EP1327397B1

EP1327397B1 - Improved key-holder

Info

Publication number: EP1327397B1
Application number: EP01917129A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomas Cerdan Martin; Antonio Frias Frias
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-05
Filing date: 2001-03-28
Publication date: 2004-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-28
Also published as: KR20030001402A; EP1327397A1; PT1327397E; DE60104440D1; ATE271327T1; DE60104440T2; NO20024813D0; JP2003528669A; AU4423201A; ES1046025Y; ES1046025U; DK1327397T3; MXPA02009752A; TR200402770T4; CA2405107A1; WO2001074191A1; NO20024813L; BR0109884A

Abstract

An improved key holder consisting of a case (1) provided with a central body (2), having in its upper part a semicircular area (3) and a lower curved one (4), the body (2) having on one of its faces, a longitudinal groove (6) dividing in two similar areas, having a projection (7) located in the blind face, incorporating a central recess and a longitudinal projection (8) in the groove (6), being covered with a body (10). <IMAGE>

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present specification refers to an improved key holder providing the possibility of grouping a number of keys incorporated inside a containing body, it being possible to select the requested key, found grouped and ordered inside the containing body from which it may be removed in case of replacement thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is applicable to the industry dedicated to the manufacture of key rings, key holders and similar items, it also being possible to be used in the industry dedicated to the manufacture of general accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant is the holder of a Utility Model requested in Spain with the number 9300466, published and granted with the number 1,023,911, regarding a KEY HOLDING DEVICE.
The applicant is also the holder of a Utility Model requested in Spain with the number 95 01220, published under ES-U-1 031 021 regarding an IMPROVED KEY HOLDER, as well as an Industrial Design requested in Spain with the number 134,959 regarding a KEY.
Beyond the aforementioned files, the applicant ignores the existence of an invention having a minimum relation with that described in this specification.
In the aforementioned Utility Models, a hollow body was described inside of which slit a second body holding a special key configured as a key shaft whose head had been eliminated and which duly adapted was coupled to an axis or transverse pin fixed in the internal ends of the sliding body inside the external body, the key being removed by manipulating the carrying axis thereof from outside.
The applicant has observed the existence of some anomalies in the general operation of the items mentioned above, such that an invention has been carried out whose object, being the same as above, has novel features with relation to the known items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved key holder proposed by the invention is configured as an evident novelty within its field of application, combining in its context a series of important advantages which clearly improve the objects protected in similar applications.
The improved key holder has an external part acting as a general casing inside of which the rectified key holding component is incorporated joined to the coupling axis. In its upper part, said case has a semicircular configuration and in the lower part a configuration with the shape of a semicircular arch seen sideways, provided in its front face with a longitudinal groove located in the central area, which partially penetrates in the curved lower area and in turn is located in the semicircular upper area finishing in the rear face which is blind.
Matching the longitudinal groove, the curved lower area has a protuberance with a central perforation applicable to fix a support chain, ring or similar.
The internal part which slides in both directions inside the case, adopts a lateral configuration similar to the body in which it couples, the front face being totally free and the rear face being provided with a grooved wall in the external part and a traverse in the upper area, it being necessary to mention that on the internal blind face, the case has a double projection consisting of a guide which in collaboration with an emerging spigot guide the internal body and in turn, slows it down by the introduction of the spigot in the aforementioned longitudinal and parallel grooves.
In the internal central area of the upper zone of the sliding body, holder of the key shaft, a transverse body has been foreseen, centred in the semicircular area having a recess in the upper part which, together with a double spring existing in the internal area of the case in the curved or semicircular area, also facilitates guidance of the internal body, being coupled over the transverse axis some plastic parts provided with a central semicircular recess in the middle area and over its surface, an area of reduced dimension where the upper end of the key shaft in which it is fixed is coupled, prior reduction of the key thickness in question being coupled and on being introduced in the axis holder duly aligned.
The set of keys is vertically situated inside the holding body, which is then embedded in the case to be later incorporated matching the central groove, a semicircular body provided with a transverse spring generating removal of the key in a vertical ascending direction, prior selection thereof, the key being suitably configured as a conventional one which in replacement of the head thereof, will have the general body of key holder and aligned with the emerging shaft will produce the opening of the lock.
Once the key has been used, it will be moved by means of the transverse projection until this is coupled inside the key holder, the key ring or improved key holder consequently being in conditions to be again introduced in the user's pocket until being used again.
It should be clearly indicated that beyond the parts comprising the case, holding body, key coupling part and the semicircular component applicable as remover thereof, the keys which should be used in this key holder should be previously machined in the area of the head to permit their coupling in the holding part which will be later coupled over the axis, which has a groove facilitating removal thereof.
All the parts used to manufacture the key holder, except the key itself, are manufactured in plastic material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description being carried out and to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, the present specification is accompanied by a set of drawings in which the following has been represented with an illustrative an non-limiting character:
Figure 1, shows a side elevation view of the external case corresponding to the invention regarding an improved key holder.
Figure 2 shows a view along A-B of the object represented in figure number 1.
Figure 3 shows a view of the key holder body which is incorporated and displaced inside the item shown in figures 1 and 2 constituting the case.
Figure 4 shows a view along C-D of the object shown in figure 3.
Figure 5 corresponds to a side elevation, plan and duly sectioned view of the part in which the keys are coupled for their later coupling in the holding part shown in figures 3 and 4.
Figure 6 shows a side elevation and plan view of the semicircular body which on coupling over the external case produces key removal
Figure 7 corresponds to a side elevation view of the object of the invention duly assembled.
Figure 8 shows a view of the object of the invention through the sides not seen in figure 7.
Figure 9 corresponds to a view of the invention through the side opposite to that shown in figure 7.
Figure 10 corresponds to a view along E-F of the object shown in figure 8.
Figure 11 refers to a view along G-H of the object shown in figure 9.
Figure 12 corresponds to a view of the invention when the internal body of the case is displaced with the object of selecting one of the keys inside.
Figure 13 finally shows a view of the invention when the key has been removed, remaining in the position of being used.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

On observing figure 1, it may be appreciated how the case (1) of the improved key holder is constructed as from a long hollow body in which the case (1) has been shown, having a central body (2) with parallel walls terminating in the upper part with a semicircular configuration (3) in which a groove (6) has been foreseen, longitudinally dividing the front face in two identical areas, passing through the semicircular area (3) and terminating in the reverse once the semicircular area (3) has been surpassed, the body (2) finishing in the lower part through an area curved like an inverted semicircular arch (4) which externally has a protuberance (5) intended to be used as a nexus for fixing a chain or similar item.
If we observe figure 2, we may find two rectangular projections between which there is a groove (7), the combination acting as the body guide (10), likewise having a projection (8) intended to be used as an immobilising brake.
In figure 3, it is observed that the body (10) shown in profile in figure 4 is configured in its sides similar to the internal area of the case (1) having two semicircular upper areas (12) and (12'), two straight areas (11) and (11') and terminating in the lower part as a not numbered semicircular shape.
The areas (12) and (12') are joined to each other by a transverse body (14) which acts as an axis provided with a bottleneck (15), this area (14) being destined to be used as an axis for placing the keys incorporated in the general body (10).
The invention has an upper wall (18) located parallel to an area (16) in which there are vertical and parallel grooves (17), the body (10) moving inside the body (1) guided by the projections (7) which are coupled between the walls (16) y (18), whilst the longitudinal projection (8) acts as a body (10) brake over it (1) on being introduced in the grooves (17) situated in parallel.
It should be mentioned that in the upper part of the bodies (12) a slot (13) has been foreseen which will permit a projection (9) existing inside the case (1) matching the upper internal area of the semicircular area (3) permits its mobilisation as a guide, collaborating with area (7) and the brake (8).
In figure 5, the part is observed where the key shaft is coupled, which has been referenced with number (20), having a practically circular body (21) in which there is an opening (22) finished in a semicircle and two lateral steps (24) which in collaboration with a central area (23) of reduced thickness, permit that the key, once its thickness has been reduced and its head eliminated, is left without any mobility inside the part (20), specifically in area (23), to later proceed to fit the key inside the part (10) adjusting it to the carrying axis (14) using the notch or perimetric bottleneck (15) to facilitate its introduction and later coupling.
Finally, the improved key holder is completed with the annular component shown in figure 6 in which it is observed how this component (30) has a semicircular area (31) and a transversely thickened component (32) which acts as a coupling area for the user's finger to proceed to mobilise the key (40) located inside the part (10) and which will emerge outside in a vertical ascending direction through the opening or groove (6) as shown in figure number 13.
The selection of the key to be removed is carried out by mobilising the internal body over the external one and once the key to be extracted has been defined, by mobilising the button (32) to achieve that the key (40) fixed in the bed (23) joined to the body (20) coupled over the axis (14) rotates over itself emerging through the groove (6) pushed by the annular component (31) impelled by the button (32), remaining outside and in a position to be used, so that once used, it returns and is reintroduced inside the holding body (10) prior inverse operation.

Claims

An improved key holder, comprising an external case (1) and an internal part (10) which is movable inside the case (1) in both transverse directions, the case (1) having a central body (2) with two flat and parallel walls terminating in the upper part through a semicircular area (3) and in the lower part through a curved area (4) with a semicircular configuration, the body (2) having in the front wall a longitudinal groove (6) longitudinally dividing the front wall in two identical areas, the longitudinal groove (6) passing through the semicircular area (3) and terminating in the rear wall, the external case (1) and the internal part (10) being manufactured in plastic material, the internal part (10) comprising a holding body (10) being formed by a wall (16) and two straight and parallel side walls (11,11') joined in the lower part by a curved semicircular area matching the inner side of the curved area (4) of the case (1), the side walls (11,11') having in the upper part two semicircular areas (12,12') being joined to each other by a transverse body (14) having a notch or bottleneck (14), characterised in that the case (1) having a projection (9) at the inner side of the semicircular area (3) and at the rear wall two transverse projections with a groove (7) and a longitudinal projection (8), in that the holding body (10) further comprising a traverse (18) being parallel to the wall (16) and the wall (16) being provided with longitudinal, parallel grooves (17), in that the two semicircular areas (12,12') having a trapezoidal recess (13) and in that the case (1) having a protuberance (5) on the outer side of the curved area (4) with a central perforation.
An improved key holder according to the previous claims, characterised in that in the grooves (17) the longitudinal projection (8) of the case (1) is coupled, likewise the transverse projections with the groove (7) being coupled between the traverse (18) and the wall (16), the case (1) and the internal part (10) being coupled by means of the projection (9) emerging from the internal area of the case (1) in the area corresponding to the semicircular zone (3) and the trapezoidal recess (13) existing in the semicircular areas (12,12') of the holding body (10).
An improved key holder according to the previous claims, characterised in that over the axis (14) of the internal part (10) members (20) are coupled adopting the semicircular shape (21), provided with a central opening (22) terminating in its internal area in a semicircular configuration, the member (20) being coupled over the transverse body (14) by means of its bottleneck or perimetric notch (15), the member (20) having in the access area to the area (22) two thickenings (24) and in the general context of the semicircular zone, a significant reduction of its volume in thickness (23) where the head of the machined key (40) is coupled.
An improved key holder according to the previous claims, characterised on having a part (30) manufactured in plastic material equal to that of the member (20) adopting the semiangular configuration having a body (31) which at one of its ends has a transverse thickening (32), this part (30) being coupled over the groove (6) in the case area (3).