US2623381A

US2623381A - Key jack

Info

Publication number: US2623381A
Application number: US82397A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Queen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-03-19
Filing date: 1949-03-19
Publication date: 1952-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1969-12-30

Description

Dec. 30, 1

E. QUE

KEY JACK Filed March 19, 1949 FIE- FHlE

L FIE 5 IEIJU FIEJI Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY JACK V Harold E. Queen, Berkeley, Calif. Application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,397

The invention relates to key holders adapted to be carried in the pocket or purse. I call the device a key jack. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 646,512, filed February 9, 1946 now Patent No. 2,589,571.

One of the purposes of my invention is to provide a key holder which will hold a few or alternatively a large number of keys in a compact form which is thin enough to be carried in a mans pocket without inconvenience. One of the features of the holder is that a single key may be selected by feel by the owner knowing its position in the holder and swung out into operative position. Another feature of the holder is that a key may be swung to a position approximately ninety degrees from the closed position and inserted in a lock leaving the holder hanging in a stable position. Another feature of the holder is a provision whereby a key may be quickly detached from the holder as is often required. Still another feature of the holder is a cover which keeps the keys secured within the body of the holder and by pressure of a rubber pad on the keys prevents annoying rattle. ment of the invention, an ejector raises the keys out of the body of the holder when the cover is raised.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing and the further detailed description in which are set forth, for the purpose of illustration but not by way of limitation, an operative embodiment of the inventive thought.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled key holder with the cover closed on the body and with the latch engagin the cross pin.

Figure 2 is a side view of the channel shaped body.

Figure 3 is a view of the large end of the body.

Figure 4 is a side view of the cover.

Figure 5 is an end view of the cover.

Figure 6 is a side view of the cross pin.

Figure '7 is a side view of the assembled key holder with cover raised and one key swung out ready for use.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of an ejector showing a cam.

Figure 9 is an end view of the ejector of Fig ure 8.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the cover showing a cam.

Figure 11 is an end view of the cover of Fig ure 10.

Figure 12 is a side view of the assembled key holder of the second embodiment with cover In one embodi- 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) raised and actuating the ejector which in turn raises the keys.

In the drawings, like characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views.

As shown particularly in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, a thin sheet has been folded into a channel shaped body I. The bottom 2 of the channel shaped body has been cut back as shown at 3 to provide springy sides 4 and 5 which may be sprung apart moderately. Into the side 5 of the body is riveted the cross pin 6 so that its head T extends loosely through a hole 8 in the opposite side 4 of the body I. A latch 9 engages the head 1 of the pin 9 and prevents springing apart of the sides 4 and 5. A channel shaped cover l0 carrying a pad ll of soft resilient material presses upon the keys to retain them in place and prevent rattle. The cover I9 is held lightly locked to the body I by means of a bump 22 on the inner surface of the leg of the channel shaped cover l9 which bump 22 engages a hole l2 in the side 4 of the body. The cover ID has an outwardly turned rib [3 for easy engagement by the finger of the operator and also to engage and hold down a rib 14 on the latch 9 so preventing disengagement of the latch from pin 6. The rib M of the latch 9 also allows easy engagement by the finger of the operator when it is desired to swing the latch 9 out of engagement with the pin '6 for the purpose of adding or removing a key from the holder. The latch, 9 is of thin springy material and has a bump l5 adapted to engage a hole [6 in the side 4 and lightly lock the latch 9 to the body I.

As shown particularly in Figures 8 to 12 inclusive, a second embodiment of the invention has an ejector lever 23 which has a cam l1 and an actuating end l8. The ejector 23 is lightly riveted to the small end IQ of the body I and revolves about it as a fulcrum. The cover 29 has a cam 21 adapted to strike the cam I1 of the ejector 23, since the cover 29 is lightly riveted at the same position on the small end IQ of the body I as is the ejector 23, and so raise the actuating end I8 which in turn forces the keys out of the body I.

In operation of the first embodiment of the invention, the cover In is swung through an angle of approximately 45 degrees and the holder is then shaken or turned up side down so that the key bits swing out of the body I to a position where they may be grasped and separated by the fingers of the operator. The desired key may be selected by feel since its position in the holder is known. The remaining keys are then pressed back into the holder and the cover closed. The key selected is then inserted in the lock and. turned using the holder as a, handle. The key may remain in the lock, if desired, since the holder is adapted to hang at an angle of 90 degrees from the key. When it is desired to remove a key from the holder, the cover is raised, the latch disengaged from the pin, and the sides of the holder spread moderately to allow the key to be slipped ofi the pin.

In the second embodiment, when the cover 21? is raised through an angle of approximately 45 degrees, the cam l1 strikes the cam 21. A further movement of approximately 45 degrees swings the ejector 23 out of the body I raising the keys to a position Where they may be easily grasped by the fingers of the operator.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, but it will be obvious that various changes or modifications, not herein illustrated, may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a key holder, a channel shaped body member, a cross pin having one end fixed to one side of the body near one end thereof while the other end of the pin extends loosely through a hole in the other side of the body, a latch adapted to engage a head on the pin, and a channel shaped cover having side Walls adapted to fit over the sides of the body member and to releasably retain the keys in the body, one side of the cover when in closed position pressing upon the latch and holding it in engagement with the pin.

2. A key holder comprising a channel shaped body member, a cross pin having one end fixed to one side of the body member near one end thereof while the other end of the pin extends loosely through a hole in the other side of the body, a, latch pivoted to one side of the body member at a distance from the cross pin and having a notch adapted to engage a head on the pin, and a channel shaped cover pivoted to the body member adapted to engage the sides of the body and to retain the keys in the body, one side of the cover when closed pressing upon the latch and holding it in engagement with the cross pin.

3. A key holder comprising a channel shaped body having resilient side walls, a key-carrying cross pin near one end of the body extending between the side walls and releasable from at least one side wall to permit application or removal of keys, a cover for the open top of the body member hingedly mounted between the side Walls at the opposite end from the cross pin, a key ejector comprising a lever mounted to swing about the same pivot as the cover and adapted to underlie the keys in said holder when the cover is in closed position, said ejector lever and cover having coacting cams adjacent their pivots whereby when the cover is raised from the body the cam thereof strikes the cam of the ejecting lever to actuate the same and raise the keys.

4. A key holder comprising an elongated channel shaped body member, a key-supporting cross pin extending between the sides of the body member near one end thereof and releasable from at least one side Wall to permit application or removal of keys, a cover for the open top of the channel member hingedly mounted between the sides thereof at the opposite end from the cross pin, and a key ejector comprising a lever mounted to swing about the same pivot as the cover and normally lying in the bottom of the channel beneath the keys when the cover is closed, and coacting means carried by the ejector lever and cover respectively for raising the ejector as the cover is raised from the body member.

HAROLD E. QUEEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 690,396 Brown Jan. '7, 1902 760,410 Arnold May 24, 1904 1,649,402 Gildemeister Nov. 15, 1927 1,800,064 Getts Apr. 7, 1931 1,943,844 Slotnick Jan. 16, 1934 2,208,372 Kirkpatrick July 16, 1940 2,243,008 Johnson May 20, 1941 2,551,158 Quan May 1, 1951