Patent Publication Number: US-2022218085-A1

Title: Key ring accessory devices

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to key ring accessory devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People tend to attach their everyday accessory items, for example, an electronic chip tag for providing access to a facility, a disk on key, a tracking chip, a runner&#39;s LED light, a bottle opener and the like, to a key ring. Key rings include a split ring enabling a person to attach an accessory item thereonto and remove it therefrom. Such attachment and detachment require considerable dexterity and is time wasting. Key rings are unwieldy during a wide range of human activities such that many people tend to tiresomely detach an accessory item from a key ring before an activity and hold it or carry it on their person before re-attaching it to the key ring after the activity. Holding or carrying an accessory item during an activity is also problematic and can often lead to its loss. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards key ring accessory devices for enabling a user to conveniently interchangeably attach an accessory item to a key ring&#39;s split ring and detach it therefrom and, during its detachment, securely clip the accessory item onto a clothing item&#39;s hem, a shoe, and the like, for safely carrying the accessory item. The key ring accessory devices include a spring clip designed such that an accessory item can be freely suspended from a key ring&#39;s split ring as if it was directly and freely suspended therefrom. The key ring accessory devices are designed such that it is unable to merely slide off a split ring but rather requires a specific user manipulation to prevent inadvertent detachment. The specific user manipulation can be readily learnt and requires less time and dexterity than for present attachment of an accessory item to a split ring and detachment therefrom. The key ring accessory devices are also designed to prevent an accessory item from repeatedly lightly hitting a user&#39;s body during a sport activity, for example, running. 
     Key ring accessory devices of the present invention can be implemented either with a housing for entrapping a discrete accessory item or integrally form with an accessory item. Housings can be implemented as follows: First, a housing having a slot for enabling sliding insertion of a discrete accessory item into the housing. Second, a dual component housing can include a discrete first housing component and a discrete second housing component for mounting on the discrete first housing component for entrapping a discrete accessory item in the dual component housing. Third, a flip housing having a first housing component and a second housing component hingedly mounted on the first housing component for entrapping a discrete accessory item in the flip housing. And fourthly, a housing can include a housing surface with a resiliently flexible rim for peripherally securing a discrete accessory item in the housing. 
     Key ring accessory devices of the present invention preferably include a constraining arrangement for entrapping a clamping section therebetween and thereby constrain movement of the clamping section towards said base member front surface and away therefrom, as opposed to a sideways movement. Key ring accessory devices of the present invention preferably include a grip feature for gripping a clothing item. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a pictorial view of a key ring having a split ring and a tag; 
         FIG. 1B  is a pictorial view of a standard key having a throughgoing bore for attaching the key to a key ring&#39;s split ring; 
         FIG. 1C  is a pictorial view of the key ring with the key and a tag freely and directly suspended therefrom; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of two implementations of key ring accessory devices having a common spring clip; 
         FIG. 3  is a front bottom perspective view of the spring clip; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the spring clip; 
         FIG. 5A  is a left side elevation view of the spring clip; 
         FIG. 5B  is a right side elevation view of the spring clip; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the spring clip; 
         FIG. 7A  is a pictorial view of a key ring accessory device including a housing having a slot; 
         FIG. 7B  is a pictorial view of a key ring accessory device including a dual component housing; 
         FIG. 7C  is a pictorial view of a key ring accessory device including a flip housing; 
         FIG. 7D  is a pictorial view of a key ring accessory device including a housing having a front housing surface with a resiliently flexible rim for securing an accessory item; 
         FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  show a user inserting an accessory item into the  FIG. 7A  key ring accessory device&#39;s housing; 
         FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B  and  FIG. 9C  show a user attaching the  FIG. 7A  key ring accessory device to a key ring&#39;s split ring; 
         FIG. 10  is a pictorial view of a key ring with the  FIG. 7A  key ring accessory device and a standard key freely and directly suspended therefrom; 
         FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B  show a user detaching the  FIG. 7A  key ring accessory device from a key ring&#39;s split ring; 
         FIG. 12A  is a pictorial view showing the  FIG. 7A  key ring accessory device clamped on a clothing item&#39;s hem; 
         FIG. 12B  is a top elevation view of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 13  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including an electronic chip; 
         FIG. 14  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a tag; 
         FIG. 15  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a pet tag; 
         FIG. 16  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a remote control and the like; 
         FIG. 17  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a flash drive and the like; 
         FIG. 18  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a tracker; 
         FIG. 19  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a bottle opener; 
         FIG. 20  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a can opener; 
         FIG. 21  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including a lighter; 
         FIG. 22  is a pictorial view of an integral spring clip with accessory item including an electronic device; 
         FIG. 23  to  FIG. 26  are rear elevation views of a key ring accessory device with a constraining arrangement for constraining movement of the clamping section; 
         FIG. 27  is a front elevation view of a key ring accessory device including a trapezoidal shaped bridge section; 
         FIG. 28  is a front elevation view of a key ring accessory device including a triangular shaped bridge section; 
         FIG. 29  is a top plan view of a key ring accessory device including a bridge section overlying a slot; 
         FIG. 30  to  FIG. 33  are left side elevation views of key ring accessory devices including a grip feature for gripping a clothing item; and 
         FIG. 34  to  FIG. 41  are rear elevation views of key ring accessory devices with different shaped clamping members. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Overview 
       FIG. 1A  shows a key ring  10  having a split ring  11  bounding a split ring aperture  12  having a split ring aperture plane  13  and a key ring tag  14  attached to the split ring  11 . The key ring tag  14  has a throughgoing bore  15  for enabling threading the key ring&#39;s split ring  11  onto the key ring tag  14 . The key ring tag  14  can be detached from the split ring  11  by operating the split ring  11 .  FIG. 1B  shows a standard key  20 , for example, a house key, a car ignition key, and the like. The key  20  has a longitudinal key centerline  21  and includes a generally planar keyhead  22  and a keyshank  23 . The keyhead  22  has a keyhead plane  22 A and can have a generally rectangular shape, a generally circular shape, a generally triangular shape, and the like. The keyhead  22  has a keyhead front surface  24 , a keyhead back surface  26 , and a keyhead peripheral surface  27 . The keyhead peripheral surface  27  has a trailing keyhead peripheral surface  28  and a leading keyhead peripheral surface  29  with the keyshank  23  extending therefrom along the longitudinal key centerline  21 . The keyhead  22  has a throughgoing bore  31  for enabling threading the key ring&#39;s split ring  11  onto the key  20 .  FIG. 1C  shows the key  20  being freely suspended from the split ring  11  such that the keyhead plane  22 A traverses the split ring aperture plane  13  and being typically transverse thereto. 
       FIG. 2  shows a spring clip  100  has a longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  and includes an elongated planar base member  102  and a clamping member  103  resiliently flexibly mounted on the base member  102  for forming a clamping zone therebetween and preventing the spring clip  100  from inadvertently being detached from the split ring  11 . The spring clip  100  can be integrally formed in two types of key ring accessory devices  200  as follows: a key ring accessory device  200 A including a housing  201  for entrapping a discrete accessory item  300  or a key ring accessory device  200 B integrally formed with an accessory item  300 . The housing  201  has a longitudinal housing centerline  202  co-directional with the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101 . 
     Spring Clip 
       FIG. 3  to  FIG. 6  show the spring clip  100  has the spring clip centerline  101  and includes the elongated planar base member  102  and the clamping member  103 . The spring clip  100  is formed from suitable resiliently flexible material including inter alia metal, plastic, silicon, rubber, and the like. The base member  102  includes a base member front surface  104 , a base member back surface  106 , pair of opposite base member major side surfaces  107  and  108  co-directional with the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101 , and a base member uppermost side surface  109  transverse to the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  and an opposite base member lowermost side surface  111  transverse to the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101 . The base member uppermost side surface  109  has spaced apart base member uppermost side surface ends including a base member uppermost side surface first end  112  on one side of the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  and an opposite base member uppermost side surface second end  113  on the other side of the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  in a front elevation view of the spring clip  100 . 
     The clamping member  103  includes a bridge section  114  which outwardly extends with respect to the base member uppermost side surface  109  from the base member uppermost side surface first end  112  towards the base member uppermost side surface second end  113  to bound a throughgoing retaining aperture  116  substantially co-planar with the base member  102 . The clamping member  103  includes an elongated planar clamping section  117  extending from the bridge section  114  co-directional with the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  to overlie the base member front surface  104  to form a clamping zone  118  therebetween. The clamping section  117  is viewable in the spring clip  100 &#39;s front elevation view thereby concealing the clamping zone  118  therebehind. The throughgoing retaining aperture  116  is spaced apart from the clamping zone  118  and has a closed shape in the spring clip  100 &#39;s front elevation view. 
     The elongated planar clamping section  117  includes a clamping section front surface  119 , a clamping section back surface  121  facing the base member front surface  104 , opposite clamping section side surfaces  122  and  123  co-directional with the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101 , and a clamping section uppermost side surface  124  transverse to the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  and an opposite clamping section lowermost side surface  126  transverse to the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101 . The clamping section uppermost side surface  124  is substantially co-extensive with the throughgoing retaining aperture  116 . The clamping section uppermost side surface  124  has spaced apart clamping section uppermost side surface ends including a clamping section uppermost side surface first end  127  on the same side of the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  as the base member uppermost side surface first end  112  and an opposite clamping section uppermost side surface second end  128  on the same side of the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  as the base member uppermost side surface second end  113  in the spring clip  100 &#39;s front elevation view. 
     Housings 
       FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7D  show key ring accessory devices  200 A with four different housings  201  for entrapping a discrete accessory item  300 . The housings  201  include the longitudinal housing centerline  202 , a housing front surface  203 , a housing back surface  204 , a housing major side surface  206  co-directional with the longitudinal housing centerline  202 , a housing major side surface  207  co-directional with the longitudinal housing centerline  202 , a housing uppermost side surface  208  transverse to the longitudinal housing centerline  202  and a housing lowermost side surface  209  transverse to the longitudinal housing centerline  202 . The housings  201  can include closure elements for preventing inadvertent opening of a housing. Suitable closure elements include magnetic fastenings, snap fits, zippers, and the like. 
       FIG. 7A  shows a key ring accessory device  200 A including a housing  201 A having a slot  211  in the housing uppermost side surface  208 . Alternatively, the housing  201 A can be formed with a slot  211  in one of its housing major side surfaces  206  and  207  or in its lowermost side surface  209 .  FIG. 7B  shows a key ring accessory device  200 A including a dual component housing  201 B having a discrete first housing component  212  and a discrete second housing component  213  for mounting on the first housing component  212  for entrapping a discrete accessory item  300  in the dual component housing  201 B.  FIG. 7C  shows a key ring accessory device  200 A including a flip housing  201 C having a first housing component  214  and a second housing component  216  hingedly mounted on the first housing component  214  for entrapping a discrete accessory item  300  in the flip housing  201 C.  FIG. 7D  shows a key ring accessory device  200 A including a housing  201 D having a housing front surface  203  with a resiliently flexible rim  217  for peripherally securing a discrete accessory item  300  in the housing  201 D. The resiliently flexible rim  217  can bound different shapes such as a circle, a square, an ellipsoid, a star, and the like and can alternatively be located on other surfaces of the key ring accessory device  201 D. 
       FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  show a user slidingly inserting a discrete accessory item  300  through the slot  211  into the housing  201 A. 
     Use of Key Ring Accessory Device 
       FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9C  show a user attaching the key ring accessory device  200 A onto a key ring&#39;s split ring  11  as follows:  FIG. 9A  shows the user slidingly inserting the split ring  11  between the elongated planar base member  102  and the clamping section  117  through the clamping zone  118  towards the bridge section  114  as denoted by arrow A by elastically deforming the bridge section  114 .  FIG. 9B  shows the user slidingly inserting the split ring  11  into the throughgoing retaining aperture  116  whereupon the bridge section  114  reverts to its non-deformed shape.  FIG. 9C  shows the key ring accessory device  200 A suspended from the key ring  10  such that the base member  102  is traverse to the split ring aperture plane  13  to assume the same position as a standard key  20  (see  FIG. 1C ).  FIG. 10  shows the key ring accessory device  200 A aligned with a standard key  20  with the base member  102  traversing the split ring aperture plane  13 . 
       FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B  show a user detaching the key ring accessory device  200 A from the key ring&#39;s split ring  11 .  FIG. 11A  shows the user sliding the split ring  11  towards the base member uppermost side surface second end  113  and then directing the split ring  11  through the clamping zone  118  while applying the split ring  11  to elastically deform the bridge section  114  at its juncture with the clamping section  117  such that the user can urge the split ring  11  out of the throughgoing retaining aperture  116  as denoted by arrow B. Such a simultaneous double-action manipulation of the split ring  11  out of the throughgoing retaining aperture  116  precludes inadvertent detachment of the key ring accessory device  200 A from the split ring  11 .  FIG. 11B  shows the user sliding the split ring  11  between the base member front surface  104  and the clamping section  117  towards the base member lowermost side surface  111  as denoted by arrow C until the key ring accessory device  200 A is detached from the split ring  11 . 
       FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B  show a user clamping the key ring accessory device  200 A on a clothing item  400  having a clothing item hem  401  by slidingly inserting the clothing item hem  401  through the clamping zone  118  between the elongated planar base member  102  and the clamping member  103  towards the throughgoing retaining aperture  116 . The clothing item hem  401  is preferably inserted towards the bridge section  114  such that the clothing item hem  401  extends lengthwise through the throughgoing retaining aperture  116  thereby overlying the clamping section uppermost side surface  124  shown in dashed lines. The clothing item hem  401  assumes a zigzag shape thereby ensuring a secure clamping. 
     Integral Spring Clip with Accessory Items 
       FIG. 13  to  FIG. 22  show integral spring clip with accessory items  200 B with different accessory items  300  as follows:  FIG. 13  shows an electronic chip  301  which can be constituted by a GPS chip, a money chip, an access entry chip, a digital wallet, a digital signature device, a RFID token, a NFC token, a minimarket cart release token, and the like. Exemplary access entry chips are now available for providing access to a secure facility, for example, an office block, a residence building, and the like. The electronic chip  301  can either require reader contact or be contactless.  FIG. 14  shows a tag  302  similar to tag  14 .  FIG. 15  shows a pet tag  303 .  FIG. 16  shows a remote control  304  for opening a garage door, an external battery, a personal SOS alarm device and the like.  FIG. 17  shows a flash drive  306  but alternatively can be a cold-storage device for cryptocurrency transactions and the likes.  FIG. 18  shows a tracker  307 . Suitable examples include inter alia Apple&#39;s AirTag.  FIG. 19  shows a bottle opener  308 .  FIG. 20  shows a can opener  309  but alternatively can be a pocket tool such as a nail file and the likes, or a pocket tool with multiple functions.  FIG. 21  shows a lighter  311 .  FIG. 22  shows an electronic device  312  in the form of an illumination device, a mini speaker, and the like. 
     ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purpose of conciseness, the additional embodiments are described with reference to the key ring accessory device  200 A but they can be equally applied to the key ring accessory device  200 B. 
       FIG. 23  to  FIG. 28  show key ring accessory device  200 A including a constraining arrangement  137  for entrapping the clamping section  117  therebetween and constrain the movement of the clamping section  117  towards a base member front surface  104  and away therefrom as opposed to a sideways movement with respect to the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101  in a front elevation view. Constraining arrangements  137  can be in the form of projections, recesses, or combinations thereof on a spring clip, a housing, or both a spring clip and a housing. 
       FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24  show key ring accessory devices  200 A each with a spaced apart pair of constraining projections  138  on the base member front surface  104  for entrapping the clamping section  117  therebetween. Accordingly, movement of the clamping section  117  is constrained towards the base member front surface  104  and away therefrom.  FIG. 23  shows an opposite pair of constraining projections  138 .  FIG. 24  shows a staggered pair of constraining projections  138 . 
       FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26  show key ring accessory devices  200 A each with a recess  139  for receiving the clamping section  117  thereby constraining movement of their clamping section  117  towards the base member front surface  104  and away therefrom.  FIG. 25  shows the recess  139  is formed in the housing back surface  204 .  FIG. 26  shows the recess  139  is formed in the base member front surface  104  and the housing back surface  204 . 
       FIG. 27  shows a housing  201 A including a trapezoidal shaped bridge section  114  and  FIG. 28  shows a housing  201 A including a triangular shaped bridge section  114 . 
       FIG. 29  shows a housing  201 A including a bridge section  114  overlying its slot  211 . 
       FIG. 30  to  FIG. 33  show housings  201 A including a clamping zone  118  with a grip feature  141  for gripping a clothing item.  FIG. 30  shows the clamping section back surface  121  formed with a grip array  142  implementing the grip feature  141 .  FIG. 31  shows the base member front surface  104  and the clamping section back surface  121  formed with mating grip arrays  143  implementing the grip feature  141 .  FIG. 32  shows the base member front surface  104  and the clamping section back surface  121  formed with spaced apart grip arrays  144  implementing the grip feature  141 .  FIG. 33  shows the clamping section back surface  121  formed with a bulbous end  146  implementing the grip feature  141 . 
       FIG. 34  to  FIG. 41  show housings  201 A with clamping sections  117  of different shapes and different lengths from a truncated length to being substantially co-extensive with a base member  102  as long as the key ring accessory devices  200 A have a clamping zone sufficiently long for securely clipping on a clothing item.  FIG. 34  shows a housing  201 A with a clamping section  117  formed with a pointed clamping section uppermost side surface first end  147  for additional pegging a clothing item  400 .  FIG. 35  shows a housing  201 A with a clamping section  117  which protrudes beyond the base member lowermost side surface  111 .  FIG. 36  shows a housing  201 A with a truncated clamping section  117 .  FIG. 37  to  FIG. 39  show housings  201 A with strip-like clamping sections  117  compared to the  FIG. 3  clamping section  117 .  FIG. 37  shows a straight strip-like clamping section  117 .  FIG. 38  shows a strip-like clamping section  117  with a transverse extension.  FIG. 39  shows a strip-like clamping section  117  with an L-shaped extension to assume an overall hook appearance.  FIG. 40  and  FIG. 41  show clamping members  103  with bridge sections  114  which are employed for forming a throughgoing retaining aperture  116  having a closed shape in the housing  201 A&#39;s front elevation view facing the clamping section  117 .  FIG. 41  shows a throughgoing retaining aperture  116  asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal spring clip centerline  101 . 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.