US2482386A - Key ring with a sliding closure member - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 20, 1949. H. c. VAISEY. ETAL I KEY RING WITH A SLIDING CLOSURE MEMBER my Hden'ck G.Demi1z5.

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Filed Aug. 23, 1944 Harold CJ culsez Patented Sept. 20 1949 '7 ksY'mNGwirnfAs "MEMB qciiosrnr Harold 0. Kaiser and Frederick-v6 'ltochest niN-X1;.a rsjtallickok I turing i mpanyalncsR chester,

poration of NewYork Demin Application August 23, 1944, Serial 3510. 550,812

f 'llhisinvention relates to a, key chain assembly; and; more particularly. to such an assembly embodying'therewith a novel: key ring. and closure therefor, and: a novel: trouser 100p clasp and closure.

The closures for'the key ring andthe trouser loop. are substantially identical and" are preferably-made oinasuitable composition of the'nature of:: a. synthetic resin orsimilar material, such composition. beingeither opaque or translucent. Theselclosures may,yhowever, be made of metal. The key: chain assembly. as a whole consists ofan: elon'gatedachain: orthe like, which is of: course flexible, and having attachedfiat one-endsthe novel key ring, 'andhavingattached at the other end the novel: trouser 'loopclasp. The connecting meansimay, as aforesaid; be: a metallic chain or afiexible connecting means made of a composition ofthe nature of a synthetic resin or similar material; or any other suitable connecting means; Prior keychain assemblies include. a flexible chainor the like with a key ring at one end and some meansfor attaching the other end to a trouser loop. In these-prior devices,. liowever; the structural characteristics of the key ring and the trouser loop 'clasp difierconsiderably and,"moreover, the keyringand trouseriloop clasp-aremade wholly of metallic material. In other-words; both the keyring and the trouser loop claspareen tirel-y of. metal; 7 v 5 Due to; the shortage of metal, which isfn'owclassed as. a critical material, the provision or a closure mad'of a composition in the nature} ofwa synthetic Tesin lor' other similar material ion-"keys rings and trouserf-loop clasps' result's in a considerable savings of critical 'metal. l The use of; the closure device made: of a compos tion of. the nature of a. synthetic resin or- "like? material for key: rings andthe like'is also advantageous in thatthe-same arejmade-at a considerably lower cost than theprior metal closures for such devices; Then too, closures-made of a synthetic resin or similar materialfor k'ey' rings and the like results in an enhanced eye;

appeal tothe purchaser and user. The-factthat theclosures. for the keyrings andthe like are made of: a composition of thenature of'asyntheticresin orlikematerial permits the same to 'be in many and variedcolors, which colors can be the same as the "connecting-hhsin or the like, or a contrasting'r color' or acombination of diflerent. colors." Moreover; the described-closures for key rings and the like permit of readily moldingwtheseelosures inquantities more quickly-than metalorother material; and at a considerably lower cost. After the molding-process ofthese closureszier key: rin s and the l ke; uitable shoring: devices and-retainin spr ng which; re-. tam-the 61051 7313: creator clos d ps t on are inserted'andflxedly associated with. the losure Eunther'. the: closuredevice t rv key ring and thelikeabeine otia material oi' enaturev of a srnthe iczre in orrlikematerialand-the ey rings or the. like being oiame allic material, there.

naturally results-a difterentcoefiicient of iriction- Y between-the twomaterials and; therefor in on:

Another-object of the. invention is to'provide afilw closure-for ackey ring or the like,v Preferably. formed; of a: material: of :thev nature: of a syntheticuresin or'like material. and associated withaalmetallicikey ringior the like. J ZA IfIOthEI objectzzof; the invention is to provide a, noveliclosure combined with as spring holding retaining meanspto maintain it; in open or closed position when associated: with a key ring or the like.

Another-objectof "theinvention is to provide a slidaiole' closure made of 'a composition of the natureao-r' a synthetic resin= orlike material for key rings and the like, whichis durable and capable J'of-iiong association and very efiective use in connection-with a key ring or the like and V which: will perform' its function ideally when associated'witha metallic key ring; or the like.

AnotherYoloject of the invention is to provide a closuremadeof a composition of the nature of a synthetic resin or'like material for key rings andthe like which is preferablyimolded or extruded; and:- londs '-itse1ftosuchmolding or extrusion on aqua-enzymes and at a muchlower cost than presentsday metallic materials.

* Ahot-herobject' of the invention is to provide a new type of closure for a key ring and a trouser lo'op clasp; the structural characteristics of the two devices being substantially identical and whichfdevices are:admirably suitable for attachmentto 'the'respective-ends of a oonnecting cliai'n orthe-like and when-so connected resulting in anw key chain assemblyas-a whole.

closure for the key ring in its open position ready; to receive a key through the gap in the key ring;

4 assembled with the inverted U-formation 9 of the metallic key ring, there is effected a very close and snug sliding fit. The opposite inner sidewalls 20 and 2i of the closure form a smooth sliding fit with the outer fiat sidewalls 22 and 23, respectively, of the inverted ,U-shaped portion 9 constituting the upper part of the key ring. This same snug sliding fit is also effected by the engagement of the inner front and back walls 24 and 25 (se e Fig. 4) of the closure with the re- Y spe'ctivefront and rear flat portions of the in- Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the lines 7 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a view partly in vertical section of the new trouser loop clasp. Theinvention will bemore readily understood by referring to the drawings in detail wherein in Fig. 1, the key-chain assembly as a whole is shown and includes the flexible chainC' or the like. This flexible chain C constitutes the connecting means for the new clasps at each end thereof. The connecting means C maybe, as shown, in the form-of a metallic link chain, or it maybe of other suitable flexible material; The new keyring is shown attached to one end' of the chain and has suitable keys E retained therein. The trouser loop clasp T is shown attached to the other end of the chain and is attached to a conventionaltrouser loopL. We shall first consider the key ring structure which is broadly a clasp andwhich consists of a key-holding, preferably-circular metallic ring 8, preferably formed of polygonal stock thereby providing flat faces, and whichconstitutes the lower portion of the key ring, the integral upper por--' tion 9' of which 'is of substantially inverted U-shape. This inverted U-shape formation. of the upper part of the keyring thereby provides a substantially rectangular opening ID for a purpose later to be" described. One leg portion. 9' of the U-shapeformation 9' is shortenthanethe opposite-leg and provides a gap 1 l therebetwe'en and; the shoulder'lfi' of the loop 8, which gap serves to admit a key for association and retention on the'key ringloop or-portion 8. The bight portion 52 of the inverted U-shape formation. of the key ring 9 .is preferably flattened and provided with an opening l3, whichopening'. serves for attachmentiof the link or ring at one end ofthe chain or the like C. "The provision of' the gap 'II in the inverted ushape portion 9 of the keyring resultszin a slightly upturned end N5 of thekey'ring 8 pro viding a shoulder or stop portion 16 immediately: adjacent thesame. The gap ll further results in the leg 8 of the U-shape formation having'its end H'in spaced alignment withthe upturned end it of the key ring '8. g

Theend I? of the shorter leg 9' of-the' inverted Ll shaped formation of the key ring is flattened or inclined as at I3 at its inner side, that is, inwardly of the upper portion of the gap formation i. q

a The closure for the key ring is denoted generally at P. Thisclosure is of substantially rec tangular hollow formationand is providedwith an opening I!) which extends fromone end thereof to the other. The dimensions of the opening I9 in the closure are calculated so thatwhen it is verted U-shaped formation 9 which the closure P lflembraces;

After theg-closu're P has been associated with the-inverted U-shape portion of the key ring "'or clasp by sliding the same thereon, an anchor pinit, preferably o metal and having a central portion 2? which acts as an anchor or bearing for a spring later described and having opposite end portions 28 and as is associated therewith. The end portions 28 and 23 are embedded andheld in 'thes'lide P, and the central portion 21 is disposed'within the opening l9'substantially medially thereof, 'and preferably adjacent the top portion thereof. v

..This anchor pin 25 provides a definite means of mounting an inverted substantially V-shaped metallic spring S thereon, which spring is formed of suitable preferably flat stock. .The V-shaped spring'is distorted somewhatrso as to provide at its bightportions a normally closed eye portion 36 which-serves as a means for mounting it on the anchor pin 26. Immediately below this eye formation or portion, the spring Sis in the form of curved or bowed arms 3|, which serves to fix the closure in its open or normally closed positions. The lower portion of the spring '8 consisting of the outwardly-bowed arms 3|, which are; similar in configuration are curved inwardly at their ends toward each other as at 32. This formation of thespring S therefore, provides a flat outersurface at the bowed portions of the arms of-the spring to engage the flat walls of the openin A0 in the inverted U-shaped formation 9. The inner sidewalls of the inverted U-shaped portion 9; of the key ring, present a flat surface for engagement of the opposite curved lower portions of. the'spring s, f I 1 .gByq referring to Fig. 2, it'will be seen that the hollow member or slide is in its closed position andfin this position the spring S is in an expanded conditionuwith ;one of its-curved portions engaging the inclined face 18 of the leg 9', and thereby serving to lock or fixthe closure in this closed position. The-spring S,- it willbe noted,

can rockbackgiand forth on its pivot 26.

,Byreferringrto Fig, 3, it will be seen'that the closure P- isin its open position, thereby exposing the gap l I. The spring S is thus in a compressed condition within the opening Informed by'the oppositely-disposed 'parallel'legs of the inverted U-shaped formation 9gof the key ring. When the-key. ring is in open position as shown in Fig. 3, it is quite obvious that any key or like device having an-opening may easily be inserted in the gap H and allowed to pass around onto the ring formation 8.. Afterone or more keys have thus beenassociated with, the key ring 8,-then the key ring is closed by simply sliding the closure P on the legs of the U-shaped formation 9 so as to cover the gap 1 I, asv shown in Fig.2.

5 The foregoing descriptionhas been directed to The trouser loop the aforesaid key ring structure, theonly difference beingin'tlie ronn'orfcomour 'of'the trouser loopclasp. Instead of being circular asin the keyv ring, it is of. substantiallytriangular ior-mation 8?; and thereby -preseriting a substantially triangular opening therein rather:- than the circular openingas. m the? keyring. It. is to be noted that thesame.slidableiclosure member P is associated withthe trouser loop clasp the same manner. .as .theclosure is associatedi'with the hereinbefore described key ring.

The formation of the spring S andits association with either the key ring or the trouser loop clasp, each having the closure, which is preferably slidable, results when moving the closure to its closed position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in a snapping action of the spring into the gap ll. During the latter part of the closing movement, the expansive force of the spring riding or sliding on the inclined formation l8 produces the aforesaid snapping action and has a tendency to move the closure into full closed position, as shown in. Figs. 2 and 6; In other words, the opening or expanding of the curved arms 2! of the spring exerts a force sufficient at least to aid in the final movement of the closure device to full closed position, and this is a sort of automatic action that takes place when the closure is manually moved to its closed position.

During the molding of the closure P made of a composition of the nature of a synthetic resin or like material, the same of course can be embossed or embellished exteriorly in any suitable manner, such as by providing the embossed panels B on the front and/or rear faces thereof. It

it is to be understood that any suitable ornamenefiected subsequent to the molding process.

From the foregoing it will be clear that there is provided a new key chain assembly as a whole,

and the new key ring and trouser loop, each associated with a novel, preferably slidable, closure device made of a material of the nature of a synthetic resin or like materiak This plastic closure device is unique in that it lends itself ideally in an association with a ke ring clasp or other similar metallic device.

It is to be distinctly understood that while we prefer to make the new closures of a material 'of the nature of a synthetic resin or other suitable material, these closures, both for the key ring and the trouser loop clasp can, of course, be made of metal. 7

Having described our invention, what we claim 1. A device of the character described comprising an article receiving member including a loop and a substantially U-shaped portion providing spaced legs, one of the legs being shorter than the other leg and spaced from the loop of the article receiving member to provide an article receiving gap therebetween, and a closing means for said gap including a hollow member slidable longitudinally on said legs and a flexible spring confined within said hollow member between said legsand having oppositely disposed outwardly bowed yieldable portions in constant engagement with said legs and yieldable one bowed portion with relation to the opposite bowed portion as the hollow member is moved longitudinally along said 7 legs to open and close said gap.

2. A device of the character described comprising an article receiving member including a loop and a substantially U-shaped portion providing spaced. legs; one?offtheslegsibein'gf shorter than theother::leg=rand::'spacedifrom. the loop' of :the article receiving; .member 2 to .provide 1 anarticle receiving gap therebetween, said shorter :leglh'aving an [inclined portion; atii'ts free end on the inner side. thereofiland a closure means for said gap including a hollow member slidable longitudinally along said legs and 'a flexible spring confined. within. said. hollow member between said legs and having oppositely disposed Qoutwardly bowed portions having constant engagement with the inner sides of said legs and yieldable relative to each other as one of the bowed portions rides over the said inclined portion of one of said legs upon outward movement of said hollow member on said legs to expose said gap and upon inward movement of the hollow member on the legs to close the gap snapping into the gap tomaintain the latter closed.

3. A clasp comprising an article receiving member including a loop and laterally spaced straight parallel rigid legs, one of the legs being connected with the loop and the other leg being spaced from the loop and with the loop providing a gap beyond the loop adjacent the inner side thereof and opposite the other leg, a closure slidable on said legs to open and close said gap, and a spring on the closure having a portion arranged to snap into said gap beyond the loop when the closure is positioned on the legs to close said gap.

4. A clasp comprising an article receiving mem- V ber including a loop and spaced legs, one of the the gap.

5. A clasp comprising an article receiving mem-' ber including a loop and spaced legs, one of the legs being connected with the loop and the other leg being spaced at one end from the loop to provide a gap beyond the loop leading into said loop, said last mentioned leg having an inclined portion at its free end, a closure slidable on said legs for opening and closing said gap and a spring carried by said closure having a yieldable portion arranged to ride inwardly over and beyond said inclined portion of said leg which is spaced from the loop and press tightly against said leg when the closure is positioned on the legs to open said gap.

6. A clasp comprising an article-receiving member including a loop and spaced parallel legs, one of the legs being connected with the loop and the other leg being spaced at one end from the loop to provide a gap leading into said loop, a

closure slidable on said legs for opening and closing said gap, and a spring of V-shaped form having oppositely disposed arms confined within the closure between said legs for bodily rocking movement with the arms of the spring engaging the legs so that one of the arms snaps outwardly into said gap when the closure is moved to a position to close the gap.

'7. A clasp comprising an article-receiving member including a loop and spaced legs, one of the legs being connected with the loop and the other leg being spaced at one end from the loop to provide a gap beyond the loop leading into the same,

a closure slidable on said legs for opening and V closing said gap, and a'spring within the closure when'the closure is positioned on the legs to close 7 carried thereby and disposed. between said legs, said spring having a portion arranged to snap into said gap when the closure is positioriedon the legs to close the gap. HAROLD C. VAISEY.

FREDERICK G. DEMING.

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

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