Device For Holding Objects In A Handbag Or The Like

Abstract

A device for holding a key ring or the like in which a hook projects from the lower edge of a plate from one side of the plate member, the upper end of the plate being inclined from the hook, while one or more prongs extend downwardly from the upper end to a position of engagement with the opposite side of the plate, terminating in pointed ends bent outwardly away from the plate. A pressure-sensitive adhesive element may be included on the opposite side of the plate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to holding devices for handbags or the like, particularly to the holding of keys.

2. Description of Prior Art

One of the most prevalent and well-recognized everyday annoyances is found in the difficulty in finding objects in a ladies' handbag. This may be particularly severe in the time-wasting fumbling to obtain keys, compounded because they are frequently used. In order to alleviate this, it has been proposed in the past to provide some sort of retaining device in a purse to which keys may be attached. Frequently, these are difficult to install and use, or they may lack stability and be subject to becoming loose and dislodged. Also, some such prior designs are relatively expensive and complex.

For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3.294,136, a conventional key-retaining device is held onto the interior of the handbag by a safety-pin type fastener. Obviously, the attachment is not firm and may become loosened in service, and the key-holding designs are relatively expensive and complex.

For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,136, a conventional key-retaining device is held onto the interior of the handbag by a safety-pin type fastener. Obviously, the attachment is not firm and may become loosened in service, and key-holding arrangement of that development virtually must be removed from the handbag before it can be used. The design of U.S. Pat. No. 2,224,972 provides an overlapping clip that must fit over some free open edge of a pocket within the handbag, limiting its applicability. The key chain is not removable from the retaining device in this patent, which detracts from the convenience of its use. In the construction shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,272,854, a complicated attachment at the hinge of the handbag is necessary. Not only is this difficult to install, but it requires a particular hinge construction to enable it to be used at all. Other prior designs having comparable shortcomings are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,503,501, 3,326,258 and 3,415,300.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the the plate, art by providing a device which can hold keys or the like, which is easily and permanently installed to provide a stable support which, nevertheless, allows free engagement or disengagement of the key-holding ring or chain. The device includes a flat plate member from the lower edge of which extends an integral hook terminating in a doubled-over distal end that is spaced outwardly from one side of the plate. The doubled-over end avoids the presence of sharp corners and, by being spaced slightly from the surface of the plate entry and removal of the key ring or chain are facilitated. At the upper edge of the plate, one or more prongs extend downwardly adjacent the opposite side of the plate, terminating in pointed ends adapted to puncture the lining of the handbag as the device is installed. The hook members preferably are resilient and extend from the upper edge of the plate to a position where they engage the surface of the plate member. It is preferred also to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive arrangement on the plate member adjacent the prongs, which may be in the form of a strip of foam plastic having pressure-sensitive adhesive on either side thereof. One adhesive side is used in holding the foam plastic strip to the plate member. In a preferred embodiment, there are two prongs in spaced parallelism and the adhesive strip is interposed between the two prongs.

In use of the device, the prongs are pried outwardly slightly from the surface of the plate member and pressed downwardly against the lining of the handbag to puncture it. The device is slid downwardly relative to the handbag, with the prongs inside the lining, until the upper edges of the prongs are reached, after which it is pressed inwardly so that the foam plastic strip adheres to the surface of the lining. This provides a stable, firm and permanent attachment to the handbag. The upper edge portion of the plate member inclines away from the hook so that it lies closely against the lining of the handbag and will not provide edges upon which the key ring or other object may catch. The device of this invention is not limited to use in handbags and may be used to retain objects other than keys.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing the device of this invention associated with a handbag;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a blank which is subsequently bent to provide the completed retaining device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the retaining device as associated with the handbag;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along view 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the key-retaining device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rearward side of the retaining device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rearward side of the retaining device in a modified form in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive member is eliminated; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further modification in which only a single prong member is used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device 10 of this invention normally is made from resilient sheet metal as a one-piece unit. It includes a plate portion 11 from the lower edge of which projects a hook 12. The latter element is not as wide as the plate 11 and extends from the center of the lower edge. The upper end 13 of the hook 12 is doubled over so that it presents no sharp edges. Preferably, the upper end 13 is spaced outwardly from the plate portion 11, so that there is a gap 14 which facilitates entry and removal of a key ring 15 or similar object.

The upper portion 17 of the plate 11 is curved so that is inclines rearwardly away from the hook 12. At the upper edge of the section 17 of the plate 11 are two spaced parallel prongs 18 and 19 which extend downwardly adjacent the rear face of the plate 11. The prongs 18 and 19 are bent inwardly so that their lower portions 20 and 21 resiliently bear against the rear surface of the plate 11. At the bottoms of the prongs 18 and 19 are pointed ends 22 and 23 which incline outwardly away from the surface of the plate 11.

Intermediate the prongs 18 and 19 is an adhesive member 25. This member is a rectangular strip of conventional foam plastic with pressure-sensitive adhesive on either side. One surface of the member 25 is secured by its adhesive to the rearward side of the plate portion 11. On the opposite side of the element 25, the adhesive is covered by a removable protective layer 26.

The key-holding device 10 is adapted for association with a handbag 28 or other container device. In a conventional handbag of this type, there is a loose lining 29 within the outer covering 30. In installing the key-holding device 10, the protective layer 26 is removed from the adhesive member 25, and the device is aligned in a vertical direction relative to the handbag 28. The device 10 then is positioned preferably near the upper portion of the handbag 28, and the pointed ends 22 and 23 of the prongs 18 and 19 are pressed downwardly against the lining 29 so as to puncture it. retain outward inclination of the ends 22 and 23 away from the plate 11 facilitates their puncturing of FIG. lining 19. The prongs 18 and 19 are pried outwardly slightly away from the rear face of the plate portion 11, and the unit 10 is slipped downwardly so that the lining 29 is positioned intermediate the prongs 18 and 19 and the plate 11. When the upper ends of the prongs 18 and 19 have reached the lining 29 where it has been punctured, the plate 11 is pushed inwardly against the lining 29, causing the outer adhesive layer of the member 25 to adhere to the surface of the lining.

With this simple procedure, the key-holding device 10 is firmly attached to the interior of the handbag 28. The prongs 18 and 19 cooperate with the adhesive member 25 in holding the unit 10 on the lining 29 so that it does not shift its position and will not come loose. With the prongs being resilient and biased toward the plate 11 at their lower portions 20 and 21, they grip the lining to help rtain the device 10 in position. With the unit 10 held in this position, the key ring 15 easily is slipped on and off the hook 12, holding its keys in a readily accessible position. The upper portion 17 of the plate, by being inclined away from the hook 12, assures that the plate presents no sharp edges and will not interfere with the movement of the key ring 15. Also, this curvature helps direct the key ring through the gap 14 onto the hook 12.

In the event that the handbag 28 or other receptacle with which the device 10 is to be associated has no lining, it is possible to rely entirely upon the adhesive member 25 in securing the device 10 in position. Obviously, the attachment is not quite as strong in that event as where both the prongs and the adhesive member are utilized. In a similar manner, the adhesive element 25 may be eliminated, with the member 10 being held in place solely by the prongs 18 and 19. This embodiment is illustrated in SFIG. 7.

Another modification is shown in FIG. 8 in which only one prong 32 is utilized, rather than the pair of prongs 18 and 19. While simplifying the construction to a degree, the single-prong model cannot be attached as securely as where two prongs are used. The single-prong clip may be used with or without the adhesive element 25.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding a key ring or the like comprising a first member,

said first member being a substantially flat plate, hook means integral with said first member and projecting therefrom on one side of said first member,

said plate including an upper and a lower end,

said hook means projecting from said lower end,

and prong means integral with said first member and projecting from said upper end of said first member on the opposite side of said first member,

said prong means extending in juxtaposition with

said opposite side and having end means adapted to puncture the member to which said device is to be attached,

said prong means including two resilient members in spaced parallelism depending from said upper end of said plate to a position of engagement with said opposite side of said plate at a location remote from said upper end thereof,

said resilient members of said prong means including end means inclined outwardly away from said opposite side of said plate for facilitating the puncturing of a member to which said device is to be attached,

and pressure-sensitive adhesive means interposed between said two resilient members.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which

said pressure-sensitive adhesive means includes an element of plastic foam having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on either side thereof,

one of said sides being bonded by its adhesive to said opposite side of said plate,

the other of said sides of said foam plastic element facing outwardly of said opposite side of said plate,

and a removable protective layer over said other side of said foam plastic element.