US20080264126A1

US20080264126A1 - Key ring accessory

Info

Publication number: US20080264126A1
Application number: US12/110,371
Authority: US
Inventors: Chun Kit Huen
Original assignee: Masterwin Group Ltd
Current assignee: Masterwin Group Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-27
Filing date: 2008-04-28
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Also published as: HK1101010A2; CN201197426Y

Abstract

The present invention relates to a key ring accessory for a key ring which is a ring of substantially two turns resiliently urged towards each other formed by looping, comprising a body which can removably be engaged with the key ring and at least one protruding member is disposed on one of the inner walls of the body, the end projecting from the protruding member being a pointed end. When the present invention is engaged with the key ring, the key ring can easily be pried open for inserting and/or removing a key. The present invention is of simple construction and is adapted for use with a conventional loop-shaped key ring. It will not break the fingernail or hurt the fingers of a user. It does not require any external aids to pry open the resiliently urged turns of the key ring, thereby making it effort-saving and convenient to insert and/or remove a key. Further, a user does not need to take out other keys when a particular key is to be removed, thereby reducing the chance of losing keys and making the process of removing a key fast and convenient.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a key ring and more particularly pertains to a key ring accessory. After the accessory is engaged with the key ring, the key ring can easily be pried open for inserting and/or removing a key.
The prior art provides a loop-shaped key ring which is known to the public and available for public use and is commonly used by the general public. Its main construction comprises a key ring of substantially two turns resiliently urged towards each other formed by looping of a flat metal material. At a point of the key ring, there are the start end and the finish end of the metal material. The two ends can outwardly be pried apart to form a passage, thereby making it convenient for a user to slide a key into the key ring. A key ring is generally attached with a hanging ornament, thereby making it easy for a user to take and making it possible to add aesthetic, promotional or commemorative value to the key ring. The conventional key ring is of simple construction and the production of which is easy and susceptible of a low cost. Nonetheless, due to the key ring is manufactured from a flat metal material, it takes effort to pry the key ring outwardly open. Further, as the substantially two turns which are formed by the flat metal material are resiliently urged towards each other, a user is generally required to insert a fingernail in between the resiliently urged turns to pry them open, thus it is easy to break the fingernail or hurt the fingers of a user. If the fingernail of a user is relatively short, it is more difficult to pry open the resiliently urged turns or it requires assistance of another tool to pry open the turns, thereby making it inconvenient to insert and/or remove a key.
To overcome the aforesaid problems, the prior art provides a key ring with key ring of steel rope, wherein its construction comprises five main parts, namely, a key fob, a key ring body, a key ring of steel rope, a connecting part and a fastening part. While in use the fastening part is unlocked, the connecting part at the end of the key ring of steel rope is disengaged from a slit which is pre-formed on the key ring body for inserting or removing a key. The user then closes the key ring body by replacing the connecting part into the slit and securing it in position by locking the fastening part. The external appearance of this kind of key ring is more novel and diverse, the construction of which is however more complicated, its production cost is higher and it is not so convenient for use.
The prior art also provides a key ring with a movable key ring body, wherein its main construction comprises five main parts, namely, a key ring body, a key ring, a positioning post, a spring and a fastening pin. The key ring body is fixed at the center of the key ring by the positioning post, the spring and the fastening pin. By means of compression and release of the spring, the key ring body moves axially up and down forming a passage for closing or opening of the key ring. Though this kind of key ring is more convenient to use, if a user only removes one of the keys, the user will have to take out all other keys in order to remove that particular key as the central position of the key ring is separated by the fastening pin, the user cannot move all the other keys to another position of the key ring, and so the use of this kind of key ring is still not that convenient in comparison with the conventional key ring.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid disadvantages now present in the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a key ring accessory for a key ring, and when it is engaged with the key ring, the key ring can easily be pried open for inserting and/or removing a key. The present invention is of simple construction and is adapted for use with a conventional loop-shaped key ring. It will not break the fingernail or hurt the fingers of a user. It does not require any external aids to pry open the resiliently urged turns of the key ring, thereby making it effort-saving and convenient to insert and/or remove a key. Further, a user does not need to take out other keys when a particular key is to be removed, thereby reducing the chance of losing keys and making the process of removing a key fast and convenient.
To attain this, the present invention adopts the following technical proposal:
A key ring accessory for a key ring which is a ring of substantially two turns resiliently urged towards each other formed by looping, comprising a body which can removably be engaged with the key ring and at least one protruding member is disposed on one of the inner walls of the body, the end projecting from the protruding member being a pointed end.
The body is a hollow ring-shaped body which can move along the key ring after having engaged with the key ring.
The external appearance can be of any shape such as a rectangular, a square, an elliptical or a semi-elliptical form and so on.
The protruding member is disposed on the inner wall of the body near the central position, the widths of the inner wall of the body on the two sides of the protruding member each is at least greater than half of the thickness of the key ring for retaining the two resiliently urged turns when the key ring is pried open by the protruding member; other inner walls of the protruding member and the body are respectively kept clear with space for the key ring to move freely in relation to the body.
Two protruding members may be disposed on one of the inner walls of the body, the two protruding members are spaced apart in a row with one protruding member disposed near the periphery of the opening on one side of the body and the other protruding member disposed near the periphery of the opening on the other side of the body.
The depth of the inner wall of the body on which the protruding member is disposed or the outer wall thereof is not restricted and may be a value in between two to five times of the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring for preventing it from being too small to cause inconvenience for finger tips to operate and from being too large to impede the movement of the body.
The length of each of the other inner walls of the body on which the protruding member is not disposed is not restricted and may be a value in between three to seven times of the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring for preventing it from being too short to cause inconvenience for the key ring to move in relation to the body and from being too long to require additional effort to pry open the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring with the protruding member.
The thickness of the protruding member is at least greater than half of the thickness of the key ring for allowing a sufficiently large gap to be pried open.
The pointed end projecting from the protruding member may be in triangular shape with a sharp angle pointing out or in the shape of an arrow head with the arrow head pointing out.
The pointed end of the protruding member is in an arrow head shape, the section connecting to the pointed end is slightly narrower than the end of the arrow head, the length of the section connecting to the end of the arrow head is adapted to be just greater than the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring, for allowing the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring being pried open to be temporarily retained on the right and left sides of the protruding member respectively preventing them from slipping out easily.
The pointed end of the protruding member is in triangular shape, the width of the section connecting to the pointed end and the length of the triangular base are substantially the same, the length of the section connecting to the triangular base is adapted to be just greater than the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring, for allowing the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring being pried open to be temporarily retained on the right and left sides of the protruding member respectively.
One or more apertures may be opened on the wall of the body on which the protruding member is disposed for removably attached to a hanging ornament.
One or more apertures may be opened on the other walls of the body for removably attached to a hanging ornament.
One or more apertures may be opened on the wall of the body on which the two protruding members are disposed in between the two protruding members for removably attached to a hanging ornament, the connecting part of the hanging ornament can be stowed in between the two protruding members to prevent it from impeding the movement of the protruding members.
The present invention operates as follows:
First, the present invention is engaged with the key ring, so that the body may move along the key ring. If a user wishes to pry open the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring to insert and/or remove a key, the user can aim the protruding member which is disposed on an inner wall of the body at a point of the key ring near either the start end or the finish end of its two resiliently urged turns. If the protruding member is aimed at the inward of the key ring, the user can slightly push the pointed end of the protruding member inwardly into the passage in between the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring. If the protruding member is aimed at the outward of the key ring, the user can slightly push the pointed end of the protruding member outwardly into the passage in between the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring. When the protruding member is engaged within the passage of the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring, due to the narrow tip and the board end of the pointed end of the protruding member, the protruding member can easily pry open and separate the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring, the pried open turns retain on the two sides of the protruding member which is disposed on the inner wall of the body, thereby making it easy for the user to put the key into the passage formed by the already pried open two resiliently urged turns of the key ring. The user then keeps on sliding the protruding member along the key ring until the protruding member loops round from the start end or the finish end to the other end of the key ring, and the key follows the passage formed by the sliding of the protruding member to be completely engaged with or disengaged from the key ring, and thus the user can easily insert and/or remove the key. After use, the user is only required to slightly push the protruding member out of the key ring in the opposite direction.
When the user is required to remove a specific key, the user can move the other keys into another position of the key ring, and then proceed with the aforesaid procedure to remove the key. The user does not need to take out the other keys, thereby reducing the chance of losing keys and making the process of removing a key fast and convenient.
By means of connecting to one or more hanging ornaments through screwing to an aperture on the side of the body on which the protruding member is disposed, it can achieve the effect of adding aesthetic, promotional or commemorative value to the key ring.
The advantages and effects of the present invention are:
First, as the present invention only comprises the body as the main part, and its main features, namely, the protruding member and the aperture, are connected with the body, and they are integrated into one piece, the present invention in comparison with the prior art is of lesser parts and simpler construction and so the cost of production is lower and it is more convenient for use.
Secondly, as the present invention can be adapted for use in a conventional loop-shaped key ring manufactured by a flat metal material, it can improve the shortcomings of the conventional key ring. It does not break a user's fingernail or hurt the fingers and it does not require any external aid to pry open the resiliently urged turns of the key ring, thereby making it more effort-saving and convenient to insert and/or remove a key.
Thirdly, as the present invention can be adapted for use in a conventional loop-shaped key ring, it can keep the advantages of the conventional key ring, and the user does not need to take out other keys when a particular key is to be removed thereby reducing the chance of losing keys and making the process of removing a key fast and convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is the bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 while in use.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 while in use.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is the front view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is the cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 7 while in use.

FIG. 11 is another perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 7 while in use.

FIG. 12 is a further perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 7 while in use.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is the front view of the embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is the cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 13 while in use.

FIG. 17 is another perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 13 while in use.

FIG. 18 is a further perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 13 while in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail with the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrates the first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the construction of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 1 which can removably be engaged with the key ring and two protruding members 2 which are disposed on one of the inner walls of the body 1, the end projecting from the protruding member 2 being a pointed end 21. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the present invention is an accessory for a conventional key ring 3, and the key ring 3 is formed by a flat metal material looped into substantially two resiliently urged turns.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment the body 1 is a hollow ring-shaped body and its external appearance is in a rectangular form, and when it is engaged with the key ring 3, it can move along the key ring 3. In other embodiments, the body 1 can be a hollow ring-shaped body of any shape such as a rectangular, a square, an elliptical or a semi-elliptical form and so on.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protruding members 2 are disposed on the inner wall of the body 1 near the central position; the widths 22 of the inner wall of the body 1 on the two sides of the protruding member 2 each is at least greater than half of the thickness of the key ring 3. In this embodiment, the thickness of the flat metal material which is looped to form the key ring 3 is 1.5 mm, and so the thickness of the key ring 3 is 3 mm. The widths 22 of the inner wall of the body 1 on the two sides of the protruding member 2 each is 2 mm, and the widths 22 provides sufficient space for retaining the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3 which is pried open by the protruding member 2, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the widths 22 may vary in direct proportion to the thickness of the key ring 3 and are not specifically restricted. Other inner walls of the protruding member 2 and the body 1 are respectively kept clear with space 11 for the key ring 3 to move freely in relation to the body 1.
As illustrated in this embodiment, two protruding members 2 are disposed on one of the inner walls of the body 1 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The two protruding members 2 are spaced apart in a row with one protruding member 2 disposed near the periphery of the opening on one side of the body 1 and the other protruding member 2 disposed near the periphery of the opening on the other side of the body 1.
In this embodiment, the depth of the inner wall of the body 1 on which the protruding members 2 are disposed is 8 mm and the depth of the outer wall thereof is 8.4 mm, and the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring 3 is 2 mm. In other embodiments, the depth of the inner wall of the body 1 on which the protruding members 2 are disposed or the outer wall thereof is not restricted, it may be a value in between two to five times of the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring 3, and which may vary in direct proportion thereto, to prevent it from being too small to cause inconvenience for finger tips to operate and from being too large to impede the movement of the body.
In this embodiment, the lengths of the other two inner walls which are connected with the inner wall of the body 1 on which the protruding members 2 are disposed are each 11 mm and the lengths of the outer walls thereof are each 13 mm. In other embodiments, the lengths of the other inner walls of the body 1 on which the protruding members 2 are not disposed or the outer walls thereof are not restricted, it may be a value in between three to seven times of the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring 3, and which may vary in direct proportion thereto, to prevent it from being too short to cause inconvenience for the key ring 3 to move in relation to the body 1 and from being too long to require additional effort to pry open the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3 with the protruding members 2.
In this embodiment, the thicknesses of the protruding members 2 are each 2 mm. In other embodiments, the thicknesses of the protruding members 2 are each at least greater than half of the thickness of the key ring 3 for allowing a sufficiently large gap to be pried open.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment the pointed end 21 projecting from each of the protruding members 2 is in an arrow head shape, and the length is 2.2 mm. The section connecting to the pointed end 21 is slightly narrower than the end of the arrow head, and the length of the section connecting to the end of the arrow head is 3.8 mm, that is, greater than the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring 3, for allowing the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3 being pried open to be temporarily retained on the right and left sides of the protruding members 2 respectively preventing them from slipping out easily. In other embodiments, the pointed end 21 projecting from each of the protruding members 2 is in triangular shape with a sharp angle pointing out. The width of the section connecting to the pointed end 21 and the length of the triangular base are substantially the same, and the length of the section connecting to the triangular base is adapted to be just greater than the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring 3, for allowing the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3 being pried open to be temporarily retained on the right and left sides of the protruding members 2 respectively, not illustrated by the drawings herein. The length of the pointed end 21 and the lengths of the protruding members 2 are not restricted. They can vary in direct proportion to the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring 3.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, an aperture 23 is opened on the wall of the body 1 on which the two protruding members 2 are disposed in between the two protruding members 2 for removably attached to a hanging ornament, the connecting part of the hanging ornament can be stowed in between the two protruding members 2 to prevent it from impeding the movement of the protruding members 2. In other embodiments, more than one aperture 23 may be opened. An aperture 12 is opened on the other wall of the body 1 for removably attached to a hanging ornament. In other embodiments, more than one aperture 12 may be opened.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, this embodiment is operated by first engaging the key ring accessory with the key ring 3, so that the body 1 may move along the key ring 3. If a user wishes to pry open the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3 to insert and/or remove a key 4, the user can aim the protruding members 2 which are disposed on an inner wall of the body 1 at a point of the key ring 3 near either the start end or the finish end of its two resiliently urged turns. If the protruding members 2 are aimed at the inward of the key ring 3 as shown in FIG. 5, the user can slightly push the pointed ends 21 of the protruding members 2 inwardly into the passage in between the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3. If the protruding members 2 are aimed at the outward of the key ring 3, not shown herein, the user can slightly push the pointed ends 21 of the protruding members 2 outwardly into the passage in between the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3. When the protruding members 2 are engaged within the passage of the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3, due to the narrow tips and the board ends of the pointed ends 21 of the protruding members 2, the protruding members 2 can easily pry open and separate the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3, the pried open turns retain on the widths 22 of the inner wall of the body 1 on the two sides of the protruding members 2, thereby making it easy for the user to put the key 4 into the passage formed by the already pried open two resiliently urged turns of the key ring 3. The user then keeps on sliding the protruding members 2 along the key ring 3 until the protruding members 2 loops round from the start end or the finish end to the other end of the key ring 3, and the key 4 follows the passage formed by the sliding of the protruding members 2 to be completely engaged with or disengaged from the key ring 3, and thus the user can easily insert and/or remove the key 4. After use, the user is only required to slightly push the protruding members 2 out of the key ring 3 in the opposite direction.
When the user is required to remove a specific key 4, the user can move the other keys 4 into another position of the key ring 3, and then proceed with the aforesaid procedure to remove the key 4. The user does not need to take out the other keys 4, thereby reducing the chance of losing keys 4 and making the process of removing a key 4 fast and convenient.
By means of connecting to one or more hanging ornaments through screwing to an aperture 23 on the side of the body 1 on which the protruding members 2 are disposed, not shown herein, it can achieve the effect of adding aesthetic, promotional or commemorative value to the key ring.
FIGS. 7 to 12 illustrate the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment and the first embodiment are substantially the same, and the identical features are not repeated here. The differences are that the second embodiment comprises only one protruding member 2 which is disposed on one of the inner walls of the body 1 as illustrated in FIG. 9, and the body 1 is extended to form a panel-shaped piece 13 as illustrated in FIG. 12. The panel-shaped piece 13 may be printed or engraved with brand names, graphics, texts and so on, to add aesthetic, promotional or commemorative value to the key ring 3. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, in this embodiment no aperture 23 is opened on the wall of the body 1 on which the protruding member 2 is disposed, and no aperture 12 is opened on the other walls of the body 1. This embodiment operates in the same manner as that of the first embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIGS. 13 to 18 illustrate the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment and the second embodiment are substantially the same, and the identical features are not repeated here. The differences are that the third embodiment comprises a body 1 in semi-elliptical form, and the body 1 is extended to form a semi-elliptical panel-shaped piece 13 as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15. This embodiment operates in the same manner as that of the second embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18.
The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and is not limited to the above embodiments. Any other variation, decoration, substitution, combination or simplification, whether in substance or in principle, not deviated from the spirit of the present invention, is replacement or substitution of equivalent effect and falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A key ring accessory for a key ring which is a ring of substantially two turns resiliently urged towards each other formed by looping, comprising a body which can removably be engaged with the key ring and at least one protruding member is disposed on one of the inner walls of the body, the end projecting from the protruding member being a pointed end.

2. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein the body is a hollow ring-shaped body which can move along the key ring after having engaged with the key ring.

3. A key ring accessory as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the external appearance of the body is in a rectangular, a square, an elliptical or a semi-elliptical form.

4. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein the protruding member is disposed on the inner wall of the body near the central position, the widths of the inner wall of the body on the two sides of the protruding member each is at least greater than half of the thickness of the key ring for retaining the two resiliently urged turns when the key ring is pried open by the protruding member; other inner walls of the protruding member and the body are respectively kept clear with space for the key ring to move freely in relation to the body.

5. A key ring accessory as in claim 1 or claim 4, wherein two protruding members are disposed on one of the inner walls of the body, the two protruding members are spaced apart in a row with one protruding member disposed near the periphery of the opening on one side of the body and the other protruding member disposed near the periphery of the opening on the other side of the body.

6. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein the depth of the inner wall of the body on which the protruding member is disposed or the outer wall thereof is a value in between two to five times of the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring for preventing it from being too small to cause inconvenience for finger tips to operate and from being too large to impede the movement of the body.

7. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein the length of each of the other inner walls of the body on which the protruding member is not disposed is a value in between three to seven times of the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring for preventing it from being too short to cause inconvenience for the key ring to move in relation to the body and from being too long to require additional effort to pry open the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring with the protruding member.

8. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the protruding member is at least greater than half of the thickness of the key ring for allowing a sufficiently large gap to be pried open.

9. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein the pointed end projecting from the protruding member is in triangular shape with a sharp angle pointing out or in the shape of an arrow head with the arrow head pointing out.

10. A key ring accessory as in claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the pointed end of the protruding member is in an arrow head shape, the section connecting to the pointed end is slightly narrower than the end of the arrow head, the length of the section connecting to the end of the arrow head is adapted to be just greater than the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring, for allowing the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring being pried open to be temporarily retained on the right and left sides of the protruding member respectively preventing them from slipping out easily.

11. A key ring accessory as in claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the pointed end of the protruding member is in triangular shape, the width of the section connecting to the pointed end and the length of the triangular base are substantially the same, the length of the section connecting to the triangular base is adapted to be just greater than the distance between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the key ring, for allowing the two resiliently urged turns of the key ring being pried open to be temporarily retained on the right and left sides of the protruding member respectively.

12. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein one or more apertures are opened on the wall of the body on which the protruding member is disposed for removably attached to a hanging ornament.

13. A key ring accessory as in claim 1, wherein one or more apertures are opened on the other walls of the body for removably attached to a hanging ornament.

14. A key ring accessory as in claim 1 or claim 5, wherein one or more apertures are opened on the wall of the body on which the two protruding members are disposed in between the two protruding members for removably attached to a hanging ornament, the connecting part of the hanging ornament can be stowed in between the two protruding members to prevent it from impeding the movement of the protruding members.