HOLDER FOR KEYS AND THE LIKE

PORTE-CLEFS

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Two elements are hinged together by one end thereof
and are detachably locked by the other ends to form the key
holder. The detachable locking/includes in one embodiment,
a cylindrical member having a slot therein and being screw
threaded on the outer surface. The engaging ends of the ele-
ment are kinked or misaligned and will enter the slots. A
closure nut is screw threadably engageable on the screw thread-
ed outer surface of the cylindrical member thus closing the
slot. The outer side of the nut is apertured to permit free
rotation of the nut on the element but preventing axial dis-
engagement of the element from the nut when engaged on the cy-
lindrical member. Another embodiment is provided with detach-
able locks at each adjacent pair of ends of the holder with
the slots on one side being a relatively loose fit to permit
the other ends to be displaced sideways from one another when
the lock of the one ends are disconnected so that keys can be
removed or replaced upon the holder.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM AS INVENTION:
(1. A holder for keys and the like comprising in
combination a pair of curved rod-like elements, means pivotal-
ly connecting adjacent one ends of the elements together and
detachable locking means connecting adjacent other ends of the
elements together, said detachable locking means including a
substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the
end of one of said elements, and means detachably securing
same to the end of the other of said elements, said last men-
tioned means including a slot formed in said member and extend-
ing from the end of said member adjacent said end of said other
element along one side of said member, to a point spaced from
said end of said member, the outer wall of said member through
which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, an fastening
means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably
engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member, and
means on said other element restraining displacement of said
other element from said member when said fastening means is
screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 in which said
fastening means takes the form of a nut having an apertured end
plate on one side thereof.
(3) The invention according to Claim 2 in which said
means on said element restraining displacement of said element
includes a portion adjacent said one end of said other element
being displaced axially from said element, said portion engaging
within said slot whereby said nut restrains endwise movement of
said element from said member when said nut is engaged with said

member.
(4) The invention according to Claim 3 in which said
projection is formed by distorting said portion to form a kinked
end to said element.
(5) The invention according to Claim 1 in which said
cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said
one element.
(6) The invention according to Claim 2 in which said
cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said
one element.
(7) The invention according to Claim 3 in which said
cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said
one element.
(8) The invention according to Claim 4 in which said
cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said
one element.
(9) The invention according to Claims 1, 2 and 3 in
which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also
comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one

ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including
a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the
end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing
same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last
mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending
from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one ele-
ment, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said
end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is
formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engag-
ing said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw
threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element re-
straining displacement of said element from said member when
said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said
member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to
permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said ele-
ments one from the other when said other ends are disconnected,
whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from
said elements.
(10) The invention according to Claims 4, 5 or 6 in
which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also
comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one
ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including
a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the
end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing
same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last
mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending
from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one ele-
ment, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said
14

end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is
formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engag-
ing said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw
threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element re-
straining displacement of said element from said member when
said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said
member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to
permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said ele-
ments one from the other when said other ends are disconnected,
whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from
said elements.
(11) The invention according to Claims 7 or 8 in
which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also
comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one
ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including
a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the
end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing
same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last
mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending
from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one ele-
ment, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said
end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is
formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engag-
ing said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw
threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element re-
straining displacement of said element from said member when
said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said
member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to
12

permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said ele-
ments one from the other when said other ends are disconnected,
whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from
said elements.
13

Description

BACKGROUND GF THE INVENTION
This l~vention relat~s ~o new and useful improvements
in holders for keys and the lil~e. Convent~onally cuch key rings
or holders comprise split ~ing~ whic~ are difficul~ to manipu-
late ;n order to remove or replace keys thereon.
Other ~ypes of key holders are Xnown ~Ut i~; S believed
~5 that the present device is of a simple and improved conStruction
~hich may readily be manufactured and manipulated during use.

~0~37~9 `
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
-- ,
The present device consists of a holder for keys and -
the like which comprises a pair of curved rod-like elements
pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof and having de-
tachable locking means connected adjacent the other ends there-
of. Said detachable locking means includes a substantially -;
cylindrical member secured to the end of one of said elements
and detachably secured to the end of the other of said elements.
Said last mentioned means includes a slot formed in said member
extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of the
other element along one side of said member, to a point spaced
from said end. The outer wall of said member through which said
slot is formed, is screw threaded and fastening means freely en-
gage the other element and screw threadably engage the screw
threaded outer wall of the member. Means are provided on the
element to restrain displacement of the alement from the member
when the fastening means is screw threadably engageable with
said member.
Another aspect of the invention comprises the member
both
being detachably secured to/adiacent ends of the elements with
sufficient wid~h of slot being provided so that when the locking
means are disconnected at one end of the members, the ~wo mem-
bers may be displaced sideways so that keys or the iike may be
instalied or removed from the elements~
An object of the invention is to provide a device of
the cnaracter herewithin described which is easily manipulated
during use and yet which cannot become disconnected ina~ertently

~L3~'~9 ~: :
once the de-tachable locking means has been engaged.
Another object o~ the invention is to provide a de- ;
vice of the character herewithin described which is simple in
construction~ economical in manufacture and otherwise well
suited to the purpose for which it is designed~
With the foregoing objeots in view, and othar such
objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skill~
ed in the art to which this invention relates as thi~ speci-
fication proceeds, my invention consists essential1y in the
arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more
particularly described, reference ~eing had to the accompany-
ing drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ~ ~~', .
Figure 1 iF a front elevation of one embodiment.
Figure 2 is an enlarged partially fragmented view
of Figure 1 shown closed.
Figure 3 is an end view of the locking n~t per se. ~ ~;
, : . :

~ 3749
. , .
Figure 4 is a side view of Figu.e 30 ~-
Figure 5 is a sectional view of Figure 4 showing ~-
one end of the element therein.
~ '.
Figure 6 is an end view of Figure 1 shown closed.
Figure 7 is an end view of an alternative embodi~
ment~
Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure 7.
; In the drawings like characters of reference indi~
cate corresponding parts in the different figures~
-4
~'`;
:. . . .
-, :' . . ; , , :~ -

37~
DETAIBED DESCRIPTION
-
Proceeding there~ore to describe the invention in de-
tailt reference should first be made to Figures 1 through 6.
The holder comprises a pair of elements lO and 11 form~
ed preferably from round stock such as rod and curved as illus-
trated so that when adjacent ends of the elements are placed to- ~
gether, a substantially ring-like construction is provided upon :
which keys 12 or the like may be retained~
In this embodiment, adjacent one ends 10A and llA are
pivOtâlly connected together by means of pivot pin 13, so that
adjacent other ends 10B and llB may be moved apart from one
I another in the direction of doubled headed arrow 14.
.
Means are provided to detachably secure sai~ other ~:
ends together, said means taking the form of a substantially~
:- cylindrical member 15 one end of which may be secured permanent-
ly to one end 10B of the elements if desired.
However, preferably, the cylindrical member 15 is de~
tachably secured to both ends 10B and llB of the elements as
illustrated~
Each end portion 10B and llB is provided with a pro-
jecting portion 16 formed, in this embodiment, by distorting the
' ,,
!.......... . . .. . ' ' :

37~91
length of the end pol~lon sideways to form a kinked end as
clearly showil in Figure 2.
The outer ends 17 of ~he cylindrical member 15 are
screw threade~ as illustrated by reference character 18 and are
also provided with a slot 19 which extends from the outer end
walls 20 to a point 21 spaced from these outer end walls and ex-
tending through the side of the and portion 17 as ~`.lustrated in
Figures 2 and 6~ A hollow bore 22 extends through the central
portio.- o~ the member 15 and connects with ~he slots as illustrat-
ed.
Retaining means are provided and take the form of a
hollow nut component 23 internally ~crew threaded as at 24 and
having a centrally apertured end plate 25 on one end thereof
which is adapted to receive the substantially cylindrical ele-
lS~ ments lO or ll so that the nut may be freely rotated thereon.
In operation, the necessary keys or the like ~2 are
placed on the elements 10 or ll whereupon the other ends LOB and
~lB are moved towards one another and engaged within the slots
19 of the member 22.
~ ,
.
The nuts 23 axe then engaged over the screw threaded `~ ~
outer surfaces 18 of the ends of the member 22 and are tightened ~ ;
~hus retaining the kinked ends 16 within the slots with the kink- `
: ::
--6--

~0~3749
ed ends Ol ~Lo~ec~ing porcions 1~ preventing the elements from
being withdrawn through -the centrally formed aper~ures 26 of
are
the nuts because vf the diameter of these apertures which/just
suffici~n. tG provide frae rotation of the nut on the elements
10 or 11.
Figures 7 and 8 show a similar construction with the
exceptior. that ~h~ p~votal connection between ~he one ends lOA
and 11~ of ~he elements, is fc~.~ad by a similar locking assembly
as sh~w~ in Figures ~ to 5
Howeve~ in this embodiment, Ihe loclcing assembly col ~`
lectively des~gnated 25, is provided with slots 19 which are
slightly wider than the width of the ends lOA and llA of the
alements so that when the upper locking assembly 27 is discon-
nected, the two elements may be swung sideways from one another
as clearly shown in Figure 7/ to permit the engagement or dis~
engagement of keys or the like upon the elements 10 or 11. -~
.~ ~, - .
ït wi~ of course be understood ~hat ~he ends lOA and
LlA of the alements 10 and 11, in this embodiment, are provided
with kinked ends such as illustrated by reference character 16,
and as hereinbefore described with reference to the locking as- `~
semblies on the other ends lOB and llB~
Since various modifications can be made in my inven-

~ 37~9
tion as herelnabove described, ar.d many apparently widely dif-
ferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of
the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specifi-
cation shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a
limiting sense.
. .