US3620057A

US3620057A - Key tag

Info

Publication number: US3620057A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold Holland
Original assignee: Republic Corp
Current assignee: Republic Corp
Priority date: 1969-11-24
Filing date: 1969-11-24
Publication date: 1971-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-16

Abstract

A KEY TAG INCLUDING A HOLDER MOLDED IN A ONE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION HAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING TONGUES FORMED AS AN INTEGRAL PART THEREOF, EACH OF THE TONGUES INCLUDING A FREE END THAT IF FOLDABLE FOR CONNECTION TO THE HOLDER AND HAVING A KEY RING MOUNTED THEREON, AT LEAST ONE OF THE TONGUES HAVING THE FREE END THEREOF RELEASABLY CONNECTED

TO THE HOLDER SO THAT THE KEY RING LOCATED ON THE RELEASABLE TONGUE MAY BE REMOVED FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOLDER AS DESIRED.

Description

NOV. 16, 1971 HOLLAND 3,620,051

KEY TAG Filed Nov. 24, 1969 IN V I'IN 'I'OR,

0 Harold HOZZdJld,

fizz) w Att ys.

United States Patent Olfice 3,620,057 Patented Nov. 16, 1971 3,620,057 KEY TAG Harold Holland, Cranston, R.I., assignor to Republic Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Nov. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 879,275 Int. Cl. A47g 29/10 U.S. Cl. 7 0456 R Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a key tag of the type that has a key ring permanently secured thereto on which a plurality of keys are received, a second key ring on which a selected key is received, being secured to the key tag for removal therefrom as desired.

Key tags having releasable key rings have been known in various forms heretofore. One of the more popular types of snap-apart key tags included a plunger mechanism that was inserted into a socket of a main body portion and secured therein by a locking device, the plunger mechanism having a key ring threaded therein with keys secured thereon. When pressure was applied to the plunger mechanism it was released from the socket, thereby providing for removal of the key ring attached to the plunger mechanism from the main body portion. Other forms of snap-apart key tags have also been employed, and included variations in the manner in which the releasable key ring was secured to the main key holder. In all of these prior known constructions, the parts were normally constructed of metal materials and usually included some form of a complicated locking mechanism that necessarily increased the cost of the device. Because the locking mechanisms were formed of several parts that were interconnected, the possibility of malfunction or breaking of the unit was increased, and the expected life of such snapapart key tags was relatively short.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated key tag that is formed with a minimum of parts and comprises essentially a one-piece holder molded of a plastic material and having outwardly extending tongues integrally joined thereto on opposed ends thereof. Each of the tongues has a free end that is foldable for connection to the holder to form a loop, a key ring being mounted on the loop of each of the tongues. One of the tongues is releasably connected to the holder and, as disclosed herein, conventional snap fasteners are secured to the tongue and to the holder to provide for the releasable attachment of the tongue to the holder. Thus, when the key ring mounted on the releasable tongue is to be removed from the key tag, the snap fastener on the tongue is released from the complementary fastener on the holder and the key ring and the keys located thereon are free for disengagement from the holder and the other keys attached thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a snap-apart key tag having a holder that is molded in a one-piece construction of a plastic material and having at least one tongue that is releasably connected to the holder, a key ring being mounted on the releasable tongue for removal from the holder when the tongue is disconnected therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key tag comprising a holder that is molded in a one-piece construction of a plastic material, the holder having tongues integrally molded on opposed ends thereof, one of the tongues having a snap fastener secured thereto and being adapted for releasable engagement with a complementary snap fastener secured to the holder.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompany illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the key tag embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the key tag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the releasable tongue of the invention in the disconnected position thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the key tag holder and tongues joined thereto as molded in a one-piece construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1, the key tag embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a holder generally indicated at 12 which, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is formed in a one-piece construction that includes a body portion 14 to which

tongues

16 and 18 are integrally joined at opposed ends thereof. The holder 12 is preferably molded of a plastic material such as polyethylene, although it is understood that any suitable plastic material can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The body portion 14 of the holder 12 is illustrated as having a diamon-shaped configuration, although it is again understood that the configuration of the body portion 14 is not critical to the invention and any geometric design as desired can be employed.

The body portion 14 as molded is relatively rigid, although it does have some flexing characteristics, because of the inherent characteristics of the material from which it is molded. However, the thickness of the body portion 14 is controlled such that if it is bent it wil return to the original configuration thereof. It is further understood that the flat surfaces of the body portion are of sufiicient area to enable any suitable indicia or lettering to be imprinted thereon. As will be described, the

tongues

16 and 18 are relativeliy flexible and, in the position of use, are folded so asto define loops. For this purpose, the thickness of thetongues as molded is somewhat reduced with respect to the thickness of the body portion 14, although the molding of the

tongues

16 and 18 to the body portion 14 is controlled such that the tongues are continuous with the body portion.

As is apparent from the stated purpose of the invention and from the illustrations in the drawing, the device embodied herein provides a convenient key retainer and in order to mount a plurality of keys on the key tag for attachment thereto, the tongue 18 is folded over and the free end thereof as indicated at 20 is fixed to the body portion 14 of the holder 12 by a rivet 22. Folding of the tongue 18 in the manner as illustrated defines a loop through which a key ring 24 extends, the ring 24 being secured in the loop prior to the attachment of the end 20 by the rivet 22 to the holder 12. Any selected number of keys indicated at 26 may be mounted on the key ring 24, and it is understood that the keys 26 as mounted on the ring 24 will be attached to the holder 12, unless they are physically removed from the ring 24.

On occasions it is desirable to selectively disengage a key from the key tag, such as when it is necessary to leave a key in the ignition of an automobile for use by a parking lot attendant, or in other instances when it is necessary to remove a selected key from the key tag at frequent intervals. In order to provide for this arrangement, the tongue 16 is formed with a female snap fastener 28 on the free end 30 thereof. Fixed to the body portion 14 of the holder 12 adjacent to the tongue 16 is a complementary male snap fastener 32 that is adapated to receive the female snap fastener 28 in engagement therewith. It is seen that when the tongue 16 is bent to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 for locating the snap fastener 28 in engagement with the complementary fastener 32, a loop is defined that receives a key ring 34 therein. The key ring 34 is preferably of a smaller diameter than the ring 24 since presumably only one or several keys wil be located thereon. As illustrated in the drawing, a single key 36 is mounted on the ring 34, and is removable therewith from engagement with the holder 12 by unsnapping the female fastener 28 from its engagement with the male fastener 32. The tongue 16 is then lifted upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the ring 34, together with the key 36 mounted thereon, is removed from engagement with the tongue, as further illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3.

In use of the device, those keys indicated at 26 that are to be mounted for relative permanent use on the ring 24 are located thereon by threading through the ends of the ring 24 in the usual manner. A key 36 that is to be removed from the holder at relatively frequent intervals is attached to the ring 34 and the ring 34 is then placed on the tongue 16 which is locked in place by engagement of the female fastener 28 on the male fastener '30. When it is desired to remove the key 36 from the holder 12, the fastener 28 is disengaged from the fastener 32, which releases the tongue 16 from the folded position thereof. The ring 34 is then lifted outwardly of the tongue 16 for disengagement from the holder 12. It is understood that the ring 34 may thereafter be attached to the holder by threading it on the tongue 16 and folding the tongue and fastening the snap fastener 28 on the snap fastener 32.

What is claimed is:

1. A key tag comprising a holder that is molded in a one-piece constuction of a plastic material, said holder including a body portion substantially surrounded by a peripheral edge, said body portion being generally flat throughout its entire extent and without foldable portions joined thereto, said body portion having flexing characteristics but being of relatively stiff construction and of sufllcient thickness to resist deformation and being returnable to its original flat condition if flexed, outwardly extending tongues being molded integrally to said body portion on opposed ends thereof, each of said tongues having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than that of said body portion so as to be relatively flexible for easy bending, each of said tongue having a free end that is foldable for connection to said body portion to define a loop, a key ring mounted on the loop of each of said tongues, at least one of said tongues having the free end thereof releasably connected to said body portion, wherein the key ring mounted on said one tongue is removable therefrom when the free end of said one tongue is released from engagement with said body portion.

2. A key tag as set forth in claim 1, the other of said tongues being permanently secured to said body portion, wherein the key ring mounted on said other tongue is located thereon for permanent connection thereto.

3. A key tag as set forth in claim 2, said one tongue having a snap fastener secured thereon, and a complementary snap fastener secured to the body portion of said holder and releasably receiving the snap fastener secured to said one tongue, wherein the key ring mounted on said one tongue is selectively removable from said holder as required.

4. A key tag as set forth in claim 2, a rivet extending through said body portion and other tongnue for permanently securing the free end of said other tongue to said body portion.

5. A key tag as set forth in claim 1, a snap fastener secured to said one tongue adjacent to the free end thereof, and a complementary snap facstener secured to the body portion of said holder and releasably receiving the snap fastener secured to said one tongue, wherein the key ring mounted on said one tongue is selectively removable from said holder as required.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,142 12/1962 McGlynn l40 3,318,354 5/1967 Borizof 1SO'40 FOREIGN PATENTS 772,808 8/1934 France l5040 ROBERT L. WOLFE, Primary Examiner