Abstract:
A holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein comprising a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another with a restraining spring formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end with a pair of spring sides across from one another to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough and with the restraining spring supported on the mounting side end of a supporting one of the sidewall structures in the pair thereof such that the spring openings therein are also across from one another. An ejector is mounted in the holder to be positioned in the object retaining space at an ejector side of the object retaining space to extend between the pair of spaced apart oblong sidewall structures with the ejector formed of a resilient material. A pivot pin is positionable concurrently through each of the spring openings, and also removable therefrom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/277,811 filed Sep. 30, 2009 for OBLONG OBJECT HOLDER, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. This application is related to the following co-pending applications that are filed on even date herewith and are commonly owned: OBLONG OBJECT HOLDER, Ser. No. 12,924,597, and OBLONG OBJECT HOLDER, Ser. No. 12,924,596. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to oblong object holders and, more particularly, to oblong object holders which have one end of the objects free while also being held at the other end thereof. 
     Many people have needs for keeping a variety of oblong objects with them as they go about their various daily activities, objects such as keys, nail files or other tools shaped oblong by handles or tool structures therein, electronic memory devices having electrical interconnections plugs at one end thereof, and the like. Carrying them about as individual, unconnected objects makes difficult finding them in a carrier&#39;s pocket or purse if there are several of such objects, especially with them having geometric outlines more or less similar to one another. Thus, people typically use some kind of organizing holder device to hold at least some of such carried about objects in some ordered arrangement. 
     A substantial variety of kinds of these holder devices are in current and past use. There are many kinds of key holders, for example, some having keys which swing out of the holder for use through rotating about a pivot of some sort, or about a ring, or swing with a ring that is somehow captured so as to allow that ring with the key to rotate. Other kinds of holders allow keys or other oblong objects to be slid in and out of the holder. 
     Many of these holders are formed from a multitude of parts of different materials and which must be individually assembled in fabricating the holder structure. Often, mounting the oblong objects to be held in the holder is inconvenient, or even difficult, and many allow holding therein only very limited numbers of objects. Similarly, the means for selecting objects from the holder to thereby become accessible for use is often inconvenient or difficult. Thus, there is a desire for an economical and convenient oblong object holder that can accommodate a variety of different oblong objects therein. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein comprising a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another each having a mounting side end across from one another with a restraining spring formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end with a pair of spring sides across from one another each extending away from said joined spring end to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough such that these spring openings are also across from one another and with the restraining spring supported on the mounting side end of a supporting one of the sidewall structures in the pair thereof such that the spring openings therein are also across from one another. An ejector is mounted in the holder to be positioned in the object retaining space at an ejector side of the object retaining space to extend between the pair of spaced apart oblong sidewall structures with the ejector formed of a resilient material such that an end thereof can be forced further into the object retaining space and thereafter return to the ejector side when that forcing ceases. A pivot pin is positionable concurrently through each of the spring openings, and also removable therefrom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 1A  shows a top view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIG. 1B  shows a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIG. 1C  shows a side view of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIG. 1D  shows another side view of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIG. 1E  shows a cross section view of a further side of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show top and side views of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C show three side views of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  show top and side views of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIG. 5A  shows a side cross section view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
         FIG. 5B  shows another cross section view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention from the same side as that shown in  FIG. 5A , 
         FIG. 6  shows an overhead perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 6A  shows a top view of the embodiment in  FIG. 6  of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 6B  shows a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 6  of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an example of the oblong object holder,  10 , of the present invention, and  FIG. 1A  shows a top view thereof with  FIG. 1B  showing a bottom view thereof. Holder  10  has a more or less rectangular solid shaped base plate,  11 , with inner and outer major surfaces on either side thereof, and a base support dividing bar,  11 ′, also an approximately rectangular solid with inner and outer major surfaces on either side thereof. Extending perpendicularly outward from the inner major surfaces of both base plate  11  and base support dividing bar  11 ′, so as to extend parallel to one another, are the supported ends of a plurality of spaced apart separator slats,  12 , and these slats also extend lengthwise perpendicularly past an exposed end edge of plate  11 , and also past base support dividing bar  11 ′ in cantilever fashion to thus have corresponding unsupported ends. Each of the unsupported separator slat ends has a circular opening,  13 , extending therethrough, and all of them are coaxial with one another. Base plate  11 , base support dividing bar  11 ′ and separator slats  12  are portions of a housing,  14 , typically formed of a somewhat resilient polyacetyl polymer or copolymer material. 
     In addition, in housing  14 , there is an end side,  15 , having an inner surface ridge,  15 ′, (not shown in  FIG. 1 ,  1 A or  1 B but further described below) that extends therefrom near to, but spaced apart from, and parallel to plate  11 , end side  15  being positioned at the enclosed end edge of plate  11 , the edge opposite the exposed edge of plate  11 . End side  15  perpendicularly joins two outer sides,  16  and  17 , each positioned at a corresponding one of the remaining edges of plate  11 , the side edges across plate  11  from one another. End side  15  and outer sides  16  and  17  also extend perpendicularly outward from the inner major surface of plate  11  at their base plate edge locations, and outer sides  16  and  17  also extend perpendicularly outward from the shorter sides of base support dividing bar  11 ′. Thus, base plate  11 , end side  15 , and dividing bar  11 ′ each “bridge” across the space separating outer sides  16  and  17 . Outer sides  16  and  17  also have unsupported ends extending parallel to the side edges of base plate  11 , and so perpendicularly past the exposed end edge of plate  11 , and also past base support dividing bar  11 ′ in the same cantilever fashion followed by slats  12 . 
     A dashed line circular opening is shown extending through side  17  of housing  14  in  FIG. 1  near end side  15  as part of an alternative external device connecting arrangement which can be chosen to be or not be provided with holder  10 . A similarly sized and positioned circular opening can then also extend through opposite side  16  across from the corresponding opening in side  17 . Thus, a band or a ring or chain can be inserted through both of these two openings to be used to attach a fob or other external object to holder  10 . In a further addition or alternative, a ring-like structure extending outward from holder  10  can be formed integrally with, or attached to, the outer surface of end side  15  with the opening therethrough again through which a band or a ring or chain, or even a carabiner, can be inserted. 
     Separator slats  12  extend lengthwise perpendicular to end side  15 , and have the supported ends thereof, located opposite the unsupported ends thereof, at the end side  15  region of base plate  11 . Those two slats nearest outer sides  16  and  17 , respectively, are spaced apart from end side  15 . Those two of slats  12 , and the further away slats in each of the succession of pairs of slats  12  between them in larger capacity holders than holder  10  shown, together form a group of positioning slats,  12 ′, in the plurality of separator slats  12 . Each of positioning slats  12 ′ has between it and the next closest one thereto, or between it and each of the next closest ones thereto, another of the plurality of separator slats  12  not in the positioning slats group. The one such slat in holder  10  between two positioning slats  12 ′, and all such slats between positioning slats in larger capacity holders than holder  10  shown, are joined to end side  15 . These slats in the plurality of separator slats  12  that are each between a pair of positioning slats  12 ′ form a group of structure slats,  12 ″, in the plurality of separator slats  12 . 
     The unsupported end of outer side  16  also has a circular entrance opening extending therethrough,  18 , as can be seen in the partial disassembled side view of  FIG. 1C  (nothing shown in opening), that is coaxial with, and about the diameter of, circular slat openings  13 . Outside, but concentric with opening  18 , are two separated partial semicircular arc shaped recesses,  18 ′, in outer side  16  with each having a cross section perpendicular to the surface of side  16  in the shape of half of a circular disk. Each of the recess semicircular arcs has the same radius but which is slightly larger than the radius of opening  18 . Centered in each the separations between partial semicircular arc shaped recesses  18 ′, at the same radial distance, is a hemispherical recess,  18 ″. 
     A slot opening,  19 , extending through the unsupported end of outer side  17 , can be seen in the partial disassembly side view of  FIG. 1D  (nothing shown in opening). Opening  19  extends lengthwise parallel to a diameter of opening  13  in the separator slat  12  adjacent thereto, and of a similar length, with the center of this slot opening coinciding with the common axis of symmetry of coaxial openings  13 . Slot opening  19  is shaped as a rectangular slot opening but extended by a pair of half circular cylinder slot end openings each extending from a corresponding one of the opposite shorter sides of the rectangular slot opening, i.e. the short ends of this slot opening appear as circular arcs in  FIG. 1D . There is a similarly shaped detent recess,  19 ′, in outer side  17  at the outer surface thereof having its center coinciding with that of slot opening  19  but with the primary length of recess  19 ′ extending perpendicularly to the primary length of slot opening  19  and approximately equal thereto. 
     In  FIG. 1C , the complete outer side-to-outer side opening extending through entrance opening  18 , slat openings  13 , and slot opening  19  is designated  18 ,  13 ,  19 , and the opening extending through opening  18  and slat openings  13  to the inner surface of outer wall  17  is designated  18 ,  13 . Similarly, in  FIG. 1D , the complete outer side-to-outer side opening extending through slot opening  19 , slat openings  13 , and entrance opening  18  is designated  19 ,  13 ,  18 . 
     In addition, there are two turning clearance section recesses,  19 ″, in outer side  17  opposite one another each extending between an outer portion of slot opening  19  and an adjacent outer portion of detent recess  19 ′, and not extending into outer side  17  as deeply as detent recess  19 ′. Thus, each turning clearance section recess  19 ″ two joined perpendicular straight sides, one set by slot opening  19  and one set by detent recess  19 ′, with the remaining ends joined by a circular arc with a radius equal to half the length of opening  19 . There further is a circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17  so as to effectively leave a reduced thickness integral wall structure about slot opening  19 . Outer side openings  19  and  18  are further indicated in an end side cross section view in  FIG. 1E . 
     Two relatively resilient material U-shaped ejection members,  20 , are provided in housing  14  with a representative one of them shown in the top and side views of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Each of ejection members  20  has two long side structures,  21  and  22 , with each of those having a free end and a constrained end as opposite ends thereof. Structures  21  and  22  are positioned on either side of a corresponding one of positioning slats  12 ′. Each ejection member also has a short side structure,  23 , joining together the two long side structures therein at the constrained ends of each. This short side structure is positioned between the supported end of that corresponding positioning slat and end side  15  of housing  14  and between ridge  15 ′ and the inner surface of plate  11 . Portions of long side structures  21  and  22  in each ejection member, and short side structure  23  thereof, are also positioned against the inner surfaces of base plate  11  and base support dividing bar  11 ′. (Short side structure  23  could be eliminated and the ends of resulting separated long side structures  21  and  22 , formerly connected to short side structure  23 , each instead suitably affixed to housing  14  such as by adhering them to the inner surface of base plate  11 .) The remaining portions of long side structures  21  and  22  have the free ends thereof extend past the exposed edge of base plate  11  and further past base support dividing bar  11 ′. Ejection members  20  typically are formed of either a resilient polyacetyl polymer or copolymer material or a resilient polyamide polymer such as nylon. 
     There is, in addition in each of ejection members  20 , two push bars,  24 , each extending perpendicularly outward to and past the outer surface of base plate  11  from relatively near the free ends thereof and from the side of each of the two long side structures in that ejection member facing base support dividing bar  11 ′. Thus, there is a pair of push bars  24  provided for each ejection member  20 , each extending from a corresponding one of long side structures  21  and  22 . One of push bars  24  in the pair thereof in an ejection member  20  extends from long side structure  21  in that member on the base plate  11  side of base support dividing bar  11 ′ relatively far from the free end of that long side structure, and the other of push bars  24  in the pair extends from long side structure  22  in that member on the opposite side of base support dividing bar  11 ′ relatively near the free end of that long side structure. Hence, base support dividing bar  11 ′ divides the space between push bars  24  in each of ejection members  20  as assembled in housing  14  of holder  10 , and aids in preventing items passing across these bars from snagging them (though this dividing bar is not required to be present in holder  10 ). The last described push bar near the free end of long side structure  22  also has a chamfer beginning at its outermost surface angled toward that long side structure free end to further aid in its avoiding any snagging of interior material surfaces passing thereby as may occur with any containing arrangement into which holder  10  is inserted such as a pocket or a purse. 
     A locking pin,  30 , is provided for extending through openings  18 ,  13  and  19  to capture and hold oblong objects, such as keys, having capture openings in them through which pin  30  can also extend, and shown in the three side views of  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C. Locking pin  30  has a main circular cylindrical shaft,  31 , and has one end thereof ringed with a slightly greater diameter ring strip,  31 ′, thereabout that, nevertheless, has a diameter slightly less than that of opening  18  in outer side  16  into which it will be inserted during use. This ringed end  31 ′ of main shaft  31  is attached to a disk shaped, outer edge knurled, knob,  32 , having a diameter larger than that of shaft  31  and ring strip  31 ′. 
     The length of shaft  31  is sufficient to have the opposite end thereof extend into the circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17  to thereby support that end of the shaft in side  17 . The opposite end of shaft  31  is also attached to a locking bar,  33 , extending in length parallel to a diameter of main shaft  31 . Locking bar  33  is attached to main shaft  31  by a reduced diameter circular cylindrical subshaft,  34 , having its axis of symmetry coaxial with the axis of symmetry of main shaft  31 . The length of locking bar  33  is just slightly less than the length of slot opening  19  and of detent recess  19 ′, and the length of subshaft  34  is just slightly less than the thickness of the material in outer wall  17  at sector recesses  19 ″. The support provided by side  17  to shaft  31 , because of extension of shaft  31  into the circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17 , aids in isolating locking bar  33  and subshaft  34  from lateral forces that they would be less able than shaft  31  to withstand because of their smaller cross sectional dimensions. However, in some alternatives, this circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17  can be omitted with one such alternative being the omission of locking bar  33  and provision of screw threads on subshaft  34  and along the surface of an interior opening in outer side  17 , extending therein from the inner surface of side  17 . This latter arrangement thereby allows locking pin  30  to extend through outer side  16  to be screwed into outer side  17 . 
     Two hemispherical protrusions,  35 , extend toward locking bar  33  from the interior disk surface of knurled knob  32  at a radius from the axis of symmetry of shaft  31  equal to the radius to the positions of hemispherical recesses  18 ″ in the outer surface of outer side  16 . The radii of protrusions  35  are slightly less than the radii of recesses  18 ″ and also slightly less than the radii of the cross section half circular disks partial semicircular arc shaped recesses  18 ′. Locking pin  30  is typically formed of a relatively stiff polyamide polymer such as nylon. 
     A plurality of object restraining springs,  40 , are each mounted about the unsupported end of a corresponding positioning slat  12 ′ with each spring having two bar and lobe side structures,  41  and  42 . Each of those lobe side structures has a constrained end and a free end extending away from the constrained end in the direction of the slat, and so the outer side, free ends are thus at opposite ends of the spring. Hence, one free end in each spring provides a spring force directed at structure slat  12 ″ between them to thereby provide oppositely directed but balanced force against the two sides of that slat, and the other free end thereof provides a spring force directed at the corresponding one of sides  16  and  17 . 
     A representative one of these springs is shown in the side and top views of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Each restraining spring also has a short side structure,  43 , joining together the two bar and lobe structures therein at the constrained ends of each and which is positioned in a notch,  44 , in the edge facing away from base plate  11  of the one of slats  12  about which it is mounted. Openings,  45 , are provided in the free ends of restraining springs  40  such that they are aligned with slat openings  13  and outer end openings  18  and  19 . Object restraining springs  40  are typically formed of a suitable spring steel such that lobes  41  and  42  thereof resiliently press against the adjacent structure one of slats  12  (here, against structure slat  12 ″), the inner surface of sides  16  and  17 , or an oblong object captured in holder  10  adjacent such a spring lobe. 
     Capturing an oblong object such as a key in holder  10  starts by positioning, as an example, a key,  50 , between two adjacent separator slats  12 , as shown in the example of  FIG. 1 , or between one of the outer sides  16  and  17  and an adjacent separator slat  12 , and with the key capture opening provided in key  50  substantially coaxially aligned with slat openings  13 , restraining spring openings  45 , and outer end openings  18  and  19 . The locking bar  33  end of locking pin  30  is then inserted through outer side entrance opening  18 , slat  12  openings  13  and the key capture opening, and finally through outer side slot opening  19 . Insertion of locking bar  33  through slot opening  19  requires that bar  33  be aligned with slot opening  19  which will also result in hemispherical protrusions  35  each being in a corresponding one of the two separated partial semicircular shaped recesses  18 ′ in outer side  16 . Knurled knob  32  is then rotated to thereby rotate main shaft  31  and locking bar  33  to result in locking bar  33  being positioned in detent recess  19 ′ to thereby restrain locking pin  30  to remain in that position and capture the key in holder  10 , and concurrently results in hemispherical protrusions  35  extending inward from knob  32  each being in a corresponding one of the two hemispherical recesses  18 ″. 
     Positioning captured key  50  for use once it has been captured on locking pin  30  is indicated in the side cross section views of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  (where also inner surface ridge  15 ′ is shown), and merely requires the pushing inward into housing  14 , to a location at or inside of dividing bar  11 ′, the corresponding one of push bars  24  on the ejection member  20  having a long side structure  21  or  22  thereof immediately adjacent to that key. This pushing is against the frictional force that results from the adjacent one of lobes  41  or  42  of the corresponding restraining spring  40  resiliently pressing against key  50 . The opposite side of that long side structure from the push bar being pushed is thereby forced against key  50  to cause it to rotate about main shaft  31  of locking bar  30  against the restraining spring supplied frictional force to thereby be partially outside of housing  14  from where it can easily be rotated further, or forced into a keyhole of a lock, or both. Once holder  10  is rotated with key  50  in a keyhole of a lock to thereby unlock that lock, key  50  can be then withdrawn and rotated about locking pin  30  by pushing on the exposed portion of key  50  to force it against the restraining spring supplied frictional force back into housing  14  to be entirely within the space between the two adjacent ones of slats  12 . 
     The resiliency of housing  14  and springs  40  limits the torque to a degree which the user, through rotating holder  10 , can apply to key  50  to thereby reduce the risk of the user&#39;s force breaking the extended portion of that key from its base. The resiliency of housing  14  is due to the polymer material of which it is constructed, a material that also reduces accumulations of, and transfers of, static electricity in that housing and similarly in ejection member  20 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the overhead perspective view of  FIG. 6 , and in the top and bottom views thereof in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , respectively. Here, the unsupported separator slat ends of the plurality of separator slats  12  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the group of positioning slats  12 ′ and the structure slat  12 ″ that have openings  13  therein to accommodate locking pin  30 , are replaced by a different plurality of separator slats,  12   a . Separator slats  12   a  again has a group of positioning slats  12   a ′ and the structure slat  12   a ″, but none of the unsupported ends thereof extends to locking pin  30  and so each of those slat ends has no opening therein to accommodate inserting that pin therethrough. Instead, an additional restraining spring  40  has been mounted on and about a small portion of structure slat  12   a ″ between the other two restraining springs. This additional intermediate restraining spring provides two additional object restraining surfaces against which the two other restraining springs (these springs all being shown slightly separated from one another but could alternatively be in contact with one another) will press oblong objects captured in the holder to, in effect, replace the two surfaces of structure slat  12 ″ serving that purpose in the  FIG. 1  embodiment, these two slat surfaces having been removed in this alternative embodiment. This embodiment can simplify the mold need for fabricating housing  14 . 
     Holder  10  has been shown and described with oblong objects such as keys captured therein by locking pin  30  at one end thereof. However, capturing such objects at two opposite ends thereof to allow holding more of them in a single holder can be accomplished by joining housings  14  of two of holders  10  at the outer surface of end walls  15  of each so as to have the holders extend in opposite directions from such a joint, or by integrally forming those end walls together as a common end wall with a resulting similar structural geometry in the resulting housing arrangement. Alternatively, two of such holders  10  could be reconfigured with end walls  15  omitted and then joined together at the remaining portions of housings  14  such as outer walls  16  and  17  and perhaps base plates  11 , or again forming them integrally with a resulting similar structural geometry in the resulting housing arrangement. In this latter alternative, short side structure  23  of ejection members  20  from both of such holders  10  could be merged into a single bar so as to leave push bars  24  in each spaced apart from those push bars adjacent thereto to thereby form a double sided comb-like structure. Thus, the push bars on each side of the single bar, extending in opposite directions as “teeth” in these two comb structures, are affixed to, or integrally formed with, this common single bar that extends perpendicularly to the push bars and the resulting double sided comb-like structure is suitably held again in the resulting housing. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.