US3736781A - Adjustable shackle key holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The present key holder simulates a padlock and is characterized by a double-ended shackle on which a case is mounted intermediate the ends of the shackle for relative reciprocal movements, with one side leg of the shackle being split. Each end of the shackle projects beyond its respective end of the case. The shackle ends are adjustable relative thereto to expose the leg split for one or the other shackle ends for respective key loading thereof. A certain reciprocal movement of the shackle relative to the case will locate and secure the leg split within the case to confine keys, of several classes if desired, on the shackle ends which were so loaded.

Description

United States Patent [191 Foote ADJUSTABLE SHACKLE KEY HOLDER [75] Inventor: Daniel J. Foote, Wauwatosa, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Master Lock Company, Milwaukee,

Wis.

[22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,172

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1970 Ryder ..70/459 3/1945 Ohmo ..70/52X Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Att0mey-Curtis B. Morsell, Sr.

[57] ABSTRACT The present key holder simulates a padlock and is characterized by a double-ended shackle on which a case is mounted intermediate the ends of the shackle for relative reciprocal movements, with one side leg of the shackle being split. Each end of the shackle projects beyond its respective end of the case. The shackle ends are adjustable relative thereto to expose the leg split for one or the other shackle ends for respective key loading thereof. A certain reciprocal movement of the shackle relative to the case will locate and secure the leg split within the case to confine keys, of several classes if desired, on the shackle ends which were so loaded.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 5 I973 3,736,781

INVENTOR DANIEL J. FOOTE @zz lfimmum, JL

AT 'IORNE. Y

ADJUSTABLE SHACKLE KEY HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional key rings and key chains hold an indiscriminate collection of keys in a disordered array. It is inconvenient to separate or remove selected keys. The key holder of the present invention eliminates these objections by providing a key holder having a pair of separated key holding elements, either of which may be manually adjusted from a closed, key retaining position to an open position wherein keys may be engaged or removed. Also, each key holding element may carry special classes of keys rendering the same convenient for selection and use, or removal. The latter is especially desirable when availability of automobile keys or the like is to be eliminated in respect to someone having access to the key holder.

Applicant is not aware of any prior art pertaining to a key holder which simulates a padlock and which includes a double-ended shackle intermediately and relatively adjustably carrying a case or body in a manner so that both ends of the shackle form separate carriers or holders for difi'erent classes or groups of keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of the invention is to provide a key holder which includes a pair of separated key holding elements which are adjustable to permit removal of keys thereon, or key retention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a padlock simulating key holder which can be used as a novelty advertising item by padlock manufacturers and retailers.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide an adjustable shackle key holder which is simple in design and construction, easy to manipulate and adjust, which possesses a unique appearance, which is strong and durable and inexpensive, and which is otherwise well adapted for its intended purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing wherein the same reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved key holder with both ends of the shackle retracted into the case or body to form a pair of separated closed key holding elements;

FIG. 2 is a front or face view of the closed key holder with part broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is a sideview of this key holder showing one end of the shackle projected for key loading or key removal purposes;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the other end of the shackle projected for key loading or key removal purposes;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and I FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will appear that the case or body portion of the improved key holder is designated generally by the numetal 10. The case 10 may be of laminated construction, as illustrated, with the laminations being held together in super-imposed relation by rivets 11, to simulate the laminated body of a popular form of padlock. Or, within the contemplation of the present invention the case 10 may be die cast in relatively solid formation, and it may be of metal or plastic, or the like. In any event, the body is formed with an internal cavity 12 which is closed at the opposite ends of the case by end plates 13 and 14. Plate 13 is formed with spaced-apart reduced openings 15 and 16 therein which aline with spaced- apart openings 17 and 18 in plate 141. The openings 15, 16, and 17 are of a size to snugly receive the legs of a double ended shackle indicated generally by the numeral 19 and which will be described more fully hereinafter. It should be noted, however, that the body cavity 12 and the plate apertures 15, 16, 17, and 18 accommodate the rectilinear portion of the unbroken leg 20 of the shackle and the opposite leg arms 21 and 22 of the shackle which are interrupted by a gap 23 and form a broken shackle leg. Thus, there may be relative reciprocatory movements between the case 10 and the shackle legs which extend through the former. The aperture 18 in the plate 14 is slightly larger than the diameter of the shackle leg arm 22. The latter is yieldable so that it may be manually flexed laterally to engage or disengage in certain positions of the shackle, a recess 24 in the leg arm 22 relative to a protruding lip or flange 25 on the plate 14 projecting into said plate aperture 18, whereby the shackle is secured in the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 for retention of various keys on the opposed key holding elements.

With further reference to the double-ended shackle 19 it will be observed that it is shaped as clearly shown in the drawing. One set of ends of the unbroken leg 20 and the arm 21 are joined by a curved extent to provide a reduced size key holding element 26, preferably for holding one or two, or a limited number of keys of a special class, as automobile keys. The other set of ends of the leg 20 and the arm 22 of the broken shackle leg are joined by an outwardly flared extent to form a key holding element 27 of somewhat larger size than the key holding element 26, to preferably hold a larger group of keys. By manually flexing the extremity of the leg arm 22 when it is in the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 the arm recess 24 may be disengaged from the flange 25, permitting relative sliding movement as between the shackle legs and the case 10 to attain either the position of FIG. 3 which exposes the broken leg gap 23 for loading or unloading keys relative to the key holding element 27; or, a relative reciprocation in the reverse direction produces the condition shown in FIG. 4 exposing the broken leg gap 23 beyond the opposite end of the case 10 for removing keys from or securing keys onto the key holding element 26. From the open position of either key holding element a simple reciprocation will produce the condition of FIG. 2 wherein both key holding elements are closed and the flange 25 snaps into the arm recess 24 to retain the key holder in its closed condition, as to both of the key holding elements.

The adjustable shackle key holder simulates a padlock with the simulation being enhanced by the provision of a sham or dummy key slot 28 on the base plate of the case 10. The key holder provides a pair of separated key holding elements both of which may be used for holding separated groups or classes of keys, with the key holding elements being reciprocal from closed condition to independent open positions for the removal or loading of keys. The key holder is simple to manufacture and manipulate, is inexpensive, provides a unique appearing novelty, and is well adapted for the purposes described. i

What is claimed is:

1. A key holder comprising: a body with an internal cavity with plates at the opposite ends of the body closing said cavity, said plates having shackle leg openings therein registering with the body cavity, and a doubleended shackle of greater length than the body and having legs extendable through said plate openings into the body cavity so that the body is mounted on said legs for relative reciprocal movements, the opposite ends of the shackle being closed to provide separate key holding portions at opposite exterior ends of the body, the closure for one end of the shackle being outwardly flared and enlarged to provide a key holding portion of greater size than that at the opposite end of the shackle,

one of the shackle legs being split to provide a gap positionable either interiorally of the body or exteriorally of either end thereof, depending on the position of re ciprocation of the shackle relative to the body, for selective key loading or removal relative to said key hold- 3. The key holder recited in claim 2 wherein said leg end portion cooperating means is associated with a leg which is a part of the enlarged key holding portion.

4. The key holder recited in claim 1 wherein the body is laminated and the plate at one end of the body is formed with a key slot simulation.

Claims (4)

1. A key holder comprising: a body with an internal cavity with plates at the opposite ends of the body closing said cavity, said plates having shackle leg openings therein registering with the body cavity, and A double-ended shackle of greater length than the body and having legs extendable through said plate openings into the body cavity so that the body is mounted on said legs for relative reciprocal movements, the opposite ends of the shackle being closed to provide separate key holding portions at opposite exterior ends of the body, the closure for one end of the shackle being outwardly flared and enlarged to provide a key holding portion of greater size than that at the opposite end of the shackle, one of the shackle legs being split to provide a gap positionable either interiorally of the body or exteriorally of either end thereof, depending on the position of reciprocation of the shackle relative to the body, for selective key loading or removal relative to said key holding portions.

2. The key holder recited in claim 1 wherein there are cooperating means between an apertured end portion of the body and a leg end portion adjacent the split for manually releasably holding the shackle in one position relative to the body.

3. The key holder recited in claim 2 wherein said leg end portion cooperating means is associated with a leg which is a part of the enlarged key holding portion.

4. The key holder recited in claim 1 wherein the body is laminated and the plate at one end of the body is formed with a key slot simulation.

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