Patent Publication Number: US-6334239-B1

Title: Key holder

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a key holder and more specifically to a combination key and memo pad holder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heretofore, various forms of key holders are known, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,950,816; 2,457,195; 1,368,156; 1,110,760 and Design Patent D153,677. U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,454 is noted as being applicable for use as a holder for magnetic encoded cards, e.g. casino complementary cards, credit cards or pass key cards for unlocking doors. Undoubtedly, many other types of key holders are known which include for the most part merely decorable fob of some type, e.g. small plaque, a logo advertising a given product, or a miniature utilitarian device such as a small knife, nail clipper or the like having connected thereto a ring for holding one or more keys. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a key holder which can be readily worn on the exterior or interior of one&#39;s garment. 
     Another object is to provide a combination key and small memo pad which is light and comfortable to carry. 
     Another object is to provide a key holder having a garment attachment clip and attached key ring whereby the key ring is rendered readily detachable from the garment clip. 
     Another object is to provide a combination key and memo pad holder having a connected key ring which can be readily clipped to one&#39;s garment, and constructed so that either the key ring and/or memo pad are rendered independently detachable. 
     Another object is to provide a key holder having detachably connected thereto a miniature pad which one can use to retain relevant information. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a combination key and memo pad holder having a plurality of cards or pages whereby the cards or pages are neatly maintained in an aligned relationship until needed. 
     Another object is to provide a combination key and card holder wherein a plurality of cards or pages are supported thereon in a manner permitting the cards or pages to be fanned to view the information contained thereon from its inoperative aligned position. 
     The foregoing objects and other features and advantages are attained by a key holder having a garment attachment clip in the form of an alligator type gripper whereby the key holder can be readily attached either on the exterior or interior of one&#39;s garment. Connected in series to the alligator clip is a main “C shaped” key loop whereby the opening between the opposed ends of the main loop is closed by a locking sleeve slidably mounted on one end of the main loop which is adapted to be threaded to the other end of the main key loop to close the loop. The main key loop is sized to receive those keys formed with a relatively large opening or aperture. For supporting keys having relatively small or intermediate sized openings, there are provided a plurality of variably sized split rings which are carried on the main loop for accommodating such keys. 
     Connected to the main key loop through the medium of a readily quick disconnect hook is a memo pad having connected thereto a plurality of small cards or pages on which the user may jot brief notes, memos, and/or other useful information. The memo pad further includes an endless band to maintain the cards or pages in an aligned inoperative position. The cards or pages of the memo pad are retained in a manner which permits the cards or pages to be fanned so that the information thereon may be retrieved or read. The arrangement is such that either the main key loop and/or the memo pad may be independently detached from the alligator type clip at the will of the user. 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a key holder embodying the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a main key loop assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the memo pad holder. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating various uses of the instant invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a key holder  10  which embodies the present invention. Key holder  10  includes a means which is illustrated as an alligator type clip  11  having one jaw member  12  defined as a flat bar having one end  12 A reversely bent at an acute angle relative to bar  12  to which the other jaw  13  is pivoted about pivot  14  located intermediate the opposed ends of jaw  13 . The jaw  13  may be provided with a series of serrations  15  to provide a firm or positive gripping action. A pig tail spring  16  coiled about pivot  14  maintains the respective jaws  12  and  13  biased toward the normally closed position as seen in FIG.  1 . Applying a force on the end  13 A to overcome the bias of spring  16  urges the jaws toward the open position, and which jaws will normally be biased toward the closed position when the force thereon is removed. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the end  12 B of jaw  12  is provided with an aperture  17  through which a split connecting ring  18  is attached. Connected to the connecting ring  18  is a quick disconnect hook  19 . As seen in FIG. 1, the quick disconnect hook  19  is provided with a flexible tang end  19 A, which is normally biased toward a closed position whereby the free end of the tang end  19 A is closed onto end  19 B of hook  19 . One end of the quick connect hook  19  is threaded through the connecting ring  18 , and another connecting ring  20  is connected to the other end of hook  19 . 
     A main key loop  21  is connected to connecting ring  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the main key loop  21  is defined as an elongated C-shaped member  21 A, wherein the opposed ends are spaced apart from one another to provide an opening for placing the keys thereon. To secure the keys stored on the main key loop  21 , a closing sleeve  22  is slidably and rotatably mounted on one end of the loop  21 . The other end of the loop is provided with external threads  23 . The corresponding end of sleeve  22  is internally threaded to mate with threads  23 . Thus, to close the space or opening between the opposed ends of the main loop  21 , the sleeve  22  is shifted to a closed position and rotated so that the internal threads of the sleeve  23  mate or thread onto the external threads  23  to close the loop  21 . Thus, a means is provided to permit keys to be placed on or removed from the main key loop  21  and by which the keys are positively secured on the loop  21 . 
     Also supported on the main loop  21  are a plurality of auxiliary split key rings. In the illustrated embodiment, two different sizes of auxiliary split key rings are shown, e.g. an intermediate size auxiliary split ring  24  and a small size auxiliary split ring  25 . While only two sizes of auxiliary split ring sizes are shown, it will be understood the number of various sizes of auxiliary split rings may vary. 
     It is to be noted that the outside diameter of the main key loop  21 , and the respective auxiliary key rings  24  and  25 , vary. Thus, keys having large size apertures formed thereon can be readily stowed on the main loop  21 . Keys having a smaller size aperture therein may be stowed on either the auxiliary split rings  24  or  25  accordingly. 
     Loop  21  also has connected thereto a second split connecting ring  26  to which there is attached another quick disconnect hook  27  similar to hook  19 , hereinbefore described. Connected to hook  27  is a memo pad holder  28 . 
     The memo pad holder  28  includes a connecting ring  29  which is supported on hook  27 . Reversely folded about the connecting ring  29  is reversely bent saddle  30  for supporting between the opposed sides thereof a plurality of miniature cards or pages  31 . The cards or pages  31  may be blank, which the user may use to jot notes, memos, telephone numbers, addresses, or any other information desired. The cards or pages  31  are retained between the opposed sides of saddle  30  by means of a pin, e.g. a rivet or cotter pin  32 . A means is provided to maintain the card or pages in an aligned position. In the illustrated embodiment, the means includes an elastic band  33  which is attached to the saddle  30  whereby the elastic band  33  may be readily looped about the cards or pages  31  to maintain the cards or pages  31  in the aligned inoperative position as seen in FIG.  1 . To retrieve the information contained on the cards, the elastic band  33  is shifted to one side so that the cards  31  may be readily fanned or turned up as shown in FIG. 3, to thereby reveal the information contained thereon. 
     From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the alligator type bar clip  11  can be clipped to virtually any type of material, from thick to thin, and allows the key holder  10  to be secured to the inside of pants and jacket pockets. This allows the keys to be suspended inside the pocket, and unlike other key holders, solves the problem of the keys all bunching uncomfortably, and annoyingly, at the bottom of a pocket. The clip  11  also allows the key holder  10  to be conveniently worn on a waistband or belt, or clipped to the inside of a pocketbook, making it easy to find the keys. 
     When the key holder  10  is worn on a waistband with a belt over it, the snap disconnect hook  19  allows the key loop to be disconnected or reconnected directly to and from the alligator clip assembly without having to open the belt to remove the alligator clip/key ring assembly. The alligator clip  11  conveniently stays under the belt. 
     The slide locking mechanism of the key loop  21  not only keeps the keys on the loop very securely, but also allows for easy key entry or exit, and for easy organization of the keys thereon. Further, any individual key can be easily taken off the loop  21  simply by using the lock mechanism instead of a hard to open, nail-breaking, non-screw lock based key ring. Since keys are placed directly on the key loop, intermediate and smaller split rings are provided to which keys having smaller holes may be connected or carried thereon, or for some bulky car keys that can then be placed directly on the main key loop. The built-in memo pad holder  28  with miniature, refillable cards or pages provides a means for jotting a quick note, memo, message, etc. The cards or pages can be maintained in an aligned position, or can be fanned out to view the messages or notes thereon, or to write new messages, without fumbling with, or trying to find a piece of paper. The card note holder also has the quick-release snap hook feature, so that one can write or view notes, with the memo pad holder detached from the main key loop  21 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.