Abstract:
A keycase enclosing a sliding blade knife. Blade exposed and sheathed with one hand by thumb action. Provides protection going to and from locked automobile and residence while holding preselected key. Spring loaded detent holds blade open or closed. Keycase serves as knife handle and sheath. Thin flat knife enclosure lies snugly against keycase wall occupying little space and not interfering with key holder function.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a holder for keys incorporating a sliding blade knife. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     We are forced to lock our vehicles, residences and places of business to deny access to criminals. When we approach these locks with key in hand, we, too, are vulnerable to personal attack by these criminals. Defensive experts advise us to ward off an attack by stabbing with whatever is at hand, even a key. This is not very effective. We can carry a weapon in the other hand, but this leaves no hand for packages, or door opening, and the user must find storage for the weapon when not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for holding keys that can also serve as a knife to protect the user from attack while approaching a door lock with key in hand. It is an object of the present invention to provide a knife with a blade that can be readily deployed or retracted by thumb or finger of the same hand holding a key ready for unlocking a door. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key holder with a retractable knife blade whose protective knife function will not interfere with the normal key holding function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable blade knife and keyholder whose key holding function will not interfere with normal knife function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key holder with retractable blade knife having a thin, flat knife structure incorporated into the keyholder structure so as to occupy little more space than an ordinary keyholder. It is an object of the present invention to provide a keycase with sliding blade knife wherein the keycase serves as a handle for the knife when blade is exposed and a sheath for the blade when it is retracted. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention which follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS 
     FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, the keycase closed, with key selected and blade exposed, ready to use for protection. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keycase with blade retracted and keys closed as it would be stored in pocket or purse. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective of the keycase with a portion broken away. 
     FIG. 4 shows a perspective of a keyring embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the keycase. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blade and a transverse pushbutton detent. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cylindrical pushbutton detent. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which illustrate a keycase of the invention, FIG. 1 shows the keycase in the condition it would be in for travel to a locked door, such as a vehicle in a parking lot while carrying a package in one hand. Before leaving the safety of the building, the vehicle key 3 is removed from the case 29, the flexible outer covering 1 is closed and snapped shut over the remaining keys. The key 3, still attached to the keycase by key clip 2, is held flat against the outside of the case as the case is grasped tightly in the hand. The second hand is now free to carry the package, open doors, and the like. As one leaves the safety of the building, the thumb of the hand grasping the keycase depresses pushbutton 7 and slides it along cover slot 12 from the rearmost position of FIG. 2 to its forward position of FIGS. 1 and 3, thereby extending knife blade 4 to its outermost position, ready for use. Pushbutton 7 is a spring loaded detent holding the blade fully sheathed as in FIG. 2 in a first locked position and fully extended as in FIGS. 1 and 3 in a second locked position. Pressing the pushbutton 7 forces the enlarged portion 21 of the detent pushbutton below the detent holding plate 10, unlocking the blade 4 so that it is free to slide to and fro in the blade channel plate 9. With the thumb released from the pushbutton and the keycase and key gripped firmly in the hand, the keycase serves as a firm handle for the knife blade 4, whose sharpened edges 24 and point 25 can be used as an effective defensive weapon and to relieve anxiety. When the user reaches the locked door, the thumb depresses the pushbutton and slides it back to retract the blade into the blade opening 5. This sheaths the blade safely within the keycase. The fingers now release the key and insert it into the lock. After use the key is returned to the case, the cover 1 snapped shut, and the keycase, as shown in FIG. 2, is ready for safe storage in pocket or purse. The keycase incorporating the knife will occupy little more space than a conventional keycase and will be just as easy to use. 
     FIG. 4 shows a keyring embodiment of the invention. A ring 26 holds many key clips 2, and a rigid, flat sheath assembly 27 is fastened to the ring 26 by fasteners 28. 
     FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the keycase to more clearly depict its structure. It is constructed of a series of layers which may be tightly joined together by welding, adhesives, rivets and the like. Base plate 8 holds key clips 2 as is well known in the prior art. Blade channel plate 9 has a blade channel 6 in which blade 4, shown partially broken away, slides between exposed and sheathed positions. Slot 22 in blade base 14 holds a spring-loaded pushbutton detent 17, not shown in FIG. 5, but shown in detail in FIG. 6. Detent holding plate 10 has expanded openings 30 into which detent locks under spring force at either end of its travel. Slot plate 11 provides pushbutton slot 31 to guide the travel of the pushbutton. Flexible outer covering 1, generally of leather, provides cover slot 12 for the pushbutton. Snap closure 13 in cover 1 secures the leather case as is well known in the art. In an alternative embodiment, plates 9,10 and 11 may be molded of one piece. 
     FIG. 6 details the transverse detent structure such as is used in FIG. 5. In the base 14 of blade 4 is a transverse slot 22. A thin walled detent receiver 18, having cylindrical guide pins 19, is press fitted into the slot 22. Detent 17 fits into receiver 18, with guide pins 19 fitting into guide holes 32. A compression coil spring 15 showing through the broken away portion of hollow pushbutton 7 presses against the bottom of detent receiver 18, biasing the detent up out of slot 22, holding the blade locked at either end of travel when enlarged portion 21 fits into expanded openings 30 in detent holding plate 10 (FIG. 5). When the thumb depresses the pushbutton 7, spring 15 is compressed and the enlarged portion 21 of detent 17 is forced into receiver 18 so that it is flush with the blade and the blade is free to slide (unlocked). FIG. 7 shows a cylindrical form of detent 20. The detent receiver 33 has a lip 34. This is the type detent shown in FIG. 3. 
     The above disclosed invention has a number of particular features which should preferably be employed in combination although each is useful separately without departure from the scope of the invention. Inasmuch as the invention is subject to many variations, modifications, and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter described above be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.