US3315504A - Detachable key - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1967 P. G. BILLINGS, JR 3,315,504

DETAGHABLE KEY Filed Aug. 7, 1964 HII II II BY /Q%M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,315,504 DETACHABLE KEY Percy G. Billings, Jr., 1103 Pekay St., Vienna, Va. 22180 Filed Aug. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 388,225 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-408) The present invention relates to improvements in keys for operating tumbler and other locks, and more particularly to a key which can be readily and easily attached to and removed from a key ring or case of the type designed for personal pocket use.

One object is to provide a key having a handle portion connected to the shank portion in which the handle is provided with an irregular slot providing a restricted passageway for the key ring or other holder extending to the conventional central opening in the handle, whereby the key may be removed by sliding the ring through the slot and can similarly be assembled on the ring or holder.

Another object is to provide a key which can be quickly and easily detached from key rings and cases of conventional types without disturbing the remaining keys.

Another object is to provide a key having a handle provided with a central opening and a passageway extending therefrom to the edge of the key which is of irregular shape and which is provided with a series of sharp corner portions to prevent accidental removal of the key from the ring or case, but yet would permit easy and quick displacement when it is desired to remove a selected key from the ring or case.

Another object is to provide a key for tumbler locks and the like in which the handle portion is provided with an opening having an entrance slot of sinuous or zig-zag design, thus providing an irregular pathway for retarding accidental displacement of the key and preventing detachment of the same from the ring or case, but providing a quick detachable connection to enable the key to be quickly attached to the ring after it has been removed.

Another object is to provide a key for tumbler locks and the like in which the handle portion is provided with an opening and the key ring is provided with a reduced portion adapted to he slipped into said opening through a restricted entrance slot thereto.

Another object is to provide a key for tumbler locks and the like in which the handle portion is provided with a key ring receiving opening for receiving a key ring having a reduced portion, and to provide an entrance slot of irregular shape to said opening for the passage of said reduced key ring portion, the entrance slot being of substantially the same size as the entrance slot so that the key can be easily attached to and removed from the ring when the reduced diametral portion of the key ring is brought into registry with the slot.

Another object is to provide a key for tumbler locks and the like having a handle provided with a central key ring receiving opening and an entrance slot from the edge of the handle to the opening having a series of round openings connected by straight line slots to present a series of sharp corner edges to the key ring when the same is inserted through the slot to the central opening and when the key is removed from the ring and disengaged therefrom.

Hitherto, various types of quick release key rings and key cases are constructed such that removal of one or more keys from the ring or case presents an awkward and tedious operation. Certain structures are designed such that only a single key can be easily detached, while others are subject to wear at the points of connection which frequently results in loss of the key or keys. Other types of key rings require the removal of several keys before the desired one can be detached.

Patented Apr. 25, 1967 ice The above objections and disadvantages have been overcome by constructing a key in which the handle portion is provided with a restricted entrance slot leading to the edge of the handle or periphery thereof in such a manner that the detachable connecting feature is contained in the key instead of the key ring. By forming the restricted entrance slot to extend from the key ring receiving opening in a direction substantially lateral with respect to the shank, the key will be retained on the ring during normal use and will be prevented from displacement therefrom. Additionally, any wear resulting from extended use by attaching and removing the key to the ring can be compensated by merely tapping the corner portions of the entrance slot with a hammer, or other tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a detachable key and ring embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an edge elevational view of the detachable key and ring illustrating the reduced portion of the key ring to facilitate easy removal of the key from the ring.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention in which the key handle is provided with a diflierently shaped entrance slot for the key ring of the type employed in conventional key cases, and

FIGURE 4 is an edge elevational view of the modified form of the invention.

In the drawing, and more in detail, attention is first directed to FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein there is shown a key generally designated 5 of the type used for various tumbler lock structures employed for doors, vehicles and various other locking structures. The key 5 is provided with a shank portion 6 having the usual entrance grooves 7 and tumbler actuating projections 8 forming the usual pin notches 9. The shank 6 is provided with an actuating handle 10 of disc-like configuration. The handle 10 can assume any one of a number of different shapes such as ovate, triangular and rectangular and is only illustrated generally, since various lock companies employ key handles of different shapes for the purpose of identity and recognition.

The handle portion 10 is provided with a key ring -receiving opening 11 which, as illustrated, is of crescent shape to provide a curved portion 12 connected by a straight edge portion 13. The opening 11 could be formed centrally of the handle 10 and certain keys are provided with a central round key ring receiving opening. As shown in FIGURE 1, an irregular entrance slot 14 extends from a lateral edge of the handle 10 in the direction of the center of the handle and the major portion of said irregular slot is of zig-zag or sinuous shape. The entrance slot 14 terminates at its end in an angular portion 16 which connects the slot 14 to the key ring receiving opening 11 and extends upwardly thereto at a point slightly offset from a longitudinal median line extending through the key. Similarly, an oblique entrance portion 17 connects the restricted slot 14 to the outer or peripheral edge of the handle 10, and said entrance portion 17 extends obliquely with respect to the axis of the shank 6 at an acute angle thereto. Thus, there is provided a series of staggered and oppositely arranged projections 18 which prevent accidental removal of the key from the ring 20.

The key ring 20 is shown in FIGURE 2 as being of triangular shape, but obviously can be circular or formed in various other patterns. The key ring 20 is provided with a slot receiving portion 21 having a slightly reduced diameter as compared to the diameter of the ring 20. The reduced portion 21 is of a size which is equal or slightly less than the dimensions of the slot 14 so that the reduced portion 21 will frictionally slide through the ing pin tumbler recesses 9a.

' zig-Zag slot and finally be received in the opening 11.

' nodes which frictionally and yieldingly engage the key ring when the key is assembled and attached with respect to the ring. key rings of conventional design by constructing the slot 14 of a width substantially equal to or slightly less than the transverse diameter of the ring.

' In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 the key is generally designated 5a and includes a shank portion 6a having the usual guide grooves 7a and the tumbler engaging projections 8a form- The handle 10a is of octagonal shape to provide opposed edge portions 10b arranged in parallel relation.

The handle 10a is provided with a key ring receiving opening 11a arranged on the longitudinal median line,

and is adapted to receive one of the individual key rings 20a of a key case; The key case is of the type having a series of detachable rings provided with coupling balls 20b which are received in correspondingly shaped sockets in the key case (not shown).

An irregular entrance slot 14a extends from the open- 7 ing 11a in a'direction oblique to the median line at an acute angle and terminates at its outer end at one of the parallel edge portions 10b of the handle 10a. An entrance slot portion 16a connects a round opening 25 with V the key ring receiving opening 11a, and .it is to be noted that the entrance slot 16a extends obliquely at an acute angle to the longitudinal median line in the direction of V the shank" similar to the slotted portions 16 and 17 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The sharp corner portions 18;; on opposite sides of the slot lfia'form nubs or nodes which project into the passageway and retard movement of the ring 20a through the irregular slot 14a. These sharp corner portions permit the key to be positioned on thering witha slight amount of force, but prevent the key from being accidentally detached and removed during normal personal pocket use.

The keys 5 and 5a are formed from sheet metal blanked to shape in accordance with conventional practice and the 'tumbleripin' receiving recesses are cut therein in the 'usual manner, and while the keysshown for the purpose of illustration are blanked from sheet metal, obviously they could be formed by other means.

The key can be used with various types of It is to be pointed out, that the detachable key can be used with conventional split keyrings'or a continuous ring as shown in FIGURE 2 as at 20 in which the reduced portion 21 is omitted and the transverse diameter.

of the ring is uniform throughout the continuous ring. In the individual key case rings shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the key can be used with structures of this type which are not split through the ball area, and hence provide a more rigid construction and positive separable connection between the ring 20a and the key case.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments thereof, and that various changes in the.

shape, size and configuration can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a key and a key ring having an area of reduced section, said key consisting of a shank, a handle on one end of said shank having a key ring receiving slot forming a restricted passageway for said key, said passageway defining a zig-zag slot and a series of nodes and projections extending into said slot which frictionally and yieldingly engage the key ring when the key is assembled on said ring, said area of reduced section being of a size slightly smaller than said slot to permit attachment and detachment of said key when said reduced section is brought into registry with said restricted passageway.

2. The combination of a key and a key ring as set forth in claim 1 in which said key handle is provided with a central opening with the restricted passageway extending from said opening in a direction normal to said shank.

3. The combination of a key and a key ring as set forth in claim 1 in'which said key handle is provided with'a central opening with said restricted passageway extending from said opening in a direction, substantially lateral 'to the longitudinal median. of said key. i I

4. The combination of a key and a key ring asset forth in claim 1 in which said restricted passageway extends at an acute angle to the shank of said key.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,289 5/1924 Round 24 23o 1,546,430 7/1925 131m 24-230 FOREIGN PATENTS 304,491 3/1918 Germany.

488,575 12/1953 Italy. EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner; P. TEITELBAUM,'Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. THE COMBINATION OF A KEY AND A KEY RING HAVING AN AREA OF REDUCED SECTION, SAID KEY CONSISTING OF A SHANK, A HANDLE ON ONE END OF SAID SHANK HAVING A KEY RING RECEIVING SLOT FORMING A RESTRICTED PASSAGEWAY FOR SAID KEY, SAID PASSAGEWAY DEFINING A ZIG-ZAG SLOT AND A SERIES OF NODES AND PROJECTIONS EXTENDING INTO SAID SLOT WHICH FRICTIONALLY AND YIELDINGLY ENGAGE THE KEY RING WHEN THE KEY IS ASSEMBLED ON SAID RING, SAID AREA OF REDUCED SECTION BEING OF A SIZE SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN SAID SLOT TO PERMIT ATTACHMENT AND DETACHMENT OF SAID KEY WHEN SAID REDUCED SECTION IS BROUGHT INTO REGISTRY WITH SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGEWAY.

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