Abstract:
The present invention provides an asset retention system, comprising: an elongate housing configured to receive a plurality of home keys and a visitor key; and an elongate slider coupled to the elongate housing and configured to selectively retain and release the plurality of home keys and the visitor key; wherein the elongate slider comprises a plurality of keyed holes corresponding to the plurality of home keys; wherein the plurality of keyed holes each comprise a narrowed portion configured to retain an associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a first direction and a widened portion configured to release the associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a second direction; and wherein the plurality of home keys are selectively retained and released simultaneously. The elongate housing and elongate slider are disposed in a cabinet. Each of the plurality of home keys is coupled to an asset.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an asset retention system, such as a key retention system or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to an asset retention system that allows a plurality of assets, such as keys or the like, to be retained or released in unison. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In organizations having inventory items, such as automobiles or other vehicles, which are each individually accessed and/or operated by a dedicated key, there is an acute need to maintain the keys in an orderly and organized manner, preferably in a central location, so that members of the organization, such as sales people and the like, may reliably and readily locate a key to conduct test drives, offer product demonstrations, and conduct other activities with the individually accessible inventory item. In this regard, experience has shown that the approach of merely providing a central keyboard or keybox in which the keys are collectively stored soon undermines the goal of maintaining the keys in a readily retrievable disposition. For example, several of the key users are invariably delinquent in returning the “borrowed” keys to the central keyboard or keybox. Likewise, the key users often find it convenient to borrow several keys at once, thereby depriving others of the opportunity to make use of the borrowed keys unless the multiple key borrower is identified and contacted to obtain the desired keys. 
     Accordingly, the need exists for an apparatus which ensures that a desired key will not be released to a potential key user unless some means of identification, such as the potential key user&#39;s own key or the like, is automatically retained in response to the borrowing of the desired key. Additionally, the need exists for an apparatus for selectively releasing and retaining keys which only releases the key user&#39;s identification means, such as the user&#39;s own key or the like, upon disposition of the borrowed key in a key retained position. 
     One such apparatus which addresses these needs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,347 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066. The apparatus operates by alternately retaining a selected one of a pair of keys and releasing the other one of the pair of keys. The retained key cannot be released until the other key is again disposed in a retained position. The apparatus includes a base plate having a pair of key receptacles, a slider member slidably mounted on the base plate, a visitor key having a pinion gear and a home key. The slider member includes a pair of key retaining slots for respectively retaining each key and a rack for driving engagement by the visitor key pinion gear for effecting sliding movement of the slider member in response to rotation of the visitor key pinion gear. A conventional key can be secured to the home key to control use of the conventional key through the selected release and retention of the visitor key and the home key. 
     What is still needed in the art, however, is an asset retention system, such as a key retention system or the like, that allows a plurality of assets, such as keys or the like, to be retained or released in unison. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,347 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066 provide a device for alternately locking a selected one of a pair of keys and releasing the other key for removal from the device. The device includes a home key normally locked in the device, a visitor key normally not locked in the device, lock base means defining a pair of key receptacles and locking means movable relative to the lock base means. Each key receptacle of the lock base means receives a respective one of the home and visitor keys. The locking means is movable between a first position locking the home key in its key receptacle and a second position releasing the home key for removal from its key receptacle. The locking means includes operating means, compatibly configured with the visitor key, for effecting movement of the locking means between its first and second positions in response to movement of the visitor key when received in its key receptacle and for locking the visitor key in its key receptacle in response to movement of the locking means into its second position. 
     According to one aspect of the key safe apparatus, the locking means comprises a slider assembly which is movably mounted to the lock base means for reciprocating movement by the visitor key when received in its key receptacle, the slider assembly being arranged for executing a detectable movement away from the lock base means during a reciprocating movement of the slider assembly for removing the home key, which enables monitoring of each removal and replacement of the home key. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a cam arrangement is utilized to accomplish the detectable movement of the slider assembly. Specifically, the slider assembly preferably includes an arm portion having a profiled cam surface thereon for engagement with a bearing surface so as to move toward and away from the lock base means during reciprocating movements of the slider assembly. The arm portion of the slider assembly is disposed adjacent the visitor key receptacle so as to be deflected away from the lock base means upon insertion of the visitor key in its key receptacle. Therefore, if desired, appropriate means may be provided for detecting each such detectable movement of the arm portion of the slider assembly and storing the information derived concerning such detected movements. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a projecting stop member and first and second stop recesses are formed on the lock base means at spacings from one another generally along the extent of reciprocating movement of the slider assembly. The slider assembly includes a resilient locking member having a pair of engagement elements resiliently movable toward and away from one another, a locking leg portion spaced from the engagement elements, and a connecting arm portion extending therebetween. The engagement elements and the locking leg portion of the locking member and the stop member and stop recesses on the lock base means are cooperatively arranged (a) for gripping engagement by the engagement elements in opposition to one another about the stop member and engagement of the locking leg portion in the first stop recess when the locking means is in its first position with the home key received in its key receptacle, thereby to prevent movement of the locking means to its second position without insertion of the visitor key into its key receptacle, and (b) for abutment of the engagement elements with a common side surface of the stop member and engagement of the locking leg portion in the second stop recess when the locking means is in its second position with the home key removed from its key receptacle, thereby to prevent movement of the locking means to its first position without return of the home key into its key receptacle. 
     Preferably, the connecting arm portion of the locking member is disposed adjacent the visitor key receptacle to be deflected away from the lock base means upon insertion of the visitor key in its key receptacle in order to displace the locking leg portion out of the first stop recess to enable movement of the locking means from the first position to the second position. 
     The engagement elements of the locking member preferably include cam portions for engagement with the home key when in its key receptacle to expand the engagement elements away from one another during movement of the slider assembly by the visitor key to disengage the engagement elements from the stop member for movement of the locking means between the first and second positions. 
     A ramp surface connects the first and second stop recesses for sliding movement of the locking leg portion from the second stop recess into the first stop recess during movement of the locking means from the second position into the first position. 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the device, the home key includes a main body portion having a free insertion end and a portion, spaced from its free end, of reduced cross section, and the visitor key includes a main body portion having a free insertion end, a portion, spaced from its free end, of reduced cross section, and a gear portion. Additionally, the preferred embodiment includes a toothed rack secured to the slider assembly. 
     Preferably, the slider assembly includes a home key slot having a width less than the cross sectional extent of the main body portion of the home key yet greater than the cross sectional extent of the reduced cross section portion thereof, and a visitor key slot having a narrow portion of a width less than the cross sectional extent of the main body portion of the visitor key yet greater than the cross sectional extent of the reduced cross section portion thereof, the narrow portion of the visitor key slot being adapted for selectively engaging the visitor key at its reduced cross section portion in a fork-like manner. Also, the slide assembly includes an enlarged portion of the visitor key slot having a width greater than the cross sectional extent of the main body portion of the visitor key. 
     According to a further aspect, the device is additionally provided with a means for covering a portion of the blocking means adjacent the visitor key receptacle from access thereto through the visitor key receptacle in the first position of the locking means, thereby preventing unauthorized circumvention of the locking means. In particular, the covering means preferably comprises a cover element disposed stationarily between the visitor key receptacle and an arm of the slider assembly of the locking means, the cover element including a slot which slidably receives the arm during movement of the slider assembly between the first and second positions of the locking means. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides an asset retention system, such as a key retention system or the like, that allows a plurality of assets, such as keys or the like, to be retained or released in unison. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an asset retention system, comprising: an elongate housing configured to receive a plurality of home keys and a visitor key; and an elongate slider coupled to the elongate housing and configured to selectively retain and release the plurality of home keys and the visitor key; wherein the elongate slider comprises a plurality of keyed holes corresponding to the plurality of home keys; wherein the plurality of keyed holes each comprise a narrowed portion configured to retain an associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a first direction and a widened portion configured to release the associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a second direction; and wherein the plurality of home keys are selectively retained and released simultaneously. The elongate slider is translated via rotation of the visitor key. Rotation of the visitor key actuates a rack and pinion assembly associated with the elongate slider. Each of the plurality of home keys comprises a narrowed portion that selectively engages the narrowed portion of the associated keyed hole. The elongate housing and elongate slider are disposed in a cabinet. Each of the plurality of home keys is coupled to an asset. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method for providing an asset retention system, comprising: providing an elongate housing configured to receive a plurality of home keys and a visitor key; and providing an elongate slider coupled to the elongate housing and configured to selectively retain and release the plurality of home keys and the visitor key; wherein the elongate slider comprises a plurality of keyed holes corresponding to the plurality of home keys; wherein the plurality of keyed holes each comprise a narrowed portion configured to retain an associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a first direction and a widened portion configured to release the associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a second direction; and wherein the plurality of home keys are selectively retained and released simultaneously. The elongate slider is translated via rotation of the visitor key. Rotation of the visitor key actuates a rack and pinion assembly associated with the elongate slider. Each of the plurality of home keys comprises a narrowed portion that selectively engages the narrowed portion of the associated keyed hole. The elongate housing and elongate slider are disposed in a cabinet. Each of the plurality of home keys is coupled to an asset. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like system/device components or method steps, as appropriate, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cabinet supporting a plurality of identical units of one preferred embodiment of the key safe apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,347 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged exploded front perspective view of one unit of the preferred embodiment of the key safe apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,347 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged exploded rear perspective view of the unit of the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,347 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged rear elevational view of the unit shown in  FIG. 2 , showing the locking means of the apparatus in its first position for locking the home key in its key receptacle; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear elevational view of the unit shown in  FIG. 2 , showing the locking means of the apparatus in its second position releasing the home key for removal from its key receptacle and locking the visitor key in its key receptacle; 
         FIG. 6  is a horizontal cross section of the unit shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the asset retention system of the present invention, allowing a plurality of assets to be retained or released in unison. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , again referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,347 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,066, a cabinet  10  is illustrated which supports a plurality of identical units of the preferred embodiment of the key safe apparatus and a representative unit of the apparatus is generally designated as  12 . The identical units of the key safe apparatus  12  are arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns with one another with the outer faces  14  thereof commonly forming a generally planar cabinet face. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2-6 , the structure and operation of each unit of the key safe apparatus is described in further detail with respect to the key safe apparatus unit  12  in the upper left-hand corner of the cabinet  10 , it being understood that the other key safe apparatus units are similarly configured and operated. The key safe apparatus  12  basically includes a lock base means, such as a base plate  16  which forms the outer face  14  of the unit  12 , a locking means, such as a slider assembly  18 , a home key  20  and a visitor key  22 . The home key  20  typically has attached thereto an item to which ready access must be available but which also needs security control of access, e.g., a conventional key  24  secured thereto by a conventional key loop  25 . The key safe apparatus  12  provides a means for controlling access to the conventional key  24  through selected release and retention of the home key  20  caused by the interrelated operations of the slider assembly  18  with respect to the home key  20  and the visitor key  22 . The conventional key  24  may be, for example, a key uniquely configured to lock and unlock an inventory item, such as an automobile. As is described in more detail, each person who is authorized to gain access to any particular one of the conventional keys  24  is provided with one copy of the visitor key  22 . The key safe apparatus  12  is adapted to alternately lock a selected one of the home key  20  and the visitor key  22  while simultaneously releasing the other key, whereby a person desiring to borrow a particular one of the conventional keys  24  must forfeit possession of his or her visitor key  22  until the home key  20  to which the particular conventional key  24  is secured is again returned to, and retained by, the cabinet  10 . 
     The base plate  16  is a generally rigid, entry-resistant structure, such as, for example, a rectangular metal or high impact plastic plate, which is secured to a frame of the cabinet  10  in flush relation with the base plates  16  of other units  12  in the cabinet by any appropriate securement means, e.g., by fasteners (not shown) extending through mounting bores  23  in the base plate  16 . The base plate  16  defines a pair of key receptacles  26 , 28 , the key receptacle  26  being adapted for receiving the home key  20  and the key receptacle  28  being adapted for receiving the visitor key  22 . The key receptacles  26 , 28  are cylindrical hubs which project outwardly from the front face of the base plate  16  and define cylindrical throughbores extending through the base plate  16 , the key receptacles  26 , 28  being laterally aligned with one another on a longitudinal axis LA of the base plate  16 . 
     The slider assembly  18  includes a generally rectangular metal or high impact plastic plate  30  to which a toothed rack  36  is affixed and a slider assembly limit means, such as a resilient locking member  32  attached to the plate  30 . The plate  30  includes a home key retaining slot  42  and a visitor key retaining slot  44 . The plate  30  is slidably mounted in abutment with the rearward, i.e., interior, face of the base plate  16 , and is confined for longitudinal sliding movement by upper and lower bordering walls  15 , 17  extending rearwardly and longitudinally from the base plate  16 . If desired, the plate  30  may be provided with longitudinally extending mounting slots (not shown) through which mounting bolts may be affixed to the base plate to constrain the plate  30  to slide in a longitudinal direction with respect to the base plate  16 , i.e., in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis LA. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the home key retaining slot  42  is an open ended rectangular slot extending longitudinally of the plate  30  at the end thereof disposed generally inwardly behind the home key receptacle  26 . The home key retaining slot  42  is located such that the home key  20  may be received therein during the longitudinal sliding movement of the plate  30  relative to the base plate  16  when the key is inserted in its key receptacle  26 . The visitor key retaining slot  44  includes a portion extending longitudinally of the plate  30  of generally uniform lateral extent transversely to its longitudinal extent and a cylindrical portion. The longitudinal portion extends from its one closed end in a direction away from the home key retaining slot  42  toward its other end, which is open and communicated with the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion has a diameter greater than the lateral extent of the longitudinal portion. The visitor key retaining slot  44  is located such that the visitor key  22  may be received therein during the entire travel of the plate  30  with respect to the base plate  16  when the visitor key  22  is inserted into its key receptacle  28 . 
     As also seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the home key  20  includes a cylindrical main body portion  50  having an annular radial shoulder  54  approximately midway along its length and an annular groove  52  formed adjacent the free end of the main body  50  to define a cylindrical retaining portion  51  at the free end. The annular groove  52  has a diameter slightly less than the lateral extent of the home key retaining slot  42  transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof and the cylindrical retaining portion  51  is of a diameter greater than the lateral extent of the home key retaining slot  42 . 
     The spacing of the annular shoulder  54  from the annular groove  52  is selected such that the annular groove  52  is in alignment with the plate  30  when the home key  20  is sufficiently inserted into its key receptacle  26  to bring the annular shoulder  54  into abutment with the hub of the key receptacle  26  at the front face  14  of the cabinet  10 . As may be understood, the plate  30  engages the home key  20  in a fork-like manner when the plate is moved such that the annular groove  52  is received in the home key retaining slot  42  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     As seen in  FIG. 3 , the toothed rack  36  is in the form of a conventional linear tooth rack of a rack and pinion gear type assembly and is rigidly fixed by welding, molding or other appropriate securement means to the plate  30  with the teeth thereof extending longitudinally of the plate  30  and cooperatively located in parallel adjacent facing relation to the visitor key retaining slot  44 . Specifically, the teeth of the toothed rack  36  are positioned for engagement by the visitor key  22  when the visitor key is inserted into its key receptacle  28 . In this regard, the visitor key  22  includes a cylindrical main body portion  56  having an annular shoulder  58  formed approximately midway along its length, and a pinion gear  60  formed at one end thereof, as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The pinion gear  60  is spaced from the annular shoulder  58  such that the pinion gear  60  extends slightly beyond the plate  30  for meshing engagement with the rack  36  when the visitor key  22  is inserted in its key receptacle  28  with the annular shoulder  58  in abutment with the hub of the key receptacle  28  at the outer face  14  of the cabinet  10 . 
     An annular groove  62  is formed in the body  56  of the visitor key  22  inwardly of, and adjacent to, the pinion gear  60  and is of a diameter slightly less than the lateral extent of the longitudinal portion of the visitor key retaining slot  44 . The outer diameter of the pinion gear  60  and the diameter of the cylindrical portion  56  of the visitor key  22  are each of a diameter slightly greater than the lateral extent of the longitudinal portion of the visitor key retaining slot  44  but less than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the slot. 
     As may thus be understood, the pinion gear  60  is adapted to engage the toothed rack  36  in well known meshing rack and pinion manner to effect sliding movement of the plate  30  relative to the base plate  16  upon rotation of the visitor key  22 . Accordingly, the toothed rack  36  is positioned on the plate  30  such that the teeth of the pinion gear  60  engage the teeth of the toothed rack  36  when the visitor key  22  is inserted in its key receptacle  28  and through the visitor key retaining slot  44  so that the rack and pinion-type movement can be effected by rotation of the visitor key  22 . 
     The resilient locking member  32  includes a central body  67  from which upper and lower gripping arms  64 , 68  project outwardly in one direction in spaced facing relation and an elongate arm  66  extends outwardly in the opposite direction with a perpendicular leg  69  projecting from the outer end of the arm  66 . The facing surfaces of the upper and lower gripping arms  64 , 68  are each formed with a semi-cylindrical recess  76 , 78 , respectively, and a profiled travel surface  80 , 82 , respectively, and terminate at converging free ends  65 , 71  of the gripping arms  66 , 68 . The locking member  32  is preferably molded integrally of a resilient plastic material to lend sufficient resiliency to the gripping arms  64 , 68  to normally bias the gripping arms toward one another into a relaxed converging disposition and to be yieldingly deflectable outwardly away from one another and, likewise, for resilient deflection of the elongate arm  66 , as more fully explained hereinafter. 
     The resilient locking member  32  is attached and positioned relative to the slide plate  30  by a hub  70  projecting rearwardly from a central location on the slide plate  30  and received matingly in an opening  72  formed in the central body  67  of the locking member  32 . In addition, a pair of posts  73 , 75  project rearwardly from the slide plate  30  at opposite sides of the home key retaining slot  42  and are received in mating recesses  77 , 79  in the facing surfaces of the gripping arms  66 , 68  of the locking member  32 . In this manner, the posts  73 , 75  cooperate with the hub  70  to stabilize the mounted disposition of the locking member  32  relative to the slide plate  30 . As more fully explained below, the gripping arms  66 , 68  cooperate with a stop member  84  extending inwardly from the rearward surface of the base plate  16  at a location along the longitudinal axis LA outwardly adjacent the opening through the home key receptacle  26 . The stop member  84  is substantially of a cylindrical configuration essentially corresponding in diameter to the retaining portion  51  of the home key  20 , with an arcuate recess  85  being formed laterally into the stop member  84  to face the home key receptacle opening and the home key retaining slot  42  in the slide plate  30 . The leg portion  69  of the locking member  32  likewise cooperates in a manner more fully described hereinafter with a pair of slot-like recesses  86 , 88  formed in the inward face of the base plate  16  outwardly adjacent the inward opening of the visitor key receptacle  28  in spaced parallel relation with one another transversely to the longitudinal axis LA, with a tapered ramp portion  90  formed in the inward surface of the base plate  16  bridging between the recessed slots  86 , 88 . The mounted disposition of the resilient locking member  32  on the slide plate  30  disposes the leg  69  in one or the other of the slot-like recesses  86 , 88 , depending upon the sliding disposition of the plate  30  relative to the base plate  16 . 
     Within the cabinet  10 , the locking means of each key safe unit  12  is enclosed by a rearward wall  92  which mates with the bordering walls  15 , 17  of the respective base plate  16 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The rear wall  92  has a longitudinally-extending linear slot  94  formed therethrough coplanarly with the longitudinal axis LA, in which slot  94  the elongate arm  66  of the locking member  32  slides during reciprocating movements of the slider assembly  18 . The slot  94  includes a circular enlargement  96  midway along the length of the slot  94 , in which a cam disk  98  is retained. The cam disk  98  has a recessed slot  100  formed diametrically through the disk  98  in alignment with the slot  94 , the elongate arm  66  of the resilient locking member  32  extending outwardly of the cam disk  98  through its recessed slot  100 . The circular enlargement  96  is formed in the rear wall  92  in coaxial alignment with the key receiving opening through the visitor key receptacle  28  for engagement of the inward face of the cam disk  98  by the visitor key  22  upon insertion through its key receptacle  28 . A cam lobe  102  projects from the elongate arm  66  of the locking member  32  adjacent the leg  69  for cooperation with the cam disk  98  during sliding movement of the slider assembly  18 , as described below. 
     The operation of the key safe apparatus  12  may thus be understood with reference to  FIGS. 4-6 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the home key  20  is normally inserted in its key receptacle  26  and the slide assembly  18  is disposed in a first position locking the home key  20  in its key receptacle  26 . Specifically, the plate  30  of the slider member  18  is disposed at its leftmost position (as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) with respect to the base plate  16 . In this disposition of the slider assembly  18 , the cylindrical portion of the visitor key retaining slot  44  is generally aligned with the visitor key receptacle  28  and the home key retaining slot  42  receives the annular groove  52  of the home key  20  whereby the plate  30  engages the annular groove  52  of the home key  20  in a fork-like manner to prevent release of the key from the key safe apparatus  12 . In this first position of the slider assembly  18 , the gripping arms  64 , 68  engage the stop member  84  within their recesses  76 , 78  with their profiled travel surfaces  80 , 82  contacting opposite sides of the home key  20 , and the leg  69  of the locking member  32  is engaged in the slotted recess  86  most closely adjacent the visitor key receptacle  28 . As can thus be understood, the home key  20  cannot be removed from the cabinet  10  since the plate  30  prevents axial movement of the home key  20 . At the same time, the locking member  32  effectively prevents sliding movement of the slide plate  30  to release the home key  20 . Each of the home keys  20  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are normally locked in the cabinet  10  in this manner by the key safe apparatus  12 . 
     If a person desires to remove a selected one of the home keys  20  for use of its particular conventional key  24  secured thereto, the person must possess one copy of the visitor key  22 , which are all of identical configuration. The person need only then insert his or her visitor key  22  into the visitor key receptacle  28  of the pair of key receptacles  26 , 28  associated with the selected home key  20 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , since the cylindrical portion of the visitor key retaining slot  44  is aligned with the visitor key receptacle  28  when the slider member  18  is in its first position in which it locks the home key  20 , the visitor key  22  can be fully inserted into the key receptacle  28  until its annular shoulder  58  abuts the outer hub of the receptacle. The complete insertion of the visitor key  22  into its key receptacle  28  also brings the pinion gear  60  thereon into meshing engagement with the toothed rack  36  on the plate  30 . At the same time, the end face of the pinion gear  60  engages the cam disk  98  to push it and, in turn, to deflect the cam lobe  102  of the elongate arm  66  of the locking member  32  rearwardly away from the base plate  16 , thereby disengaging the leg  69  of the locking member  32  from the recessed slot  86 . Accordingly, when the visitor key  22  is thereafter rotated about its axis in a clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 4 , the pinion gear  60 , via its driving engagement with the toothed rack  36 , moves the slider assembly of the plate  30  and the locking member  32  longitudinally relative to the base plate  16  from the leftward disposition of  FIG. 4  in the right-hand direction into a second position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In the second position of  FIG. 5 , the slide plate  30  releases the home key  20  for removal from its key receptacle  26  and locks the visitor key  22  in its key receptacle  28 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Specifically, the plate  30  moves to the right (as viewed in  FIG. 5 ) relative to the base plate  16  and, during this movement, the visitor key retaining slot  44  moves relative to the visitor key  22  and the upper and lower gripping arms  64 , 68  deflect outwardly by engagement of the travel surfaces  80 , 82  with the retaining portion  51  of the home key  20  to pivot oppositely away from one another. As the visitor key retaining slot  44  moves relative to the visitor key  22 , the longitudinal portion of the slot engages the annular groove  62  of the visitor key, to lock the visitor key with respect to the base plate  16 . That is, the interengagement of the plate  30  and the annular groove  62  of the visitor key  22  prevent axial movement, i.e., withdrawal, of the visitor key  22 . Thus, the visitor key  22  cannot be removed from its key receptacle  28  when the slider assembly  18  is disposed in its second position. 
     As the slide plate  30  completes its rightward movement into the second position shown in  FIG. 5 , the outwardly deflected free ends  65 , 71  of the gripping arms  64 , 68  move rightwardly past the stop member  84  as the travel surfaces  80 , 82  of the gripping arms  64 , 68  move rightwardly past the retaining portion of the home key  20 , thereby allowing the gripping arms  64 , 68  to relax and move toward one another to dispose the recesses  76 , 78  of the arms  64 , 68  in encircling disposition coaxially about the home key retaining portion  51  and coaxial with the key receptacle  26 . At the same time, the slide plate  30  clears the annular groove  52  of the home key  20 . Since the semi-cylindrical portions  76 , 78  generally define a cylindrical opening therebetween of a larger diameter than the home key  20 , the home key  20  is thus released for removal from its key receptacle  26  and can be withdrawn by the key borrower for use of the conventional key  24  secured thereto. In the second position of  FIG. 5 , the cam lobe  102  of the elongate arm  66  of the locking member  32  is moved rightwardly from its original disposition directly behind the visitor key receptacle  28  allowing the arm  66  to relax and, in turn, causing the leg  69  of the locking member to engage in the recessed slot  88  to act as a stop to the rightward movement of the slider assembly  18  and thereby position it properly in the second position. 
     To ensure that the key borrower returns the home key  20  to its key receptacle  26 , the key safe apparatus  12  is configured to retain the visitor key  22  in its locked disposition in its key receptacle  28  when the home key  20  is released from its locked position in its key receptacle  26 . Specifically, as seen in  FIG. 5 , attempted counterclockwise rotation of the visitor key  22  produces, via the toothed rack  36 , only very limited movement of the plate  30  in a leftward direction with respect to the base plate  16 , the leftward movement being opposed and stopped by engagement of the relaxed converging free ends  65 , 71  of the gripping arms  64 , 68  into the arcuate recess  85  in the stop member  84  in the absence of the retaining portion  51  of the home key to deflect the arms  64 , 68  outwardly of the stop member  84 . The abutting contact between the ends  65 , 71  of the arms  64 , 68  of the locking member  32  and the stop member  84  thereby prevents further leftward movement of the plate  30  relative to the base plate  16  before the plate  30  can travel sufficiently for the plate to move out of engagement with the annular groove  62  of the visitor key  22 . Accordingly, when the home key  20  has been removed from its key receptacle  26 , the rotation of the visitor key  22  alone is not effective to release the plate  30  from its locking engagement with the annular groove  62  of the visitor key and the key cannot be withdrawn from the cabinet  10 . Thus, the key safe apparatus  12  ensures that the key borrower&#39;s copy of the visitor key  22  is always “relinquished” to permit release of the desired home key  20 . If desired, each copy of the visitor key  22  can be tagged or otherwise provided with an identification means so that the identity of the particular copy disposed in a given key receptacle  28  can be noted to determine the identification of the key borrower. 
     Once the key borrower has completed his or her use of the conventional key  24  of the borrowed home key  20 , the home key  20  is reinserted into its key receptacle  26 . If the plate  30  has, in the meantime, been moved relative to the base plate  16  since the release of the home key  20  such that the semi-cylindrical portions  76 , 78  of the gripping arms  64 , 68  are no longer in exact alignment with the visitor key receptacle  26 , the key borrower need only rotate the visitor key  22  until the semi-cylindrical portions  76 , 78  are again brought into alignment with the home key receptacle  26 , thereby permitting the home key  20  to be fully inserted into its key receptacle. To then secure release of his or her copy of the visitor key  22 , the key borrower need only rotate the visitor key  22  in a counterclockwise direction to move the slider assembly  18  from its second position shown in  FIG. 5  to its first position shown in  FIG. 4 . During the movement of the slider assembly  18  between its second and first positions, the retaining portion  51  of the inserted home key  20  serves as a wedge or cam means between the gripping arms  64 , 68  to urge them to deflect outwardly in opposite directions away from one another sufficiently to clear the stop member  84 . Simultaneously, the left-hand movement of the plate  30  brings the plate into locking interengagement with the annular groove  52  of the home key  20  as the annular groove  52  is received in the home key retaining slot  42 . 
     The continued counterclockwise rotation of the visitor key  22  eventually moves the plate  30  to the left sufficiently for the slider assembly  18  to reach its first position in which the cylindrical portion of the visitor key retaining slot  44  moves into alignment with the visitor key  22 , thus releasing the visitor key  22  for removal from its key receptacle  28 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 6 , with the home key received and locked in its key receptacle  26  by the disposition of the slide assembly  18  in its first position (see also  FIG. 4 ), the stationary mounted disposition of the cam disk  98  within the rear wall  92  directly behind the visitor key receptacle  28  positions the cam disk  98  in covering relation to a portion of the elongate arm  66  of the locking member  32 , i.e., between the visitor key receptacle  28  and the arm  66 . In this manner, the cam disk  98  prevents a foreign object (e.g., a screwdriver, writing pen, etc.) inserted through the visitor key receptacle  28  from being utilized to attempt to manipulate the locking member  32  to circumvent the locking function of the slider assembly  18 . More specifically, upon insertion of any such foreign object, the object encounters the cam disk  98  without making direct contact with the elongate arm  66  and, thus, the object cannot actuate sliding movement of the locking element  32 . Thus, the stationary disposition of the cam disk  98  in covering relation to the arm  66  prevents the present device from being “picked” or other unauthorized unlocking of the device without use of a visitor key  22 . 
     The key safe apparatus  12  thus advantageously provides an apparatus for alternately locking a selected one of a pair of keys and releasing the other key for removal from the apparatus. Accountability for borrowed keys can be maintained since a key borrower must relinquish possession of his or her copy of the visitor key to effect removal of the home key. Likewise, the key borrower cannot regain possession of his or her copy of the visitor key until the borrowed home key has been returned to, and locked in, the key safe apparatus. 
     In furtherance of the foregoing purposes and advantages, the disposition of the deflectable elongate arm  66  within the slot  94  in the rear wall  92  of the apparatus together with the provision of the cam lobe  102  in cooperation with the cam disk  98  disposed in the slot  94  necessarily causes the arm  66  to be deflected rearwardly to project from the slot  94  each time a visitor key  22  is inserted into the key receptacle  28  to remove the home key  20  and, again, each time the home key is returned and the slider assembly  18  is operated by the visitor key  22  for its removal, as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, it is contemplated that the cabinet  10  may be equipped interiorly with a computerized or other form of electronic means, indicated only representatively at  104 , for monitoring and recording each removal and return of each home key, the actual clock time of the key removal and return, the elapsed time in each case, etc., by providing appropriate sensors, indicated only representatively at  106 , to recognize each outward deflection of the elongate arm  66  of each key safe unit. In this manner, the operator of the cabinet  10  is further enabled to better monitor the use of the various home keys, the frequency of such use on an individual and collective basis, and to compare the usage of each home key against others, all to better supervise the inventoried items controlled by the conventional keys attached to the home keys. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in an alternative exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a means for releasing a plurality of home keys, such as those arranged in a row, via the placement and actuation of one visitor key. The row includes an elongate housing  150  in which an elongate slider  152  is secured. The elongate slider  152  is actuated as before, via the visitor key  154  and a rack and pinion assembly  156 —rotation of the visitor key  154  causing translation of the elongate slider  152  within and with respect to the elongate housing  150 . Each of the home keys  158  passes through a corresponding keyed hole  160 , with a narrowed portion of each home key  158  being secured by a narrowed portion  162  of each keyed hole  160  when the home keys  158  are “locked.” When the home keys  158  are “unlocked,” the visitor key  154  is actuated, the elongate slider  152  translates, and the keyed holes  160  move with respect to the home keys  158 , thereby aligning the home keys  158  with a widened portion  164  of the keyed holes  160  and releasing the home keys  158  of the row. In the example provided, 7 home keys  158  are shown, and the row is shown in an “unlocked” configuration. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other configurations may be utilized. 
     Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.