Abstract:
The present invention is an improved key holder. In particular, the present invention is directed to a key holder with a plurality of lights for illuminating and identifying keys or key rings attached to the key holder. A preferred embodiment of the key holder comprises a circular hub containing a battery. Preferably, multiple key rings are mounted around the hub and project radially. Indicator lights of differing colors are mounted on the hub in alignment with a corresponding key ring and connected to the battery. A light is mounted on the edge of the hub, preferably an LED. A switch is mounted at the hub&#39;s center and connected to the power source, the light source and the indicator lights. The switch has different activation positions including a first activation position that activates the light source and a second activation position that activates at least one of the indicator lights.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention is an improved key holder. In particular, the present invention is directed to a key holder with a plurality of lights for illuminating and identifying keys or key rings attached to the key holder.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     Generally, a key holder has a main body attached to a key ring for holding keys. However, keys on typical key holders are only distinguishable from one another by their shape or insignia inscribed on the keys themselves. This can lead to difficulty in distinguishing various keys or key rings, particularly when the user is in a darkened environment, e.g. when trying to find the proper key to unlock a front door of the user&#39;s home at night.  
         [0003]     Therefore, a key holder that can distinguish individual keys or key rings for identification and use is desired, particularly in darkened environments.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is an improved key holder. In particular, the present invention is directed to a key holder with a plurality of lights for illuminating and identifying keys or key rings attached to the key holder. A preferred embodiment of the key holder comprises a circular hub containing a battery. Preferably, multiple key rings are mounted around the hub and project radially. Indicator lights of differing colors are mounted on the hub in alignment with a corresponding key ring and connected to the battery. A light is mounted on the edge of the hub, preferably an LED. A switch is mounted at the hub&#39;s center and connected to the power source, the light source and the indicator lights. The switch has different activation positions including a first activation position that activates the light source and a second activation position that activates at least one of the indicator lights.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a key ring;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the preferred embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top view of another preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4   a  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the indicator light assembly;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of another preferred embodiment of the invention; and,  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an improved key holder.  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention  10  is shown. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a disk-shaped hub  20  contains a power source  22  such as a battery. Alternately, the hub can have a variety of shapes, polygonal or otherwise, such as, inter alia, a square, an oval, and a pentagon. The hub  20  comprises top and bottom surfaces and an edge. The hub  20  is preferably made of die cast zinc alloy. However, alternate materials can be used such as, inter alia, ABS plastic. The power source  22  is electrically connected to a plurality of indicator lights  25  mounted circumferentially around the top surface of the hub  20 . Five (5) indicator lights  25  are shown mounted on the hub  20  in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, the indicator lights  25  are light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a printed circuit board  50  contained within the hub  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , each indicator light  25  corresponds to a key ring  30  projecting radially around the hub  20 . Preferably, each indicator light  25  has a different color to assist in distinguishing between each key ring  30 . Additionally, a symbol can be placed next to or over the indicator light, (e.g. a house symbol, car symbol, etc.), in order to further indicate the key associated with the indicator light  25 . If the symbol is placed over the light, it is preferably translucent so light can shine through the symbol. Alternately, the symbol can be black or another dark color so as to appear in silhouette in the indicator light  25 .  
         [0017]     A light source  40  is mounted on the edge of the hub  20 . Preferably, the light source is a 3 mm round type blue LED lamp with a reverse voltage of 5V, a maximum power dissipation of 80 mW, and a 30-degree viewing angle. The light source  40  is intended to be used as a flashlight. The light source  40  is preferably connected to a switch  24  located at the hub&#39;s center. The switch  24  preferably has a number of activation positions. For example, a first activation position could illuminate the light source  40  and a second activation position could illuminate one or more indicator lights  25  for key identification purposes. Alternately, the switch could activate the indicator lights  25  and the light source  40  simultaneously. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has switch comprising a button split in half with a “V-wedge.” A rocker switch is used underneath for engaging either of the two activation positions.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The hub&#39;s center preferably has a power source door  26  for access to the power source  22 . Moreover, a slide button  28 , or valet release switch, is slidable in a slot  27  to move a key ring door  29 . When the key ring door  29  is opened, a key ring  30  can be removed from the hub  20 . When the key ring door  29  is closed, the key ring  30  is kept on the hub  20 . A preferred embodiment of a key ring  30  for use with the hub  20  is shown in  FIG. 2   a.  Only one key ring door  29  is shown in  FIG. 2 . However, one or more key ring doors  29  can be located on the hub  20 . Alternately, the key rings  30  can be permanently radially mounted to the hub  20 . The user&#39;s contact surface for the switch  24 , the slide button  28  and the power source door  26  are preferably made from ABS or HIPS plastic.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is shown. Preferably, the indicator lights  25  are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in the hub  20 . The indicator lights  25  are preferably spot LEDs of differing colors such as red, blue, yellow and/or green. The indicator lights are preferably 2 mm LED lamps with a forward voltage of 1.9V to 3.5V, a reverse voltage of 5V, and a forward current of 20 mA. The power source  22  preferably comprises batteries, e.g.  2  lithium batteries. In the hub  20 , the batteries  22  are located on the bottom and connected to the underside of the PCB. The switch  24 , preferably a rocker switch, is located on the top side of the PCB  50 . All of the indicator lights  25  are preferably mounted to the top side of the PCB  50  and divided by traces.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a hub  120  contains a power source  122  such as one or more batteries. The hub  120  comprises top and bottom surfaces and an edge. A plurality of arms  130  extend from the hub  120 . Five arms  130  are shown in  FIG. 4 . Each of the arms  130  is preferably flexible and hollow, e.g. tubular, and fixedly mounted to the hub  120 , such as by screw threads on the end of the arm  130 . Alternately, the arms  130  can slide in a slot in the hub  120 . The power source  122  is electrically connected by a pair of leads  124  strung through an arm  130  to an indicator light  140 , mounted on the end of the arm  130 . Five (5) indicator lights  140  are shown mounted on arms  130  in  FIG. 4 . Preferably, the indicator lights  140  are light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted to a key fixture device having two halves, one half  140  having the LED and a threaded screw and the other half  142  comprising a backing with a threaded receiving socket as shown in  FIG. 4   a.  The indicator light  140  is placed on a key  200  and the other half  142  is screwed onto the threaded screw to hold the key  200  on the arm  130 . Alternately, the indicator light LED can be mounted to a snap that snaps onto and holds the key  200  to the arm  130 . Alternately, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the indicator light  140  can be mounted to a key ring  210 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , each arm  130  projects from the hub  20 . Preferably, each indicator light  140  has a different color to assist in distinguishing between each key  200  or key ring  210  attached to the invention.  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a circuit diagram for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  is depicted. As shown, five (5) pairs of leads  124 , one pair for each indicator light  140 , are mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB)  170 . Each pair of leads  124  preferably extends through an arm  130 . The PCB  170  is connected to a power source  122 , e.g. a pair of lithium batteries, and a switch  126 . Preferably, a light source  160  is also connected to the switch  126  and the power source  122 . The light source  160  is preferably mounted on the edge of the hub  120  so that it can be used as a flashlight. The light source  160  and indicator lights  140  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  have specifications like those described above for  FIGS. 1-3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the power source  122  is located below the PCB  170 . The switch  126  is located on top of the PCB  170  and visible from the tope side of the hub  120 . All indicator lights  140  are connected to the PCB  170  via the leads  124  but are divided by traces.  
         [0022]     The switch  126  preferably has a number of activation positions. For example, a first activation position illuminates the light source  160  and a second activation position illuminates one or more indicator lights  140  for key identification purposes. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  has the switch  126  located at the center of the hub  120 .  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a top view of another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a hub  220  contains a power source  222  such as one or more batteries. The hub  220  comprises top and bottom surfaces and an edge. A plurality of arms  230  extend from the hub  220 . Five arms  230  are shown in  FIG. 6 . Each of the arms  230  is preferably flexible and hollow, e.g. tubular, and fixedly mounted to the hub  220 , such as by screw threads on the end of the arm  230 . The arms  230  are also preferably translucent, colored polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. This helps the indicator lights  240  provide an even glow from the arms  230  for key identification. Alternately, the arms  230  can be, inter alia, solid translucent material that is clear or colored.  
         [0024]     Alternately, the arms  230  can slide in a slot in the hub  220 . The power source  222  is electrically connected to a set of indicator lights  240  on a PCB  270  mounted in the hub  220  where the indicator lights  240  are aimed to project light through the arms  230  to illuminate the arms  230 . Five (5) indicator lights  240  are shown mounted on the PCB  270  in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0025]     Preferably, the indicator lights  240  are light emitting diodes (LEDs) as described above. The indicator lights  240  can be colored to further indicate the color of the arms  230  or the indicator lights  240  can be white and rely on the color of the arms  230 . Alternately, colors generated from the lights  240  and arms  240  can be mixed to create new colors as well. Preferably, each set of indicator light  240  and arm  230  create a different color to assist in distinguishing between each key  200  or key ring  210  attached to the invention.  
         [0026]     The keys  200  are preferably mounted to arms  230  or a key ring  210  in the manner described for the embodiment in  FIG. 4  above. Instead of an LED mounted to the keys  200 , however, a molded plastic colored button  300  can be used instead for day time identification purposes.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a circuit diagram for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  is depicted. As shown, five (5) indicator lights  240  are mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB)  270 . These lights  240  are aim radially from the hub  220  to shine through the respective arms  230 . The PCB  270  is connected to a power source  222 , e.g. a pair of lithium batteries, and a switch  226 . Preferably, a light source  260  is also connected to the switch  226  and the power source  222 . The light source  260  is preferably mounted on the edge of the hub  220  so that it can be used as a flashlight. The light source  260  and indicator lights  240  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7  have specifications like those described above for  FIGS. 1-3  and  4 - 5 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the power source  222  is located below the PCB  270 . The switch  226  is located on top of the PCB  270  and visible from the tope side of the hub  220 . All indicator lights  240  are connected to the PCB  270  but are divided by traces.  
         [0028]     Alternately, a single LED, preferably white, can be mounted within the hub  220  so that its light shines out through each of the different colored arms  230  simultaneously. The different color arms  230  subsequently will glow different colors for key identification purposes. This could reduce the cost and power drain of using multiple indicator lights  240 .  
         [0029]     Another alternative for each of the embodiments with arms  130 ,  230 , a fiber optic strand can be threaded through the arms to transmit lights from one or more PCB-mounted LEDs. The fiber optic strand can either glow through the length of the arm  130 ,  230  or can transmit light through the arm  130 ,  230  to a indicator spot on or near a key attached to the key holder. The indicator spot is preferably colored to indicate which key is attached to the device.  
         [0030]     Thus, an improved key holder is described above that can distinguish individual keys or key rings for identification and use, particularly in darkened environments. In each of the above embodiments, the different positions and structures of the present invention are described separately in each of the embodiments. However, it is the full intention of the inventor of the present invention that the separate aspects of each embodiment described herein may be combined with the other embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.