US2702469A

US2702469A - Key holder

Info

Publication number: US2702469A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dysart Norman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-23
Filing date: 1954-02-23
Publication date: 1955-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1972-02-22

Description

N. DYSART Feb. 22, 1955 KEY HOLDER Filed Feb. 25; 1954 rull-iv United States Patent KEY HOLDER NormanDysai-t, Amarillo, Tex. I Application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,719

6 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to an improved keyholder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a keyholder for a plurality of keys wherein the keys are supported in such a manner that they are easily identified and readily accessible.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a keyholder wherein each key is latched within the holder and means are provided for easily and rapidly releasing each key.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a keyholder which accomplishes the above purposes with a minimum of parts, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture and increasing the longevity of the device.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a keyholder embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the keyholder.

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of this invention.

Figure 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Figure Referring first to Figures 1 through 5, the holder is formed of an upper plate 10 and a lower plate 12 which are preferably of a suitable transparent plastic. These plates are secured to one another by screws 14 which pass through the plate 10 and screw into posts 16 carried by plate 12. Thus by removing screws 14, plate 1 0 can be removed and keys 18 positioned upon posts 16 in the usual manner. In this embodiment the plate 12 is provided with spacing blocks 20 to insure uniform spacing between

plates

10 and 12.

The plate 12 also has a spring anchoring block 22 positioned therein at its center, which is slotted to receive the spring 24. Spring 24 has an extremity on either side of block 22 and urges the keys 18 to pivot about posts 16 to a position wherein the keys project from between the

plates

10 and 12.

A locking member 26 is provided in the plate 10 for each key. This member has a finger tab 28 on one side of the bridge 30 and an arm 32 on the other side of the bridge 30. The arm 32 carries a locking tab 34 on its extremity which has sufiicient depth to project betwcen the

plates

10 and 12 and engage the edge of the key 18 and hold the same against the urging of spring 24.

The locking member is molded integral with the plate 10 and with the bridge 30, consequently when the finger tab 28 is depressed, the arm 32 raises until the locking tab 34 clears the key 18, permitting the spring 24 to rotate same about the post 16 to where the key is exposed and may be manually pivoted to the position illustrated in Figure 1.

The locking members 26 may be of different colors to aid in identifying the keys and preferably proJect above the surface of the plate 10 to render them more readily accessible. A protective flange 36 may be formed on the plate 10 to surround the exposed portions of the locking members Preventing injury thereto.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, a modified form of this invention is illustrated wherein like parts having similar functions are given the same numerical designation as in the principal embodiment, with the addition of the exponent a. It is readily apparent that this ICC holder is adapted for four keys instead of two. This lthek is accomplished by addition of plate 38 on the other side of plate 12a, which is in all respects the same as the plate 10a, including similar locking members.

In operation the screws 14 are removed and the plates separated. The keys 18 are then pivotally mounted on posts 16. The plates are then assembled and the screws 14 reinserted. The keys 18 are then pivoted until they cam the locking tabs 34 upwardly and pass bencath the same, engaging and compressing the spring 24. When ey has passed beneath the locking tab 34, it is lowered again due to the resient nature of bridge 30, securing the key between the plates. When it is desired to use thel key, the finger tab 28 is depressed, pivoting the locking member 26 about the bridge 30, raising the locking tab 34 above the key 18. The compressed spring 24 then pivots the key 18 outwardly from between the plates.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A keyholder comprising: a pair of spaced plates, means for pivotally mounting a key between said plates so that in one position the key is substantially completely between said plates, spring means between said plates for urging said key away rrom the position substantially completely between said plates, and a locking member in one of said plates having a finger tab at one extremity and an arm at the other extremity, said locking member also having an integral connection with said plate intermediate its ends ror pivotally mounting said locking member in said plate, a locking tab on said arm projecting into the path of said key and retaining same against the urging of said spring means whereby depressing of said finger tab moves said locking tab out of the path of said key.

2. A keyholder comprising: a pair of spaced plates formed of a transparent plastic material, means for pivotally mounting a key between said plates so that in one position the key is substantially completely between said plates, spring means between said plates for urging said key away rrom the position substantially completely between said plates, one of said plates havmg an aperture formed therein, a bridge molded with said lastmentioned plate spanning said aperture, a finger tab molded with said bridge on one side of said bridge and secured thereto and extending into said aperture, an arm molded with said bridge on the other side of said bridge and secured thereto and extending into said aperture, a locking tab on said arm projecting through said apei'ture adapted to engage said key and retaining same against urging of said spring whereby depression of said finger tab pivots said arm, withdrawing said locking tab from the path of said key.

3. A keyholder, comprising: a pair of spaced plates, one of said plates detining a latch lever aperture; a latch lever disposed within said aperture and including a depressible finger tab, a latch arm having a latch end adapted to be raised upon depression of said finger tab, and a fulcrum means between said finger tab and latch arm bridging said aperture and joined to said apertured plate; means for pivotally Supporting a key between said plates for retention in a concealed position therebetween by said latch end; and a spring for urging said key to an extended position upon depression of said finger tab and raising of said latch end to release said key.

4. A keyholder, comprising: a pair of spaced plates, at least one of said plates having a pair of confronting slits separated by a bridge portion, a finger tab defined by one of said slits, a latch arm defined by the other of said slits, said bridge forming a fulcrum between said finger tab and said latch arm, said latch arm having a latch end depending into the space between said plates; means for pivotally Supporting a key between said plates for retention in a concealed position therebetween by said .lath end; 4and fn .Spring inn urging Said key to an eX- tended position.

Aik'eyholder, comprisinzg: a single-piece cover plate including means forming an" integral latch lever having n 'linger tab, .a latch teminating in n lath enn and an .interme'diate .fnlrnm portion, said finger tab being d'epfssible from the surface of said cover Plate anti nn'erable through said fnlnlnl pnlftinn .to raise 'said lath 9214; Iflp .fQf pivotlly .monnting a key at one .side Of Said Plate for .restraining engngenlcnt bi' Said intel; end, and for pivpta movemnt to a position extended from said plate upon release'of said latch end.

" 6.' A keyholder eompvrising: a pair of spaced plates, means for pivotally `mo'unting a key between said plates so that in one position the key is substantially completely between 'said'platen spring means between said plates for nrging said key away from the position substantially corrp pltelfy betweensaid plates, one of said plates having an nrfitnr-.e there-in, a bdge Secnred to Said last mentined.

plates -spanning said aperture, a finger tab secured to said bridge .losatesl in. said apertnre on oneside of said bridge, an arm secured to said bridge and located in said aperture on the other side of said bridge, a locking tab on said arm projecting through said aperture adapted to engage said key and retaining same against urging of said spring whereby depression of said finger tab pivots said arm, withdrawing said locking tab from the path of said key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES 'PATENTS