US3485070A

US3485070A - Key retainer

Info

Publication number: US3485070A
Application number: US719549A
Authority: US
Inventors: Murray A Gleeson
Original assignee: MURRAY A GLEESON
Current assignee: MURRAY A GLEESON
Priority date: 1968-04-08
Filing date: 1968-04-08
Publication date: 1969-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-23

Description

Dec. 23, 1969 M. A. GLEESON 3,485,070

KEY RETAINER Filed April 8, 1968 Fig. 11

United States Patent 3,485,070 KEY RETAINER Murray A. Gleeson, 4705 Montgomery St., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 Filed Apr. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 719,549 Int. Cl. A45c 11/32; A44b 15/00; A47g 29/10 US. Cl. 70-456 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A key retainer for a key case. A plurality of keeper links are independently swingable about a keeper pin mounted on a supporting plate. A key-engaging hook is unlimitedly swiveled to each of the keeper links. It retains keys positively even when the supporting plate is distorted or flexed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of invention is a key case. Many key cases available at low cost are prone to accidental loss of one or more keys or key-engaging hooks. Other key cases which hold the keys more effectively are of such expensive construction that they must be priced above the quantity markets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide a key case in and from which keys can be readily inserted and removed intentionally, but not lost accidentally, and which can be manufactured and sold at low cost.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a key retainer for a key case including a keeper sub-assembly disposed between a supporting plate and a number of key-engaging hooks, the keeper sub-assembly consisting of a keeper pin mounted on the plate and keeper links each of which has one end hinged to the pin and its other end swiveled to one of the key-engaging hooks.

Another object is to provide a key retainer which will positively retain keys even when distorted or if made of readily deformable or elastic material.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a key case employing a key retainer in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the key retainer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the keeper links shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of one of the keeper links and its corresponding key-engaging hook, the keeper link being shown in section;

FIG. 6 is fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modified fastening for the keeper pin;

FIG. 7 is an alternating construction of key case shown partially and illustrating an alternate form of keeper link;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the keeper link shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 0f the keeper link and hook sub-assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a further alternate construction of key case showing another form of keeper links;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the keeper links shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to FIG.

ice

10 but showing another way of fastening the keeper pin enabling it to float.

Like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the figures of the drawings.

Referring now in details to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a key retainer 21 afiixed as by rivets 22 to a conventional leather case 23 and having closure snaps 24, 26.

The key retainer 21 comprises a supporting plate 27 fastened by the above-mentioned rivets 22. A keeper pin 28 is supported on the plate. A plurality (in this case six) of keeper links 29 are hinged to the keeper pin. A keyengaging book 31 is swiveled on each link. To fill out the disclosure, although not comprising a part of the invention, several keys 30, are shown in phantom in FIG. 1 but not otherwise in the drawings.

The supporting plate 27 is preferably made of steel although, as will be described, it may be made of flexible deformable materials. It is formed along its upper edge with a plurality of spaced, axially aligned, tubular portions 32. Spaces 33 are between the tubular portions.

The keeper pin 28 is held in the tunnel 34 formed by the series of tubular portions 32 in any suitable manner. In a preferred construction, shown in FIG. 3, the tubular end portions 32 are crimped inwardly upon the pin 28, on the front and back surfaces; these crimps being better shown at 36 and 37 in FIG. 2. Another construction, advantageous in enabling the pin 28 to float within the tunnel provides a head 38 at each end of the pin, as sown in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, each keeper link 29 is substantially J-shaped and made of metal with a vertical upper leg 39, an angular intermediate section 41 and a horizontal leg 42.

Holes

43 and 44 are punched in the vertical and horizontal legs for engagement respectively with the keeper pin 28 and the shank 46 of the key-engaging hook 31, If desired, the horizontal leg 42 may continue upward as another angular section 41a as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. Bottom hole 44 is preferably in the plane of vertical leg 39 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. This enables the hook 31 to swivel freely and without limit about a swivel axis AA (FIGS. 3 and 5) which intersects the keeper pin 28.

Each key-engaging hook 31 is preferably made of spring steel to enable a key or keys to be inserted or removed readily. A headed portion 47 above the shank 46 keeps the hook in place within bottom hole 44 of its corresponding keeper link 29. This enables the entire key case to be suspended from any one of the hooks 31 and freely and unlimitedly rotated about its respective swivel axis AA. In use, this is a substantial advantage, because it eliminates binding or twisting of the assembly when a key extending from the case is inserted in a lock and turned. It also enables the user to simply turn the key instead of the entire case when he finds he has attempted to use a key upside down.

As shown in FIG. 3, the spaces 33 between adjacent tubular portions 32 of plate 27 are slightly more than the thickness of the strip stock from which the keeper links 29 are made. This allows any individual link to swing freely a full from its inside/storage to its outside/use positions; yet the tubular portions 32 are close enough to the link to guide and stablize it against twisting.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tubular portions 32 overhang the front surface of the plate 27 an amount D which is greater than the width d of the strip stock from which the keeper link is made.

Thus, the keeper pin 28 provides a positive, stable fulcrum which the keeper links 29 swing about individually; and the tubular plate portions 32. provide positive spacing and guidance for the keeper links along the keeper pin.

With this construction it is impossible for a key or a key hook to fall out of the key case accidentally. Yet keys may be added or removed as desired. And these advantages are obtained without using a keeper pin 28 of larger diameter or great strength which would be inelfective if it were bent and permanently deformed.

An alternate form of keeper link 48 is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Here the strip stock is formed as a closed loop with two upper vertical legs 39a pressed flat-to-fiat, two angular intermediate sections 41a, and a horizontal leg 42a. Holes 43a in each of the upper legs engage the keeper pin 28 and a hole 44a is provided in the horizontal leg to receive the hook shank 46. The spaces 33a between the tubular portions 3211 are somewhat wider than spaces 33 in the FIG. 1 embodiment, thereby accommodating the double thickness in the

vertical legs

39a, 39a.

The alternate keeper link 48 is advantageous where a wider bearing along the keeper in 28 is desired for increased stability.

Another alternate form of keeper link 49 is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. Here, it is U-shaped with vertical legs 39b straddling each of the tubular portions 32b and having holes 43b engaging the keeper pin 28.

In FIGS. and 12 both ends of the keeper pin 28 are preferably headed, as at 38, outside the outer legs 39b of the end links 49 to stabilize the latter and to limit endwise movement of the pin. FIG. 10 illustrates crimps (similar to 36, 37 in FIG. 2) which hold the pin firmly in place in the manner of the FIGS. 1 and 7 embodiments. FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 10 but deletes the crimps, thereby allowing the pin to float in the manner of the FIG. 6 embodiment. This is especially advantageous with U-shaped keeper inks 49 because it enables the entire key, hook and keeper sub-assembly t0 float with respect to the series of tubular retainers 32b.

Among the advantages of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 is that it can accommodate seven key hooks on a plate having seven tubular portions 32d instead of six as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 7. The U-shaped keeper links also provided maximum stability in the entire assembly resulting from the wide span betwen the

vertical legs

39b, 39b.

Where desired for its pleasant, soft feel and appearance, the supporting plate 27 may be made of any one of a wide variety of plastic or elastomeric materials and the keeper pin 28 may comprise a flexible, wire-like element. This will allow the assembly to bend, twist and deform without damage while retaining the keys for ready use.

In assembling the key retainer 21, the unheaded end 25 of the hooks 31 may first be threaded through the bottom holes 44, 44a or 44b of their respective keeper links, then the links may be assembled in the

spaces

33, 33a, or 33b between the support plate

tubular portions

32, 32a, or 32b, following which the entire retainer assembly 21, 21a, or 21b may be completed by locking the keeper pin 28 in its tunnel 34 in one of the ways shown.

The vertical spacing between

upper legs

39 or 39a and

horizontal legs

42 or 42a in

keeper links

29 and 48 must be sufiicient to enable the hooks 31 to be at tached to the keeper links as above described.

A feature of this invention is that the strength of the

tubular portions

32, 32a or 32b on the supporting plate are utilized most effectively to keep the key hooks from falling or pulling out. Even with severe pulling or distortion which might open up some of the spaces 33, 3311, or 33b, the keeper links are held in place by the keeper pin and they distribute the pulling load from any one key over several adjacent tubular portions, through the keeper pin. This is a notable advantage of the FIGS. 6 and 12 embodiments which allow the keeper pin to float within the

tubular portions

32 and 32b and press flatwise against the interior thereof when any one key is pulled.

While several forms in which the present invention may be embodied have been shown and described, using six and seven key hooks, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in applying the principles'of the invention, and it may readily be applied to key retainers for other numbers of key hooks.

I claim as my invention:

1. A key retainer for a key case comprising:

a supporting plate;

a keeper pin supported within a plurality of spaced,

axially aligned, tubular portions on said plate;

a plurality of keeper links hingedly mounted on said pin within the spaces between said tubular portions for independent swinging movement about the axis of the pin;

each of said keeper links having integral first and second opposed leg portions; said first leg portion including at least one flat first leg having a first aperture joumaled about the keeper pin for swinging movement in a plane normal to the axis thereof; said second leg portion including a second leg disposed normal to said first leg and parallel to the pin axis and having a second aperture therein;

a key-engaging hook having a shank extending through and swiveled in each of said second apertures and terminating in a retaining head section on the corresponding second leg for unlimited rotation about a swivel axis normal to said pin and centered relative to said first leg portion.

2. A key retainer according to claim 1 in which the keeper pin is floatably supported within the tubular portions of the supporting plate and is limitedly movable in an axial direction within said tubular portions.

3. A key retainer according to claim 1 in which each keeper link first leg portion has two first legs hingedly mounted on the keeper pin.

4. A key retainer according to claim 1 in which each keeper link is substantially J-shaped and has its first leg hingedly mounted on the keeper pin, said spaces between adjacent of said tubular portions being only slightly greater than the thickness of said first leg to guide said link during swinging movement about said pin, said J-shaped link having its second leg swivelly connected with its corresponding key-engaging hook for unlimited rotation about a swivel axis intersecting said pin in said first leg.

5. A key retainer according to claim 1 in which each keeper link comprises a loop having at least one upper vertical extension hingedly mounted on the keeper pin and having a horizontal leg swivelly connected with its corresponding key-engaging hook.

6. A key retainer according to claim 1 in which each keeper link comprises a U-shaped element having its two vertical legs straddling one of said tubular portions and being respectively hingedly mounted on the keeper pin in adjacent of said spaces, said U-shaped element having its horizontal leg swivelly connected to its corresponding key-engaging hook.

7. A key retainer according to claim 1 in which the supporting plate and the keper pin are both sufiiciently thin to be flexible for compatibility with a flexible case.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,116 11/1938 Newman 70-457 2,545,012 3/1951 Wohl 5040 3,349,590 10/1967 Elsenheimer et al. 70-456 3,379,041 4/1968 Hanna 70-456 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,072,731 3/1954 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner