GB2070912A - Key - Google Patents

Description

SPECIFICATION Key The invention relates to keys, and provides a key of attractive or ornamental design that can be worn as a piece of fashion jewellery so that the wearer is encouraged always to wear it and thus always to have the key available for use. The invention is particularly suited, for example, to automobile keys, as it is particularly easy for a driver to lock himself or herself out of a vehicle in circumstances when a spare key would be of great benefit.

The invention provides a key comprising a key blade and a finger grip for turning the key blade in a lock, wherein the key blade is freely slidable in a recess in the finger grip between a retracted position in which it is received in the recess and an extended position in which it projects from the finger grip for insertion into a lock, and detent means are provided for retaining the key blade in its extended position for inserting into the lock. To encourage people to carry a key of the invention as a spare key, the key of the invention should be made lightweight, ornamental and convenient to carry. The key of the invention can be designed to meet all three desiderata. Preferably it is designed as a piece of ornamental personal jewellery such as a pendant to encourage a wearer to wear it all possible times.

The invention is illustrated by the drawings, of which: Figures 1 to 3 are perspective views of one embodiment of the invention, with the blade retracted in Fig. 1 and extended in Figs. 2 and 3; and Figure 4 is a section taken along the line C-C of Fig. 3; In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, a blade cover and finger grip 1 20 in the form of a truncated pyramid is suspended as a pendant by a chain 122 secured to the ends of a rod 1 21. The rod 1 21 passes through a lateral hole in the cover 1 20 near the narrower, truncated end of the pyramid. The pendant thus naturally falls to the position shown in Fig. 1, and needs to be physically lifted to bring it to the position of Fig. 2.

A key blade 1 24 is axially slidable in a slot 1 23 in the cover 120, and is guided in its sliding movement by a sheath 1 25 lining the slot. Engagement between the key blade 1 24 and the sheath 1 25 prevents the blade 1 24 from being withdrawn completely from the slot, so that turning the blade cover 1 20 to the position shown in Fig. 2 causes the blade 1 24 to project to its extended position but no further.

The rod 121 is axially movable to maintain the key blade 1 24 in its extended position. A cutaway portion 126 of the rod 121 faces one side of the key blade 1 24 through a recess in the sheath 1 25. One end of a leaf spring 127 is secured to the rod 121 and the spring is compressed between the key blade 1 24 and the rod 1 21 when the rod is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4. This prevents retraction of the key blade in use as the key blade is inserted into a lock.

Clearly the blade cover 1 20 may be made of any material, either transparent or opaque, and of any shape. If the cover 1 20 is transparent, the sheath 1 25 is desirably patterned or ornamented. Instead of the spring 1 27 there may if desired be a physical mating between the rod 121 and the key blade 124 to lock the blade in its extended position.

1. A key comprising a key blade and a finger grip for turning the key blade in a lock, wherein the key blade is freely slidable in a recess in the finger grip between a retracted position in which it is received in the recess and an extended position in which it projects from the finger grip for insertion into a lock, and detent means are provided for retaining the key blade in its extended position for insertion into the lock.

2. A key according to claim 1, wherein the finger grip comprises a block of material having a longitudinal passage therein housing a sheath defining the recess for receiving the key blade, and the key blade and sheath are so formed that the sheath prevents the blade from sliding out of the finger grip further than its extended position.

3. A key according either preceding claim, formed as a pendant for wear as an ornament.

4. A key substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Key The invention relates to keys, and provides a key of attractive or ornamental design that can be worn as a piece of fashion jewellery so that the wearer is encouraged always to wear it and thus always to have the key available for use. The invention is particularly suited, for example, to automobile keys, as it is particularly easy for a driver to lock himself or herself out of a vehicle in circumstances when a spare key would be of great benefit. The invention provides a key comprising a key blade and a finger grip for turning the key blade in a lock, wherein the key blade is freely slidable in a recess in the finger grip between a retracted position in which it is received in the recess and an extended position in which it projects from the finger grip for insertion into a lock, and detent means are provided for retaining the key blade in its extended position for inserting into the lock. To encourage people to carry a key of the invention as a spare key, the key of the invention should be made lightweight, ornamental and convenient to carry. The key of the invention can be designed to meet all three desiderata. Preferably it is designed as a piece of ornamental personal jewellery such as a pendant to encourage a wearer to wear it all possible times. The invention is illustrated by the drawings, of which: Figures 1 to 3 are perspective views of one embodiment of the invention, with the blade retracted in Fig. 1 and extended in Figs. 2 and 3; and Figure 4 is a section taken along the line C-C of Fig. 3; In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, a blade cover and finger grip 1 20 in the form of a truncated pyramid is suspended as a pendant by a chain 122 secured to the ends of a rod 1 21. The rod 1 21 passes through a lateral hole in the cover 1 20 near the narrower, truncated end of the pyramid. The pendant thus naturally falls to the position shown in Fig. 1, and needs to be physically lifted to bring it to the position of Fig. 2. A key blade 1 24 is axially slidable in a slot 1 23 in the cover 120, and is guided in its sliding movement by a sheath 1 25 lining the slot. Engagement between the key blade 1 24 and the sheath 1 25 prevents the blade 1 24 from being withdrawn completely from the slot, so that turning the blade cover 1 20 to the position shown in Fig. 2 causes the blade 1 24 to project to its extended position but no further. The rod 121 is axially movable to maintain the key blade 1 24 in its extended position. A cutaway portion 126 of the rod 121 faces one side of the key blade 1 24 through a recess in the sheath 1 25. One end of a leaf spring 127 is secured to the rod 121 and the spring is compressed between the key blade 1 24 and the rod 1 21 when the rod is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4. This prevents retraction of the key blade in use as the key blade is inserted into a lock. Clearly the blade cover 1 20 may be made of any material, either transparent or opaque, and of any shape. If the cover 1 20 is transparent, the sheath 1 25 is desirably patterned or ornamented. Instead of the spring 1 27 there may if desired be a physical mating between the rod 121 and the key blade 124 to lock the blade in its extended position. CLAIMS

1. A key comprising a key blade and a finger grip for turning the key blade in a lock, wherein the key blade is freely slidable in a recess in the finger grip between a retracted position in which it is received in the recess and an extended position in which it projects from the finger grip for insertion into a lock, and detent means are provided for retaining the key blade in its extended position for insertion into the lock.

2. A key according to claim 1, wherein the finger grip comprises a block of material having a longitudinal passage therein housing a sheath defining the recess for receiving the key blade, and the key blade and sheath are so formed that the sheath prevents the blade from sliding out of the finger grip further than its extended position.

3. A key according either preceding claim, formed as a pendant for wear as an ornament.

4. A key substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.