GB1581976A - Holder for keys and the like - Google Patents

Description

(54) HOLDER FOR KEYS AND THE LIKE (71) I, GEORGE SUGIMOTO, a Canadian citizen, of 1195 Dominion Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders for keys and the like. Conventionally, such key rings or holders comprise split rings which are difficult to manipulate in order to remove or replace keys thereon.

Other types of key holders are known but it is believed that the present device is of a simple and improved construction which may readily be manufactured and manipulated during use.

According to the present invention a holder for keys and the like comprises curved rod-like means for receiving keys thereon, and a locking means for securing two ends of the rod-like means together to form a closed loop on which keys may be securely retained, the locking means including a locking member secured to or including means for securing it to one end of the rod-like means, an opening in the locking member for receiving the other end of the rod-like means and a fastening means freely received on the rod-like means for engaging the locking member to secure the two ends of the rod-like means together, the said other end of the rod-like means including means restraining the said other end from displacement when the fastening member is engaged with the locking member.

The locking member may be substantially cylindrical and the opening in the locking member may be a slot extending from the end of 'the member adjacent the other end of the rod-like means along one side of the member to a point spaced from said end of the member, the outer wall of the member through which the slot is formed being screw threaded.The fastening means can take the form of a screwthreaded nut having an apertured end plate. The invention will now be described-by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment; Figure 2 is an enlarged partially frag- mented view of the embodiment of Figure 1 shown closed; Figure 3 is an end view of the locking nut per se; Figure 4 is a side view of the nut of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the nut of Figure 4 showing one end of the element therein; Figure 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 1 shown closed; Figure 7 is an end view of an alternative embodiment; and Figure 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 7.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to Figures 1 through 6.

The holder comprises curved rod-like means suitably in the form of a pair of rod-like elements 10 and 11 formed preferably from rod of circular section and curved as illustrated so that when adjacent ends of the elements are placed together, a substantially ring-like construction is provided upon which keys 12 or the like may be retained.

In this embodiment, adjacent one ends 1 0A and 11A are pivotally connected together by means of pivot pin 13, so that adjacent other ends lOB and 11B may be moved apart from one another in the direction of 'doubled headed arrow 14.

Means are provided to detachably secure said other ends together, said means taking the form of a substantially cylindrical member 15 one end of which may be secured permanently to one end lOB of the elements 10 if desired.

However, preferably, the cylindrical member 15 is detachably secured to both ends lOB and 11B of the elements as illustrated.

Each end portion lOB and 11B is provided with a projecting portion 16 formed, in this embodiment, by distorting the length of the end portion sideways to form a kinked end as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The outer ends 17 of the cylindrical member 15 are screw threaded as illustrated by reference character 18 and are also each provided with a slot 19 which extends from the outer end wall 20 to a point 21 spaced from the outer end wall and extending through the side of the end portion 17 as illustrated in Figure 2 and 6. A hollow bore 22 extends through the central portion of the member 15 and connects with the slots as illustrated.

Retaining means are provided and take the form of a hollow nut component 23 internally screw threaded at 24 and having a centrally apertured end plate 25 on one end thereof which is adapted to receive the substantially cylindrical elements 10 or 11 so that the nut may be freely rotated thereon.

In operation, the necessary keys or the like 12 are placed on the elements 10 and 11 whereupon the other ends 10B and 11B are moved towards one another and engaged within the slots 19 of the member 15.

The nuts 23 are then engaged over the screw threaded outer surfaces 18 of the ends of the member 15 and are tightened thus retaining the kinked ends 16 within the slots with the kinked ends or projecting portions 16 preventing the elements from being withdrawn through the centrally formed apertures 26 of the nuts because the diameters of these apertures are just sufficient to provide free rotation of the nut on the elements 10 or 11.

Figures 7 and 8 show a similar construction with the exception that the pivotal connection between the one ends 10A and 11A of the elements, is formed by a locking assembly similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 6.

However, in this embodiment, the locking assembly collectively designated 25, is provided with slots 19 which are slightly wider than the width of the ends 10A and 11A of the elements so that when the upper locking assembly 15 is disconnected, the two elements may be swung sideways from one another as clearly shown in Figure 7, to permit the engagement or disengagement of keys or the like upon the elements 10and11.

It will of course be understood that the ends 10A and 11A of the elements 10 and 11, in this embodiment, are provided with kinked ends such as illustrated by reference character 16, and as hereinbefore described with reference to the locking assemblies on the other ends lOB and 11B.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A holder for keys and the like comprising curved rod-like means for receiving keys thereon, and a locking means for securing two ends of the rod-like means together to form a closed loop on which keys may be securely retained, the locking means including a locking member secured to or including means for securing it to one end of the rod-like means, an opening in the locking member for receiving the other end of the rod-like means and a fastening means freely received on the rod-like means for engaging the locking member to secure the two ends of the rodlike means together, the said other end of the rod-like means including means restraining the said other end from displacement when the fastening member is engaged with the locking member.

2. A holder for keys according to Claim 1 wherein the rod-like means comprises a pair of curved rod-like elements pivotally connected together.

3. A holder for keys and the like according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the locking member is substantially cylindrical and the opening in the locking member is a slot extending from the end of the member adjacent the other end of the rod-like means along one side of the member to a point spaced from said end of the member, the outer wall of the member through which the slot is formed, being screw threaded.

4. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fastening means takes the form of a nut having an apertured end plate on one side thereof.

5. A holder according to Claim 4 in which said means restraining displacement includes an axially displaced portion on said other end of the rod-like means, said portion engaging within the opening whereby the nut restrains endwise movement of the rod-like means from the locking member when the nut is engaged with the locking member.

6. A holder according to (:laim 5 where- in the axially displaced portion is formed by a kinked end to the rod-like means.

7. A holder according to any of Claims

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. However, preferably, the cylindrical member 15 is detachably secured to both ends lOB and 11B of the elements as illustrated. Each end portion lOB and 11B is provided with a projecting portion 16 formed, in this embodiment, by distorting the length of the end portion sideways to form a kinked end as clearly shown in Figure 2. The outer ends 17 of the cylindrical member 15 are screw threaded as illustrated by reference character 18 and are also each provided with a slot 19 which extends from the outer end wall 20 to a point 21 spaced from the outer end wall and extending through the side of the end portion 17 as illustrated in Figure 2 and 6. A hollow bore 22 extends through the central portion of the member 15 and connects with the slots as illustrated. Retaining means are provided and take the form of a hollow nut component 23 internally screw threaded at 24 and having a centrally apertured end plate 25 on one end thereof which is adapted to receive the substantially cylindrical elements 10 or 11 so that the nut may be freely rotated thereon. In operation, the necessary keys or the like 12 are placed on the elements 10 and 11 whereupon the other ends 10B and 11B are moved towards one another and engaged within the slots 19 of the member 15. The nuts 23 are then engaged over the screw threaded outer surfaces 18 of the ends of the member 15 and are tightened thus retaining the kinked ends 16 within the slots with the kinked ends or projecting portions 16 preventing the elements from being withdrawn through the centrally formed apertures 26 of the nuts because the diameters of these apertures are just sufficient to provide free rotation of the nut on the elements 10 or 11. Figures 7 and 8 show a similar construction with the exception that the pivotal connection between the one ends 10A and 11A of the elements, is formed by a locking assembly similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 6. However, in this embodiment, the locking assembly collectively designated 25, is provided with slots 19 which are slightly wider than the width of the ends 10A and 11A of the elements so that when the upper locking assembly 15 is disconnected, the two elements may be swung sideways from one another as clearly shown in Figure 7, to permit the engagement or disengagement of keys or the like upon the elements 10and11. It will of course be understood that the ends 10A and 11A of the elements 10 and 11, in this embodiment, are provided with kinked ends such as illustrated by reference character 16, and as hereinbefore described with reference to the locking assemblies on the other ends lOB and 11B. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A holder for keys and the like comprising curved rod-like means for receiving keys thereon, and a locking means for securing two ends of the rod-like means together to form a closed loop on which keys may be securely retained, the locking means including a locking member secured to or including means for securing it to one end of the rod-like means, an opening in the locking member for receiving the other end of the rod-like means and a fastening means freely received on the rod-like means for engaging the locking member to secure the two ends of the rodlike means together, the said other end of the rod-like means including means restraining the said other end from displacement when the fastening member is engaged with the locking member.

2. A holder for keys according to Claim 1 wherein the rod-like means comprises a pair of curved rod-like elements pivotally connected together.

3. A holder for keys and the like according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the locking member is substantially cylindrical and the opening in the locking member is a slot extending from the end of the member adjacent the other end of the rod-like means along one side of the member to a point spaced from said end of the member, the outer wall of the member through which the slot is formed, being screw threaded.

4. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fastening means takes the form of a nut having an apertured end plate on one side thereof.

5. A holder according to Claim 4 in which said means restraining displacement includes an axially displaced portion on said other end of the rod-like means, said portion engaging within the opening whereby the nut restrains endwise movement of the rod-like means from the locking member when the nut is engaged with the locking member.

6. A holder according to (:laim 5 where- in the axially displaced portion is formed by a kinked end to the rod-like means.

7. A holder according to any of Claims

1 to 4 in which the locking member is detachably secured to the rod-like means.

8. A holder for keys substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.