Patent Publication Number: US-6698854-B1

Title: Key organizer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for organizing articles, and in particular relates to an organizer for the storage of keys. 
     It is a common practice to hang keys (e.g. car keys, house keys, and safe deposit keys) on static key holders or pegs. These key holders may be hung in various areas of a household. This, however, leaves the keys susceptible to being misplaced, accessed by small children, or possibly stolen. Alternatively, if too many keys are carried around by a person, such as on a chain or a ring, the loose keys can rub against a person&#39;s pocket and damage the pocket fabric. It is also cumbersome to carry large quantities of keys. 
     The storage of keys or other similar articles by static devices has had some disadvantages. These static devices often position the articles very close together, often overlapping the articles, such that an individual article cannot be easily located and retrieved without sorting through various articles. 
     Various dynamic devices have also been used to store articles. However, these dynamic devices suffer from a number of disadvantages. A few of these are inadequate control for easy location and retrieval of the articles, inadequate lighting, difficult installation, and inefficient use of space. Furthermore, many of these devices do not provide for locked storage of the articles in a housing, such as keys, so that the articles are not visible or accessible without unlocking the device. 
     Thus, there is a need for an apparatus for storing articles like keys which overcomes the disadvantages of the above mentioned static and dynamic devices. It would be beneficial to have a key storage device that provides for storage of a large quantity of keys in a safe, locked condition. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved key organizer which would overcome the foregoing deficiencies and others while meeting the above-stated needs and providing better and more advantageous overall results. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and improved key organizer. More specifically, the key organizer is used to provide organized storage and a locked receptacle for the keys. 
     The key organizer comprises a housing having a first section and a second section movably connected to each other. At least one of the first and second sections defines a cavity. The second section is movable from a first position in which access is allowed to the cavity to a second position in which access is foreclosed to the cavity. 
     First and second drums are rotatably mounted to the housing within the cavity. The drums are located in a common plane and are spaced apart from each other. A first belt is engaged with the drums and has a plurality of suspension points for hanging articles thereon. A drive mechanism is connected to one of the drums for rotating the drum to cause rotation of the belt. A switching device is connected to the drive mechanism for selectively continuously activating the drive mechanism. A light can be mounted onto one of the first and second sections and is connected to the switching device to be selectively continuously operated. 
     The organizer further has a first axle onto which the first drum is mounted and a second axle onto which the second drum is mounted. Third and fourth drums can be mounted onto the first and second axles. The third drum is mounted onto the first axle in a spaced relation to the first drum. The fourth drum is mounted onto the second axle in a spaced relation to the second drum. A second belt engages the third and fourth drums. 
     The drive mechanism comprises a gear train having a drive gear and at least one additional gear which matingly engages the drive gear. A motor is operatively connected to the gear train. At least one battery powers the motor. The key organizer also comprises a motor housing for the motor and a plate which are spaced apart from each other. The plate forms a bottom wall of the device. 
     A locking mechanism is located on one of the first and second sections to lock the first and second sections together. The second section can be pivotally mounted on the first section along a vertically extending hinge. The lock includes a first element on the first section and a second element on the second section where the first and second elements are movable in relation to each other. 
     Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take form in certain components and structures, several preferred embodiments of which will be illustrated in th&lt;accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a key organizer in a closed configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the key organizer of FIG. 1 in an opened configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the interior of the key organizer of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of chain and drum assembly of the key organizer of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chain and drum assembly of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a motor and gear housing and the chain and drum assembly of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the key organizer of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the organizer illustrating a belt with hook members extending therefrom according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the key organizer with wells in a bottom plate according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and, 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a belt and drum assembly with a belt without ribs in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating several preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a key organizer A according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     More specifically, the key organizer A comprises a housing  10  comprising a first section  12  and a second section  14  which is pivotally connected to the first section. Together, the first section and second section define a cavity  16  within the housing (See FIG.  2 ). The second section  14  acts as a door which is pivotally connected by a hinge  17  along a vertical axis to the first section  12 . Of course, other conventional means of movably mounting the second section to the first section could also be used. For example, the second section  14  could slide with respect to first section  12  to open and close cavity  16 . On the door  14  is located a lock assembly  18  which has a first, movable portion  20  on the door, and a second, fixed portion  22  located on the first section  12 . 
     The key organizer is designed to have the appearance of a book. The organizer can be stored within a library or den between books to keep the organizer hidden and out of view. The first section  12  has two halves  24  and  26 , formed of hard plastic, which together form the appearances of the front and back hard portions of the cover of a book. The second section  14  simulates the spine of a book. There are also ribs  27  on the second section  14  which are designed to appear as the binding of the book cover. There are ribs  28  which are formed on the first section  12  to simulate the appearance of pages within the book. The key organizer may take form of other articles, such as an index card holder. The key organizer can also be fabricated from metal without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a button or switch mechanism  30  is positioned on a housing  32 , located adjacent the top portion of the first section  12 , for storing batteries. The switch has a forward button  33  and a reverse button  34 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery housing  32  is adjacent to a motor housing  36 . A pair of batteries  38 ,  39  are disposed within the battery housing. A light  40  is positioned at a first end  41  of the battery housing. A pivotable door  42  shown in FIG. 4 is used to open the battery housing and remove or install the batteries. 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, the lock assembly has a tab  50  on one portion  20  which engages a slot  52  on other portion  22  of the lock assembly. When the door is in the closed position the tab engages the slot to lock the door  14  to the first section  12 . Tabs  54 ,  56  on door  14  are received in slots  58 ,  59  on first section  12  to further capture the door  14  to the first section. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first section is movable from a position which allows access to the cavity to a position which forecloses access to the cavity. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, within the cavity of the key organizer, there are two rods or axles  60 ,  62  which are vertically disposed within the cavity and are spaced apart and are oriented approximately parallel to each other. A first drum  64  is located on the first axle  60  and a second drum  66  is located on the second axle  62 . The first and second drums are spaced apart and are located in approximately the same plane. A first belt or chain  68 , which can be made of rubber, engages the first and second drums. The belt  68  engages the drums; that is, the belt is prevented from sliding or moving along the axles and off of the drums due to flanges on the drums. Drum  64  has flanges  61 ,  63  and drum  66  has flanges  65 ,  67 . Each of the pairs of flanges are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other. The belt is installed on the two drums around an outside perimeter of each drum. The belt has a plurality of ribs  69  generally equally spaced apart which are received by slots or grooves  71 ,  73  on drums  64 ,  66 , respectively (see FIGS.  5  and  6 ). The belt has a plurality of lobes  70  for hanging articles thereon such as keys or other type of articles. Slots  72  within each lobe are used for retaining keys. 
     An alternate drum and belt assembly is shown in FIG.  10 . In the arrangement, belt  68  does not have ribs thereon. Furthermore, drums  64 ,  66  do not have slots thereon for receiving ribs. Another alternate arrangement would include the belt having ribs and one of the drums having slots for receiving the ribs. The other drum would receive the belt in a frictional engagement but would be idle. The belt would be able to slide on the drum and may partially rotate the drum. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a third drum  90  and a fourth drum  92  are spaced apart and are located approximately in the same plane. These drums are located on the first axle  60  and second axle  62 , respectively. The third drum is spaced apart and aligned with the first drum and the fourth drum is spaced apart and aligned with the second drum. A second belt or chain  94  engages the third and fourth drums. Belt  94  engages the drums and is prevented from sliding or moving along axles  60 ,  62  by flanges on each drum. Drum  90  has flanges  80 ,  82  and drum  92  has flanges  84 ,  86 . Each pair of flanges are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other. The second belt can be made from rubber. The second belt engages an outer periphery of each drum  90 ,  92  and is spaced apart and approximately parallel to the first belt or chain  68 . The second belt has a plurality of ribs  93  generally spaced apart which are received by slots or grooves  95 ,  97  on drums  90 ,  92 , respectively. The second belt also has a plurality of lobes  96  or other conventional suspending means for hanging articles thereon such as hooks, pegs and the like (See FIGS.  2 - 4 ). Each lobe has a slot  98  through the lobe for retaining a key. As seen in FIG. 1, a key  99  is engaged with slot  98  via a fob  101  on which the key can be mounted via a ring  103 . The fob has a projection  104  installed in the slot  98 . Of course, other conventional ways of mounting keys on a holder could also be used. For example, as seen in FIG. 8, instead of lobes, hooks  105  may by be used with key rings. 
     A drive mechanism  100  is connected to one of the first or second axles for rotating the drums to then cause rotation of the belt or chain. The switching device  30  is also connected to the drive mechanism to selectively activate the drive mechanism as long as the switch is being pushed. In other words, if the forward button  33  is pushed, the drums will rotate in one direction and if the reverse button  34  is pushed, the drums will rotate in the opposite direction. The switch  30  is spring biased to a neutral position and will stop any further rotation of the drums when it is no longer being depressed in either direction. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, the drive mechanism comprises a gear train  102  having a drive gear  110  and a first gear  112  and a second gear  114  matingly engaging the first gear and each other. The drive gear  110  is mounted onto the first axle  60 . As the drive gear is rotated by the first and second gears, the axle  60  in turn is also rotated which in correspondingly rotates the first and third drums  64 ,  90 . A motor  120  is operably connected to the second gear  114 . The batteries are connected to the motor for powering the motor. As shown in FIG. 7, a switch activator  124  is connected to the batteries which is activated by switch  30  for powering the motor. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the first axle has a notched end  130  which engages an opening  132  at the base of the drive gear  112 . The second axle has a notched end  134  which engages an opening  136  at a bottom edge of the battery housing. These ends allow the axles to rotate when pulled by the belt. The first axle also has an adapter end  138  which engages an opening  140  in a bottom plate  141  of the housing. The second axle has an adapter end  142  which engages an opening  146  in the plate  141  located at the bottom of the housing. The motor housing  36  and the plate  141  are spaced apart and are approximately parallel to each other. They form top and bottom portions of the housing, respectively. Along with the first and second sections they form the cavity which encloses the first and second axles, the drums, and the belts. If desired, bottom plate  141  may have a depression or well  143  which can accommodate larger fobs such as those used for car keys which have built-in remote control locks for car doors (see FIG.  9 ). 
     During operation, the user depresses the switch  30  to the forward or reverse position. The switch activator  124  then engages the batteries  38 ,  39  which in turn power the motor  120  to rotate the first and second gears  112 ,  114  of the gear train which move the drive gear  110  assembly that is drivingly connected to the first axle. The first axle then rotates which in turn rotates the first and third drums  64 ,  90 . These drums rotate the first and second belts  68 ,  94  which are mounted on the second and fourth drums  66 ,  92 . These drums are in turn also rotated which rotates the second axle  62 . 
     Each lobe on the first and second belts moves at some point to a position near the door  14 . When the door is in an opened position, the user can access a key or keys as they become exposed to the open portion of the cavity. The light  40  which is also connected to the switching device is also operated during the motion of the belts. The light is used to illuminate the interior of the cavity to allow the user to better view the keys as they rotate to the open portion of the cavity. Since the organizer will most likely be used in a darkened area such as within a library or study, and will likely be disposed within books on a book shelf, the user will need additional light to view the keys as they come near the opening in the housing when the door  14  is ajar. 
     When the user is finished installing or removing keys from the lobes on the two belts, the door  14  is then pivotally moved to a closed position as shown in FIG.  1 . The lock  18  is locked by a key which is inserted within the first portion  20  of the lock and rotated to engage the tab  50  in the slot  52  in the second portion  22  of the lock. The organizer is then in a locked and closed configuration. Thus, keys within the organizer are not exposed and are safely locked and stored away so that they cannot be stolen or inadvertently accessed by small children. The organizer can then be replaced into its original storage position among a group of books in either a book shelf or a library. 
     The invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Obviously, alterations and modifications will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. For example, while a book-shaped key organizer is discussed herein, the invention could also take the form of an index card box or the like if only a single belt looped on two drums were used. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.