U.S. patent number 3,804,307 [Application Number 05/288,037] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-16 for chain key holder.
Invention is credited to Dorothy D. Johnston.
United States Patent |
3,804,307 |
Johnston |
April 16, 1974 |
CHAIN KEY HOLDER
Abstract
A chain key holder has been provided with a hand attaching
portion such as a formation of a ring, interconnecting stem of
parts or a bracelet that can be attached to the hand when the keys
are taken out of the bag or pocket so that upon carrying packages
the keys will not be readily dropped when reaching a door needing
to be opened by keys. On the ring or bracelet there is a part of a
stem portion through which a chain attaching plate that extends
laterally thereof will serve to carry a plurality of flexible chain
links to which keys are respectively attached. The key chain links
are assembled upon the key chain supporting plate so as to extend
from the hand holding portion in a convenient manner to be
accessible while still in the hand holding grip with an individual
key being accessible to be fitted into a key hole by the fingers
without the hand holding portion of the device being released
therefrom. A quick detachable means is provided for one of the keys
such as the ignition key so that it can be released from the ring
holder device and used separately therefrom. This same quick
release device may serve to hold a key chain supporting plate
accessible upon a depending stem portion.
Inventors: |
Johnston; Dorothy D. (Glendale,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23105478 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/288,037 |
Filed: |
September 11, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/217; D11/30;
63/15.65; 362/116; D11/2; 63/3; 70/456R; 362/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C
5/0038 (20130101); A44C 13/00 (20130101); A44B
15/00 (20130101); A44C 9/0053 (20130101); Y10T
70/8676 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A44B
15/00 (20060101); A44C 9/00 (20060101); A44C
13/00 (20060101); A44C 5/00 (20060101); A44c
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;224/28E,28C,28F
;240/6.4K,6.4W,59 ;24/211R,3R ;70/456R,456B,457 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sheridan; Robert G.
Assistant Examiner: Forsberg; Jerold M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Polachek, Saulsbury & Hough
Claims
1. A key holding device comprising a hand holding portion adapted
to be extended over the surface of a finger or hand in a safe
manner thereover, a stem portion depending from the hand attaching
portion, a laterally extending key chain holder portion on the stem
portion, a plurality of key chains connected respectively
throughout the underside of the laterally extending key chain
holding portion and means on the lower end of the key chains for
the attachment of keys thereto, said hand attaching portion
comprising a finger ring having a crown portion and an annular
finger looped portion, said stem portion depending from the finger
ring looped portion on the opposite side thereof from said crown
portion, and said crown portion containing a flashlight assembly
with switch means on the
2. A key holding device as defined in claim 1 and said laterally
extending chain link portion having a series of depending loops and
said chain links having hook means for releasable attachment to the
depending loops of the
3. A key holding device as defined in claim 1, and said stem
portion being recessed and opening through the lower face of the
laterally extending key chain supporting portion, a quick release
device detachably connected to the stem portion within the opening
thereof and an individual chain key carried on the quick release
device whereby one of the keys of the assemblage can be quickly
releasable from the device and readily quickly
4. A key chain holder device as defined in claim 1, and said ring
having a crown portion and said annular finger encircling portion
being adjustable connected at one end to the crown portion, and
depressible catch means on the crown portion engageable with the
free end of the finger encircling portion to hold the same in its
adjusted position, in the crown portion whereby the finger
encircling portion can be adapted to different size fingers.
Description
This invention relates to a key chain holder device.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a key
chain holder which can be fitted onto any portion of a hand or
finger in such a manner that the keys can still be used while on
the hand or finger without being detached from the hand so that
keys while being made ready for use are not readily lost as so
often happens when one is carrying packages and at the same time
trying to gain entrance through a locked door.
It is an other object of the invention to provide a key chain
supporting holder device having an attaching portion for the
attachment of the same to a hand either in the form of a ring or
bracelet wherein there is a crown portion in which is disposed a
flashlight assembly so that a light can be turned on to render more
easy the locating of a key in a key opening when the lock is
located in a dark place.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a key chain
holder device with a quick release means for at least one of the
keys connected to the supporting portion or stem of the device in
order that it can be separated therefrom for independent use from
the other keys as in the case of an ignition key which one might
want to hand to someone without giving them the other keys carried
on the holder device.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a holder
device in which key chains can be easily attached to the holder
device and released therefrom and in which the chains serving for
the attachment of the keys thereto are flexible and soft and easily
contained in the hand while carrying the holder device with the
keys and which are extensible to readily permit the insertion of
the key in a key opening while the device is still attached to the
hand.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a hand attaching
chain key holder device, having the above objects in mind, which is
of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, easy to
assemble, of pleasing appearance, effective and efficient in
use.
For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to
the following detailed description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination ring flashlight
with a key holder cross arm with chain key hooks depending
therefrom, one of which chain and hook being readily detachably
removable from an intermediate location on the transverse holder,
the construction being according to one form of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical and transverse sectional view of the
combination ring and key holder as viewed on line 2--2 of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the
crown and light bulb of the ring, this view being taken on line
3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the catch for
retaining the ring band in an expanded or contracted setting
fitting the different size of fingers of one's hand, the view being
taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view, in perspective and fragmentation, of
the several parts of the crown portion of the ring with its lamp
bulb and battery being shown in full.
FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of the battery and lamp bulb contained
in the crown portion of the ring.
FIG. 7 is a perspective and fragmentary view of a modified form of
the invention in which the interconnection between the battery and
lamp bulb assembly, resembling the crown of the ring of the first
form of the invention and the key chain holder is interconnected by
a stem portion, the ring chain holder being in the form of a
circular disk with a loop extending from the periphery thereof.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the circular
ring holder portion of FIG. 7 with the connecting end of one of the
hook chains dropped therefrom to show its shape and as viewed
generally on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the key holder disk
portion with illustration being made as to the manner in which the
hook chain connecting portion is connected to a dropped loop of the
holding disk.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view as viewed on line 10--10 of
FIG. 9 with a still further illustration being made of the manner
in which the hook connecting portion of the key chain is connected
with the dropped loop of the key holding disk.
FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the key connecting end of the key
chain illustrating one form or style of hook used for retaining the
keys on the chain.
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but illustrating a further
form of key hook for the key chain with keys thereon.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a bracelet having a flashlight
assembly on the upper side thereof with the bracelet being extended
from the hand with a key chain holder assembly releasably attached
to the bottom portion of the bracelet and with a combination key
ring and key holder assembly of the form of the invention shown in
FIG. 1 being shown in perspective and connected to the fourth
finger of the hand.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as viewed on line
14--14 of FIG. 13 and showing a connection of the transverse key
chain holder being detachably held upon a depending trunion by a
snap connection for the intermediate key chain removable therefrom
to release the full assembly of key chains to adapt the bracelet
for retaining a plurality of key chains or but one of them.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, 21 represents generally
the combination ring and key holder constructed according to one
form of the invention and which comprises a ring 22 consisting of a
crown assembly 23 from which there depends an annular expansible
ring portion 24 and a laterally extending key chain holder portion
25 connected to the ring band portion 24 by a stem 26 integrally
formed thereon with the laterally extending key chain holder
portion 25. The laterally extending key chain holder portion has a
plurality of depressed loops 27, four at each side of the stem 26,
arranged in pairs but can be arranged in any other manner or number
for the connection through the laterally extending portion of
respective detachable key holder chains 28 each of which chains
will have a depending snap hook 29 to which a key is attached.
The stem portion 26 is hollow and opens through the transversely
extending multiple key chain holder portion 25 as best seen in FIG.
2, and has an inverted cup-shaped fitting 31 tightly secured
therein which is adapted to releasably receive in a detachable
manner a spring biased sleeve assembly indicated generally at 32,
operable in a manner to be later described in detail, that has an
internal latch member 33 with a loop formation 34 depending from
the assemblage through which an upper attaching hook 35 of a key
chain 36 of similar construction to the key chains 28 on laterally
extending portion 25 and on the lower end of which will be provided
a hook similar to the hook 29 shown in FIG. 1 for the purpose of
the attachment of a key, such as the ignition key of an automobile
that is desired to be detached from the ring assemblage in order to
make use of the same in the ignition switch of a dashboard of an
automobile or such other key, but for best use of the same, it is
desired to be made free at times of the ring holder. This renders
the key holder versatile, time saving, by permitting the quick
release of this ignition or any other key and the quick finding of
the right key for the ignition from the feel of the assemblage of
keys. The depending key chains 28 are easily bendable and are
pliable when grasped by the fingers while the ring band portion 24
is over one of the fingers so that upon the desired key being
selected it can readily be worked by the fingers into the key hole
of the lock and the key turned therein. Thus normally the key does
not have to be removed from the assemblage. It is only when more
often a key should be removed that it is attached to the central
key chain 36. The hooks 29 as well as the chain 28 may be of
different colors for easy identification of the key attached
thereto. It can be readily seen that there has been provided a
finger ring holder to which nine keys with its chains 28 can be
attached, four on each side of the stem portion 26 and a releasable
one in the middle.
The ring portion 24 should be of a size that can fit any one of the
fingers of the hand or the fingers of any person with large or
small fingers and in order to have the ring portion 24 more
adaptable it is constructed in connection with the crown assemblage
22 such that it can be expanded or contracted as desired. This ring
portion 24 is connected integrally with the crown assembly 22 at
one side thereof as at 37 and its opposite end as indicated at 38
overlies the crown assemblage and is slide fitted into an arcuate
slot opening 38, FIGS. 2 and 4 and from its open end at the
opposite side of the crown assembly as at 39. The free end of the
ring band portion 24, as shown in FIG. 4 is provided on one side
with a series of notches 41 into which a catch 42 is extended to
hold the ring band 24 from extension and contraction and locked
within the crown assembly. In order to release the catch 42 a press
button 43 is depressed by a finger 49 in the manner illustrated in
FIG. 4 so that the catch 42 is pivoted about opposing fulcrum
points 45 and 46 provided by narrowing together sides of opening 47
containing the catch 42. The catch is generally of S-shape with a
projecting point 42' that extends into the slot 38 for engagement
in any one of the series of notches 41 in the key band portion 24.
The catch 42 is meant to provide a flat end portion 42" for flush
engagement with the inner face of the press button 43 that is held
in the catch opening 47 by its shoulder flange 43' and against
outward displacement therefrom. A leaf spring 48 is provided in the
recess 47 to underlie the catch 42 which will serve to return catch
42 after the push button 43 is depressed to urge the rounded lower
end 42' of the catch toward the side face of the ring band end.
This spring 48 will keep button 43 extended out of its opening and
its shoulder flange 43' against shoulder 49 in its opening.
The releasable detachable assembly 32 is of a type that can readily
release and includes an enlargement 33' on the end of the central
member 33 and a free slide 51 having a depression 51' with which
the enlarged head 33' can be registered for the two parts to enter
hole 52 in the bottom wall of the inverted cup shaped member 31 for
the ready insertion thereinto and upon the parts being released,
spring 53 working through a plate 54 will upon working between and
within cooperating outer and inner sleeve parts also of cup shape,
55 and 56, cause the slide part 51 and the enlarged head 33' to
overslide one another so that the enlarged head 31' will leave the
depression 51' of the part 51 and combine in such a manner as to
provide a composite enlargement inwardly of the opening 52 of the
part 31 and retain the assemblage 32 within the cup shaped part 31.
To release the part, sleeve parts 55 and 56 and the spring 53 is
worked in such a manner that the enlarged head 33' will again enter
depression 51' of part 51 so that the assemblage 32 with the chain
36 covering the ignition key, not shown, on its lower end, or some
other key of which it is desired to have it releasable from the key
ring, allow the other keys to be taken with the finger ring key
holder to another location. The ignition or other key can again be
assembled by the quick release assembly 32 being inserted into the
ring stem 26.
The chains are preferably in the form of a flexible bendable link,
not of chain links, but durable yet soft to handle, easy on the
pockets and fit well in the hand and between fingers and can even
be stretched within limits to render the key more readily
accessible into the key opening of the lock. The upper end of the
key chain 28 is in the form of a hook as best seen in FIGS. 9 and
10 which can be fastened into a depending loop 27 on the laterally
extending ring holder portion 25, with the body of the hook 28'
being sprung slightly to fit over the loop section until finally
located over and within the depending loop 27 and in a manner to
firmly hold the chain 28 in place upon the loop 27 yet to provide
for easy removal of the chain link 28 therefrom at times when it is
desired to switch key chains upon the laterally extending holder
portion 25.
As seen in FIG. 10 the lower end of the chain link 28 can have a
hook 28" into which the upper end of a key hook 29 can be similarly
extended as illustrated in FIG. 10 to open the free end of the hook
28" sufficiently to allow the key hook section to pass into the
hook 28".
As seen in FIG. 12, hook 29 may have an in group formation 29' that
can be expanded to allow the hook 29 to be assembled upon a closed
end ring of the chain link of the type shown in FIG. 1 at 28a. The
lower end of the hook 29 can be readily sprung over an enlarged end
head 29" when keys 57, one or two in number are forced into the
hook 29.
In FIG. 11, a slightly different form of hook 29a is provided where
the free end of the hook is turned inwardly as shown at 29a over
which the key 57 is inserted and slid to locate the key 57 within
the main portion of the hook 29a. The hook 29a has a looped end
29a" by which the hook 29a is connected to the closed chain link
end member 28a. It should thus be apparent that with hooked end of
the chain links with looped ends of the hooks that the chain links
with keys can be readily assembled together with the chain hooks
and the upper ends of the chain links readily assembled with the
depending loops 27 of the laterally extending key holder portion
25.
In order that the user of this key ring holder can have light in
the nighttime to find a key opening, there has been provided a
flashlight assembly 23 within the crown portion 22. The crown
portion 22 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 has a recess 58 open at
its upper end and a threaded formation 59 for receiving a
decorative retaining ring 61 for holding within the recess 58 a
lens 62, a transparent picture 63, a flat lamp bulb 64 with a
filament 65 therein, a contact plate 66, a flat battery 67 with
contact terminals on the upper and lower faces thereof, a metal
plate 68 with an elongated top switch contact 69 thereon engaging
with the lower terminal of battery 67 and an insulating plate 71 in
the bottom of the recess 58 with an open insulating ring 78
overlying the same and about the battery 67. With all these parts
in the recess 58 and retained by the clamping ring 61 in a tight
manner, the lamp bulb filament 65 may be energized to direct light
rays through the picture 63 and the lens 62, which light will be
helpful when locating a key 57 in a key opening when other light is
not available.
A side operating member or button 72 is provided in an opening 73
at one side of the crown portion 22 and it has an extension 74
engageable when forced upwardly with the rounded end portion 75 of
battery contact 69 and holds the battery circuit with the light
bulb and the button extension 74 being of metal will serve to
ground the electric circuit with the body of the crown portion
22.
The lamp bulb 64 has two oppositely disposed terminals 64' and 64".
The terminal 64' is positive and has tight fitting engagement with
the peripheral wall 66' of the positive plate 66, the wall
extending only partially throughout the extent of the periphery of
the positive plate 66. This positive plate 66 rests on positive
upper terminal 67' of the battery 66. Lower terminal 67" of battery
67 rests upon the negative terminal plate 68 and the spring contact
69 that overlies the same to provide contact end 75 for engagement
by the extended end 74 of the grounding switch 72. This grounding
plate 68 is insulated on the bottom insulated plate 71 in the
recess 58 in the ring crown portion and is held against contact
with the metal wall of the recess 58 by the insulating ring 78. The
terminal 64" of the lamp bulb 64 is grounded by contact with the
metal wall surface of the recess 58 of the crown portion. As seen
in FIG. 6 the adjusting of the grounding switch 72 closes the
electric circuit to the lamp bulb 64 and the battery 67. The switch
72 established ground into the body of the crown portion and closes
the circuit through the terminal 64" of the lamp bulb 64 which is
grounded with the side wall of the recess. Accordingly, there has
been provided in this crown portion of the ring key holder a
flashlight that can be turned on to assist in the locating of the
key in the key opening at times when the opening cannot be readily
seen. Thus the ring key holder not only provides for a simple
assemblage of keys but also for the purposes of providing light for
the use of the keys. The glow of the filament 65 of the lamp bulb
64 will pass through the picture 63 and the lens 62 and through the
lens 62 to be concentrated upon the key hole. The light will be
sufficient for this purpose. The keys by being on a finger ring and
the ring being such as to readily adjust upon the finger to make
available the light will keep in the hands of the user both the key
and the light when reaching for carrying articles and should
thereby eliminate the problem of easily dropping keys when hurrying
with packages and the problem of losing keys when they enter
inaccessible openings and are lost.
Turning now particularly to the form of the invention shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a combination light and key holder
which can be carried in the hand with safety and in such a manner
as to prevent the keys from being dropped even though a ring
portion is dispensed with. This combination, by the provision of
two enlarged portions and a central stem can be readily held
between fingers closed upon one another and thereby minimize the
occasion for dropping the same.
This form of the invention provides a light head portion 81 formed
of similar parts to that provided of the ring crown portion 22 but
instead of having an annular ring portion 24 connected thereto
there is depended from the bottom of the flashlight portion 81, a
central stem 82 that is integrally formed with the underside and
has at its lower end a circular key holder plate portion 83. The
length of the stem portion 82 and the distance between the light
portion 81 and the key plate 83 is about the distance of the
diameter of fingers so that upon the holder being disposed between
the fingers, the key plate portion 83 may overlie the palm of the
hand while the light portion will overlie the outer sides of the
fingers so that a light can be directed through lens 84 on the
front face thereof upon the key opening with little adjustment of
the combination holder in the fingers. The stem 83 may be shorter
to make it more compact for pocket, hand, or purse. The light
portion 81 has a grounding switch member 85 that is accessible from
one side of the light portion 81 and can be slid in its slot 86 to
effect a grounding of a combined lamp and battery circuit in a
manner illustrated in the wiring diagram of FIG. 6, the same as in
the grounding switch operating member 72 has been slid to the
grounding position.
The key holder plate has a plurality of downwardly struck loops 87
surrounding the plate portion and circumferentially equally spaced
from one another, there being some eight loops so that eight key
chains or eight keys can be attached to the plate portion 83. The
keys will be provided upon flexible chain links 28 that can be
attached to the loops by their upper ends 28' in the form of
expandable hooks that can be fitted into the loops in a manner
illustrated in FIG. 9 with these links 28 depending therefrom the
keys hold on the lower ends of the same in the manner shown in FIG.
1, 11 and 12 and can be made readily accessible. A large loop 88
extends laterally outwardly from the peripheral edge of the plate
portion 83 to provide an opening by which this combined light and
key holder may be hung over a hook on a wall at times when the
person has no need for the keys. It should thus be seen that
control of the keys can be kept with this arrangement as with the
ring arrangement when moving with the keys and with packages or
articles in hand so that they are not readily dropped or lost.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is shown a
combination bracelet and key holder assemblage constructed
generally to this form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but
having a bracelet as the ring for the placing of the keys on or
about the hand and over the arm for safe retention. A bracelet band
91 adapted to fit over the hand and upon the arm carries a key
holder plate 92 that is held in place upon a depending hollow stem
93 integrally formed upon the outer wall of the bracelet and by a
releasable assembly 94 similar to the assembly 32 of the ring shown
in FIG. 2. This quick detachable assembly 94 holds in place upon
the stem 93 a curved key holder plate conforming generally in
curvature to the bracelet band 91 as indicated at 95. This key
holder has a hub portion 96 that is slide fitted over the exterior
surface of the stem portion 93 and by engagement with the ends of
the hub by a flange 97 on one of the assembly members and with the
enlarged portion 98 extended through opening 99 in the inner end of
closed cup shape member 101 not only will the key carried upon the
flexible chain link 102 connected by its upper end member 103 with
eye portion 104 of the quick release assembly 94 will hold the
curved key supporting plate 95 upon the stem portion 93. Thus the
entire assemblage can be adapted for carrying a plurality of keys
as upon the curved key holding plate 95 or can carry but one key as
upon the quick release assembly 94 or as desired both the keys of
the key holding portion 95 and of the quick release 94 can be held
in one complete assemblage as best shown in FIG. 13. The key holder
plate can also swivel upon the bracelet so as to render the keys 57
more accessible while even keeping the bracelet upon the hand. For
use, the bracelet may be slid upwardly over the back of the hand
and the keys 57 can be grasped with the fingers without releasing
the bracelet from the arm. On the top of the bracelet is a
flashlight opening 107 through which light rays can be projected as
illustrated in FIG. 13 by pressing a button 108 on the top thereof
with a finger. Within this portion of the band and permitted by an
enlargement thereof is a combined lamp bulb and battery circuit
arrangement whose circuit can be closed by depressing the button
108. The key link holder plate 95 while being curved does have
loops 95' on which flexible key chain links 109 in the manner
already described with the connection of the key links 28 with the
loops 27 of the plate 25 in the finger ring combination 21. Thus it
can be seen that all forms of the invention have the one purpose in
mind of providing some means of holding the key, either on the
finger, between the fingers, on the hand and arm so that one
carrying bundles cannot readily lose control of the keys and at the
same time provide an arrangement whereby the keys can be used while
the ring, bracelet, or combined arrangement is still firmly
attached to the hand and without the need of removing the same from
the fingers or hand to make use of the key. The keys are readily
accessible to the fingers while the combination device is still on
the fingers or hand. Also at the same time, it should be apparent
that a light has been provided that will be helpful in dark
places.
While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it
shall be understood that such changes will be within the spirit and
scope of the present invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *