Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention relates to a key cover, permanently
moun-ted on the head of a keyr and means for displaying
advertising and/or identification indicia. More specific-
ally, the invention relates to such a key cover made of a
synthetic material by a molding process, and including a
depression on one face thereof into which is mounted a
snap-in member.
Key covers, and especially key covers made of
synthetic material, are known in the art as illustrated in
U.S. Patents 3,209,479, Manzardo, Oct. 5, 1965, 4,188,741,
I.evy, Feb. 19, 1980, 4,305,267 Nish et al, Dec. 15, 1981,
and 4,349,975, Chubb, Sept. 21, 1982.
In the '479 patent, the plastic body 10 has a key
14 inserted therein. A message plate 19 is inserted into
the slot 17 and is visible through opening 20. This
arrangement does not include a snap-in member as per the
inventive arrangement.
The '267 patent teaches e~changeable key covers
10. As can be seen in the drawings of the patent, keys 18
are insertable into and removable from the cover 10.
Identifying indicia 50 can be impressed on one side of the
cover. This arrangement is entirely different from the
arrangement as taught herein.
In the '741 patent, a groove 24 is ground into the
head of the key itself. A message, inscribed on a strip 30,
is inserted into the groove. The message may be covered
with a covering strip 42 or with a magnifying glass 32. A
second strip 36 may be includ~d on the other side of the top
surface of the key itself. Once again, this arrangement is
entirely different from the inventive arrangement as taught
herein.
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~2~$~'10
In the '975 patent, a key is once again mounted in
a cover 10, and a message is included on a piece of paper
22. A lens 68 covers the message. The message may, of
course, be advertising or identifying indicia. With the
latter arrangement, if the key and cover are shipped in an
assembled condi-tion, then it must be disassembled by the
customer to insert the message. On the other hand, if it is
shipped disassembled, then special packaging arrangements
must be made to mitigate against the loss of the relatively
small parts.
It is therefore an object of the invention to
provide a key cover which overcomes the disadvantages of the
prior art.
It is a more specific object of the invention to
provide a key cover which comprises a block of synthetic
material molded over the key head.
, .
It is an even more specific object of the
; invention to provide such a key cover wherein a depression
is molded into one face of the block of synthetic material,
and a snap-in member is mountable into th~ depression.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the
snap-in member may be transparent, whereupon the message can
be imprinted on the floor of the depression. Alternatively,
the snap-in member may be opaque, whereupon the message is
imprinted on the top surface of the snap-in member.
In accordance with the invention, the key cover
comprises a block of synthetic material molded over the head
of the key to surround the head whereby the key is
permanently mounted in the block of synthetic material. A
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depression is included in one face of the block of synthetic
material, and a snap-in member is mountable into the
depression.
The invention will be hetter understood by an
examination of the following description, together with the
acompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the novel key
cover with the snap-in member in place;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective exploded view of the
key cover with the snap-in member
removed;
FIGURE 3 is a section through III-III of Figure
l; and
FIGURE 4 is a view of the snap-in member
partially inserted in the depression.
Referring to the drawings, the key cover, illus-
trated generally at 1 t comprises a block of synthetic
material 2 which is molded over the head 13 (see Figure 3)
of a key 3 having a shank 5. Molded into one face of the
synthetic block 2 is a depression 7. In the illustrated
embodiment, the depression is in the shape of a oval. How-
ever, as will be appreciated, the depression could consist
of a different shape.
The depression is surrounded by a ridge 9, and a
snap-in member 11 is mounted in the depression as seen in
Figures 1 and 3. The snap-in member is of the same shape
and substantially the same dimensions as the depression.
Indicia 13 may be imprinted on the top surface of
the snap-in member, as in Figure 1. In this case, the
snap-in member can be either opaque or transparent.
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Alternatively, the indicia 15 can be imprinted on
the floor of the depression as seen in Figure 2. In this
case, the snap-in member 11 would have to be transparent so
; that the indicia can be read through the snap-in member.
Alternatively, the message can be imprinted on a
piece of paper which can then be adhered to the top surface
of the either transparent or opaque snap-in member, or it
can be adhered or merely placed on the floor of the
depression whereupon, once again, the snap-in member would
have to be transparent.
As can be seen in Figure 3, the surrounding wall
of the depression slopes inwardly in an upward directlon
whereupon the depression is in the shape of a truncated
ovoid. In a like manner, the side edge of -the snap-in
member slopes inwardly in a downward direction so that the
snap-in member is also in the shape of a truncated ovoid.
~s seen in Figure 3, the small diameter of the truncated
ovoid snap-in member is disposed adjacent the large diameter
of the truncated ovoid depression.
~ ~ When the snap-in member is inserted into the
depression, the side edge of the snap-in member will act as
a cam to force the points 17 backwardly as shown in Figure
4. When the snap-in member is completely within the
,
depresslon, the points 17 will snap back to cover the points~
19 of the snap-in memker. Accordingly, the snap-in member
cannot be removed from the depression without damaglng the
block of synthetic material so that the snap-in member is
effectively, permanently mounted in the depression. In the
same way, because the block of synthetic material is molded -
over the head of the key, the key is permanently mounted in
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the block of synthetic material. The block of synthetic
material may be molded over the head of the key by injection
molding.
The key mounted in the key cover can now be pre-
pared for specialized customers, for example, car companies,
hotels, etc. The key, mounted in the synthetic material,
along with the snap-in member (not necessarily mounted in
the depression), can be shipped to the customer who can then
apply his own indicia either on the floor of the depression
or on the top surface of the snap-in member. Alternatively,
the message could be imprinted by the key maker and shipped
completely assembled to the customer. ~`
Although the drawings illustrate a depression in
only one face of the block of synthetic matèrial, it is of
course within the scope of the invention to have depressions
on both faces whereby two messages could be displayed on
each key.
Although several embodiments have been above-
described, this was for the purpose of illustrating, but not
~ limiting, the invention. Various modifications, which will
come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art, are
within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims. ;
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