US3861182A

US3861182A - Protective keyhole cover

Info

Publication number: US3861182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herb W Skinner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-11-23
Filing date: 1973-11-23
Publication date: 1975-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-21

Abstract

This invention consists of a keyhole cover used to prevent the entry of water, snow, or moisture into the keyholes of car doors during the winter season, for the purpose of preventing the freezing of the locks. It consists of a rubber suction cup containing therein a permanent magnet by means of which the cover can be attached to the face of the lock and the immediate area around it.

Description

[ Jan. 21, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Skinner FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS PROTECTIVE KEYHOLE COVER [76] Inventor:

Herb Skinner 243 KenwOOd 10/1970 Germany 70/455 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe [22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles Krassov ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. This invention consists of a keyhole cover used to prevent the entry of water, snow, or moisture into the [51] Int. 17/18 [58] Field of Search 70/455, 247, 423, 424, keyholes of car doors during the winter season. for the 70/426, 428; 292/2515 purpose of preventing the freezing of the locks. lt consists of a rubber suction cup containing therein u permanent magnet by means of which the cover can he [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS attached to the face of the lock and the immediate area around it.

3,434,318 3/l969 Thiry 70/455 3,564,878 2/1971 Seatts................................ 70/247 X 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JANZI I975 PROTECTIVE KEYHOLE COVER This invention relates generally to keyhole covers where such keyholes are exposed to outdoors conditions, and particularly to keyholes located on car doors.

Every car driver who lives in temperate or cold areas has at one time or other experienced difficulties in opening the car doors after the car has been exposed to freezing temperature. This is due to snow, water, or moist air entering the lock through the keyhole, freezing, and thus preventing the movement of the moving components of the lock.

The object of this invention is to provide a waterproof and airproof cover for the keyhole to prevent the entry of snow, water, or moist air into the lock, so that when the car is exposed to freezing temperatures, the dry interior of the lock is not affected by this condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a cover which adheres to the keyhole and its immediate area by both magnetic attraction and atmospheric pressure. In the case where the key entrance face plate is magnetic in nature, the cover is held to the said entrance by both the magnetic action and the atmospheric pressure. If however, the key entrance is of a non-magnetic metal, the atmospheric pressure alone is sufficient to keep the keyhole covered.

This is accomplished in the invention by providing both a permanent magnet, and a suction cup to the said cover.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the invention partly in section.

FIG. 2 is an elevation showing the invention attached to the door of a car, and

FIG. 3 shows a variation in the invention.

In the drawings is shown a keyhole cover consisting of a suction cup 1 which is made of rubber or other similar material. Within the suction cup 1 is a permanent magnet 2 which is preferably round in shape, and somewhat larger in diameter than the average car keyhole. Centrally located on the magnet and attached to it is a cylindrical boss 3 which is drilled and tapped. A short handle 4 which terminates into a threaded pin 5, is provided to the cover by means of which the cover can be forcibly removed from the keyhole.

The suction cup 1 is hermetically attached to the outa magnetically attractive metal, the magnet 2 will adhere to the said face, and at the same time the suction cup 1 will adhere to the surface 7 by suction in the usual manner.

Where the keyhole 6 is not magnetic, the oversize magnet 2 will adhere to the metal of the door 7 surrounding the keyhole, thus there would still be magnetic and suction adhesion between the cover and the door; and if suction cannot be provided to the cup 1 because of air entering through the keyhole 6, the cup 1 would then serve as a closure to the keyhole to prevent the entry of moisture, simply by contact with the door surface.

FIG. 3 shows a variation in the invention, in which the rubber cup 1 is replaced by a similar cup 8 made of a magnetized metal, so that the entire cover can be placed over the keyhole and be magnetically held to the door. In order to provide good closure and also to prevent marring of the car paint, the rim of the cup 8 is covered with a thin layer of plastic material 9.

As a precaution against someone removing the cover in the absence of the driver of the car, the handle 4 can be unscrewed from the cover and retained by the driver, so that when the driver wishes to remove the cover he screws the handle back into the cover and pulls the cover off. Where such precautions are unnecessary, the handle 4 can remain attached to the cover at all times.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A cover for a car door or trunk keyhole which is normally exposed to freezing temperatures, comprising a cup made of rubber or similar plastic material; a round shaped permanent magnet of a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the keyhole face plate, centrally located within and towards the rear of said cup; in combination with a drilled and tapped boss extending from the center of said magnet, to which the said cup is hermetically attached; and a detachable handle being attached to the said cover by being screwed into said boss.