Abstract:
A key storage and organization unit includes a lockbox and a set of key file cards for retaining and storing keys in an organized manner. The lockbox includes a base and a cover that are secured by two closure latching members. When the two closure latching members are applied to the base and cover, a single locking mechanism can be applied to secure the lockbox. The lockbox is designed to receive multiple locking mechanisms, each capable of securing access to the lockbox.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/521,220 filed on Mar. 12, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a key storage and organization unit, and more specifically, a lockbox that can secure a number of keys in an organized manner with a single lock or with multiple locks.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Keys for various objects, such as doors, equipment, or locks, are often stored in a central location so that numerous persons can obtain access to the keys. However, in some situations it is desirable to prevent people from accessing the central key storage bin. This might be the case for general security measures or for safety measures, such as when access to a locked area or piece of equipment has the potential to place someone at risk of injury. In such cases, it may be desirable to secure the central storage bin with multiple locks to ensure that each person is out of harms way prior to granting access to the keys in the central storage bin. It is also often desirable to provide a means for organizing the keys stored in the central storage bin.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art safety lockbox. As can be seen from the drawing, the lockbox includes a central bin and a lid that closes the central bin. Holes align on the lid and bin align to allow a lock to secure the lid to the bin. However, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a person can still gain access to the central bin even when a lock is applied to the lid of the central bin. In addition, the safety lockbox of  FIG. 1  does not provide any means for organizing the keys storage in the central bin.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A key storage and organization unit is provided herein. The key storage and organization unit provides a means for securing keys with a single locking mechanism or with multiple locking mechanisms. As long as at least one locking mechanism is applied, access to the keys stored in the unit is denied. In one embodiment the key storage and organization unit includes a lockbox having a base, cover and closure latching member. The key storage and organization unit may also include one or more key file cards for securing and organizing the keys being stored in the unit. In some embodiments, the cover includes a key slot that allows keys to be dropped into the unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     In the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below serve to illustrate the principles of this invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art lockbox.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lockbox of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the lockbox closure mechanism.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a lockbox in the closed position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a lockbox in the opened position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a key drop slot.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the key drop slot of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of a key file card.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates the handle portion of the key file card shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates the key retention portion of the key file card.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the key retention portion of the key file card shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a lockbox of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the lockbox shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the lockbox shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  illustrates a second embodiment of a key file card. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a safety lockbox  10 . The lockbox  10  secures a number of keys in a central storage bin which can closed and locked. When the lockbox is closed and locked, a person can not gain access to the keys stored in the central storage bin. A single lock can be used to effectuate a lockout and prevent a person from accessing the keys stored therein. The lockbox can accept multiple locks, wherein each of the locks needs to be removed in order to gain access to the keys within the lockbox. In addition, the lockbox provides means for organizing the keys stored within the lockbox.  
         [0023]     The lockbox  10  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a bulk storage area that can be used to house one or more key file cards  20  or individual keys  30 . Use of the key file cards  20  allows the keys  30  to be stored and organized in a systematic way as discussed in further detail below.  
         [0024]     The lockbox  10  includes closure latching members  40 , a cover  42  and a lower body  44 . The cover  42  can either be a removable component or hingedly attached to the lower body  44 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The closure latching members  40  of the safety lock box  10  secure the cover  42  to the lower body  44 . In order to secure the cover  42  to the lower body  44 , the closure latching members secure an edge  46  on the cover  42  under flange  48  on the closure latching members  40 . This is best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , when cover  42  is closed and the latching members  40  positioned with the flange  48  over the edge  46 , the closure latching members  40  captures the flange  49  on the safety lock box body  44 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the closure latching members  40  secure the cover  42  to the main body  44  substantially around the periphery of the lock box and along each side of the finger grip  50 .  
         [0025]     When the closure latching members  40  are positioned to secure the cover  42  to the main body  44 , the shackle holes  55  on the closure latching members  40  line up with the shackle holes  56  on the flange  49  of the safety lock box body  44 . When the respective shackle holes  55 ,  56  align, a padlock, hasp, or other locking mechanism  60  can be placed through the shackle holes. Once the locking mechanism  60  is in place, the closure latching member  40  can not be removed or repositioned, and therefore, the cover  42  can not be opened to allow access to the keys  30  storage within the lockbox  10 . Multiple sets of shackle holes  55 ,  56  allow for use of multiple locking mechanisms  60  on a single lockbox  10 .  
         [0026]     To open the safety lock box cover  42 , all locking mechanisms  60  must be removed from the shackle holes  55 ,  56  and then both closure latching members  40  must be pulled outward away from the cover  42 . Once the closure latching members  40  clear the edge  46  of the cover  42 , the cover  42  can be opened.  FIG. 5  illustrates the latch open position. As a result of opening both closure latching members  40 , all shackle holes  55  on both closure latching members  40  become misaligned with all of the shackle holes  56  on the main body flange  49 . When the shackle holes  55 ,  56  are misaligned, a locking mechanism  60  can not be placed through the holes. Furthermore, since both closure latching members  40  must be pulled outward in order to open the cover  42 , a single locking mechanism  60  secured into any one set of corresponding shackle holes  55 ,  56  will prevent the cover  42  from being opened, regardless if one closure latching member  40  is not closed.  
         [0027]     The safety lock box  10  may have a tinted translucent cover  42  through which key file cards  20  and keys  30  are viewable. Additionally, labels or marking can be secured to, or molded into, the cover  42  to provide additional information about the contents of the lockbox or about accessing the lockbox.  
         [0028]     The lock box  10  may include a slot  66  for inserting keys  30  into the bulk storage area  68  within the main body  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the clearance of the key slot  66  is designed so that a key  30  must be inserted at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The key  30  can be rotated about the lower surface  69  of the key slot  66  in order to find an angle that will allow the key  30  to slide through the key slot  66 . The key slot  66  is designed with a wall  70  and a set of pins  72  arrayed around its general perimeter key slot  66 . The wall and pins  70 ,  72 , not only require a key  30  to be inserted into the slot  66  at an angle to assist in preventing accidentally placing a key  30  within the lockbox  10 , but also prevent keys  30  from being removed from the lockbox  10  via tampering with the key slot  66 , such as by rotating the lockbox upside-down or applying a shaking motion to the lockbox.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , key file cards  20  can be used to secure and organize keys  30  in individual key holders  74 , which may be individually labeled on key labels  75 . In order to secure a key  30  to a key holder  74 , a keys  30  is secured to the file card  20  through the use of both a sleeve  76  that accepts the key blade, and a depressible tab  78  with a raised edge  79  that frames the key head. The sleeve  76  surrounds the blade on top, sides and bottom, preventing its movement in those directions. The sleeve  76  is also sized to prevent the key head to fit therein. The raised edge  79  of the tab  78  frames the key head on both sides and the end of the key head and prevents it from moving in those directions. Once keys  30  are secured within the key holders  74 , the keys can be labeled on the key labels  75 . In addition, the key file card  20  can be labeled along the key column labels  63  or file card label  64  located on a front surface  81  of the handle or grip  80  located on the top portion of the key file card  20 . The relationship of the raised edge  79  and sleeve  76  to each other allows for multiple sizes and shapes or keys.  
         [0030]     To insert a key  30  into a key holder  74 , the tab  78  is depressed and the key  30  is slid past the tab  78 , blade first, into the key blade sleeve  76  until the head passes the edge  79  of the tab  78 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the tab  78  is then released to block the reverse movement of the key  30 . To remove a key  30 , the tab  78  is first depressed, and the key  30  is slid backwards, out of the sleeve  76  and past the depressed key head tab  78 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 12-15  illustrate another embodiment of the lockbox  10 ′ and key card  20 ′. The basic operation of the lockbox  10 ′ and key card  20 ′ is the same as the previous embodiment with modifications. First, finger grip  50  has been replaced with an enlarged handle  50 ′ to provide for easier movement of the lockbox  10 ′. Other gripping features, such as grips  100  or molded handle  103 , can be added to further assist in the grabbing and movement of the lockbox  10 ′. Second, the key slot  66  has been moved to the front section of the cover  42  so that keys  30  dropped through key slot  66  drop into the key area  105  which is separated from the bulk storage area  68  by wall  106 . Third, wall mount holes  107  were added. Fourth, grooves  108  were added to the inner side walls of the main body  44  to allow the file cards  20 ′ to slide into place. Fifth, the key file cards  20 ′ were adapted to allow for storage in standard filing cabinets by adding hooks  110  on either side of the key file card  20 ′. Lastly, the key column labels  63  were moved to the front surface  81  of the handle  80 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that these modifications can be made individually or in subcombinations to provide additional embodiments.  
         [0032]     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Clearly, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. The scope of the invention and claims are not limited in any way by the description of the preferred embodiments, which are provided only to illustrate various examples of the invention.