Abstract:
A key holding device for holding at least one key containing a first compartment for holding a key and a second compartment for holding a strap. A clasp is mounted to the key and a cap is used to attach the clasp to the strap. The key is inserted and locked inside the first compartment using a locking mechanism. To access the key, the bottom end of the clasp is pressed to disengage the locking mechanism to unlock and remove the key from the compartment. The key can be rotated and configured for insertion into the desired device. The key can be easily removed from the case by detaching the cap from the clasp. Once removed, the strap retracts inside the second compartment by a biasing mechanism.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a key holding device for holding multiple keys. More particularly, the present invention relates to a key holding device having multiple compartments to store and easily access keys for use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are numerous key storage cases designed for carrying in a purse or pocket. These key cases often contain a housing having multiple slots to store a key; however, there are numerous disadvantages with these configurations. For example, if the user desires to have a key case capable of storing multiple keys, the devices become bulky and inconvenient to store in a pocket or purse. Additionally, many key holding devices are difficult to open and close and require the use of two hands and excessive manipulation to separate the desired key, then to turn that key with the cut side up or down to fit inside the desired device. This is especially burdensome when a user is carrying other objects and has only one free hand to access a key. 
     The present invention is designed to overcome these disadvantages by providing a key case capable of holding multiple keys in a compact fashion so as to allow the user to easily and comfortably carry such devices in a small purse or a pocket having simple operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a key holding device whereby a multiplicity of keys can be stored inside a key storage area. Each key is stored in a separate compartment, cut side up or down as needed, and is attached to the device by use of a hanger assembly. The hanger assembly includes a clasp attached to a key and a strap to connect the clasp and key to the key holding device. The hanger assembly allows the user to place the key between a storage position, where the key is locked inside the key holding chamber, and a use position, where the key is freely positioned outside the chamber in order to be inserted into the desired device. 
     While in the storage position, a user can disengage a locking mechanism, which locks and holds the key inside the key holding chamber. Once unlocked, the hanger assembly and key can be pulled outward until the key is completely removed from the key storage area. At this point, the key can be pivoted and rotated for insertion into the desired device. A biasing mechanism retracts a portion of the strap inside the key holding device to shorten the exposed portion of the strap. If it is desired to remove the key from the device, a cap, located on the top portion of the clasp, can be removed thus separating the key from the hanger assembly. Upon separation, the biasing mechanism retracts the strap and cap inside the key holding device in a locked position. To re-attach the key to the hanger assembly, the hanger is pulled outward from the device and the cap is re-connected to the clasp. 
     After use, the key is rotated and pivoted so that it is aligned with a slot opening on the key holding chamber. Once aligned, key is then inserted inside the device for storage. 
     The key holding device is designed to accommodate multiple keys and can have various configurations. Keys can be inserted from the top end of the device and/or the bottom end of the device. The number of keys is directly related to the desired size of the overall case. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the key holding device illustrating a key removed from a key holding compartment. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key holding device illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a compartment of the key holding device in FIG. 1 illustrating a key in the storage position. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section view of a compartment of the key holding device in FIG. 1 illustrating the key extended from the storage position. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section view of a compartment of the key holding device in FIG. 1 illustrating the key in the use position. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section view of a compartment of the key holding device in FIG  1  illustrating the key separated from the hanger and the strap fully retracted inside the case. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, key case  10  includes a key storage area or cavity  12  formed by a first housing wall  14 , a second housing wall  16 , an end cap  18  and a bottom cap  20 . A key  22  is connected to case  10  by a hanger assembly  24  to allow the key to be placed between a storage position (FIG.  3 ), where the key is locked inside the storage area  12 , and a use position (FIG.  5 ), where the key is removed from storage area  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, first housing wall  14  and second housing wall  16  are connected together by aligning tubular threaded openings  26  and  28  on wall  14  with openings  26  and  28  on wall  16  (only one opening  26  is illustrated on wall  16 ). Once aligned, screws  31  are inserted in the aligned openings to fasten housing walls  14  and  16  together to prevent separation. Threaded opening  26  and  28  protrude outward from housing walls  14  and  16  into chamber  12  and are of sufficient length so that exterior annular ridge  30  fits inside interior annular ridge  32  to provide a snug fit when assembling housing walls  14  and  16 . Tubular threaded openings  26  and  28  are formed along the outer edges of chamber  12  to prevent interference when storing keys inside chamber  12 . A cover  34  is placed inside cavity  35  and is attached to housing walls  14  and  16  to cover openings  26 . Cover  34  is preferably fabricated from a flexible material and can be clear so that a small photo or other writing can be placed inside cavity  35  and covered by cover  34 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, end cap  18  is placed on the top end  36  of storage area  12  and a bottom cap  20  is placed on the bottom end  38  of storage area  12 . End cap  18  contains multiple slots  40  which are used to guide keys  22  inside storage area  12 . Slot  40  is formed by slot side boundaries  42  which have sloped or “v” shaped configurations in order to allow the user to grasp and unlock the key from the storage area (discussed in detail below). Other shapes and configurations of side boundaries  42  can be used including for example, semicircular shaped boundaries as long as a sufficient opening is present to allow the user to grasp the key from the slot. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, end cap  18  contains four slots  40 , however, it should be realized by one of ordinary skill in the art that a greater or fewer number of slots  40  can be used depending on the desired size (i.e., the thickness) of storage area  12 . End cap  18  also includes a cross support  44  that extends across the width of slot  40  and separates the adjacent slots. In addition to separating slots  40 , cross support  44  acts as an additional support for cap  18 . Bottom cap  20  is configured to enclose bottom end  38  of case  10  and has a flat surface in order to rest key case  10  in an upright and vertical position. 
     In yet another embodiment, bottom cap  20  is replaced with a second end cap  18  so that additional keys  22  can be inserted inside storage area  12  from both top end  36  and bottom end  38 , as seen in FIGS. 3-6. In the end cap illustrated in FIG. 2, slots  40  on cap right side  18 R are slightly offset from openings on cap left side  18 L. Referring specifically to openings  40  on cap left side  18 L, opening  40  is offset from cap front end  18 F a distanced slightly greater than the corresponding slot  40  on cap right side  18 R. Thus, when key case  10  contains a cap  18  on each end (i.e., top end  36  and bottom end  38 ), caps  18  can be attached such that keys  22  will be offset while inserted inside key storage area  12 . In this offset configuration, the key ends are prevented from contacting each other when fully inserted inside storage area  12 . End cap  18  is connected to walls  14  and  16  by placing mounting arms  46  underneath a protrusion  48  when walls  14  and  16  are connected during assembly. 
     A clasp  50  attaches to key  22  and contains two opposed and spaced apart sidewalls  52  separated by transverse support member  54 . Support member  54  provides sufficient clearance to insert key  22  between sidewalls  52 . Each clasp sidewall  52  contains an opening  56  for alignment with opening  58  on key  22  (FIGS.  3 - 6 ). Once aligned, a left vise  60  and a right vise  62  are aligned and inserted through clasp sidewall openings  56 . Each vise is shaped to fit snug inside clasp sidewall opening  56  when properly mounted. Vises  60  and  62  contain an upper portion  64  that contains a threaded opening  66  to receive a screw  68 . Vises  60  and  62  both contain a rounded lower portion where an extension  70  is attached such that the extensions are aligned and inserted through opening  58  on key  22  to connect key  22  to vises  60  and  62 . In a preferred embodiment, extensions  70  contain a small circular cross section in order to allow attachment to any size or shape of opening  58 . As extensions  70  are aligned through opening  58  and threaded openings  66  on vises  60  and  62  are adjacent and aligned with each other, screw  68  is inserted therein to lock the vises together to prevent key  22  from separating from between sidewalls  52 . 
     Because key  22  can vary in thicknesses, key pads  72  are optionally mounted between left vise  60 , right vise  62  and key  22  to act as “spacers.” Spacers  66  contain a semicircular cut-out  74  along the bottom boundary for mounting above extensions  70  and have a top boundary  76  to mate with a flat ridge  78 , located on the bottom surface of vise top portion  64 . Spacers  72  are used, if needed, to maintain a fixed relation between key  22  and clasp  50 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, hanger assembly  24  attaches key  22  to key case  10 . Hanger assembly includes a flexible wire strap  80  connected to a cap  82  by a ball joint  84 . Ball joint  84  includes a spherical end  86  connected to a first end  88  of strap  80  for placement inside a cavity  90 . Clasp  50  contains a cavity  90  on the right and left side to allow the user to connect cap  82  and spherical end  86  on either side of clasp  50 , whichever is necessary. Referring specifically to FIG. 6, the diameter of sphere  86  is slightly larger than opening  92  to prevent cap  82  from separating from strap first end  88 . Ball joint  84  permits cap  82  to be pivotably mounted to strap  80  so that key  22  can rotate and pivot during use. Cap  82  is attached to clasp  50  by snapping cap ends  94  around clasp transverse support member  54 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, an interior sidewall  96  forms a hollow strap compartment  98  to house strap  80 . As seen in FIGS. 3-5, strap compartment  98  extends the entire height of case  10  so that strap  80  can be stored therein while in the storage position (FIG.  3 ). When in the storage position, as seen in FIG. 3, strap first end  88  extends outside strap compartment  98  through opening  100 . The diameter of opening  100  is slightly larger than the diameter of strap  80  so that the strap can slide through the opening (FIGS.  3 - 5 ). A retainer ring  102  located on strap second end  104  prevents strap  80  from disconnecting with key case  10  when fully extended from strap compartment  88 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates keys  22  stored and locked in the storage position by locking mechanism  106 . Locking mechanism  106  includes a cavity  108 , located on clasp lower end  110  and is configured to receive locking extension  112 , found on protrusion  48  located on interior of first and second housing walls  14  and  16  (FIG.  2 ). Clasp lower ends  110  are fabricated from a flexible material so that as the user removes the key from the storage position, the user can insert a finger between side boundaries  42  to apply a slight forced to ends  110  to separate cavity  108  from extension  112 . This provides sufficient clearance to remove key  22  from storage area  12 . 
     As key  22  is removed from storage area  12  (FIGS.  4 - 5 ), a biasing mechanism or spring  114 , located between opening  100  and retainer ring  102 , is compressed. Spring  114  is sized to fit around flexible strap  80  and extend from strap first  88  end to strap second end  104 . Strap compartment  98  is sufficiently sized such that the width prevents the spring from tangling or bending apart from wire strap  80 . Once the entirety of key  22  is removed from storage area  12 , the key is turned (FIG. 4) and pivoted (FIG. 5) so key  22  can be inserted into the desired device. While in the use position (FIG.  5 ), spring  114  expands to partially retract strap  80  inside strap compartment  98 . The length of spring  114 , while key  22  is in the use position, is dependent upon the weight of case  10  in combination with the keys stored inside storage area  12 . This reduces the amount of slack from wire strap  80  in order to provide a more compact device. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates key  22  removed from hanger  24 . Removal of key  22  requires the user to disengage cap  82  from transverse support member  54  by applying a slight force to cap end  94  sufficient to deform the cap to remove it from transverse support member  54 . Once removed, spring  114  retracts strap  80  inside strap compartment  98 , as seen in FIG. 6, where it is locked in place. 
     Key case  10  can be fabricated from any suitable material such as plastic or metal. Furthermore, key case  10  can be fabricated to accommodate as few as one key, depending on the desired size. 
     Alternatively, cover  34  (FIGS. 1 and 2) can be replaced with a door to define an entranceway for a second separate compartment in storage area  12  (not shown) to store small items such as jewelry or make-up, etc. This separate compartment can used to store other accessories such as a garage door opener, a flash light, a digital clock, a car security system remote, etc. Additionally, an external pocket (not shown) can replace cover  34  so that credit cards, drivers licenses, cash and other objects can be stored. 
     When multiple slots  40  are used, an identifier (not shown) can be placed adjacent each slot to allow the user to determine which slot to access. Preferably, each slot is identified by a raised portion on walls  14  and  16  adjacent to each slot  40  such that when the user desires to select a key, the user touches the raised portion to identify corresponding slot  40 . Additionally, identifiers can be placed on top of hanger cap  82 . 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Description of the Preferred Embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.