US2467614A

US2467614A - Key case

Info

Publication number: US2467614A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nick J Duyn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-05-20
Filing date: 1946-05-20
Publication date: 1949-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1966-04-19

Description

,MW ETHE a a y l F H m INVENTOR.

April 19, 1949.

N. J. DUYN KEY CASE Filed May 20, 1946 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 TED S TAT ES hATENT O F Fl CE 2,467,614 KEY GAS E Nick J. Duyn, Tucson, Ariz.

Applicationlviay 20, 1946, Serial No. 671,097

4 Claims.

This invention pertains to key cases and has for its objects,

First, the provision of a key case wherein the keys are pivotally fastened within a case body and resiliently held in closed position b frictional engagement with the sides of the case;

Second, the .provision of a key case folded of a'flat'metal stamping so as toprovide a flat pack age wherein key handles may be vpivotally held within one end, and the blades retained by compression and "friction Within the other end togetherwith spring means for normally forcing thekeys to open 01 presented position when re leased from said" compression Thirdfthe "provision of a structure between the blade holding ends of the case above mentioned wherieby'thekeyblades may be released from sai retaining compression by pressure simply applied by the fin ers to the rear portion of the case.

"Other objects will appear hereinafter.

"I'attainthefore'going objects by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a. plan View of a key case embodying my improvements Figure 2 is aside elevational view of the back thereof;

Figure 3 h'sid'e elevation-of the front;

Figure 4 a plan view with the face sectioned oil showing interior construction;

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the blade holdlngend showing details of the retaining and releasing mechanism, and

f-Figure -6 asection-taken in linet-t of Figure l.

simila'rnumeralsrefer-to similar parts in the several views.

The case body 2 is folded from a sheet metal blank to form a fiat package like container having a rounded end portion 3 substantially conforming to the shape of a key head and a rectangular shaped blade retainer end portion 4.

Keys 5 and 6 are pivotally secured by a bolt 1 passing thru holes 8 in the head portion and thru holes customarily made in the handle portion.

The parts of the case are proportioned so that it substantially encompasses the keys and the blades of the keys will be enclosed between plates of the blade retainer end 4.

In folding the blank from which the case is formed a web I0 is provided joining the top plate H and the bottom plate l2 along the back. This provides longitudinal rigidity for the body and acts as a definite spacing member between the plates. The web [0 is made sufiiciently wide the flared lips ll.

2 to provide adequate room for the key handles within the rounded end portion3, while the material is joggled or bent inward at [4 toward the blade ends to bring the plate portions closer together for adequate gripping of the key'blades by spring pressure.

A spring I5 is-attached to web ill and extends arcuately inward to contact the sides of the keys at a point inward from bolt 1. The spring is shaped so that normally it tends to force keys out of the closure of the endpart of the case to the position indicated by dotted outline It. In this position the flank of either key may be easily and conveniently grasped by the user and the key cleared for insertion into a lock. 'The'keys may be said to be normally urged or biased to exposed or open position by this spring.

When the keys are rotated into closediposition the blades are guided into place by the outwardly flared entrance lips !l and retained by thebeads ['8 which parallel the top or entrance edges of this. part of the case.

Inward swinging movement of the keys is limited by a tab'zll punched and bent upward from plate l2.

Inwardly extending lips !9 are formed along the rear edges of the blade holdingportion of'the case body. These provide rigidity for-these rear edges as'well'as smooth finish.

Beads l8 along the inner face o'fthe forward edges'are 'forined by inward creases just behind They provide a retaining means for key blades within the end '4 and enhance retention in addition to the friction iprovided by the inherent spring pressure of the walls of the end portion 4.

Due to'the construction above explained'it will be apparent that the handle portions of the keys are held in the rounded portion 3 of the case body, free to rotate, While due to the joggles M, the blades are compressed between the sides of the blade holding portion 4.

Tab 2!! is formed by a cut out portion in the lower plate which is bent upward with the upper edge becoming a fulcrum on which the blade retaining portion 4 of the upper plate ll may be rocked or twisted on a longitudinal axis, as shown by dotted outline II by pressure applied at the position indicated by arrows 2 I. When the bottom or compression edge is compressed, as indicated, the forward or entrance edge of this plate portion i is opened and the keys released from frictional engagement with inner faces of the I plates or walls and released from the retention of beads l8. The manipulation necessary for release is very simple and easy since it is only necessary to squeeze the rear edge of the plates between thumb and first finger. All keys swing out together but I have found that the keys may be more easily selected, after their release, by sliding them between the thumb and finger than when they must be selectively or independently released from the case.

Ordinanily the case is made from thin spring metal. However, heavier metal can be used and in this event transverse slots 22 are cut into the material at approximately the juncture between the handle holding area and the blade retaining area. This relieves the metal so that torsional resistance is lessened.

From the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided an easily made simple and effective key case which includes a minimum number of parts. Some of which may be made in modified forms and still remain within the spirit of the invention. Therefore I wish tobe limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A key case composed of parallel side walls of spring metal joined by a web shaped to provide a key handle holding area and a blade holding area; a bolt extending thru said handle holding area adapted to retain keys between said walls so they may be swung with the blades between the walls of said blade holding area; a spring attached to said web normally urging said keys outward from said blade holding area; the wall portions of said blade holding area afiording mutual resilient compression to retain the blades of keys swung therebetween and having an entrance edge and a compression edge adjacent said web; a tab forming a fulcrum positioned between said blade holding portions of said walls so that compression of said compression edge will open said entrance edge to release key blades engaged therebetween.

2. A key case for flat keys having a body composed of parallel walls of spring metal connected and spaced by a web along the back side thereof, a tightening bolt passing thru an end of said case to rotatively secure keys therein at their handle portions so that they may be swung between the walls at the opposite end of said case body; said walls being inwardly bent to form key blade retaining portions which compressibly retain blades of keys therebetween while the handle portions allow the key handles to swing freely; together with a spring attached to said case normally urging said key blades from [between said walls, and an inwardly extending tab formed on the blade holding portion of one of said walls adapted to act as a fulcrum on which the opposite wall may be torsionally rocked; said wall portions having torsion relieving slots extending transversely therein from each side at approximately the position of the said bends; the said fulcrum being arranged so that compression of the edge of said blades opposite the key blade entrance edge will expand said entrance edges and release key blades therefrom.

3. A key case for a plurality of flat keys arranged side by side formed of spring material side walls substantially encompassing the keys, said side walls being connected at the bottom at one end portion, means for pivotally mounting the heads of the keys in said end portion, means to bias the keys for outward swing through the top of the case on the pivotal mounting for the heads, the remaining portion of the side walls being unconnected and relieved between the connected and unconnected portions for flexibility, said portion of the side walls being spaced less than the width of the plural keys whereby the walls are expanded at the top to receive and hold the key blades when swung therebetween by inherent spring pressure working against the ejecting bias, and an intermediate fulcrum carried by one side Wall to permit automatic release oi. the keys when the side walls are rocked by inward pressure at the bottom portions thereof.

4. A key case for a plurality of flat keys arranged side by side including a single piece of spring material bent to form spaced sidewalls substantially encompassing the keys, said side wall comprising a connected end portion in which the key heads are pivotally mounted and a flexible unconnected portion between which the key blades are held by inherent spring pressure, spring means to normally urge the key blades from between the flexible side wall portion on the head pivot, and an intermediate fulcrum carried by one flexible side wall to permit automatic release of the key blades for outward swing from the flexible side wall portion of the case when the walls are rocked by inward pressure at the bottom portions thereof.

NICK J. DUYN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,198,110 Fischer Apr. 23, 1940 2,279,449 Dieckmann Apr. 14, 1942 2,295,123 Mudrich Sept. 8, 1942