US2305363A - Key case - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1942. JQR WEGE KEY yCASE Filed Nov. 12, 1940 INVENToR JO/ IVA/P WEGE BY-ghgw/HLMQ v ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 KEY CAISE John P. Wege, West Bend, Wis., assignor to Amity Leather Products Co., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 12, 1940, ySerial No. 365,247

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in key cases, and more yparticularly to key cases especially adapted for use with automobile keys.

The object of the invention is to provide a key case of the type described in which the ignition key and trunk keyA are held in separate, easily distinguishable, and readily accessible compartments.

Another object is to provide a key case having a plurality of separate compartments, each quickly and accurately distinguishable.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by adjoining two key compartments, one formed of red colored material in which is placed the trunk key, and the otherformed of green colored material in which is placed the ignition key. The user associates the green with go, and hence with the ignition key. The red causes association with stop, and hence with the trunk key. Additional indicia,v such as the printed Words Stop-Trunk may be placed on the red colored compartment or used in lieu of that color. The printed words Go-Ignition may be placed on the green colored compartment, or may be used in lieu of that color.

'I'he novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specic embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a key case embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a viewin side elevation of the key ca'se showing both key compartments;

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation of the key case;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank of material used to form each compartment of the key case;

rial used to form a key case embodying a modification of the invention; and

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively views in front elevation and rear elevation of the key case embodying the modication.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the f in Figure 4. As viewed in Figure 4, the inside of the blank is faced upwardly. Each blank has a body portion I I in the upper and lower ends of which perforations I2 and I3 are provided. The blank I0 has a cover portion I4 in the upper end of which a perforation I 5 is provided. The perforations I2 and I5 are so located as to be axially alined when the cover I4 is folded over on the line A so as tocoincide with the body portion II. Placed centrallytop to bottom, and removed from the outer edge of the cover I4, is the stud part I6 of a snap fastener. The stud portion of part I6 projects from the outside face. To the right of` the bodyfmember II is a flap member I'I' which has located approximately centrally of its'apex a spring button. I8 of the snap fastener. The springv button I8 opens toward the insideface of fthe blank II.I The button is so located that it will be in approximate alinement with the stud party I6 when the cover I4 is folded over on the line B so as to lie over the cover portion I4 and the body portion II. When so alined the button I8 may be pressed down colored red, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank ofmatei on andsnapped into position on the stud I6 to removably maintain the parts in folded position.

One blank is preferably formed of material On the outside of the cover portion I 4, and at the end thereof opposite the perforation I5, may be stamped or otherwise applied the indicia Stop-Trunk, as indicated in Figure 1. The other blank is preferably colored green and may have stamped, embossed,.or otherwise applied thereon, the indicia Go-Ignition. This stamping is also placed on the outside of the cover member I4 and at the end opposite the perforation I5.

To form the two blanks into a single two,- compartment case, the blanks I I are placed with their outside surfaces face to face and with their flaps I'I" coinciding. WhenV so positioned, as viewed in Figure 4, the perforation I5 of one blank will be at the top while the perforation I5 of the other blank will be at the bottom, and the perforation l2 of each blank will be in axial alinement with the perforation I3 of each blank. Flanged studs I9 are passed `through each pair of alined perforations I2 and I3. The projecting portion of the stud I9 extends through perforation I2 of each blank II and outwardly from the inside surface of body portion II. A collar (not shown) is pressed over theprojecting portion of each stud I9 and engages the inside surface of 'body portion II around the perforation I2. I. This holds the two blanks in fixed. relation@ outwardly from the case.

ship. To install the keys K in each compartment the apertures are fitted over the studs I9 and the covers I4 are folded about the line A. The aperture I5 of each cover ts over the projecting portion of a respective stud I9. A plate screw 20 is threaded into the projecting end of each stud I9 to hold the covers I4 and keys K in place. To store the keys they are swung between the cover I4 and body member II. The flap I1 is then folded over, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the button I8 is snapped over stud I6, thus maintaining the iiap in position and the key within the compartment.

Whenever it is desired to use a. selected key, such as for example the trunk gkey, the case is 4turned so that the red colored compartment is ztoward the user. The flap I1 of this compartment is unsnapped and folded `away from its respective cover I4. The trunk key is then swung The flap I1 may or may not then be snapped back into closing position. The same process is employed with the green colored compartment when it is desired to use the ignition key.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is only necessary to rapidly glance at the case to determine which compartment `to open in order to obtain the desired key. The green color immediately associates in the mind of the .automobile owner-user the word Go which `in turn is associated with the ignition key. The red color brings to mind `the word Stop and thus suggests a key used only when the vehicle lis stationary, such as the .trunk key, or the like.

In the modification shown inFigures 5, 6, and '1, the two compartmentsare formed from a single blank 3), which has a central body portion 3| and two cover portions 32 .and 33 formed on opposite sides thereof. These portions 3|., 32, and 33 have at the tops thereof perforations 34, 35, and 36. These perforations are so positioned with respect to each other that when the cover portion 32 is folded downwardly about the line X jects downwardly as so viewed. The cover member 32 has a spring button 39 positioned adjacent its outer edge and facing downwardly. The button 39 and stud part 38 are so positioned as to be in substantial alinement when the cover 32 is folded downwardly about the line X into coinciding position with respect to the body member 3l. n like manner the cover member33 is provided with a spring button 4I) positionedadjacent its outer edge and facing upwardly. The spring button til and stud part 31` are so Vpositioned that when the cover memberr 33 isfolded upwardly about line Y, so as to coincide with body member 3|, those parts will be in substantial alinement.

When the cover members 32 and 33 are'folded l about the respective fold lines, as heretofore described, a flanged stud 4I is inserted through the perforations 34, 35, and 36, and is held in place by a plate screw 42. After placing the projecting portion of the stud member 4I through the per- In order to carry out the invention the outside covering portion of spring button member 39 is colored red and the outside cover portion of spring button member 40 is colored green. In addition, indicia may be inscribed on the cover members 32 and 33 in the form indicated in Figures 6 and '1, and `by vthe manner heretofore described.

Although there are shown and described certain specific embodiments of the invention, many modifications thereof are possible. tion is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A key case comprising a pair of pocketforming vmembers each including `a body lportion having a cover member and a closure flap secured thereto, said cover member and closure flap being foldable upon the body portion in superposed relation, separable fastener means carried by the cover member and closure ap to secure said members in pocket-forming pgsition, each said body portion being provided with a pair of spaced stud-receiving apertures and each cover member being apertured in alignment with an underlying stud-receiving aperture of the respective body portions, said pocket-forming members being arranged with the respective body portions thereof in contact and with the respective studreceiving apertures thereof aligned, a pair of stud members for securing the pocket forming members in assembled relation, each stud member including a head and shank, the shanks of the studs penetrating the respective'aligned apertures in the body portions of the pocket-forming members and the head of each stud being disposed in the pocket of one of said pocket-forming members with its Ashank portion extending through the aperture in the cover member of the other pocket-forming member, and a removable securing means on the free Yend of each stud.

2. A key case comprising a pair of elongated pocket-forming members each including a body portion having a cover member secured to one longitudinal edge thereof and a closure flap secured to the opposite longitudinal edge thereof, said cover member and rclosure flap being foldable upon the body portion in superposed relation, separable fastener means carried by the cover member and closure flap to secure said members in pocket-forming position, each said body portion being provided with a pair of spaced stud-receiving apertures and each cover member being apertured in alignment with an underlying stud-receiving aperture of the respective body portions, said pocket-forming Vvmembers being arranged with the respective body portions thereof in contact with the closure flaps juxtaposed and with the respective stud-receiving apertures thereof aligned, a pair of stud members for securing the pocket-forming members in assembled relation, each stud member including a head and a shank, the Shanks of the studs penetrating the respective aligned apertures inthe body portions of the pocket-forming members andthe head of each stud being disposed in the pocket of The invensaid cover member and closure flap being foldable upon the body portion in superposed relation, separable fastener means carried by the cover member and closure flap to secure said members in pocket-forming position, each said body portion being provided With a stud-receiving aperture adjacent each end thereof, and the respective cover members being apertured at opposite end portions in alignment with one underlying stud-receiving aperture only of the respective body portions, said pocket forming members being arranged with the respective body portions thereof in contact with the closure flaps juxtaposed and with the respective stud-receiving apertures thereof aligned, a pair of stud members for securing the pocket-forming members in assembled relation, each stud member including a head and shank, the Shanks of the studs penetrating the respective aligned apertures in the body portions of the pocket-forming members and the head of each stud being disposed in the pocket of one of said pocket-forming members with its shank portion extending through the aperture in the cover member of the other pocket-forming member, and a removable securing means on the free end of each stud.

JOHN P. WEGE.

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