US1779621A - Key holder - Google Patents

Description

H. E. MOORE Oct. 28, 1930.

KEY HOLDER Original Filed Dec.

11v VENTOR. m

ll/ BY ATTO Y.

Patented Oct. 28 1930 PATENT OFFICE HAL E. MOORE, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA- KEY HOLDER Application filed December 5, 1928, Serial No. 323,945. Renewed September 15, 1930.

My invention has for its object a casing for holding in assembled relation a plurality of keys collapsed within said casing and adapted to be carried in the pocket.

A further object is a device of the character described which may be conveniently gripped in the hand and which is adapted to be employed as a lever to assist in the turning of keys.

Other objects will appear from the drawing and specification which follow.

These objects I accomplish by employing a body portion having a hinged cover, a'spmdle and bushing support at one end across the extended sides rising from the body portion and upon which the keys are mounted, special spring means by which the keys are retained in a selected position within the body portion and preferably stiffening means for 2 the sides to resist the twisting movement developed by the keys when the casing is employed as a handle to turn the key.

The spindle is also provided with special locking and engaging means to resist distortion of the sides and to facilitate the introduction or removal of different keys.

By referring to the accompanying drawing. my invention will be made clear.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a full size perspective view of my key holder showing two keys engaged thereon and with the cover closed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2 on the.

line III-III thereof.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the pin for holding the keys locked in place.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the locking pin and key bushings in their locked or engaged position, and showing an alternate constructionfrom that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 with the pin in extended position. v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of one of the side members.

Throughout the figures similar numerals refer to identical parts.

A body member is shown having a base portion 1 and upturned sides 2 and 3.

At 4 is a locking pin or spindle threaded at 5 into the bushing 6 fixed to the side 3.

The bushing through which the spindle passes is shown at 7 fixed to the side 2.

The spindle 4 is provided with a head 8 having a recess on the underside shown at 9, and which recess when the spindle 4 is in threaded engagement at 5 with the bushing 6, engages the projection 10 on the side 2, locking the spindle 4 in place.

A cover member 11 is provided and is conventionally hinged at 12 and may be recessed and have fixed in said recess leatherette or other suitable covering material as indicated at 13. The cover is bent over forming two flanges at 14, 15, respectively, and these sides are adapted to frictionally engage with the sides 2 and 3 respectively, holding the cover in place as shown in Fig. 2 until pressure is exerted to raise the cover from the closed position of Fig. 2 to the open position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Fixed to the bottom 1, by the pin 16 is the double leaf spring 17, 18

The other ends of the leaves are recessed as shown at 19 in Fig. 1 and embracing the bushings 5, 7.

A conventional key is shown at 20, in extended position and other keys in collapsed position within the case are indicated at 21.

The keys are held against the sides 2 and 3 by the spring leaves 17 18.

It will now be seen that upon opening the cover 11, any key may be folded out from the collapsed to the extended position and may readily be turned in its lock by twisting with the hand the bodyportion of the device, and that at such times the resistance of the side 2 or 3 depending upon the position of the key and direction of turning supports the sides against the turning stresses. This support is contributed by the spindle 4 locking the sides 2 and 3 together as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

Also the spindle 4 is at all times held in place through the engagement of the lock means 9 and 10, so that it will not become accidently dis-engaged during use, and that by forcing the head 6 overcoming the locking means 9 and 10 and disengaging the threads at 5 enables the spindle 4 to be removed and keys replaced or removed from the device.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 showing an alternate construction the spindle locking the sides 2, 3 together is shown having a reduced portion at 30 an enlarged portion at 31 and threaded engagement at 32 binding together the bushings 33 and 34 respectively lixed to the sides 2 and 3, and preferabl forming when in locked position of Fig. 5. a continuous bushing surface.

\Vhen the head 8 is turned to disengage the threads at 32. overcoming the locking means 9, 10, the spindle may be withdrawn v into the position 6 at which time the enlarged portion 31 coming against the reduced diameter 35 of the bushing 33 prevents the entire withdrawal of the spindle so that it is not misplaced or lost.

Keys are then inserted or withdrawn through the opening 36 and the spindle returned and looked as shown in Fig. 5.

The bushing ends are preferably adapted to telescopically engage as shown at 37, 38 respectively, thereby providing a locking and stiffening means for the engaged bushings when any of the keys which may be threaded thereon are employed by twisting the device as a holder to force the key operation.

Other variations may be employed without departing from my invention and I desire to be understood as covering all such.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a casing of thin metal adapted to hold keys collapsed therein, comprising a cover hinged to a body member, said member comprising a base portion and a pair of parallel sides upturned therefrom and ex-tem'ling beyond said base, a spindle through at least one of the extended sides and adapted to carry a plurality of keys therebetween, said spindle provided with a finger engaging head at one end adapted to contact with the oilter portion of one of said extensions and lock means between said head and the last named extension and the other end of said spindle having threaded engagement with the other of said extensions whereby the extensions are restrained against distortion when the easing is employed as a handle to twist an extended key, and a double leaf spring fixed to said base portion and each leaf sliding over said spindle at its free end and adapted to force keys on said spindle right and left respectively and against the respective extensions.

2. A key holder comprising a casing of thin metal adapted to hold keys collapsed therein,co'mprising a cover hinged to a body member, said member comprising a base portion and a pair of parallel sides upturned therefrom and extending beyond said base,

a spindle through at least one of the extended sides and adapted to carry a plurality of keys therebetween, said spindle provided with a finger engaging head at one end adapted to contact with the outer portion of one of said extensions and lock means between said head and the last named'extension, said extensions each provided with a bushing extending inwardly, said spindle passing freely through the proximate bushing and engaging the remote bushing and its extension to restrain the extensions against spreading when the casing is employed as a handle to twist an extended key, and a double leaf spring fixed to said base portion and having the outer end of each leaf adapted to force keys on said bushings to the right and left respectively and against said respective extensions.

HAL E. MOORE.

Images