US3070142A - Key case with removable key retainer - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1962 w. J. MCGLYNN KEY CASE WITH REMOVABLE KEY RETAINER Filed Dec. 24, 1959 INV EN TOR.

WALTER Cl. McGLYNN ATTORNEY FIG. 3

United States Patent ()fiice 3,070,142 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 ginia Filed Dec. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 861,858 6 Ciaims. (Cl. 150-40) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in key cases and particularly to a key case having an independent key retaining member separable from the case as well as key retaining means secured directly to the case.

While there are several variations of key cases on the market, none of the present cases incorporate means for easily separating one set of keys from the other so that each set may be used simultaneously at different places. It is often necessary to separate some of the keys from the case such as, for example, when leaving an automobile at a garage for servicing. In conventional key cases it is necessary to detach the automobile keys from the case and leave the keys with the car. This necessitates the manipulation of the key retaining means, usually snap rings, hooks or beaded chains, a task that is difficult and often damaging to the chain or hook.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a key case having two retaining means, one of them being easily separated or removed from the case itself. Thus, when it is necessary to leave one set of keys such as those for an automobile at a different place, all that is necessary is to take the removable retaining means containing the necessary keys out from the case. Both sets of keys are then separated, yet each set is securely held together by its own retaining means. Furthermore, the key case containing the entire unit affords simple construction in that it consists of a flap folded over the inside of the back face forming a pocket for the removable member as well as the keys directly attached to the case. An enclosure folds over the flap and retaining means forming a flat and conventional appearing case.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and useful key case having separable key retaining means removable as a unit from the case.

A further object of this invention is to provide a key case having pockets therein for enclosing a removable key retaining means as well as keys attached directly to the case.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a key case having a first set of key retaining means attached to a member removable from the case and a second set of key retaining means secured directly to the case.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent and apparent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends this invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description sets forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, however these are only a few of the various ways in which the invention may be used or employed.

This invention will be described with reference to the several figures of the drawings. Corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the case in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the case showing the removable key retaining member partially in dotted lines seated in the case and the closure panel for the same is open position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the case in open position showing the removable key retaining member at the side thereof and the inside panel forming an enclosure for the removable key retaining member;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the case showing the pocket enclosure for the removable key retaining member; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view with the closure flap broken away taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a case generally designated 10. Case 10 is die cut from a blank of material such as leather, plastic and the like. The blank is folded to form three flaps or panels which make up the structure of the case. The panels comprise a rear panel 11 which has a center panel 12 folded along fold 13 substantially coextensive over panel 11. The free flap of panel 12 is secured to rear panel 11 by a pair of rivets 14 and 15 disposed short distance below the upper edge of the case in spaced relation from fold 13. Also adjacent the upper edge of panel v11 is a key hook retaining member comprising a fiat metal plate 16 shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3 which has an upper convoluted edge to form a plurality of loops 17. Plate 16 is inserted between panels 12 and 11 shown best in FIG. 5 and is secured in place by rivets 14 and 15 so that back panel 11, plate 16 and panel 12 are secured to each other in a composite unit spaced from the top of the case. A plurality of resilient key retaining hooks 18 are swivelly connected between loops 17 in conventional manner to secure key 19, only one key being shown.

Turning to the construction of panel 12, an arcuate section 20 is die stamped out of the upper port-ion thereof to form a pocket opening for keys retained by hooks 18, best shown in FIGURE 3. Inasmuch as panel 12 is secured to panel 11 only at the top of the case by rivets 14 and 15, the lower portion of panel 12 below section 20 forms a free flap or pocket enclosure 21 under which key 19 attached to hooks 18 may be retained.

The position of attachment of panel 12 to panel 11 provides a pocket or aperture 22 extending the length of the case adjacent fold 13, best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The convolution of fold 13 forms one side of the pocket and the attachment of panel 12 at its upper end to plate 16 and panel 11 forms the opposite side.

In the device, as shown in the drawings or the modification described above, pocket 22 slidably retains the removable key retaining element 23. Element 23 may be in the form of a pocket knife, finger nail file or other similar accessory. A bead chain 24 is suitably secured to one end of the element for retaining keys. Inasmuch as pocket 22 extends the length of the case, element 23 may be of any desired length up to the full length of case It). The element 23 is inserted into pocket 22 and carried in the case until it is necessary to use the keys attached to chain 24 separately from those attached to hooks 13. The element is then simply removed from pocket 22 so that the keys attached thereto or the accessory may be used apart from the case.

A tongue 25 integrally formed and die cut with the case, extends from panel 12 over pocket 22 for closure of the pocket. When in closed position, it is folded over the top of pocket 22 and secured by clasp 26 positioned on the end of tongue 25 which is snappingly received by the mated clasp 27, positioned on panel 11, best shown in FIGURE 4.

If desired, tongue 25 can be eliminated and the pocket stitched closed at its top. In its place, a rectangular notch or cutout may be formed in the upper portion of panel 12 over pocket area 22 adjacent loops 17. Element 23 is then seated in pocket 22 by inserting it through the notch or cutout. It is also understood that any other suitable means for securing the element 23 in the pocket 22 may be used.

Integral with case and die cut from the blank, is a closure flap 28 Closure flap 28 folds over panel 12 along fold line 29 so as to completely enclose panel 12 and the key retaining means therein. Flap 23 is secured in place by snap clasps 29 and 30, shown in FIGURE 3. Since tongue 25 is secured to panel 11 by clasps 26 and 27 oppose to the position of the closure flap the former may be opened for removing element 23 without the necessity of detaching flap 28. When it is desired to use key 19 closure flap 27 is simply opened by releasing it from its clasps 29 and 30.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described above are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A key case formed from a blank and comprising; a rear panel; key retaining means fixed to the top of said rear panel; a second panel folded over the back face of said rear panel along a fold line at one side of said rear panel, the body of said second panel fixed to said rear panel in overlapped relation with said key retaining means, the lower portion of said second panel forming a free flap for containing the keys retained by said fixed key retaining means; a removable key retaining member held within a pocket, the pocket being formed by the convolution of the fold adjacent the fold line between said rear panel and second panel, the pocket having means thereon for restraining said removable key retaining member; and a closure panel foldable over said second panel along a fold line opposite the fold line between said rear panel and said second panel, said closure panel having means for removably securing it to said second panel.

2. A key case comprising; a back panel having key retaining means secured to the inside face thereof adjacent the top edge of said panel; a center panel integrally joined to said back panel along a fold line at one side of said back panel; said center panel folded along the fold line coextensively over the inside face of said back panel; the body of said center panel being joined to said back panel by shank means extending through the key retaining member, said center panel having an elongated pocket formed with said back panel by the convolutions of the fold along the fold line and a free flap below the key retaining means for retaining keys held thereby; a separate key retaining member removably secured in the pocket of said center panel and a closure panel integrally formed with said back panel and foldable over said case.

3. A key case having a rear panel; a key holding member secured to the inside face of said rear panel adjacent the top edge thereof having a metal plate with looped sections on the upper edge thereof and key retaining hooks swivelly joined to the looped sections; a center panel integrally joined to said rear panel along a fold line at one side thereof, and folded substantially coextensively over said rear panel, the upper free end of said center panel being joined to said rear panel and key holding member by rivets extending through the metal plate of said key holding member, said center panel having an arcuate cutout portion below said key holding member for allowing keys secured to the hooks to extend therethrough and a free flap below said cut-out portion for enclosing the keys between the free flap and said rear panel; a pocket formed by the convolutions of the fold along the fold line between the rear panel and center panel and extending the length of the fold line, said pocket having a closure member at the top thereof; an elongated key retaining member removably insertable into said pocket and a closure panel integrally joined to the back panel opposite the juncture of said back panel with said center panel and foldable over said rear and center panels for enclosing the same.

4. A key case having a rear panel, the rear panel having key retaining means secured to the upper edge thereof; a front closure panel for enclosing said case; a center panel disposed between said rear panel and front closure panel, said center panel being integrally joined to the rear panel at one side thereof and folded substantially coextensively over the inside face of said rear panel forming an elongated pocket along the fold, the pocket being formed by the convolutions of the fold and the back faces of said rear panel and center panel, the free end of said center panel being joined to said rear panel by shank means extending through the key retaining means, said center panel having further an arcuate cut-out portion below its attachment at the free end with said rear panel for allowing keys attached to the key retaining means to enter therethrough and a free flap below the cut-out portion movable out from the back face of said rear panel for allowing keys attached to the key retaining means to be positioned between the flap and said rear panel; and an elongated key retaining member for retaining a separate set of keys being removably insertable into said pocket.

5. A key case comprising; a rear panel; a closure panel joined to one side of said rear panel and foldable over said rear panel and having clasp means to removably secure it in place; a key retainer having a flat metal plate and a plurality of loops for holding key hooks disposed adjacent the top edge of said panel, a center panel integrally joined to said rear panel opposite the juncture of said rear panel with said enclosure panel and foldable to a position between the same, the convolution of the fold forming a pocket extending the length of the fold, the walls thereof comprising the back faces of said rear panel and center panel, the body of said center panel secured at the top to the metal plate of said key retainer by a plurality of rivets and having an arcuate cut-out portion below said key retainer for allowing keys attached thereto to be positioned over the back face of said rear panel and a free flap below said cut-out portion for covering the keys; a foldable closure flap over the top of said pocket having means to secure it in place; and an elongated key retainer member for insertion in said pocket and secured therein by said foldable flap.

6. A key case comprising in combination; a base panel; permanent key, retaining means secured adjacent the upper end of said base panel for securing set of keys; an intermediate panel integrally joined to one side of said base panel and folded with an extended looped fold coextensively over the inner face of said base panel and key retaining means, the extended looped fold forming a pocket along the juncture of said base and intermediate panels for housing a removable key holder, said intermediate panel attached at its upper end to said key retaining means, the lower portion thereof forming a free flap over the inner face of said base panel and having a cut out portion formed therein to allow a set of keys secured to said key retaining means to extend therethrough and seat over the inner face of said base panel; and a closure panel integrally joined to said base panel opposite said intermediate panel for folding over and enclosing said case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 16,946 Rosenthal May 1, 1928 2,224,972 Long et al Dec. 17, 1940 2,416,477 Gamache Feb. 25, 1947 2,812,606 Painter Nov. 12, 1957

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