Abstract:
A universal key cap for receiving the head of a key, where the key includes a key head portion with edged segments and an extending shank portion, including a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing a tight frictional fit against the key head portion, wherein the pair of spaced-apart planar walls includes an inner and an outer surface and an outer periphery which are joined together by a rind for providing a full cover over the key head, the rind having an inner and outer surface; wherein the cap forms a slot at the bottom of the cap between the walls into which the key head can be inserted, a hollow chamber formed between the pair of spaced-apart planar walls and the rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion of the key in close confronting relationship therewith, and edged segments molded on the inner surface of the rind wherein the edged segments register with at least one of the edged segments of the key head portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to the field of key caps. More particularly, the invention pertains to a key cap to comfortably fit around the different edged heads of various common house keys.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Today, most people carry keys with them, e.g., house keys, vehicle keys, mail box keys, office keys. People may also, absentmindedly, carry outdated keys that have no function anymore. They carry duplicate keys of close relatives and friends for emergency situations. Thus, some people carry a plurality of keys at any given time where these keys are bound with a key ring or other retaining means. They do not want to waste time looking or identifying a specific key among the many different keys on a key ring. Therefore, rapid identification of various keys is required.  
           [0005]    Of all the various types of keys, the house key is predominantly the most used key as everyone has a place to live and needs to secure or unlock his or her home. There are at least four common house keys being used in America today. These four common house keys differ in the shape and sizes in the key head portions where each has distinctively edged key heads. In the key industry, these keys are individually identified based on the different shape and sizes of the key head portions of these common house keys. They are: the KW 1  key, the SC 1  key, the WR 5  key, and the KW 10  key. The KW 10  key is a newly introduced house key.  
           [0006]    Prior art key caps are limited in their use with these house keys. Firstly, they do not fit around the wider keys, including the SC 1  and the KW 10  key heads which have obvious wide lateral sides. Therefore, the prior caps cannot be used if the user happens to own any such keys.  
           [0007]    More significantly, however, the prior art key caps do not to fit well over the different edged key heads of the different house keys. Consequently, when the cap is placed over some of the key heads, the inner surface of the cap gets grossly distorted by the various curves and corners of the house keys and the cap bulges out. As a result, this bulging causes an unusual amount of stretching of the cap and the resulting stress of the surface areas causes tearing of the cap. Additionally, because of the rapid tearing of the cap, the user has to replace the cap often.  
           [0008]    The prior art key caps are limited in its use because they are ineffective with some of the common house keys and with others, they cannot even be used at all. Moreover, the prior caps become distorted and stretched an exceptional amount when they are placed, or forced, over the common house keys. Additionally, the prior cap is subject to great wear and tear as a result and needs to be replaced quite often.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    This invention is a polymeric or plastic-based cap for covering the head portion of the most common house keys and overcomes the problems set forth above with regard to the prior art key caps. This key cap is useful specifically with the four most common keys used in America today where the common house keys each consist of a distinctive edged key head portion.  
           [0010]    The inventive key cap is sufficiently flexible for slipping it over the head portions of the four most common house keys discussed herein. The cap comprises two closely spaced-apart planar walls where the walls include an inner surface and outer surface, and an outer periphery which has a top edge and a pair of side edges. The top edge and side edges of the walls are monolithically joined together by a rind to form a complete cover over the key head portion. A hollow chamber is formed on the inside of the walls and the rind. The inventive cap includes a slot located at the bottom of the cap between the walls into which the head portion of the four most common house keys may be inserted. The invention lies in the internal make-up of the hollow chamber to accept the varied geometry of the head portions of the keys.  
           [0011]    The cap of this invention is made wide enough to house the widest of the four house keys, such as the KW 10  and the SC 1  key head portions, without compromising a desired small appearance.  
           [0012]    The cap of this invention would cut costs to the consumer because it fits all four of the most common house keys comfortably and does not get distorted or stretched around the segments and as a result, the wear and tear is greatly reduced. Thus, a consumer need not replace the key cap as often.  
           [0013]    Accordingly, the main object of this invention is a key cap which is able to house all four of the most common house keys without distorting the cap. Other objects of the invention include a cap which is durable and resists wear and tear and a cap that is large enough to comfortably house larger key heads.  
           [0014]    These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent when reading the description of the preferred embodiment along with the drawings that are appended hereto. The protection sought by the inventor may be gleaned from a fair reading of the claims that conclude the specification. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 a  is an elevational front view of a KW 1  house key;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 b  is a perspective view of a KW 1  house key;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 c  is an elevational front view of a SC 1  house key;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 d  is perspective view of a partial SC 1  house key;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 e  is an elevational front view of a WR 5  house key;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 f  is perspective view of a WR 5  house key;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 g  is an elevational front view of a KW 10  house key;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 h  is a perspective view of a KW 10  house key;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a front view of the inventive cap shaped in the periphery of a house and constructed according to the teachings of this invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive cap shaped in a circular periphery and constructed according to the teachings of this invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cap shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 2 taken along the lines  6 - 6  in FIG. 5;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 2 showing a segment cut out from one of the walls of the cap;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is cross-sectional front view of the cap shown in FIG. 2 made according to the teachings of this inventions showing the edged segments of the inner surface of the rind;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sectional view of the cap taken along the lines  9 - 9  in FIG. 3;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the KW 1  key cap showing a circular outer periphery with the edged segments of the inner surface of the rind; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the KW 1  key cap showing a house-shaped outer periphery with the edged segments on the inner surface of the rind. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    Turning now to the drawings where elements or limitations are identified with numbers and like elements or limitations are identified with like numbers throughout the 18 figures, FIGS. 1 a - 1   h  show the four different types of house keys to which this invention is applicable. Shown in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  is a KW 1  house key  1  that includes a head portion  3  for grasping key  1  by the fingers, where head portion  3  has edged segments  4 , a broad front surface  5  and rear surface  7 , preferably parallel, and having an aperture  8  therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion  9 , for insertion into a lock. In viewing key  1  with head portion  3  at the top and shank portion  9  extending downward therefrom, head portion  3  comprises a central convex edged segment  13 , a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight edged segments  15  extending from convex segment  13 , terminated by a pair of spaced-apart rounded corners  17 , a pair of downwardly directed side edges  19  extending from corners  17 , terminating in another pair of spaced-apart rounded corners  21 , and a pair of inwardly directed curved edges  23  that terminates in sharp corners  25  at or above the upper end of shank portion  9 .  
         [0034]    Shown in FIGS. 1 c  and  1   d , is a SC 1  house key  27  that includes a head portion  3  with edged segments  4 , a broad front surface  5  and rear surface  7 , preferably parallel, and having an aperture  8  therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion  9 . FIG. 1 d  depicts only a partial SC 1  house key  27 , showing only one side of the key, the other side (not shown) having the exact shape as the shown portion. In viewing key  27  with head portion  9  at the top and shank portion  9  extending downward therefrom, head portion  3  comprises a top central horizontal segment  29 , terminating on both ends in a pair of spaced-apart arched corners  31 , a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight edges  33  extending from corners  31 , terminating in a pair of inwardly curved indentations  35 , a first pair of outwardly directed horizontal edges  37  extending from indentations  35 , into a first pair of outwardly edged corners  39 , a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight segments  41  extending from corners  39 , terminating in a pair of inwardly curved corners  43 , and a second pair of outwardly directed horizontal edges  45  extending from curved corners  43  and terminating in a second pair of outwardly edged corners  47 . A pair of concavely indentations  49  extending from corners  47  into a pair of substantially long downwardly directed side edges  51  and terminates by another pair of concavely indentations  53 . A third pair of outwardly edged corners  55  extends from concavely indentations  53  into a pair of inwardly directed horizontal segments  57 , terminating in a pair of inwardly arched corners  59 , and a pair of substantially short downwardly descending side edges  61  extending from corners  59  and terminating by a fourth pair of outwardly edged corners  63 . A pair of concave segments  65  extending into a pair of downwardly directed straight segments  67 , terminating in a pair of outwardly curved segments  69 , extending into a pair of inwardly directed straight segments  71 , and terminating in a pair of rounded corners  73  at or above the upper end of shank portion  9 .  
         [0035]    Shown in FIGS. 1 e  and  1   f , is a WR 5  house key  75  that includes a head portion  9  with edged segments  4 , a broad front surface  5  and rear surface  7 , preferably parallel, and having an aperture  8  therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion  9 . In viewing key  75  with head portion  3  at the top and shank portion  9  extending downward therefrom, head portion  75  comprises a central horizontal segment  77 , terminating at both ends in a pair of spaced-apart arched corners  79 , a pair of outwardly directed straight edges  81  extending from corners  79 , terminating by a pair of inwardly directed sharp corners  83 , a pair of horizontal segments  85  extending outwardly from corners  83  into a pair of rounded corners  87 , a pair of substantially long downwardly descending edges  89  extending from rounded corners  87 , terminating in a pair of outwardly rounded corners  91 , a pair of horizontal inwardly directed segments  93  terminating in sharp corners  95  at or above the upper end of shank portion  9 .  
         [0036]    Shown in FIGS. 1 g  and  1   h  is a KW 10  house key  97  that includes a head portion  3  with edged segments  4 , a broad front surface  5  and rear surface  7 , preferably parallel, and having an aperture  8  therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion  9 . In viewing key  97  with head portion  3  at the top and shank portion  9  extending downward therefrom, head portion  3  comprises a central convex edged segment  99  extending into a pair of spaced-apart substantially large concave edged segments  101 , a pair of convex segments  103  extending from concave segments  101  into a pair of inwardly curved side segments  105  extending into another pair of convex segments  106 , that terminate at another pair of substantially large concave segments  107 , wherein concave segments  107  terminate at a pair of sharp corners  108  at or above the upper end of shank portion  9 .  
         [0037]    The preferred embodiment of the inventive key cap is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and shows a polymeric or plastic-based cap  109  for slipping over the head portions  3  of the four common house keys discussed herein. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5,  6 ,  7  and  9 , the cap  109  comprises two closely spaced-apart planar walls  111  and  112  where walls  111  and  112  include an inner surface  113  and outer surface  115 , an outer periphery  117  having a top edge  119  and a pair of side edges  121  which are monolithically joined together by a rind  123  to form a complete cover over key head portion  3 , and a hollow chamber  125  formed on inside of walls  111  and  112  and rind  123 . The inventive cap includes a slot  127  located at the bottom  129  of cap  109  between walls  111  and  112  into which head portion  3  of the four most common house keys may be inserted. The invention lies in the internal make-up of hollow chamber  125  to accept the varied geometry of the head portions  3  of the keys previously disclosed herein.  
         [0038]    Walls  111  and  112  of cap  109  are made sufficiently thin to provide substantial flexibility to allow snug ingress and egress of head portion  3  of the house keys without damaging cap  109 . Outer surface  115  of walls  111  and  112  and outer surface  133  of rind  123  are smooth and printable and an indicia or design can be printed on them. Walls  111  and  112  further have aligned apertures  131  therethrough, shown in FIG. 3, which also align with aperture  8  in key head portion  3  when cap  109  is placed over key head portion  3 . Aperture  131  is sufficiently wide in diameter to accommodate a retaining member such as a key ring or key chain.  
         [0039]    As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, rind  123  having an outer surface  133  and inner surface  135 , extends toward bottom  129  of cap  109  into a pair of upsets  137  to provide resistance in the removal of the key heads. As shown in the cross-sectional side view in FIG. 8, inner surface  135  of rind  123  includes edged segments  139  that snugly fit at least around one of edged segments  4  of head portion  3  of the four most common house keys. In viewing the side cross-section of cap  109  with top edge  119  of walls  111  and  112  at the top and side edges  121  extending downward therefrom, edged segments  139  comprise a central convex edged segment  141 , a pair of inwardly arched segments  143 , extending from convex segment  141  into a first pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments  145 , where horizontal segments  145  terminate by a pair of outwardly protruding edged corners  147 . A first pair of inwardly directed edged indentations  149  extends from corners  147  into a pair of outwardly and downwardly straight edges  151 , which terminates by a second pair of inwardly directed edged indentations  153 . A second pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments  155  extends from indentations  153  and terminates by a pair of outwardly protruding rounded corners  157 . Corners  157  extend downwardly into a pair of straight edges  159 , terminated by a first pair of inwardly curved indentations  161 , and a pair of substantially large side convex segments  163  extending from indentations  161  into a second pair of inwardly curved indentations  165 . A pair of downwardly descending straight edges  167  extends from indentations  165  and terminates in slot  127 .  
         [0040]    When head portion  3  of KW 1  key  1  (FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b ) is received by edged segments  139  of cap  109 , convex edged segment  141  of cap  109  registers with convex edged segment  13  of KW 1  key  1 , second pair of edged indentations  153  of cap  109  presses between straight segment  15  and rounded corners  17  of KW 1  key  1 , and second pair of curved indentations  165  of cap  109  contacts rounded corners  21  of KW 1  key  1 .  
         [0041]    When head portion  3  of SC 1  key  27  (FIGS. 1 c  and  1   d ) is received by edged segments  139  of cap  109 , arched segments  143  of cap  109  abut arched corners  31  of SC 1  key  27 , curved indentations  161  of cap  109  press against edged corners  47  of SC 1  key  27 , side convex segments  163  of cap  109  receive in adjacent juxtaposition side edges  51  of SC 1  key  27 , and curved indentations  165  of cap  109  abut edged corners  55  of SC 1  key  27 . Round corners  73  of SC 1  key  27  align with entrance of slot  127  of cap  109 .  
         [0042]    When head portion  3  of WR 5  key  75  (FIGS. 1 e  and  1   f ) is received by edged segments  139  of cap  109 , horizontal segments  145  of cap  109  receive horizontal segment  77  of key  75  in adjacent juxtaposition, arched corners  79  of WR 5  key  75  hook into edged corners  147  of cap  109 , and rounded corners  87  of key  75  hook into rounded corners  157  of cap  109 . First pair of straight edges  159  and second pair of straight edges  167  of cap  109  are forced against descending edges  89  of key  75 , and horizontal segments  93  of WR 5  key  75  forming an alignment with slot  127 .  
         [0043]    When head portion  3  of KW 10  key  97  (FIGS. 1 g  and  1   h ) is received by edged segments  139  of cap  109 , central convex segment  141  of cap  109  presses against central convex segment  99  of KW 10  key  97 , and side convex segments  163  of cap  109  capture large convex edged segments  103  of KW 10  key  97 . Other convex segments  106  of key  97  press against curved indentations  165  of cap  109  and concave segments  107  of KW 10  key  97  extend through slot  127  to the outside of cap  109 .  
         [0044]    To assist the user in the identification of a house key, cap  109  can be shaped in the periphery of a house  169 , shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Alternatively, cap  109  can be shaped in a circular periphery  171 , shown in FIG. 3. Where cap  109  is shaped in the periphery of house  169 , walls  111  and  112  represent the front wall  173  and back wall  175  of house  169 , respectively. Rind  123  includes opposite longitudinal side walls  177  of house  169  and a V-shaped roof  179  of house  169 .  
         [0045]    In a modification of this invention, FIGS. 10 and 11 show a key cap  180  for housing head portion  3  of KW 1  key  1  where cap  180  comprises a pair of spaced-apart planar walls  111  and  112  joined together about their outer periphery  117  by rind  123  having an inner surface  135  which include edged segments  139  that register with edged segments  4  of KW  1  key  1 . In viewing the side cross-section of cap  180  with top edge  119  of walls  111  and  112  at the top and side edges  121  extending downward therefrom, rind  123  comprises a central convex edged segment  181 , a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight segments  183  extending from convex segment  181  into a first pair of rounded corners  185 , a pair of straight downwardly directed edges  187  extending from corners  185 , and terminated by a second pair of rounded corners  189 . Second pair of rounded corners  189  terminate in slot  127 . Cap  180  can be shaped in the periphery of a house or in a circular periphery.  
         [0046]    When head portion  3  of KW 1  key  1  is received by edged segments  139  of cap  180 , convex segment  13  of key  1  is forced against convex segment  181  of cap  180 , straight segments  183  of cap  180  abut straight edged segments  15  of key  1 , rounded corners  185  of cap  180  contacts rounded corners  17  of key  1 , straight edges  19  of key  1  is forced against straight edges  187  of cap  180 , and another pair of rounded corners  21  of key I hooks into rounded corners  189  of cap  180 .  
         [0047]    While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that all combinations of elements and steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result are within the scope of this invention.