US2846866A - Key container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1958 D. H|LL` KEY CONTAINER Filedpeo. s1, 195s INVEN TOR. H/ L L DA V/D HIS A TVTURA/Eys United States Patent() KEY CONTAINER David Hill, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1953, Serial No. 401,593

4 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) My invention relates to a key container, and more particularly to one of the type which provides for selective release of a particular key without disturbing the remaining keys in such container.

Among the objects of my invention are: l

(1) To provide a novel and improved key container;

(2) To provide a novel and improved key container of the type which permits of selective release of any of a plurality of keys in such container;

(3) To provide a novel and improved key container in which the key retaining and key release means are an integral part of a molded case;

(4) To provide a novel and improved key container of molded plastic' construction;

(5) To provide a novel and improved key container having many desirable features of construction and which lends itself to economical manufacture.

Additional objects of my invention Will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l isa three-dimensional view of my invention in its preferred form;

Figure 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the device of Figure l, depicting internal details of construction;

Figure 3 is a view of one half of the device of Figure l, depicting the manner of holding keys therein;

Figure 4 is a View in section, taken in the plane 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in section, taken in the plane 5-5 of Figure l; v

Figure 6 is a view in section, taken in the plane 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the s-ame comprises a pair of plates 1 and 3 of substantially rectangular form and which may be of identical construction, so designed as to be complementary when one is reversed and mounted in superposed relationship to the other.

With this in mind, each of such plates adjacent each of a pair of diagonal corners, is provided with a pivot post 7 for pivotally holding a key 9 to be carried in such container.

Adjacent the remaining diagonal corners of the plate, the plate is formed with integral blocks 11, each of which is provided with a recess 13 so located as to receive a pivot post 7 of the opposing plate, when two such plates are assembled in the manner previously indicated. The post and blocks in their assembled relationship provide spacing means between the plates adjacent the four corners thereof.

Corresponding spacing between plates, centrally thereof, is provided by a central boss 15 on each plate of a height equal to half the spacing.

The two halves of the container may be removably assembled by holding them together with a pair of removable clips 14 of U-shape adapted to frictionally straddle Hee the ends of the container, grooves being preferably provided in the container walls to retain said clips against shifting and to partially submerge them.

Keys pivotally assembled on the posts 7 are retained within the container by means which is purely frictional as distinguished from stop walls or the like. In accordance with the present invention such friction holding means is in the form of a tongue 17, for each such key, the tongue being anchored at one end to an edge of an opening 19 in the container and extending across the shank of its associated key in close spaced relationship to its side of the container. Each such tongue preferably terminates adjacent an edge ofthe container so that a key may readily and conveniently bel urged within the frictional grasp of a tongue without complicating the container design by resorting to edge notches etc.

With a key so held, its release may be realized merely by flexing or otherwise displacing the tongue away from yits side of the container and permitting the key to swing out of the case by gravity. To effect such movement of the tongue, provision is made for depressing the tongue by the application of finger pressure thereto from outside of the container. This is made possible by extending the anchored end of the tongue up through its associated opening to form a pressure tab 21. These tabs may be numbered or embossed in some manner to identify the keys released thereby.

An important aspect of the key container of the present invention is the fact that both halves of the case are identical, and that the half case including the tongues and pressure tabs may be molded of plastic and in one piece. This not only makes for economy in the manufacture of the device, but the integral molding of the tongues results in these tongues being flexibly anchored thus enabling the pressure tabs to perform their function in releasing keys.

It is furthernoted that the use of clips facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the device and eliminates completely the use of rivets or machine screws.

It will be apparent that the invention as described in its preferred form, fulfills all the objects listed therefor, and while I have described my invention in its preferred form and in considerable detail, the same is subject to alteration land modication without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I, accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details as I have illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A key container comprising a pair of opposed pl-ates, at least one having a pivot post integral therewith on which to pivotally mount a key, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchored at one end to one of them and extending across the shank position of a key when mounted on said post and lying Within the container, to frictionally retain such key within the container, said resiliently anchored tongue permitting manual displacement thereof away from its retaining position to free `a frictionally held key for pivotal movement out of said container by gravity.

2. A key container comprising a pair of opposed plates, at least one having a pivot post integral therewith on which to pivotally mount a key, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchored at one end to one of them and extending to an edge thereof across the shank position of a key when mounted on said post and lying within the container to frictionally retain such key within the container, and means for displacing said tongue away from its retaining position to free a frictionally held key for pivotal movement out of said container by gravity, said means including an extension of said tongue Udiagonal corners on which to pivotally mount a key, a

-spacer means adjacent' each of the remaining cornersV and integral with said plate,'said spacer means serving to 'maintain said plates in'spaced relationship, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchored at 'one end to one of them and extending to an edge thereof across the shank position of a key when mounted on one ofsaid posts and lying within the container, to frictionally retain such key within the container, additional tongues similarly anchored and disposed with respect to the shank positions *of other keys, each of said resiliently anchored tongues permitting manual displacement thereof away from its retaining position to free a frictionally held key for'p'ivotal-movement'out of said container by gravity. 4'. A key container comprising a pair of opposed plates v each having an integral pivot post in each of a pair of ldiagonal corners on which to pivotally mount a key,

integral spacer means adjacent each of the remaining corners, said spacer means serving to maintain said plates in spaced relationship, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchored at one end to one of them and extending to an edge thereof across the shank position of a key when mounted on one of saidposts and lying within said container, to frictionally retain such key within the container, additional tongues similarly anchored and disposed with respect to the shank positions of other keys, and means for displacing a tongue away from its retaining position to free a frictionally held key for pivotal movement out of said container by gravity, said means including an extension of said tongue up through an opening in the plate to Which said tongue is anchored.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,766,599 Cahill June 24, 1930 2,029,696 Bennett Feb. 4, 1936 2,274,820 Bills Mar. 3, 1942 2,387,319 Evans Oct. 23, 1945 2,433,644 Bennetch Dec. 30,1947 2,479,524 Tarbox Aug. 16, 1949 2,517,500 McPherson et al Aug. 1,1950 2,657,569 Hill Nov. 3,'1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 424,172v Italy Aug. 8, 1947

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