U.S. patent application number 10/934710 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-19 for key holder.
Invention is credited to Ng, Kwok Sun.
Application Number | 20050103071 10/934710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34347175 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050103071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ng, Kwok Sun |
May 19, 2005 |
Key holder
Abstract
A key holder comprising a key ring made of steel wire stock
employs a holder body with an annular locking member. The locking
member employs a groove for receiving a connector of the key ring
and a spring and a steel ball.
Inventors: |
Ng, Kwok Sun; (New
Territories, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALIX YALE & RISTAS LLP
750 MAIN STREET
SUITE 1400
HARTFORD
CT
06103
US
|
Family ID: |
34347175 |
Appl. No.: |
10/934710 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/456R ;
70/459 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 70/8757 20150401;
Y10T 70/8676 20150401; A44B 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
070/456.00R ;
070/459 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/32; A44B
015/00; A47G 029/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 18, 2003 |
CN |
200320118182X |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A key holder comprised of a key ring made of steel wire stock
for retaining keys and a holder body, wherein one end of the key
ring is fixedly connected with the holding body while the other end
thereof is provided with a connector, characterized in that: the
holder body is provided with an annular locking member, and the
connector may be detachably locked in the annular locking
member.
2. The key holder as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
holder body comprises a main body and two holder plates that may be
rotatably secured against opposing sides of the main body.
3. The key holder as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: a
through hole is formed in the center of the main body; a connecting
pole with a hollow chamber therein is disposed at the inner surface
of one holder plate and can go through the through hole; the inner
surface of the other plate is provided correspondingly with a key
pole for inserting into the hollow chamber; the main body and the
two holder plates located besides both sides of the main body are
rotatably assembled together by the engagement formed between the
connecting pole being inserted into the through hole in the main
body and the key pole of the other plate.
4. The key holder as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a
locking assembly comprises: a groove formed in one side of the main
body for receiving the connector, whose opening is bent inwardly to
form a bayonet; a notch formed in the sidewall of one of the holder
plates to facilitate the withdrawal or placement of the connector;
and a locking sub-assembly located between the main body and one of
the holder plates and comprised of a spring and a steel ball,
wherein at least one blind hole is formed in the main body for
receiving the spring and the steel ball, said spring being
positioned at the bottom of the blind hole, and said steel ball
being positioned above the upper portion of the spring and located
at the upper portion of the blind hole, a recess for holding the
steel ball being formed in the inner wall of said plate at a
position corresponding to the blind hole.
5. The key holder as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a
locking assembly comprises: a groove formed in one side of the main
body for receiving the connector, whose opening is bent inwardly to
form a bayonet; a notch formed in the sidewall of one of the holder
plates to facilitate the withdrawal or placement of the connector;
and a locking sub-assembly located between the main body and one of
the holder plates and comprised of a spring and a steel ball,
wherein at least one blind hole is formed in the main body for
receiving the spring and the steel ball, said spring being
positioned at the bottom of the blind hole, and said steel ball
being positioned above the upper portion of the spring and located
at the upper portion of the blind hole, a recess for holding the
steel ball being formed in the inner wall of said plate at a
position corresponding to the blind hole.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The utility model relates to a holder for holding small
articles, and more particularly to a key holder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a conventional similar key holder, one end of a key ring
is fixedly connected with a holder body, while the other end
thereof is detachably connected with the holder body. With this
conventional construction, there exists a defect in that the active
connecting end of the key ring is easily taken off from its
connecting mechanism in the holder body, which brings inconvenience
to its usage. China Patent CN2262361Y discloses a convenient key
holder, wherein: one end of a key ring made from steel wire stock
is fixed in a holder body, the other end thereof is provided with a
connector which extends into a groove formed in the holder body and
may be connected with a positioning member by a screw thread. The
above-mentioned construction with its key ring made from steel wire
stock solves the problem that the key ring may be pulled off from
the holder body due to its heavy rigidity. Its connection by a
screw thread is relatively firm. However, this construction is
inconvenient to use because of its fussy connecting mode and
complicated manufacturing process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a safe and reliable
key holder which is easy to use and has a simple structure, thereby
solving the aforementioned disadvantages.
[0004] In order to achieve the above described object, according to
one embodiment of the invention, a key holder comprises a key ring
made of steel wire stock for retaining keys and a holder body,
wherein one end of the key ring is fixedly connected with the
holder body, the other end thereof is provided with a connector. It
is characterized in that an annular locking member is disposed in
the holder body, and the connector may be detachably locked into
the annular locking member.
[0005] The holder body comprises a main body and two holder plates
secured rotatably against both sides of the main body,
respectively. There is a through hole at the center of the main
body. The inner surface of one of the holder plates is formed with
a connecting post with a hollow chamber. The connecting post may go
through said through hole. Correspondingly, the inner surface of
the other holder plate is provided with a key pole that may be
inserted into the hollow chamber. The main body and the two holder
plates secured against the both sides of the main body are
rotatablely assembled together to form an integrative unit by the
engagement formed between the connecting post going through the
through hole in the main body and the key pole of the other holder
plate.
[0006] The locking assembly comprises: a groove formed in one side
of the main body for receiving the connector, whose opening is bent
inwardly to form a bayonet; a notch formed in the sidewall of one
holder plate to facilitate the placement or withdrawal of the
connector, and a locking sub-assembly located between the main body
and one of the holder plates and comprised of a spring and a steel
ball. At least one blind hole which receives a spring and a steel
ball is formed in the main body. The spring is located at the
bottom end of the blind hole, and the steel ball is positioned
above the upper portion of the spring and located at the upper
portion of the blind hole. A recess for holding the steel ball is
formed in the inner wall of said holder plate at a position
corresponding to the blind holes.
[0007] The working process and principles of the invention are as
the follows: if the key ring made of steel wire stock is intended
to be locked into the holder body, the holder plates may be rotated
such that the notch in the sidewall of the holder plate is aligned
with the groove, and then the connector is placed into the groove
and locked into the groove through the bayonet formed by the
opening of groove bending inwardly; the holder plate is rotated
again to locate the notch away from the corresponding groove; when
the recess in the inner wall of the holder plate is aligned with
the blind hole in the main body, the steel ball is borne against
and held in the corresponding recess formed in the inner wall of
the holder plate with the aid of the spring. In this way, the key
ring made of steel wire stock can be firmly locked in the holder
body. When the key ring made of steel wire stock is intended to be
taken out of the holder body, it may be implemented just by
pressing against the holder plates beside both sides of the main
body such that the steel ball and the spring are forced to fall
into the blind holes in the main body, meanwhile, rotating both the
holder plates to make the notch move to a position aligned with the
groove, and taking the connector out of the holder body.
[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, an annular locking
member is provided subtly in the holder body, thereby the connector
is detachably locked into the annular lock member. The connector
can be taken out from or firmly locked into the holder body just by
rotating holder plates to a suitable position as desired. In this
way, the object of placing or taking out the key ring and keys
expediently can be achieved. The key holder according to the
utility model has a simple construction with low manufacturing
cost, and is safe, reliable, easy to manufacture and use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The key holder according to the invention will be further
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a structural view schematically showing the key
holder in accordance with the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a structural view schematically showing the key
holder with one of holder plates having been removed in accordance
with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line A-A of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a key holder is comprised of
a key ring 1 made of steel wire stock for retaining keys and a
holder body. One end of the key ring 1 is fixedly connected with
the holder body, the other end thereof is provided with a connector
2. The key holder is characterized in that an annular locking
member is disposed in the holder body, and the connector can be
detachably locked into the annular locking member.
[0014] The holder body comprises a main body 3 and two holder
plates 4 which can be rotatably secured against the both sides of
the main body. When the holder plates 4 are rotatably locked to the
both sides of the main body 3, for the purpose of making its
construction more simple and safe and its assembling more easier, a
through hole 5 is formed in the center of the main body. A
connecting pole 6 with a hollow chamber therein is formed in the
inner surface of one of the holder plates 4. The connecting pole 6
can go through the through hole 5. A key pole 7 for inserting into
the hollow chamber is provided correspondingly at the inner surface
of the other plate 4
[0015] The main body 3 and the two holder plates 4 located besides
both sides of the main body 3 are rotatably assembled together by
engagement formed between the connecting post 6 going through the
through hole 5 in the main body 3 and the key pole 7 at the other
plate 4. In order to provide more convenience for the placing or
taking out the key ring made of steel wire stock, the annular
locking member comprises: a groove 9 formed in one side of the main
body 3 for receiving the connector 2, whose opening is bent
inwardly to form a bayonet 8; a notch 10 formed in the side of one
holder plate 4 to facilitate the withdrawal or placement of the
connector 2; and a locking member located between the main body 3
and one of holder plates 4 and comprising a spring 11 and a steel
ball 12. At least one blind hole 13 is formed in the main body 3
for receiving the spring 11 and the steel ball 12. The spring 11 is
positioned at the bottom of the blind hole 13, and the steel ball
12 is positioned above the top of the spring 11 and located at the
upper portion of the blind hole 13. A recess 14 for holding the
steel ball 12 is formed in the inner wall of the plate 4 at a
position corresponding to the blind hole 13.
[0016] For providing more convenience for usage and assembling, in
the present embodiment, a locking member comprised of a spring 11
and a steel ball 12 is disposed between the main body 3 and each of
the holder plates 4. Moreover, in order to form a more firm
engagement between each of the holder plates 4 and the main body 3,
three blind holes 13 for receiving springs 11 and steel balls 12
are provided in the main body 3, and three recesses 14 for holding
steel balls 12 are formed correspondingly in the inner wall of said
holder plates 4.
* * * * *