US1959207A - Key case - Google Patents

Description

C. H. HOWE May' 15, 1934. I

Filed Nov. 17, 1930 M l A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 15, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 0 KEY CASE Carleton H. Howe, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Buxton, Incorporated, Springfield, Mass., a. corporation of Massachusetts Application November 17, 1930, Serial No. 496,197 9 Claims. (01. 150-40) This invention relates to improvements in key cases and, more particularly, to the means for securing the key holding hooks in the case.

The invention is an improvement on that disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,691,637,

granted November 13, 1928 to Warner R. Buxton. That invention, like the present one, is directed to the provision of a support for the key holders, which support is so constructed that the key holders can be readily assembled in the support, after the latter is completely formed, and removed from the support, if and when desired, with equal facility and yet be securely locked therein during normal use. The key holder support of said patent comprises two slidably engaged parts, which are relatively movable from a position wherein the key holders are locked in the support, to another position wherein the key holders may be removed from or inserted in the support. Bodily movement of the entire body of the key holders, with the keys held by them, is necessary as an incident to the relative shifting of the two parts of the support between the aforesaid positions.

The present invention is directed to and has for an object, the provision of a distinctly better construction for accomplishing the aims and purposes of the former invention in a different and better way.

Among other things, the locking and unlocking of the key holders can be effected without requiring bodily shifting of the key holders and the load of keys thereon. The result is efiected without any relative shifting of the parts, which compose the tubular support f r the key holders, by a separate locking member longitudinally slidable in the support. This member plays no part in supporting the key holders nor is it necessarily engaged by them in any of their normal movements.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a key holder support of the tubular type and a locking means for the key holders, which is so constructed and arranged as to fit inside, the tubular support without necessitating any material increase in size of the support. The same general sort of tubular support, having substantially the same and desirable small diameter as heretofore used in key cases, not having the provisions for easy insertion or removal of the keys, can be used and the locking member applied there o wthout noticeable increase in bulk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction for the purpose, which is better adaptable to manufacture and can be made by simpler methods and at less cost.

Other objects will appear as the detailed description proceeds and will be'pointed out inthe appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompany ng drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a key case embodying the invention,-the case being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, taken similarly to Fig. 1, but drawn to a larger scale to show the details of the key holder support;

Figs. 3 and 4 are top plan views of the key holder support, showing the same in position for insertion or removal of the key holders and in position for locking the key holders againstv removal, respectively;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views taken on the lines 66 and 7-7 respectively, of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are elevational and top plan views, respectively, of the locking device.

Referring to this drawing; the body of the case is designated 10. The case may be of any desired a.

form as this invention is concerned only with the means for fastening the key holders in place therein. As shown, the case is of usual form comprising a strip of leather or the like, affording a central section a and two flaps b, which may be folded over and upon the central section in overlapping relation to enclose the key holders and which may be secured together in such relation by interengageable snap fastener elements c. The key holders are shown at.11 and may be of any suitable form. As shown, they are in the formof snap hooks, each having a shank 12 and an enlarged and approximately ball-shaped head 13. One or more (four as shown) of these key holders-are mounted in the tubular part 14 of a metal support suitably secured, as by rivets 15, to the body 10 of the key case. This tubular part has a substantially semi-cylindrical front wall 16- and an integrally connected back wall 17 which may, although it need not, be a continuation in part of the cylindrical surface and which extends beyond the tubular portion to form a plate like part 18. As shown and preferred, although not necessarily essential for all purposes, the lower end of the front wall 16 has an integral plate-like extension 19, overlying the part 18 and secured thereto and to the key case body by the rivets 15' or any other suitable means. The semi-cylin-, drical front wall has a series of transverse slots 20, one for each key holder, and each slot is. of a width such as to freely receive the shank 12 of its key holder and yet prevent passage of the head 13 therethrough. The key holders are free to swing about the axis of portion 14 from the normal pendant position shown in Fig. 6 upwardly through an angle of approximately 180 degrees. Each key holder is preferably also free to turn about the axis of its shank 12 with a swivel action, the head 13 and tubular part 14 forming the equivalent of a ball and socket joint. While the swivel action is desirable, important and preferred, it is not indispensable and the advantages of this invention may be secured, at least in part, if the key holders simply swing and are restrained from swivelling movement.

Thus. far, the key case structure is of usual form, except for the plate-like extension 19, the purpose of which will later appear. In accordance with this invention, I provide at one point in each slot 20, preferably at the upper end thereof, an enlargement 21 which is of such size and shape as to permit the head 13 of the key holder to pass therethrough. The. support, comprising the tubular portion 14, may be completely formed prior to insertion of the key holders',the latter being later assembled therein by passing their heads through the enlargements 21.

The problem of the invention is to provide a satisfactory means for locking the heads 13 of the key holders in place in the tubular member 14. For this purpose, I provide the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This device consists of a platelike slide piece 22 which is received between the plate- like extensions 18 and 19 in a manner such as to permit a limited degree of longitudinal sliding movement (in a direction parallel to the axis of member 14). The upper part of the extension 19 is offset away from extension 18, as at 19' to form a receiving recess for the slide 22. This ofiset forms a shoulder 23, acting as a lower guide for the slide. The slide extends upwardly into the tubular member, following along the inner surface of the back wall 17 thereof. Its upper end is rounded to conform with the curvature of the upper part of back wall 17 and is slidably engaged therewith. It will be seen that the slide is held against vertical movement or any other movement except in a longitudinal direction. The

slide 22 is provided at its upper end with a series of projections 24, one for each key holder 11, and these projections, as 'will be clear from Fig. 4, normally cover the enlargements 21 to an extent sufficient to prevent passage of the heads 13 of the key holders therethrough. Intermediate these projections 24, the upper edge of the slide is recessed, as at 25, or in any other suitable way, so that when the slide is shifted far enough to carry the projections 24 out of registration with the enlargements, the latter will be unobstructed, as clearly'shown in Fig. 3. The heads 13 of the key holders may then be removed or inserted in the tubular member.

For limiting the movement of the slide 22, I provide lugs 26 and 27 struck up forwardly, one from each end thereof. The lug 27 serves as a convenient finger piece for moving the slide. The part 19' is recessed at 28 to permit the lug 27 to enter it just far enough so that the recesses 25 in the slide 22 will register perfectly with the enlargements 21 asshown in Fig. 3. The lug 26' limits the movement of the slide in the opposite direction and defines'its correct position for locking the key holders,-that is the position of Fig. 4 in which the projections 24 are in covering relation with the enlargements.

tion. For example, the key holder support, as

shown, is substantially of the same general form,

style and appearance as the commercial structure now in wide use. The addition of the locking slide 22 has been effected without materially altering the appearance of the support and without materially increasing the diameter of the tubular portion thereof. Such portion is kept of the same small diameter essential for a key case of the desired thin form which readily fits the pocket. In this connection, it is to be noted that the support, as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, is drawn double size. This result is effected by a locking device which follows along one wall only of the tubular support and preferably as shown along the back wall. There is usually room at such location in the old style key case for the reception of the slide 22 and no noticeable increase in diameter of the tubular portion 14 is necessary to make room in the old construction for the additional element. Were the locking device to follow completely around the inner periphery of the portion 14, an increase in its diameter would be necessary. Here, the inside area of the tube 14 is restricted, if at all, only by a single thickness of the metal comprising the locking device and because of its construction it may be made relatively thin and yet retain suflicient strength forits purpose. So also, by the described location of the slide 22, it is maintained out of the way of the heads of the key holders and does not interfere at all with their normal movements and need not necessarily even be engaged there by. Also, the construction of the device is so simple that it is readily manufacturedby punch press methods.

The extension 19'19' from the lower end of the tubular portion 14 not only affords a retaining means and guide for the slide 22 but also enables the walls of the slots 20 to be tied together at both ends. This is a feature of importance as minimizing the likelihood of such walls the walls of the slots 20 were tied together at one end only. The addition of the part 19-19 is therefore of distinct advantage apart from its obvious purpose.

In the standard key case construction, it has been the practice to assemble the key holders in the support prior to the completion of its formation. A plate having a series of parallel slots extending from one edge inwardly is used for the support. The slotted part of this plate is rolled into roughly cylindrical form but, before being completely rolled down, the key holders are inserted. The present construction enables the support to be completely formed prior to the insertion of the key holders. Then, by pushing slid. 22 into the position shown in Fig. 3, the heads 13 of the key holders may be placed within the tube 14, after which they are locked in place by the simple act of pushing the slide 22 into the position shown in Fig. 4. This construc tion also results'in an advantage to the user, enabling him to remove and replace key holders whenever desired. Broken key holders may be removed and replaced quickly and conveniently.

for another, to suit his own desires. He may remove key holders carrying keys that are not immediately needed, replacing them later only when they are likely to be used. There is a demand in the trade for a key case which will enable these results to be obtained.

The present locking means, operating by a longitudinal sliding movement, is effective for its purpose without causing movement of the key holders and without bodily shifting them and the keys carried thereby. The locking slide is readily operated since it does not bear the load of the key holders and keys. This also avoids the possibility present in the old construction, that movement of the parts might be interfered with I and restrained by a key catching on some obstruction or by entanglement of the keys.

The invention has been disclosed herein in a preferred form for illustrative purposes but I desire to claim my invention in the broadest possible legal manner.

What I claim is:

1.In a key case, a case forming member, a key holder support fixed thereto, said support, comprising, a tubular portion having a substantially semi-cylindrical front wall and a back wall fixedly connected thereto, said front wall having a transverse slot therein with an enlargement at the upper end thereof, a key holder having a shank of a size to move freely along said slot and a head of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not through said slot, and a member extending inside said tubular portion and entirely along the back wall thereof with a projection normally covering said enlargement sufficiently to prevent passage of said head therethrough, said member being shiftable to withdraw said projection from covering relation with said enlargement.

2. A key holder support, comprising, a tubular portion having a substantially semi-cylindrical front wall and a fixedly connected back wall substantially closing said portion and projecting therebeyond in plate-like form, said front wall having a transverse slot with an enlargement therein at the upper end thereof, a key holder the shank of which is of a size to move freely in said slot and the head of which is of a size to pass freely through the enlargement but not through the slot, and a member slidably mounted and guided on the projecting part. of said back wall and extending into the tubular portion and entirely along the back wall thereof and having a projection to cover said enlargement sufficiently so as to prevent passage of said head therethrough, said member being shiftable to withdraw said projection from covering relation with said enlargement and enable said head to pass through the latter. 4

3. A key holder support, comprising, a strip of metal bent to form two closely spaced overlapping parts which afford between them a groove and also bent to form a tubular portion which connects one edge of one of said overlapping parts to the adjacent edge of the other, said portion having a transverse slot therein with an enlargement at one point therein, a key holder having a head turnably mounted within the tubular portion and of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not through said slot and having also a shank extending out of said portion through said slot and freely movable therein, and a locking device slidably received in said groove and extending into said tubular portion, said device having a part ffective in one position of said device to cover the enlargement sufficiently to prevent passage of the head therethrough, said device being movable to another position to carry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

4. A key holder support, comprising, tw'ofiat plate-like parts integrally connected by a tubular portion which connects their adjacent edges, said parts adapted to be secured together in contiguous relation and one of them having a part ofiset away from the other to form a groove communicating with the interior of said tubular portion, said portion having a transverse slot therein with an enlargement at one point therein, a key holder having a head turnably mounted within the tubular portion and of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not through said slot and having also a shankextending out of said portion through said slot and freely movable therein, and a locking device slidably received in said groove and extending into said tubular portion, said device having a part effective in one position of said device to cover the enlargement sufficiently to prevent passage of the head therethrough, said device being movable to another position to carry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

5. In a key case, a case forming member, a plate-like member secured thereto and having an integral rolled-up portion for receiving the head of a keyholder and a transverse slot for receiving the shank of the key holder, a key holder having a shank movable in said slot and an enlarged head turnably mounted in said portion, said slot having an enlargement located in the upper wall of said portion and of a size to permit said head to passtherethrough, and a locking device slidably mounted on said member and extendingupwardly along the back side of said portion and terminating with a part for covering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of the head therethrough, said device being shiftable to carry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

'6. A key holder support, comprising, a member having a plate-like portion adapted to be fixed in a key case andan integral rolledup tubular portion,,said tubular portion having a slot therein disposed transversely to its axis with an enlargement in the slot located near theupper part of the tubular portion, said tubular portion also having a longitudinal slot disposed parallel with the plate-like portion and adjacent thereto, a key holder having a shank movable in the transverse slot and an enlarged head turnably moun*- ed within the tubular portion and of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not through said transverse slot, and a locking device longitudinally slidable withinsaid tubular portion and having a part for covering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of said head therethrough, said device being slidable to carry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement and having a part' extending into said longitudinal slot for guiding the device in its sliding movements.

'7. A key case, comprising a case forming member, a hollow member fixed thereto and having fixedly and rigidly interconnected front and back walls forming a tube substantially. completely and permanently closed except for its ends, said front wall of the tube having a substantially transverse slot therein with an enlargement at one'point therein, a key holder having a. shank passing through and movable freely along said size to pass freely through saidenlargement but j bular portion,

not through said slot, and a locking device sep- 'arate from and independent of said member and mounted thereon for straight line sliding movement in the direction of the length of said tube, said' device in one position covering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of said head therethrough and slidable into another position to uncover said enlargement and permit withdrawal of the head therethrough, whereby the key holders may be released for withdrawal by shifting said separate locking device and without moving either of said members or the key holders or the keys carried thereby.

8. A key holder support, comprising, a member having a plate-like portion adapted to be Afixed in a key case and an integral rolled-up tusaid tubular portion having a slot therein disposed transversely to its axis with an enlargement in the slot located near the upper part of the tubular portion, said tubular portion also having a longitudinal slot disposed parallel with the plate-like portion and adjacent thereto, a key holder having a shank movable in the transverse slot and an enlarged head turnably mounted within the tubular portion and of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not through said transverse slot, and a locking device longitudinally slidable within said tubular portion and having a part for covering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of said head therethrough, said device being slidable to carry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

9. A key case, comprising a case forming member, a hollow member fixed thereto and having fixedly and rigidly interconnected front and back walls forming a tube substantially completely and permanently closed except for its ends, said front wall of the tube having a substantially transverse slot therein with an enlargement at one point therein, a key holder having a shank passing through and movable freely along said slot and a head located inside said tube and of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not through said slot, and a locking device separate from and independent of said member and mounted inside said tube and adjacent said back wall for straight line sliding movement in the direction of the length of said tube, said device in one position covering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of said head therethrough and slidable into another position to uncover said enlargement and permit withdrawal of the head therethrough, whereby the key holders may be released for withdrawal by shifting said separate locking device and without moving either of said members or the key holders or the keys carried thereby.

CARLETON H. HOWE.

Images