Abstract:
A key holder includes a housing which stores a plurality of keys. The keys are presented automatically for use in response to an operator pushing a button. The housing supports a plurality of buttons with each button corresponding to an individual key.

Description:
[0001]     The present application claims priority from my Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/641,897 titled “Key Holder,” filed on Jan. 5, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of key holders and more particularly to a key holder in which keys are stored within a case.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Conventionally, keys are stored on a single key ring or in a leather case or pouch which has a ring for one or more keys. When a key is required for use, the key must be manually selected either from a conventional key ring or from a pouch. This procedure results in a degree of inconvenience in conditions of dim illumination and especially for elderly users.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a key holder which presents a single key in response to an operator pushing a button.  
         [0005]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder which presents a single key in response to an operator sliding a button.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder which stores keys within a case in a safe and convenient manner.  
         [0007]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder which comprises a relatively small number of component parts which can be easily manufactured in volume resulting in a relatively low unit cost.  
         [0008]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear hereinafter.  
         [0009]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a key case which stores a plurality of keys. The keys are presented automatically for use in response to an operator pushing a button. The key case includes a plurality of buttons with each button corresponding to an individual key. The present invention eliminates the inconvenience of manually selecting a key from a conventional key ring. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Other important advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of a key case made in accordance with the present invention with a selected key shown in an extended position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the relationship of selected internal components;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing additional internal components;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary schematic view showing the operation of the internal components;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary exploded view showing the attachment of a key to the key holder;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a fragmentary exploded view showing an alternative key holder for use with the key case of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary elevation view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary top plan view showing the relationship of the disk and the key platform;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary exploded view of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  showing the motion of the key holder pin relative to the sliding pin;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is another fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  forming a third embodiment showing the escapement and a gear train;  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is a fragmentary schematic view showing the wind system of  FIG. 18 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is a fragmentary schematic view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  is a fragmentary schematic view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 22  is an overall perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 23  is a schematic view of the internal components of the embodiment of  FIG. 22  showing the key in the retracted position;  
         [0035]      FIG. 24  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 23  showing the key in the extended position;  
         [0036]      FIG. 25  is a schematic view of the internal components of the invention showing a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 26  is a top schematic view of selected internal components of  FIG. 25  taken along the line  26 - 26  of  FIG. 25 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 27  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line  27 - 27  of  FIG. 23  showing the attachment of the button to the plate member;  
         [0039]      FIG. 28  is an eighth embodiment of the invention showing an alternative button which incorporates a latch;  
         [0040]      FIG. 29  is an exploded schematic view showing a ninth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 30  is a side elevational schematic view of the components of  FIG. 29 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 31  is a schematic view of a tenth embodiment of the invention showing the key in the extended position; and  
         [0043]      FIG. 32  is a schematic view of the components of  FIG. 31  showing the key in the retracted position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]     With reference to the drawings, there is shown in  FIG. 1 a  key case  10  made in accordance with the present invention. The key case  10  includes a housing  12  which has top  14 , bottom  16 , front  18 , rear  20  and side panels  22 ,  24 . The top panel  14  has a plurality of buttons  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  disposed thereon.  FIG. 1  illustrates a total of five buttons  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  each of which corresponds to a single key  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  which is stored in the housing. Depressing one of the buttons  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  will cause the corresponding key  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  to project from the housing through one of the key apertures  48  in the front panel  18  as illustrated by the key  36  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0045]     It should be understood that the illustration of five keys  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and five buttons  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  has been for purposes of clarity of illustration and not as a limitation on the present invention. A larger or a smaller number of buttons and keys may be utilized in the present invention.  
         [0046]     The operation of the key holder  10  may be described as follows with reference to the various figures.  
         [0047]     In the initial condition, all of the keys  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  are retracted within the housing  12 . The stop  46  is pushed upward in the direction shown by the arrow  120  in  FIG. 3  by the springs  50 ,  52  and is held in the path of rotation of the disk  54  and the disk  54  is prevented from rotating as a result of contact between the stop  46  and the projecting finger  56  on the disk  54 .  
         [0048]     As is shown in  FIG. 4 , when a selected button  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  is depressed, downward motion of the button  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  causes horizontal motion of the sliding pin  58  as a result of the forces on the inclined surfaces  60 ,  62  on the button  26  and the first end  64  of the sliding pin  58 . The second end  66  of the sliding pin  58  is inclined and bears against the inclined surface on the upper end  70  of the key holder  72 .  
         [0049]     It should be understood that each of the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  has a corresponding sliding pin  58  which is identical to the sliding pin  58  which has been illustrated.  
         [0050]     The bottom end  74  of the key holder  72  has a pin  76  which enters a hole  78  in the key platform  80 .  
         [0051]     When the button  26  is depressed, a projecting pin  82  on the bottom  84  of the button  26  bears against the top plate  86 . The top plate  86  bears on the vertical side plates  88 ,  90  and the vertical side plates  88 ,  90  bear against the bottom plate  92 . The bottom plate  92  overcomes the upward force of the helical springs  94 ,  96  and the bottom plate  92  moves in a downward direction shown by the arrow  98  in  FIG. 4 . As a result, the stop  46  on the bottom plate  92  is pushed downward and out of the path of the finger  56  on the disk  54 . Stop  102  is higher than stop  46  and the disk  54  rotates so that finger  56  hits stop  102  on the bottom plate  92 .  
         [0052]     When the selected button  26  is released, stop  102  is pushed upward out of the path of finger  56  and the disk  54  rotates and a projecting pin  104  on the disk  54  which rides in the slot  106  in the key platform  80  drives the selected key  36  forward out of the housing  12  as is shown schematically in  FIG. 7 . The disk  54  rotates until finger  108  bears against stop  46  which is held in the path of rotation of the disk  54  by the helical springs  50 ,  52 .  
         [0053]     As long as the key  36  is in the extended position, the finger  108  bears against the stop  46 . To retract the key  26 , the operator pushes any button  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  other than the button  26 . The pin  82  on whichever button  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  is pushed presses against the top plate  86  as previously described and the top plate  86  pushes downward on the vertical side plates  88 ,  90  and the bottom plate  92  is pushed downward.  
         [0054]     As a result, stop  46  is pushed downward and the disk  54  rotates until stop  102  is engaged. Continued downward pressure on the button  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  pushes stop  102  downward and the disk  54  rotates past stop  102 . The rotation of the disk  54  and the action of the pin  104  and the slot  106  causes the key  36  to retract into the housing  12 . The disk  54  continues to rotate until stop  46  bears against finger  56  and the key holder  10  returns to the initial condition as described above with all of the keys  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  retracted and ready for extension.  
         [0055]      FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic view indicating that the disc  54  is driven by a clock spring  120 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 5  shows the typical attachment of a key  36  to the key holder  72 . The key  36  has a pair of slots  122 ,  124  formed on the end  126  each having an enlarged portion  128 ,  130 . The key holder  72  has a pair of projecting members  132 ,  134  each with an enlarged end portion  136 ,  138 . The projecting members  132 ,  134  are received in the slots  122 ,  124  as is shown in  FIGS. 2, 4  and  5 .  
         [0057]     The slots  122 ,  124  and the projecting members  132 ,  134  retain the key  36  while providing a degree of vertical motion.  
         [0058]      FIG. 5A  shows an alternative key holder  140  in which a pair of projecting members  142 ,  144  project from the key holder  140  and are connected to a member  146  having a slot  148 . The slot  148  accommodates the end  150  of a key  152  which may be retained in the slot  148  by an adhesive layer  154 .  
         [0059]     A second embodiment of the invention  200  is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the button  202  is biased in an upward direction relative to the housing  204  by the compression spring  206 . Downward pressure on the button  202  overcomes the force of the compression spring  206  and moves the link  208  in a downward direction as shown by the arrow  210 . This downward movement of the link  208  shown by the arrow  210  rotates the gear  212  in the direction shown by the arrow  214 . The gear  212  which is in mesh with the first rack  216  causes the rack  216  to move in the direction shown by the arrow  218  overcoming the force of the spring  220 . The first rack  216  is connected to a second rack  222  and the motion of the second rack  222  causes rotation of the gear  224 . The rotation of the gear  224  causes the links  226 ,  228  to drive the key  230  in the direction shown by the arrow  232  thereby causing the key  230  to project outwardly relative to the housing  204  which includes a plurality of panels as previously described.  
         [0060]     While the action of a single button  202  has been described, it should be understood as previously described that the apparatus  200  includes a button and the associated components described above for each key.  
         [0061]     The operation of the first embodiment of the invention  10  shown in  FIGS. 9-17  may be described as follows.  
         [0062]     In the initial condition, all of the keys, which are illustrated typically by the key  302 , are retracted within the housing  12 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , when a selected button, which is illustrated typically by the button  304 , is depressed, downward motion of the button  304  causes horizontal motion of the sliding pin  306  as a result of the forces on the inclined surfaces  308 ,  310  on the button  304  and on the sliding pin  306  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  
         [0063]     The button  304  pushes the vertical bar  312  in a downward direction overcoming the spring  313 . The corners  314  of the aperture  316  in the vertical bar  312  bears against the catch  318  and the catch  318  pivots and releases the gear wheel  320 . The gear  320  is driven by the spring  322  and, in turn, drives the gear  324 . The gear  324  drives the screw  326  and the screw  326  is in mesh with threads  328  formed in the tilting block  330 .  
         [0064]     The tilting block  330  is driven by the screw shaft  326  until the tilting block  330  moves the catches  336 ,  338  and the catches  336 ,  338  pivot to engage the vertical bar  312  and to lock the gear wheel as indicated schematically in  FIGS. 9 and 11 .  
         [0065]     The motion of the key holder pin  334  in the direction shown by the arrow  332  drives the key  302  out of the case  12 . The locking of the gear  320  locks the mechanism and allows the key  302  to be used to unlock or lock a lock.  
         [0066]     The movement of the tilting block  330  drives the triangular members  336 ,  338  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11  so that the end of the triangular member contacts the vertical bar  312 .  
         [0067]     Pressing the button slightly allows the leaf springs  340  to ride over and lift the ends  342  of the triangular catch members  336 ,  338 . This rotation of the triangular catch members  336 ,  338  rotates the tilting block  330  and disengages the threaded portion  328  of the tilting block  330  from the screw shaft  326 . When the tilting block  326  is disengaged from the screw shaft  326 , springs  340  drive the tilting block  330  and the block  342  to the right thereby retracting the key  302  into the housing. During the slight pressing of the button  304 , the catch  332  continues to lock the gear wheel  320 . The block  342  does not have any threads and is thus free to slide.  
         [0068]     Pressing the button  304  fully causes the catch  332  to release the gear wheel  320  as described above. A conventional escapement mechanism may be used to control the pressing of the button and alternates a full pressing and a slight pressing action as shown in  FIG. 18 .  
         [0069]     A spring  350  mounted on the block  342  presses against the tilting block  330  into engagement with the screw shaft as shown in  FIG. 15 . The catch members  336 ,  338  slide within guide walls  352 ,  354  formed in the housing  12  and which are shaped to control the orientation of the catch members  336 ,  338  as is shown in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0070]     The embodiment of the invention  10  may be powered by a clock spring  332  as shown schematically in  FIG. 9 . Alternatively, the embodiment of the invention  10  may be powered by a clockwork mechanism  360  as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19  forming a third embodiment  300  of the invention. The clockwork mechanism  360  incorporates a clock spring  362 , a drum  364 , and a clutch  366  which allows the clock spring  362  to rotate the gear wheel  320 . The clutch  366  allows motion in only a single direction as indicated by the arrows  368 ,  370 .  
         [0071]      FIG. 18  shows the alternative incorporation of a drum cam  372  having a groove  374  which cooperates with a projecting pin  376  connected to the vertical bars  312  to control the vertical motion of the vertical bars  312 .  
         [0072]      FIG. 18  also shows the alternative incorporation of a gear set  378  connecting the drum cam  372  and the gear wheel  320 .  
         [0073]      FIG. 20  shows a schematic view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the invention  400 . In the embodiment  400 , the button  402  slides relative to the housing  404 . The button  402  is part of an elongated rack member  406  which is in mesh with a gear  408 . The gear  408  is connected to a drum  410 . A flexible cable  412  is connected to the drum  410  and runs over a pulley  420  which is mounted in the housing  404 . Sliding motion of the button  402  relative to the housing  404  causes the drum  410  to rotate and drive the key  412  toward an extended position projecting out of the housing  404 . A spring  414  urges the key  412  toward a retracted position.  
         [0074]      FIG. 21  shows a schematic view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the invention  500 . In the embodiment  500 , the button  502  is connected to the housing  504  by a pivot  506 . Pressure on the first arm  508  of the button  502  causes the button  502  to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow  510  in  FIG. 20  and causes the foot portion  512  of the button  502  to bear against the inclined surface  514  of the first rack member  516 . The first rack member  516  is forced to move in the direction shown by the arrow  518  in  FIG. 20 . The smaller gear  520  is in mesh with the first rack member  516  and the larger gear  550  is connected to each other so that both rotate in the direction shown by the arrow  522 . The larger gear  550  is in mesh with a second rack member  524  which is flexible in nature thereby causing the second rack member  524  to move in the direction shown by the arrow  526  and causing the key  528  which is connected to the second rack member  524  to extend outwardly relative to the housing  504 . The extension of the key  528  overcomes the force of the spring  552 . Pressure on the second arm  534  of the button  502  allows the spring  532  to drive the key  528  back into the housing  504 .  
         [0075]      FIG. 22  shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention  600  which includes a housing  602  which has top  604 , bottom  606 , front  608 , rear  610  and side panels  612 ,  614 . The top panel  604  has a plurality of buttons  616 ,  618 ,  620 ,  622 ,  624  each of which is capable of sliding relative to the housing  602  in the directions shown by the arrows  626  in  FIG. 22 . In a manner similar to that which has been described above, each button  616 ,  618 ,  620 ,  622 ,  624  corresponds to and operates a single key. The keys are normally stored in the housing  602 , while only a single key  628  has been illustrated for purposes of clarity of illustration, it should be understood that sliding any one of the buttons  616 ,  618 ,  620 ,  622 ,  624  shown will cause a corresponding key to extend outwardly relative to the housing  602  in the manner illustrated for key  628 .  
         [0076]     It should also be understood that the illustration of five buttons  616 ,  618 ,  620 ,  622 ,  624  has been for clarity of illustration and not as a limitation on the present invention. A larger or a smaller number of buttons and keys may be utilized in the present invention.  
         [0077]     As is shown in  FIG. 23 , the button  624  is connected to a support plate  630  which slides on a guide  632  and is capable of motion relative to the housing  602 . The gear  634  is connected to the support plate  630  by a pivot  636 . A link arm  638  is rigidly connected to the gear  634 . The link arm  638  has a pin  640  which rides in a slot  642  formed in the key  628 . The gear  634  is in mesh with a rack  644  which is connected to the housing  602 .  
         [0078]     When the button  624  is pushed in the forward direction shown by the arrow  646  in  FIG. 24 , the gear  634  which is in mesh, the rack  644  rotates thereby rotating the link arm  638 , overcoming the force of the compression spring  648  and driving the key  628  to the extended position which is shown in  FIGS. 22 and 24 .  
         [0079]      FIGS. 25 and 26  show a seventh embodiment of the invention  700  which is similar in operation to the embodiment  600  of  FIG. 22 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , the gear  702  and the link arm  704  form a unitary member. The gear  702  is in mesh with a rack  706  which is connected to the housing  708 . The gear  702  rides in an aperture  710  which is formed in the support plate  712 . The aperture  710  is curved to fit the gear  702  so that motion of the support plate  712  causes rotation of the gear  702 .  
         [0080]     The support plate  712  includes guide grooves  714 ,  716 , which ride on guides  718 ,  720  formed on the housing  708 . The support plate  712  includes an integrally formed spring  722  which biases the support plate  712  to the retracted position. The link arm  704  includes an integrally formed spring  724 . As indicated previously, sliding the button  726  and the support plate  712  in a forward direction, as shown by the arrow  728  in  FIG. 25 , causes the gear  702  to rotate and causes the pin  730  on the link arm  704  to drive the key  628  to an extended position. The support plate  712  has a recess area  734  which accepts the link arm  704 . The recess area  734  has a tapered portion  736  which is best shown in  FIG. 26  and which ensures that the link arm  704  rides into the recessed area  734 .  
         [0081]      FIG. 27  shows the attachment of the button cap  738  to the support plate  712  via a snap fit portion  736  formed on the support plate  712  and a complementary recess  738  formed in the button cap  738 .  
         [0082]      FIG. 28  shows an eighth embodiment of the invention  800  in which the button cap  802 , which is generally similar to the button cap  738  of  FIG. 27 , incorporates a latch member  804  having an end  806  which engages the lip  808  of housing  810 . The button cap  802  also incorporates a pair of integrally formed springs  812 ,  814  which allows the button cap  802  to be depressed relative to the support plate  816 , in the direction shown by the arrow  818  in  FIG. 28  thereby releasing the latch member  804  from the housing  810 .  
         [0083]      FIGS. 29 and 30  show a ninth embodiment of the invention  900  in which the link arm  704 , the gear  702  and the rack  706  of  FIG. 25  are replaced by a pivot arm  902 . The pivot arm  902  is connected to the housing  904  via a pivot shaft  906  and is connected to the button  908  via a pin  910 . The lower end  912  of the pivot arm  902  has a pin  914  which rides in a slot  916  formed in the key  918 .  
         [0084]     As shown in  FIG. 30 , sliding the button  908  in the direction shown by the arrow  920  overcomes the force of the spring  922  and drives the key  918  to an extended position relative to the housing  904 .  
         [0085]      FIGS. 31 and 32  show a tenth embodiment of the invention  1000  in which an operating lever  1002  is connected to the housing  1004  by a pivot  1006 . The inner end  1008  of the lever  1002  is connected to the key  1012  by a wire spring  1014 . In the normal position of the spring  1014  shown in  FIG. 32 , the key  1012  is in the retracted position relative to the housing  1004 . When the lever  1002  is moved to the position shown in  FIG. 31 , the spring  1014  forces the key  1012  to an extended position relative to the housing  1004 .  
         [0086]     The foregoing specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein are for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention without departing from the main theme thereof.