US2362280A - Snap key ring - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7; 1944.

G. J. KOLLOCK SNAP KEY RING I Filed De c. 2, 1942 Patented Nov. 7, 1 944 Y UNITE-D PATENT OFFICE SNA I KEY R IJNG I v v I j George Kol'lock, Fulton QountyQ' iGa. 7 Application December 2, 1942', Serial No...467,65 3- I I ca germ-456) o This invention broadly relatesto key'holding devices, and more particularly'to a new improved key ring. or the like, from which individual .keys may be detached, or keys'added'; with'a minimum of efiort, the device at the same time preserving alldesired safety factors. v Heretofore, sundrykey rings have been proposed, such running the gamut-from simple inthose proposed to date have-been comparatively complex and rigid; requiring considerable manip ulation toeffect the foregoingresult.

It is often desirable, as when leaving a car in a parking lot or like place where it is required.

that theignition'key remain in the lock, to disassociate said key from others on the ring, thereby tending to guarantee the "exclusion of unauthorized persons from the cars trunk, dash compartment, gas' tank and the like. Aside from the factor of time required to efiect such removal, it is sometimes considered embarrassin to be too obvious in such action, because of a possibly implied reflection upon the parking lot; and accordingly, many persons are in the habit of simply leaving all the keys in the car and taking; the. consequences;

It is likewise apparent that sundry other occasions arise when it is desirable or convenient to detach a key or keys from their carrying ring, as for example, in the home, when one member of the familywhe does not have a pass key is going out, and it becomes incumbent upon another member of the household to temporarily provide such party with a key fromthe bunch regularly carried by him. This factor is becoming increasingly important at the present time when it is difiicult to secure new keys because of the shortage of blanks therefor. Other instances in which it is desirable to quickly disassociate a given key from a ring, readily suggest themselves.

An object of the instant invention is to, provide a key ring from which keys may be readily disengaged.

Another object is to provide a snap ring to which keys may be attached with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide a key ring of the foregoing type, which is positive in its operation.

A=still further object is to provide safety and dependability in such a key ring.

Another. object-is to afford simplicity of con.- struction in a snap key ring,

Another object i to provide economy facture in such a device. J

. Another object is to disclose a form of snap key ring which may be incorporated ina conventional. holderor case. i

These and other objects made apparent during the furtherprogress of this specification are accomplished by means of my snap key ring; a

of manufull and complete understanding of which is Fig. 2 is aside ele-vational view of the structure illustrated: in Fig; 1 a key bein'gshown in place;

Fig.3 is an. end view. of the structure illustrated in Fig.v 2, showing a, key; in normal carrying position; f

Fig. 4 is 'a top view of the structure shown. in 1. '2 a l ;Fig..;5-lis a horizontal sectional view of the casel esskey ring, particularly adapted for use with automobile keys. g I

Fig. 8 is a front View of the device illustrated in Fig. 7,and

Fig. 9 is a side view in vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 8, said 'view being taken along the line 99 of said figure, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that my snap key ring comprises a resilient holder H! formed from spring wire or other suitable material having the desired characteristics,

there preferably being formed at one end of the device a spiral element H having an opening I2 in its central portion f somewhat greater diameter than the wire, said wire then being bent to form a coil spring l3 at a suitable point, upon which the wire is carried around to form a locking arm 14, the blunt end l5 of which normally centers in opening l2, being held therein by the tension of spring IS.

The ring is then mounted in a suitable case I6, such as the leather covering suggested by the drawing, said case being provided with a convenin perspective showing my de-- tional eyelet l1 whereby it may be closed and serve to protect the pocket of a user against undesirable wear.

In operation, when it is desired to remove a key such as [8 from the ring, said key is transferred from a position such as that suggested by Fig. 3, to that of Fig. 6, where it is shown grasped firmly between the thumb and forefinger, the upper or handle portion of the key resting at a point immediately adjacent the inner fiat surface of spiral element ll. While the ring itself is held in the other hand, pressure is now exerted upon II by urging the key against this point, thereby overcoming the tension of spring l3 and opening such, with the resultant withdrawal of end Hi from opening l2, it then being possible to remove the key through the clearance provided, upon which the key ring automatically snaps back to its former position.

Insertion of keys on the ring is effected in sub-.

stantially the same manner, suificient pressure being exerted against H to cause end of arm M to be slightly withdrawn from the opening in said spiral, upon which the key is brought into register with the end of the arm and said end caused to snap through the conventional hole in the key and assume a normal operative position with reference to II.

Either of the foregoing operations may be accomplished quickly and easily and with what amounts to a simple twist of the wrist; it having been found that a pressure of from two to three pounds as determined by the strength of spring 13, is optimum in effecting the desired result.

Reference is now made to the structure disclosed in Fig-'7, which represents a somewhat simplified form of my invention, contemplated to be used primarily with car keys, although no limitation is implied in this connection. This ring is likewise fabricated from material having suitable resilience, as for example, metal or a selected plastic, and consists of a continuous member 19 having a spiral 20 formed at one end thereof and there being provided an opening 2| in the center of said spiral of a diameter or size slightly exceeding that of the main body of the element itself.

The wire of the metal from which the key ring is fabricated, is carried downwardly from 20 to form a coil spring 22, and then carried horizontally, upwardly, and finally returned horizontally to seat in and engage opening at its end or point of termination, 23.

The operation of this device is simple and readily apparent, pressure upon spiral 20 by key 24, tending to withdraw 23 from opening 2|, and thereby permit the removal of a key from, or ad dition of such to the ring, with a minimum of efiort. To remove the key ring from an ignition key in an automobile without turning oiT the motor, it is simply necessary to grasp the ring and press the inner surface of spiral 20, against the key until end 23 is pulled through said key, upon which the ring may be readily withdrawn. This is accomplished by a simple snap movement, which attracts no attention, requires no light, adjustment, or other assistance-the operation being one sounding essentially in feeland which represents a most efficient means of de taching a key from its customary holder.

It is likewise apparent that my snap key ring may be economically manufactured with the use of a minimum quantity of material, its very simplicity insuring this. There are no parts to lose, no parts to adjust and no parts to replace. In addition, the ring is adaptable to holding a larger number of keys than is the case with most holders now on the market, particularly those contemplating an individual mounting for each key.

While I have described in some detail herein, two forms of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not propose to limit myself thereby, but on the contrary intend that the basic concepts involved, whether embodied in other and different forms and/or fabricated from other materials than those suggested herein by way of illustration; shall be fully protected by the appended claim which is to be accorded an interpretation and scope fairly in keeping with my contribution to the art.

I claim:

A snap key ring comprising a continuous wire' element having a spiral formed at one end thereof, an aperture in said spiral slightly larger than the diameter of the opposite end ofsaid wire, a coil spring formed from said wire intermediate said spiral and said opposite end, an arm extendingfrom said spring, the end of said arm normally seating within said aperture and being held in position by virtueof tension exerted by said spring, whereby the key ring is closed or locked.

GEORGE J. KOLLOCK.

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