US3469424A - Key retainer - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1969 s. T. SHEARS 3,469,424

KEY RETAINER Filed Sept. 20, 1967 F G 3 INVENTOR.

STUART T. SHEARS E WQO'QHWM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,469,424 KEY RETAINER Stuart T. Shears, Belmont, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to United-Carr Incorporated, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 669,366 Int. Cl. A45c 11/32 US. Cl. 70-456 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retainer for pivotally securing key loops to a key case. A base which is attached to the key case has a loopreceiving section extending angularly upwardly and outwardly beyond one end of the base. An arcuate loop-retaining section which defines a loop head holding chamber extends still further outwardly from the loop-receiving section and terminates in a free end which extends downwardly toward an imaginary planar extension of the base. A portion of the free end of the loop-retaining section and portions of the loop-receiving section cooperatively define a constricted entrance to the loop head holding chamber. A slot in the loop-receiving section communicates at one end with a slot in the loop-retaining section and at the other end with an enlarged opening in the loop-receiving section whereby the head of the loop can be passed through the opening and snapped into the loop-retaining section. The head is thus snappedly retained in the chamber and the loop is pivotable in the communicating slots.

Background of the invention The invention relates generally to key-loop retainers and more particularly to a retainer formed from a resilient material, for example, synthetic plastic, which is of unitary construction and is universal in its application in that it is adapted for use with both hard and softbacked key cases.

Earlier developments in the field include retainers of multi-part construction having laterally sliding, pivotallever actuated and leaf spring-like guards which act as constricters or barriers at the enlarged openings through which the heads of the well-known Wire key loops are inserted and removed. Retainers of one-piece construction, usually sheet metal, wherein the material of the key case per se acts as the constrictor or barrier are also well known.

The invention is seen to represent a significant contribution to the art when viewed in the light of the earlier 'designs described above in that it is of unitary construction and can be utilized equally efficiently with either rigid or pliable key cases. In addition, the retainer is inexpensive to manufacture, readily attached to a key case and provides for easy insertion and removal of the key loops, the requisite pivotal movement of the loops and positive retention of the loops against accidental separation.

Summary of the invention Novelty is seen to reside in a unitary, universal keyloop retainer having a base which is attached to a key case, an angularly oifset loop-receiving section having an enlarged Opening for receipt of a loop head and a slot communicating with the opening, and a slot in an outwardly extending loop-retaining section which snappedly receives and pivotally holds the loop head in a chamber therein.

Further appreciation of the contribution of the invention to the field will be had from a reading of the detailed description which follows in conjunction with a viewing of the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an open key case having a key loop retainer according to the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 having a fragmentary portion of a key loop retained therein;

:IG. 3 is a top plan view of the loop-retainer per se; an

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the retainer.

Description of a preferred embodiment The key loop retainer 1 depicted in the drawing is of unitary, molded plastic construction, for example, nylon, and includes a generally flat planar base 2, a loop-receiving section 3 which extends angularly upwardly and forwardly from one end of the base 2, and an arcuate loopretaining section 4 which initially extends forwardly from the loop-receiving section 3 and then rearwardly toward an imaginary planar extension of the base and terminates in a free end 5. The loop-retaining section 4 defines a loop head holding chamber 6 and opposed facing ridges 7 and 8 projecting from the loop-receiving and loop-retaining sections, respectively, define a constricted entrance to the chamber 6.

A plurality of spaced slots 9 in the loop-receiving section 3 communicate at one end thereof with a plurality of spaced, enlarged openings 10 in the same section and at the other end thereof with a plurality of spaced, aligned slots 11 in the loop-retaining section 4. The base 2 is provided with a pair of openings 12 for the receipt of rivets or other fastening means by which the retainer is affixed to a key case. As is best depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the free terminal end 5 of the loop-retaining section lies above the openings 10 in the loop-receiving section 3.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the retainer secured to the dishshaped frame 13 of the well-known clamshell-type key case having a dished cover 14 spring hinged at 15 to the frame 13. The frame and cover are of sheet metal construction and each is externally leather covered and internally felt lined. The retainer is riveted to the frame 13 and the remote end of the loop-retaining section 4 is disposed adjacent the leading edge of the frame.

The key loops 16 are the well-known spring wire type and each has an enlarged generally spherical head 17 at its end which head is of lesser diameter than the enlarged openings 10 and the loop-holding chamber 6 and of greater diameter than the Width of the slots 9 and 11 and the constricted entrance to the chamber 6 defined by the ridges 7 and 8. The loops 16 are attached to the retainer by passing the head 1') through the openings 10 and forcing the heads through the constricted opening between the ridges 7 and 8 whereby the free end 5 of the loop-retaining section 4 is resiliently deflected away from the ridges 7 and thereafter snaps back to the position of FIG. 2 whereby the heads 17 are snappedly retained in the chamber 6 and the loops are pivotable within the slots 9 and 11 for extending the key 18 outwardly of the case or returning same thereto.

The reader will observe that the free end 5 and ridge 8 of the loop-retaining section 4 are solid and continuous through the Width of the retainer and that the loop-receiving and retaining sections between the slots 9 and 11, respectively, are of substantial width and thickness. Thus, the key loop heads are positively retained in the chamber 6 against accidental separation when pull is exerted thereon under normal conditions of usage of one or more keys.

I claim:

1. A key loop retainer comprising a base, a loop-receiving section extending forwardly and upwardly from one end of said base and having an opening therethrough, and a resilient loop-retaining section initially extending forwardly from said loop-receiving section and then rearwardly toward an imaginary planar extension of said base and terminating in a free end lying above said opening, said loop-retaining section defining a loop head holding chamber having a constricted entrance, said loop-receiving section having a slot communicating at one end with a slot in said loop-retaining section and at the other end with said opening, said opening providing access to said constricted entrance to said chamber under normal conditions of usage of said retainer.

2. A key loop retainer according to claim 1 which is of unitary, molded plastic construction.

3. A key loop retainer according to claim 1 wherein said free end of said loop-retaining section is solid and continuous throughout the width of said retainer.

4. A retainer for attaching key loops having an enlarged head to a key case comprising a base secured to the frame of the key case, a loop-receiving section extending angularly upwardly and forwardly from one end of said base and having an enlarged opening therein, and a resilient loop-retaining section initially extending forwardly from said loop-receiving section and then rearwardly toward an imaginary planar extension of said base and terminating in a free end lying above said enlarged opening, said loop-retaining section defining a loop head holding chamber, said loop-receiving rand loop-retaining sections having opposed facing ridges projecting toward each other and defining a constricted entrance to said loop head holding chamber, said loop-receiving section having a slot narrower than the loop head communicating at one end with a similarly sized slot in said loopretaining section and at its other end with said enlarged opening whereby the loop head is passed through said enlarged opening, snapped through said constricted entrance and into said loop head holding chamber and retained therein for pivotal movement of the loop in said communicating slots.

5. A key loop retainer comprising a base, .a loop-receiving section extending forwardly and upwardly from one end of said base and having an opening therethrough, and a resilient loop-retaining section initially extending forwardly from said loop-receiving section and then rearwardly toward an imaginary planar extension of said base and terminating in a free end lying above said opening, said loop-retaining section defining a loop head holding chamber, said loop-receiving and loop-retaining sections having opposed facing ridges projecting toward each other and defining a constricted entrance to said loop head holding chamber, said loop-receiving section having a slot communicating at one end with a slot in said loop-retaining section and at the other end with said opening, said opening providing access to said constricted entrance to said chamber under normal conditions of usage of said retainer.

6. A key loop retainer according to claim 5 wherein said opposed facing ridges have converging cam surfaces to guide a key loop head therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,568 11/1953 Morrell 456 3,008,323 11/1961 Legat 70456 3,132,504 5/1964 Beilis 70456 3,309,905 3/ 1967 Shepherd 70456 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner

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