore; without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A key-holder comprising a main member consisting in. acentral relatively thin sheetmetal plate provided with -spaced tubular bearings extending-along its opposite sides, a substantially -U-shaped loop-member having; opposite one side of the main memberto adaptit to fold across said member'and having. a hook adapted to snap over the longer leg of the loop-member in engagement withiits detent vtopreventsaid rloopmember from being slid: outwardly to re lease its shorter leg-from its bearing on the main member.

2. A key-holder comprising a main member provided with opposite "parallel spacedtubular bearings, a substantially'U-shaped loop-member havingopposite parallel legs slid'able in said bearings, one of said legs being relatively short to adapt it to be released from its'bearing when said loop-member-is slid outwardly in the opposite bearing, aboss on the longer leg of the loop-member locatedbetween two of the spaced bearings, and a latch pivoted on the main member to adapt it to fold across saidmember and formed with a hook atits opposite end adapted to snap' around the'longer leg of theloop-memher with its lateral edge in abutting engagement with the boss to prevent said loop-member from sliding in the main member. 7

3. A key-holder comprising a sheet-metal main plate-like memberof substantially rectangularshape having pairs of tubular bearings on its opposite sides, a U-shaped wire loop-member having opposite, parallel legs slidable' in said bearings, one of said legs being relatively short to adapt it tobe released from its bearing when its lateral edge in engagement with the side of the abutment to prevent the loop-member from being slid in its bearings outwardly with re- I spect to the main member.

l. A key-holder comprising a central member of substantially rectangular shape having spaced-apart bearings on its opposite sides, a U-shaped wire loop-member having parallel legs fixedly held in certain of said bearings, a second U-shaped wire loop-member having its legs slidable in certain of the bearings, one of said legs being relatively short to adapt it to be released from its bearing, an abutment on the longer leg of said slidable loop-member, and a latch pivoted to one of the legs of the fixedly held loop-member in the space between the bearings at one side of the central member, said latch formed with a hook at its opposite end adapted to snap over the longer leg of the slidable loopmember in engagement with the abutment thereon to lock said slidable loop-member from sliding in its bearings 0n the central member.

5. A key-holder comprising a central member provided with pairs of parallel spaced-apart bearings on its opposite sides, a substantially U- posite end and ashorter leg adapted to project into the opposite bearing at one end of the central member, an abutment on said longer leg of the slidable loop-member, and a latch having a bearing enclosing the longer leg of the fixed loopmember between the bearings at one side of the central member and formed with a hook adapted to snap around the longer leg of the slidable loop-member in engagement with its abutment to prevent said slidable loop-member from being withdrawn from the central member to release its shorter leg from its bearing thereon.

6. A key-holder comprising a central 'member of substantially rectangular shape having tuvbular hearings on its opposite sides, a loopmember fixedly secured in certain of said bearings at one end of the central member to adapt I it for attachment to a suspension chain, a reshaped wire loop-member having parallel legs held in the bearings at one end of the central member with one leg extending into a bearing I at the opposite end of said central member and fixedly secured in said bearings, a slidable U- .shaped wire loop-member having one leg exbearing at one end of the tending through a central member and into the hearing at its opleasable U-shaped loop-member having its legs 'slidablein certain of the bearings on the central member with one of said legs relatively short to adapt it to be disengaged from its bearing, a detent on the longer leg member, and a clasp pivoted to the central membar and adapted to engage the detent means on the releasable loop-member to prevent the latter from sliding in its bearings, said releasable loopmember being adapted to be slid longitudinally vof its bearings to release its shorter leg to permit it to be rotated whereof to engage it with the end loops of a chain for holding a collection of keys strung thereon. Y r

ARTHUR- H. LEVESQUE.

of the releasable loop-

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