Patent Publication Number: US-2006000250-A1

Title: Athletic key clasp system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to key holders, and more specifically to a key clasp for use during athletic activities and the like.  
      It is well known for persons to employ one or more physical objects used for securing a residence portal (e.g., a key for a lock in a front door) in many different instances. Many of these persons are often confronted with a dilemma when they desire to participate in activities outside of the residence, particularly running and other athletic activities. The dilemma is to forego the use of the physical object to secure the portal and thereby not require its use when returning to the residence or to use the physical object and thereafter carry it during such activities so it is available for reentry.  
      The former option is not always available for multiperson residence structures (e.g., apartment complexes) and when available the option may be undesirable in many circumstances due to real or perceived compromised security scenarios.  
      The latter option is not ideal as the person either has to secret the object where it may stored and recovered without detection by others, or the object must be carried during the activity. Besides the inconvenience of carrying the object, the object may be especially prone to loss because the person often does not participate in such activities with clothing and accessories that normally and conventionally accommodate such objects during non-athletic activities. Considering a running activity, many runners participate in the activity by wearing special running attire that offers minimal storage facilities. In some instances, multiple objects may be required for entrance, such as one for a lobby door and one for the specific residence, further taxing limited storage resources.  
      Many people desire to have minimal distractions during participation in their chosen activity and desire some option that does not require special preparation, monitoring, or otherwise interfere with immersion into the activity.  
      The prior art has offered some solutions including retrofit pockets such as for strapping to a running shoe and providing limited storage space in running shorts. Other solutions include simply tying a rubber band to the key and attaching it to one&#39;s wrist—an inconvenient and often uncomfortable solution.  
      Unfortunately, these solutions are not always ideal. Many people have limited time for such activities so their preference is to buy and wear appropriate gear without regard to the availability of pockets. Additionally, over time (particularly as seasons change) the person will use different gear and in some cases such as for running, layers of clothing may be employed. Some layering arrangements inhibit the accessibility and any ease-of-use for such pockets.  
      What is needed is an efficient and convenient system and method for retaining and securing such physical objects to a person participating in athletic activities and the like.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Disclosed is an apparatus and method for retaining and securing such physical objects to a person participating in athletic activities and the like. The apparatus for retaining a key having a head portion and a shank portion coupled to the head portion includes a body having a wall defining a cavity including a length dimension and a width dimension greater than a proximate length dimension and width dimension of the shank portion when in a storage mode; and a key coupler for operatively retaining the key relative to the cavity in at least two modes, the key moveably proximated to the body to define the storage mode wherein the shank portion is retained within the cavity and an operational mode in which the shank portion extends beyond the body. The method of storing a key having a head portion and shank portion coupled to the head portion includes securing the key within a body having a wall defining a cavity including a length dimension and a width dimension greater than a proximate length dimension and width dimension of the shank portion when in a storage mode; and retaining operatively the key relative to the cavity in at least two modes, the key moveably proximated to the body to define the storage mode wherein the shank portion is retained within the cavity and an operational mode in which the shank portion extends beyond the body.  
      The present invention is an efficient and simple solution to retaining and securing physical objects, such as keys, to a person participating in athletic activities and the like. The key clasp of the preferred embodiment is adapted to easily attach to an article of clothing, for example by the use of one hand, and to thereby secure the keys to the clothing while reducing potential drawbacks and irritations commonly associated with clipping a key ring to clothing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment for a key clasp of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the key clasp shown in  FIG. 1  without any keys;  
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the key clasp shown in  FIG. 1  with two keys;  
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the key clasp shown in  FIG. 3  with the keys moved into the operational mode; and  
       FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the key clasp shown in  FIG. 3  with the keys moved into the storage mode. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for retaining and securing physical objects to a person participating in athletic activities and the like. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment for a key clasp  100  of the present invention. Clasp  100  includes a body  105  and a key coupler  110 , with a portion of body  105  forming an attachment member. Body  105  defines a region, more particularly described below, having a width “w” and a length “l” from coupler  110  to an end  115  of the attachment member.  
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of key clasp  100  shown in  FIG. 1  without any keys. Clasp  100  includes the attachment member (shown as a particular adaptation  200  of body  105 ) including a clipping portion  205  coupled to end  115 . Body  105  defines a cavity  210  between a rear wall portion  215  and clipping portion  205 . Rear wall portion  215  is separated nominally by a distance “d” from clipping portion  200  which is also a length of coupler  110 . Thus body  105  defines cavity  210  having volume dimensions of “w”×“l”×“d.” 
      Body  105  of the preferred embodiment is unitary construction meaning a single, formed, piece of lightweight material sufficiently resistant to plastic deformation (e.g., aluminum) to provide a springy clipping function as described below. As shown, body  105  of the preferred embodiment is generally “U” shaped and adapted to form a key retaining cavity, with a portion of the body forming a clipping member, though other constructions and configurations are possible and remain within the scope of the present invention. In some embodiments, body  105  may be a composite of two or more integrated sub-pieces.  
      Rear wall  215  is preferably planar, extending beyond end  115  using coupler  110  as a starting reference. The amount of extension is dependent upon design considerations of specific implementations considering the present teachings.  
      Coupler  110  is, in the preferred embodiment, a key retaining structure for holding one or more keys within cavity  210  while permitting movement of one or more keys between a storage mode and an operational mode. For the example shown in the preferred embodiment, coupler  110  is a pin, most preferably a reusable pin, permitting keys to be rotated about the pin when moving between the two modes. By reusable, the present invention contemplates a key coupling system wherein one or more keys may be repeatedly associated with, and disassociated from, key clasp  110 . In some implementations, coupler  110  may be a two-part threaded bolt and mating receptacle, while in other instances coupler  110  may be a snap-fit pin and receptacle. However, some implementations may not provide for a reusable key coupler  110 . Such implementations are still within the scope of the present invention. For example, it may be desirable to provide one or two key blanks permanently integrated into a suitable body and connected by a rivet or the like. In this instance, a user has a particular key duplicated onto the blank for use and does not remove the key from clasp  100 .  
      In addition to retaining keys as described above, key coupler  110  also serves to define cavity  210  by biasing the walls of body  105  into the desired relative orientation. Distance “d” is selected, in the preferred embodiment, to be an integral number of standard key widths, with one or two key widths the most preferred alternatives.  
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of key clasp  100  shown in  FIG. 1  with two keys (Key_ 1  and Key_ 2  stacked side-by-side and extending from rear wall  215 ).  FIG. 3  illustrates a particular orientation of body adaptation  200  relative to Key_ 1  and Key_ 2 . Beginning at coupler  110  and traveling towards end  115 , attachment member  200  quickly increases its separation from rear wall  215  and then sharply bends toward rear wall  215  to gradually slope towards clipping portion  205  that is immediately adjacent key Key_ 2  in the preferred embodiment. Thereafter, body adaptation  200  again quickly increases a separation distance from Key_ 2  until another bend is made so that end  115  extends for a some distance parallel to Key_ 2  with a space  300  provided between Key_ 2  and end  115 . Of course, other number of keys may be accommodated, the discussion would be different depending upon which key was closest to clipping portion  205  but otherwise would not depart from the description of the present invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , end  115  is bluntly pointed. It is further a feature of the preferred embodiment that peripheral edges of body adaptation  200  are smooth and rounded or otherwise adapted to not cut, poke, pierce, abrade or otherwise injure/irritate a person&#39;s skin or clothing. This is because end  115 , as shown, engages an edge of a structure, like an edge of an article of clothing, and slides relative to the structure to maintain the structure between clipping portion  205  and Key_ 2 . In one preferred embodiment, such as in the case of a waistband of a pair of shorts, end  115  extends inside the shorts next to the body capturing the waistband between clipping portion  205  and Key_ 2 . Space  300  provides an easy mechanism to engage a suitable structure edge and also to separate body adaptation  200  against the clipping/biasing force using one hand. In this configuration, the smooth edges of body  105  are inside the shorts while the toothed structures of the keys are outside, limiting the key&#39;s impact upon the person&#39;s participation in their chosen activity. Alternatively, the arrangement may be reversed with end  115  extending external of the waistband, with keys and rear wall  215  internal, for example. Still other configuring solutions are possible within the scope of the present invention.  
      In operation, once one or more keys are coupled to key clasp  100 , the user simply and efficiently clips key clasp  100  to a suitable structure (e.g., a hemline, waistband, collar, cuffband, shoelace, headband, and the like) by clipping the structure between clipping portion  205  and one of the keys.  
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show an additional feature of the preferred embodiment enhancing the usefulness of key clasp  100 .  FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of key clasp  100  shown in  FIG. 3  with each Key_ 1  and Key_ 2  moved into an operational mode.  FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of key clasp  100  shown in  FIG. 3  with each Key_ 1  and Key_ 2  moved into a storage mode.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , each key has a head portion  400  and a shank portion  405 . Most keys include an aperture of some sort, a hole or opening, to enable a user to attach the key to a key ring. Key coupler  110  of the preferred embodiment is adapted to engage this aperture when a key is retained within body  105 . However, in some embodiments an alternative retaining system may be employed to secure one or more keys to key coupler  110 . An adapter may be employed for this purpose, as well as for retaining keys having enlarged apertures to provide for better operation between the operational mode and the storage mode. In the operational mode shown in  FIG. 4 , the shank portion of a key is exposed for operation in well-known fashion.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , a portion of each key&#39;s head portion extends beyond a lateral periphery of body  105  (e.g., the width “w” is less than a width “W” of head portion  400 ) while shank portion  405  of each key is retained with cavity  210  shown in  FIG. 2 . A clipping force from clipping portion  205 , or a compressive force from key coupler  110  on head portion  400 , may be adjusted to inhibit movement of one or more keys from the storage mode to the operational mode until purposefully moved. Note that in the preferred embodiments for one key and two keys, head portion  400  of each key will be exposed—a head portion of one key is exposed from the back and the front, while for two keys a head portion of one key is available from the front and the head portion of the other key is available from the rear. For more than two keys, a solution described in the next paragraph may be used.  
      The length “l” of cavity  210  is also adjusted, which in the preferred embodiment is designed to extend beyond expected lengths of shank portions  405  of keys used with key clasp  100 . However, in some implementations, it may be desirable to adjust the length “l” to permit an end portion of shank portions  405  to extend beyond end  115 , such as for example, to assist in movement of a key from the storage mode into the operational mode or when there are more than two keys. Such an implementation may be desirable when the width “w” is greater than the width “W” or when a retaining force for the storage mode is relatively great making easy movement to the operational mode somewhat difficult.  
      While the preferred embodiment of key clasp  100  incorporates both the clipping function and the storage/operational mode features, some implementations may include a single one of the features without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the storage mode may be desirable as a replacement for a conventional key ring or key fob as it protects the inside of a key container (e.g., a pants pocket) from the abrading effects of the teeth of the keys, and it improves the organization, sound, and appearance of conventional key organizers which frequently appear to be a jumble of keys that rattle around together and can create unwelcome sounds in some circumstances.  
      Although embodiments of the invention have been described primarily with respect to running, many types of activities like biking, surfing, swimming may benefit from features of the invention including many everyday activities like walking and hiking. In some embodiments, the key clasp is a substitute for conventional key rings (particularly when the user has few keys). Providing additional functions for the body of the key clasp, such as ornamentation functions or remote alarm deactivation functions, is also possible and such implementations remain within the scope of the present invention.  
      In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.  
      Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a specific embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.  
      Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein is generally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear.  
      As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.  
      The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.  
      Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims.