US4091646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Holder for keys and the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-06-27
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Granted: 1978-05-30
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Expires: 1997-06-27
Abstract
Abstract Two elements are hinged together by one end thereof and are detachably locked by the other ends to form the key holder. The detachable locking means includes in one embodiment, a cylindrical member having a slot therein and being screw threaded on the outer surface. The engaging ends of the element are kinked or misaligned and will enter the slots. A closure nut is screw threadably engageable on the screw threaded outer surface of the cylindrical member thus closing the slot. The outer side of the nut is apertured to permit free rotation of the nut on the element but preventing axial disengagement of the element from the nut when engaged on the cylindrical member. Another embodiment is provided with detachable locks at each adjacent pair of ends of the holder with the slots on one side being a relatively loose fit to permit the other ends to be displaced sideways from one another when the lock of the one ends are disconnected so that keys can be removed or replaced upon the holder.
Inventors
- 👤 George Sugimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:23
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B15/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/80; Y10T70/8432; Y10T70/8676; Y10T70/8757
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A holder for keys and the like comprising in combination a pair of curved rod-like elements, means pivotally connecting adjacent one ends of the elements together and detachable locking means connecting adjacent other ends of the elements together, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said elements, and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member and extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said other element along one side of said member, to a point spaced from said end of said member, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, an fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member, and means on said other element restraining displacement of said other element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A holder for keys and the like comprising in combination a pair of curved rod-like elements, means pivotally connecting adjacent one ends of the elements together and detachable locking means connecting adjacent other ends of the elements together, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said elements, and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member and extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said other element along one side of said member, to a point spaced from said end of said member, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, an fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member, and means on said other element restraining displacement of said other element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said fastening means takes the form of a nut having an apertured end plate on one side thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said means on said element restraining displacement of said element includes a portion adjacent said one end of said other element being displaced axially from said element, said portion engaging within said slot whereby said nut restrains endwise movement of said element from said member when said nut is engaged with said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 3 in which said projection is formed by distorting said portion to form a kinked end to said element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said one element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said one element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 3 in which said cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said one element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 4 in which said cylindrical element is detachably secured to said end of said one element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 3 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 4 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 5 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 6 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 7 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
205 words
The invention according to claim 8 in which said means for connecting adjacent one ends together also comprises detachable locking means connected adjacent said one ends of said elements, said detachable locking means including a substantially cylindrical member, means securing same to the end of one of said one elements and means detachably securing same to the end of the other of said one elements, said last mentioned means including a slot formed in said member extending from the end of said member adjacent said end of said one element, along one side of said member to a point spaced from said end, the outer wall of said member through which said slot is formed, being screw threaded, and fastening means freely engaging said other element and screw threadably engaging said screw threaded outer wall of said member and means on said element restraining displacement of said element from said member when said fastening means is screw threadably engageable with said member as aforesaid, the width of said slot being sufficient to permit rotational displacement of said other ends of said elements one from the other when said other ends are disconnected, whereby keys and the like may be installed and removed from said elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-29 | 1981-11-28 | 1982-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-29 | 1985-11-28 | 1986-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-29 | 1989-11-28 | 1990-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |