Patent Abstract:
A holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein comprising a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart from one another each having a mounting side end across from one another with at least one of said pair of oblong structures having a sidewall opening at the mounting end thereof extending therethrough. A pivot pin is positionable in said sidewall opening, and also removable therefrom. An oblong object holder has a connection structure at a connection end thereof and supports a selected object to be held in the holder at an opposite support end thereof with the connection structure having a pair of connection bars each extending away from the support end and about an opposite side of a connection opening between them to result in gap ends thereof facing one another across a connection gap extending between them from the connection opening. The connection bars are formed of a resilient material sufficiently resilient to allow the gap ends to be forced away from one another far enough to allow the pivot pin to pass between them toallow oblong object holder and any oblong object supported to be positioned in the first object retaining space.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/277,795 filed Sep. 30, 20009 for OBLONG OBJECT HOLDER, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. This application is related to the following co-pending applications that are filed on even date herewith and are commonly owned: OBLONG OBJECT HOLDER, Serial No. ______, Attorney Docket No. P486.12-0001; and OBLONG OBJECT HOLDER, Serial No. ______ , Attorney Docket No. P486.12-0002. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to oblong object holders and, more particularly, to oblong object holders which have one end of the objects free while also being held at the other end thereof. 
         [0003]    Many people have needs for keeping a variety of oblong objects with them as they go about their various daily activities, objects such as keys, nail files or other tools shaped oblong by handles or tool structures therein, electronic memory devices having electrical interconnections plugs at one end thereof, and the like. Carrying them about as individual, unconnected objects makes difficult finding them in a carrier&#39;s pocket or purse if there are several of such objects, especially with them having geometric outlines more or less similar to one another. Thus, people typically use some kind of organizing holder device to hold at least some of such carried about objects in some ordered arrangement. 
         [0004]    A substantial variety of kinds of these holder devices are in current and past use. There are many kinds of key holders, for example, some having keys which swing out of the holder for use through rotating about a pivot of some sort, or about a ring, or swing with a ring that is somehow captured so as to allow that ring with the key to rotate. Other kinds of holders allow keys or other oblong objects to be slid in and out of the holder. 
         [0005]    Many of these holders are formed from a multitude of parts of different materials and which must be individually assembled in fabricating the holder structure. Often, mounting the oblong objects to be held in the holder is inconvenient, or even difficult, and many allow holding therein only very limited numbers of objects. Similarly, the means for selecting objects from the holder to thereby become accessible for use is often inconvenient or difficult. Thus, there is a desire for an economical and convenient oblong object holder that can accommodate a variety of different oblong objects therein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein comprising a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another each having a mounting side end across from one another with at least one of said pair of oblong structures having a sidewall opening at the mounting end thereof extending therethrough. A pivot pin is positionable in said sidewall opening, and also removable therefrom. An oblong object holder has a connection structure at a connection end thereof and supports a selected object to be held in the holder at an opposite support end thereof with the connection structure having a pair of connection bars each extending away from the support end and about an opposite side of a connection opening between them to result in gap ends thereof facing one another across a connection gap extending between them from the connection opening. The connection opening has opposite sides thereof separated by distances larger than distances across the pivot pin at the first object retaining space when the pivot pin is extending concurrently through the sidewall opening. The connection bars are formed of a resilient material sufficiently resilient to allow the gap ends to be forced away from one another far enough to allow the pivot pin to pass between them. The oblong object holder and any oblong object supported at the support end thereof are thin enough in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extent of the connection bars about the connection opening to be positioned in the first object retaining space. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  shows a top view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  shows a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0010]      FIG. 1C  shows a side view of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0011]      FIG. 1D  shows another side view of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0012]      FIG. 1E  shows a cross section view of a further side of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C show three side views of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show top and side views of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C show a perspective and two side views of an oblong object for being held in the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C show a perspective and two side views of another oblong object for being held in the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0017]      FIG. 5D  shows a side view of yet another oblong object for being held in the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention that is a variant of the oblong object shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C show a perspective view and side views of portions of  FIGS. 5 and 2A  in a procedural sequence, 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show side cross section views of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0020]      FIGS. 8A  shows side cross section view and  FIG. 8B  shows a side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the present invention, 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows an overhead perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0022]      FIG. 9A  shows a top view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9  of the present invention, 
           [0023]      FIG. 9B  shows a bottom view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9  of the present invention, 
           [0024]      FIGS. 9C  shows a side cross section view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9  of the present invention, and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show top and side views of a portion of the embodiment in  FIG. 9  of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an example of the oblong object holder,  10 , of the present invention, and  FIG. 1A  shows a top view thereof with  FIG. 1B  showing a bottom view thereof. Holder  10  has a more or less rectangular solid shaped base plate,  11 , with inner and outer major surfaces on either side thereof, and a base support dividing bar,  11 ′, also an approximately rectangular solid with inner and outer major surfaces on either side thereof. Extending perpendicularly outward from the inner major surfaces of both base plate  11  and base support dividing bar  11 ′, so as to extend parallel to one another, are the supported ends of a plurality of spaced apart separator slats,  12 , and these slats also extend lengthwise perpendicularly past an exposed end edge of plate  11 , and also past base support dividing bar  11 ′ in cantilever fashion to thus have corresponding unsupported ends. Each of the unsupported separator slat ends has a circular opening,  13 , extending therethrough, and all of them are coaxial with one another. Base plate  11 , base support dividing bar  11 ′ and separator slats  12  are portions of a housing,  14 , typically formed of a somewhat resilient polyacetyl polymer or copolymer material. 
         [0027]    In addition, in housing  14 , there is an end side,  15 , positioned at the enclosed end edge of plate  11 , the edge opposite the exposed edge of plate  11 . End side  15  perpendicularly joins two outer sides,  16  and  17 , each positioned at a corresponding one of the remaining edges of plate  11 , the side edges across plate  11  from one another. End side  15  and outer sides  16  and  17  also extend perpendicularly outward from the inner major surface of plate  11  at their base plate edge locations, and outer sides  16  and  17  also extend perpendicularly outward from the shorter sides of base support dividing bar  11 ′. Thus, base plate  11 , end side  15 , and dividing bar  11 ′ each “bridge” across the space separating outer sides  16  and  17 . Outer sides  16  and  17  also have unsupported ends extending parallel to the side edges of base plate  11 , and so perpendicularly past the exposed end edge of plate  11 , and also past base support dividing bar  11 ′ in the same cantilever fashion followed by slats  12 . 
         [0028]    A dashed line circular opening is shown extending through side  17  of housing  14  in  FIG. 1  near end side  15  as part of an alternative external device connecting arrangement which can be chosen to be or not be provided with holder  10 . A similarly sized and positioned circular opening can then also extend through opposite side  16  across from the corresponding opening in side  17 . Thus, a band or a ring or a chain can be inserted through both of these two openings to be used to attach a fob or other external object to holder  10 . In a further addition or alternative, a ring-like structure extending outward from holder  10  can be formed integrally with, or attached to, the outer surface of end side  15  with the opening therethrough again through which a band or a ring or chain, or even a carabiner, can be inserted. 
         [0029]    Separator slats  12  extend lengthwise perpendicular to end side  15 , and have the supported ends thereof, located opposite the unsupported ends thereof, at the end side  15  region of base plate  11 . Those two slats nearest outer sides  16  and  17 , respectively, are spaced apart from end side  15 . Those two of slats  12 , and the further away slats in each of the succession of pairs of slats  12  between them in larger capacity holders than holder  10  shown, together form a group of positioning slats,  12 ′, in the plurality of separator slats  12 . Each of positioning slats  12 ′ has between it and the next closest one thereto, or between it and each of the next closest ones thereto, another of the plurality of separator slats  12  not in the positioning slats group. The one such slat in holder  10  between two positioning slats  12 ′, and all such slats between positioning slats in larger capacity holders than holder  10  shown, are joined to end side  15 . These slats in the plurality of separator slats  12  that are each between a pair of positioning slats  12 ′ form a group of structure slats,  12 ″, in the plurality of separator slats  12 . 
         [0030]    The unsupported end of outer side  16  also has a circular entrance opening extending therethrough,  18 , as can be seen in the partial disassembled side view of  FIG. 1C  (nothing shown in opening), that is coaxial with, and about the diameter of, circular slat openings  13 . Outside, but concentric with opening  18 , are two separated partial semicircular arc shaped recesses,  18 ′, in outer side  16  with each having a cross section perpendicular to the surface of side  16  in the shape of half of a circular disk. Each of the recess semicircular arcs has the same radius but which is slightly larger than the radius of opening  18 . Centered in each the separations between partial semicircular arc shaped recesses  18 ′, at the same radial distance, is a hemispherical recess,  18 ″. 
         [0031]    A slot opening,  19 , extending through the unsupported end of outer side  17 , can be seen in the partial disassembly side view of  FIG. 1D  (nothing shown in opening). Opening  19  extends lengthwise parallel to a diameter of opening  13  in the separator slat  12  adjacent thereto, and of a similar length, with the center of this slot opening coinciding with the common axis of symmetry of coaxial openings  13 . Slot opening  19  is shaped as a rectangular slot opening but extended by a pair of half circular cylinder slot end openings each extending from a corresponding one of the opposite shorter sides of the rectangular slot opening, i.e. the short ends of this slot opening appear as circular arcs in  FIG. 1D . There is a similarly shaped detent recess,  19 ′, in outer side  17  at the outer surface thereof having its center coinciding with that of slot opening  19  but with the primary length of recess  19 ′ extending perpendicularly to the primary length of slot opening  19  and approximately equal thereto. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 1C , the complete outer side-to-outer side opening extending through entrance opening  18 , slat openings  13 , and slot opening  19  is designated  18 ,  13 ,  19 , and the opening extending through opening  18  and slat openings  13  to the inner surface of outer wall  17  is designated  18 ,  13 . Similarly, in  FIG. 1D , the complete outer side-to-outer side opening extending through slot opening  19 , slat openings  13 , and entrance opening  18  is designated  19 ,  13 ,  18 . 
         [0033]    In addition, there are two turning clearance section recesses,  19 ″, in outer side  17  opposite one another each extending between an outer portion of slot opening  19  and an adjacent outer portion of detent recess  19 ′, and not extending into outer side  17  as deeply as detent recess  19 ′. Thus, each turning clearance section recess  19 ″ two joined perpendicular straight sides, one set by slot opening  19  and one set by detent recess  19 ′, with the remaining ends joined by a circular arc with a radius equal to half the length of opening  19 . There further is a circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17  so as to effectively leave a reduced thickness integral wall structure about slot opening  19 . Outer side openings  19  and  18  are further indicated in an end side cross section view in  FIG. 1E . 
         [0034]    A locking pin,  20 , is provided for extending through openings  18 ,  13  and  19  to capture and hold oblong objects, such as keys, having capture openings in them through which pin  20  can also extend, and shown in the three side views of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C. Locking pin  20  has a main circular cylindrical shaft,  21 , and has one end thereof ringed with a slightly greater diameter ring strip,  21 ′, thereabout that, nevertheless, has a diameter slightly less than that of opening  18  in outer side  16  into which it will be inserted during use. This ringed end  21 ′ of main shaft  21  is attached to a disk shaped, outer edge knurled, knob,  22 , having a diameter larger than that of shaft  21  and ring strip  21 ′. 
         [0035]    The length of shaft  21  is sufficient to have the opposite end thereof extend into the circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17  to thereby support that end of the shaft in side  17 . The opposite end of shaft  21  is also attached to a locking bar,  23 , extending in length parallel to a diameter of main shaft  21 . Locking bar  23  is attached to main shaft  21  by a reduced diameter circular cylindrical subshaft,  24 , having its axis of symmetry coaxial with the axis of symmetry of main shaft  21 . The length of locking bar  23  is just slightly less than the length of slot opening  19  and of detent recess  19 ′, and the length of subshaft  24  is just slightly less than the thickness of the material in outer wall  17  at sector recesses  19 ″. The support provided by side  17  to shaft  21 , because of extension of shaft  21  into the circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17 , aids in isolating locking bar  23  and subshaft  24  from lateral forces that they would be less able than shaft  21  to withstand because of their smaller cross sectional dimensions. However, in some alternatives, this circular shaped recess at the inner surface of outer side  17  can be omitted with one such alternative being the omission of locking bar  23  and provision of screw threads on subshaft  24  and along the surface of an interior opening in outer side  17 , extending therein from the inner surface of side  17 . This latter arrangement thereby allows locking pin  20  to extend through outer side  16  to be screwed into outer side  17 . 
         [0036]    Two hemispherical protrusions,  25 , extend toward locking bar  23  from the interior disk surface of knurled knob  22  at a radius from the axis of symmetry of shaft  21  equal to the radius to the positions of hemispherical recesses  18 ″ in the outer surface of outer side  16 . The radii of protrusions  25  are slightly less than the radii of recesses  18 ″ and also slightly less than the radii of the cross section half circular disks partial semicircular arc shaped recesses  18 ′. Locking pin  20  is typically formed of a relatively stiff polyamide polymer such as nylon. 
         [0037]    An object restraining spring,  30 , is mounted about the unsupported end of a corresponding slat  12 ′ with this spring having two bar and lobe side structures,  31  and  32 , with a constrained end and a free end extending away from the constrained end in the direction of the slat, and so the outer side, free ends are thus at opposite ends of the spring. Hence, one free end of the spring provides a spring force directed at structure slat  12 ″, and the other free end thereof provides a spring force directed at side  17 . 
         [0038]    This spring is shown in the side and top views of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Restraining spring  30  also has a short side structure,  33 , joining together the two bar and lobe structures therein at the constrained ends of each and which is positioned in a notch,  34 , in the edge facing away from base plate  11  of the one of slats  12 ′ about which it is mounted. Openings,  35 , are provided in the free ends of restraining springs  30  such that they are aligned with slat openings  13  and outer end openings  18  and  19 . Object restraining spring  30  is typically formed of a suitable spring steel such that lobes  31  and  32  thereof resiliently press against structure slat  12 ″, the inner surface of side  17 , or against an oblong object captured in holder  10  adjacent such a spring lobe. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of an example of one kind of oblong object,  40 , a custom shaped key, that is to be captured in holder  10 , and there, to have a free end thereof be rotatably accessible through being forced outside of that holder for use purposes. That is, key  40  can be selectively forced outside of holder  10  by a user through that user pushing on a push bar,  41 , formed as part of key  40  so as to not have to be any thicker than the remainder of that key thereby allowing less spacing apart of the slats  12  or one such slat and side between which the key will carried in holder  10 . The side views of key  40  in  FIGS. 4B and 4C  show more clearly the relative positions of the key teeth and push bar  41 , and also of a circular capture opening,  42 , formed in key  40  at the opposite end thereof from the key teeth. Holder  10  can be structured to hold only keys arranged like key  40 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5A  shows a perspective view of another example of a kind of oblong object,  50 , a custom shaped electronic component, or device, and an electrical connector in a joint structural arrangement, and that is also to be captured in holder  10 . Again, once so captured, the free end thereof with the electrical connector is to be rotatably accessible through being forced outside of that holder for use purposes. As for key  40 , the electrical connector end of joint component structural arrangement  50  can be selectively forced outside of holder  10  by a user through that user pushing on a push bar,  51 , this bar formed as part of arrangement  50  so as to not have to be any thicker than the remainder of that arrangement. Two side views of arrangement  50  in  FIGS. 5B and 5C  show more clearly the relative positions of the electrical connector with the electronic component or device encapsulated behind it and push bar  51  somewhat further behind, and also of a circular capture opening,  52 , formed in arrangement  50  at the opposite end of the arrangement from the connector by a pair of joint arrangement springs,  53  and  54 , each partially surrounding that opening. 
         [0041]    Joint arrangement springs  53  and  54  each extend outward from push bar  51  on opposite sides of capture opening  52  to nearly meet at their free ends on the far side of that opening but with a tapered sides spatial gap remaining between those free ends. Each of these springs diverge at their free ends into a pair of approximately semicircular flat “half ring” shaped resilient spring sides affixed in the arrangement at their constrained ends to, or near to, push bar  51 . In the figures, joint arrangement springs  53  and  54  have the spring pair member therein nearest outer side  16  designated an “a” spring and the other pair member has been designated a “b” spring. In addition, they have their joint arrangement spring designations  53  and  54  so that the designations shown for these springs are  53   a,    53   b,    54   a  and  54   b . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5D  shows a side view of another example of a kind of oblong object,  50 ′, that is a variant of the joint structural arrangement shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C again with a custom shaped electronic component, or device, that can be partially ejected from a substantially surrounding protective housing, and an electrical connector that is again to be captured in holder  10 . Again, once so captured, the free end thereof with the electrical connector is to be rotatably accessible through being forced outside of that holder for use purposes. As for joint component structural arrangement  50 , the electrical connector end of joint component structural arrangement  50 ′ can be selectively forced outside of holder  10  by a user through that user pushing on a push bar,  51 ′. A pair of joint arrangement springs,  53 ′ and  54 ′, like joint arrangement springs  53  and  54  in joint component structural arrangement  50 , each extend outward, but here, from a component housing,  55 ′. Corresponding semicircular flat “half ring” shaped resilient spring sides  53   a ′ and  54   a ′ are seen in the side view of  FIG. 5D . 
         [0043]    Push bar  51 ′ is formed as part of an integrated electronic component, or device,  56 ′, and electrical connector,  57 ′, arrangement. This integrated component and connector arrangement is slidably encased in housing  55 ′ to protect it from damage due to the possibility of its coming into unwanted contact with some outside body except for the push bar portion thereof extending through a slot in the side of this housing. Push bar  51 ′ can then be pushed toward the opposite side of holder  10  to selectively force the electrical connector end of joint component structural arrangement  50 ′ outside of holder  10 , but can also be slid outwardly and back to partially eject integrated component  56 ′ and connector  57 ′ arrangement outside of housing  55 ′ for use in being mated with a compatible female connector portion, and to retract same into the interior of housing  55 ′. 
         [0044]    The electrical connector in joint component structural arrangement  50 , and connector  57 ′ in joint component structural arrangement  50 ′, are for the connecting of the electronic component or device in the arrangement, as a peripheral device of some sort, into some kind of a computer based network. This connector is shown as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector formed so as to meet the corresponding standard specifications therefor, but other kinds of connectors meeting different specifications could alternatively be used if needed instead to mate to the computer network or to other devices in such a network. The electronic component or device that is encapsulated in a suitable polymer in arrangement  50  and interconnected with the electrical connector would typically be a digital data memory device or an encryption code access device, but could any of many other kinds of electronic or electrical devices. Holder  10  can be structured to hold only oblong objects arranged like oblong object  50  or only a mixture of objects arranged like oblong object  50  and keys arranged like key  40 . 
         [0045]    Base support dividing bar  11 ′ can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 1D  to divide the space between push bar  41  in key  40  and push bar  51  in joint component structural arrangement  50  as assembled in housing  14  of holder  10 , and aids in preventing items passing across these push bars from snagging them (though this dividing bar is not required to be present in holder  10 ). Last described push bar  51  nearer locking pin  20  also has a chamfer beginning at its outermost surface angled toward the opposite end thereof to further aid in its avoiding any snagging of interior material surfaces passing thereby as may occur with any containing arrangement into which holder  10  is inserted such as a pocket or a purse. 
         [0046]    Capturing an oblong object such as key  40  in holder  10  starts by positioning that key between one of the outer sides  16  and  17  and an adjacent separator slat  12 , as shown in the example of  FIG. 1 , or between two adjacent separator slats  12 , and with the key capture opening provided in key  40  substantially coaxially aligned with slat openings  13 , restraining spring openings  35 , and outer end openings  18  and  19 . The locking bar  23  end of locking pin  20  is then inserted through outer side entrance opening  18 , slat  12  openings  13  and the key capture opening, and finally through outer side slot opening  19 . Insertion of locking bar  23  through slot opening  19  requires that bar  23  be aligned with slot opening  19  which will also result in hemispherical protrusions  25  each being in a corresponding one of the two separated partial semicircular shaped recesses  18 ′ in outer side  16 . Knurled knob  22  is then rotated to thereby rotate main shaft  21  and locking bar  23  to result in locking bar  23  being positioned in detent recess  19 ′ to thereby restrain locking pin  20  to remain in that position and capture the key in holder  10 , and concurrently results in hemispherical protrusions  25  extending inward from knob  22  each being in a corresponding one of the two hemispherical recesses  18 ″. 
         [0047]    Capturing joint component structural arrangement  50  in holder  10  can be done similarly to key  40  by positioning arrangement  50  between two adjacent separator slats  12 , as shown in the example of  FIG. 1 , or between one of the outer sides  16  and  17  and an adjacent separator slat  12 , and with the capture opening provided in arrangement  50  substantially coaxially aligned with slat openings  13 , restraining spring openings  35 , and outer end openings  18  and  19 . Using this method, the tapered sides spatial gap between the free ends of joint arrangement springs  53  and  54  in arrangement  50  could be eliminated so that the previously free ends in each spring would be joined to result in the spring having a ring configuration. 
         [0048]    However, the flexibility of joint arrangement springs  53  and  54  in arrangement  50  because of being resilient, and the presence of this spatial gap between their free ends, allows another alternative for capturing this arrangement about locking pin  20  in holder  10  after that pin has been restrained in holder  10  by rotating knob  22 , as may have been done previously as part of capturing some other oblong object earlier in that holder. Thus, for joint component structural arrangement  50 ′ as an example shown in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C (same procedure also for joint component structural arrangement  50 ), positioning the spatial gap provided between joint arrangement springs  53 ′ and  54 ′ against main shaft  21  of locking pin  20  between slats  12 , or between a slat and a holder side (slats, or slat and holder, not shown), and then turning housing  55 ′ will twist the ends of those springs against that shaft. This will squeeze together the semicircular flat “half ring” shaped resilient spring sides in those springs and cause the springs to deflect to opposite sides of shaft  21  as seen in  FIG. 6A . Then the free ends of those springs can be forced by pushing on housing  55 ′ to pass by that shaft as seen in  FIG. 6B  to, after reversing the turn of housing  55 ′, thereby leave shaft  21  in capture opening  52  with springs  53 ′ and  54 ′ thereabout. Arrangement  50 ′, so captured, can also be removed by turning and pulling on it sufficiently to deflect springs  53 ′ and  54 ′ to thereby force the free ends thereof to pass by main shaft  21  to free that arrangement from holder  10 . 
         [0049]    Positioning captured joint component structural arrangement  50  for use once it has been captured on locking pin  20  is indicated in the side cross section views of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , and merely requires the pushing inward into housing  14 , to a location at or inside of dividing bar  11 ′, the corresponding push bar  51  on arrangement  50 . This pushing is against the frictional force that results from joint arrangement springs  53  and  54 , in that space between those of slats  12  between which arrangement  50  has been captured, resiliently pressing against such adjacent ones of slats  12 . Push bar  51 , being pushed, thereby forces arrangement  50  to rotate about main shaft  21  of locking bar  20  against the joint arrangement springs supplied frictional force to thereby be partially outside of housing  14  from where it can easily be rotated further, or forced into a mating USB connector, or both. Arrangement  50  can thereafter be withdrawn and rotated about locking pin  20  by pushing on the exposed portion thereof to force it against the joint arrangement springs supplied frictional force back into housing  14  to be entirely within the space between the two adjacent ones of slats  12  (There is similar positioning of captured joint component structural arrangement  50 ′ for use once it has been captured on locking pin  20  but push bar  51 ′ must also be slid outwardly to partially eject connector  57 ′). 
         [0050]    Similarly, positioning captured key  40  for use once it has been captured on locking pin  20  is indicated in the side cross section views of  FIGS. 8A and 8B , and merely requires the pushing inward into housing  14 , to a location at or inside of dividing bar  11 ′, push bar  41 . This pushing is against the frictional force that results from the adjacent one of lobes  31  or  32  of restraining spring  30  resiliently pressing against key  40 . Push bar  41 , being pushed, thereby forces key  40  to rotate about main shaft  21  of locking bar  20  against the restraining spring supplied frictional force to thereby be partially outside of housing  14  from where it can easily be rotated further, or forced into a keyhole of a lock, or both. Once holder  10  is rotated with key  40  in a keyhole of a lock to thereby unlock that lock, key  40  can be then withdrawn and rotated about locking pin  20  by pushing on the exposed portion of key  40  to force it against the restraining spring supplied frictional force back into housing  14  to be entirely within the space between slat  12  and outer side  17 . The distance from the inside surface of base plate  11  where slat  12 ′ is joined thereto across that slat to its opposite side need be no more than a) the greatest width of either joint component structural arrangement  50  in  FIG. 7A  or key  40  in  FIG. 8A  parallel to that distance to keep either protected when both are fully positioned within holder  10 , or b) the greatest width of one of them if that one is the only type being protected in holder  10 . 
         [0051]    The resiliency of housing  14  and spring  30  limits the torque to a degree which the user, through rotating holder  10 , can apply to key  40  to thereby reduce the risk of the user&#39;s force breaking the extended portion of that key from its base. The resiliency of housing  14  is due to the polymer material of which it is constructed, a material that also reduces accumulations of, and transfers of, static electricity in that housing and similarly in joint component structural arrangement  50 . 
         [0052]    Lengthening the slats and outer sides of holder  10  in  FIG. 1  past the location of end side  15 , after eliminating that side, allows forming a second end object capture structure in the holder for the capture of a further set of oblong objects. The resulting holder needs to be longer than the sum of the lengths of the oblong objects that are in the same spaces between slats or between slats and sides captured at opposite holder ends. One example of such a holder,  10 ′, is shown in the overhead perspective view of  FIG. 9 . The object capture structure in holder  10  at the end thereof matching that shown in  FIG. 1 , used for the capture there of a set of oblong objects therein, retains the same numerical designations for the corresponding capture structure in holder  10 ′ in  FIG. 9  as were used therefor in  FIG. 1 . Similar numerical designations are used for the other capture structure at the opposite end of holder  10 ′ in  FIG. 9  but with a letter “a” added thereto. 
         [0053]    Key  40  that is captured in holder  10  in the  FIG. 1  arrangement is captured instead as key  40   a  at the added end of holder  10 ′ and modified there by removing push bar  41  therefrom. Otherwise the capture structure in holder  10 ′ in which joint component structural arrangement  50  is captured is in holder  10 ′ as described for holder  10  in the arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0054]    The capture structure at the opposite end of holder  10 ′ is shown in  FIG. 9 , and in the top and bottom views thereof in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , respectively. Here, the unsupported separator slat ends of the plurality of separator slats  12  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the group of positioning slats  12 ′ and the structure slat  12 ″ that have openings  13  therein to accommodate locking pin  20   a,  are replaced by a different plurality of separator slats,  12   a . Separator slats  12   a  again has a group of positioning slats  12 ′a and the structure slat  12 ″ a , but none of the unsupported ends thereof extends to locking pin  20   a  and so each of those slat ends has no opening therein to accommodate inserting that pin therethrough. 
         [0055]    Instead, an additional restraining spring  30   a  is mounted on and about a small portion of that structure slat  12 ′a not having one thereon in the  FIG. 1  arrangement as is further seen in the side cross section view of  FIG. 9C , and yet a further restraining spring  30   a  is mounted on and about a small portion of structure slat  12 ″ a between the other two restraining springs as seen in the bottom view of  FIG. 9B . These additional restraining springs each provide two additional object restraining surfaces which will press against oblong objects captured in the holder to frictionally restrain rotations thereof. Thus, there are somewhat different capture structures shown at the opposite ends of holder  10 ′, and the differing types of capture arrangement combinations therein, and various others, can be more or less substituted for one another at the capture structure ends of the holders. (Alternatively, restraining springs  30   a  could be removed and slats  12   a  extended to have their ends about locking pin shaft  21   a,  as the outer ends of slats  12  are about locking pin shaft  21 , and then have these ends split into dual ends by separating them with a slit in each slat between the major sides thereof along its length to result in the split ends being lateral force springs each providing a lateral force in a direction opposite the other along the length of shaft  21   a .) 
         [0056]    In this alternative configuration, a housing,  14 ′, now includes base plate  11  and base support dividing bar  11 ′ along with a second base support dividing bar  11 ′ a  on the opposite side of base plate  11 . Base plate  11  and dividing bar  11 ′ are each joined to slats  12 , and base plate  11  and dividing bar  11 ′ a  are each joined with slats  12   a  in housing  14 ′. Each slat structure has corresponding integral portions representing a slat  12  and a slat  12   a  which are designated  12 ,  12   a  in the figures. Base plate  11  and dividing bar  11 ′ are each joined to outer sides  16  and  17 , and base plate  11  and dividing bar  11 ′ a  are each joined with outer sides  16   a  and  17   a  in housing  14 ″. Each of these sides has corresponding integral portions representing, in one instance, a side  16  and a side  16   a  which is designated  16 ,  16   a  in the figures, and in another instance, a side  17  and a side  17   a  which is designated  17 ,  17   a  in the figures. 
         [0057]    In connection with the elimination of a push bar from key  40   a,  as indicated above, an alternative arrangement is provided for forcing the end of key  40   a  outside of holder  10 ′. A relatively resilient material U-shaped ejection member,  60 , shown in the top and side views of  FIGS. 10A and 10B , is provided in housing  14 ′. Ejection member  60  has two long side structures,  61  and  62 , with each of those having a free end and a constrained end as opposite ends thereof. Structures  61  and  62  are positioned on either side of a corresponding positioning slat  12 ′ a . Ejection member  60  also has a short side structure,  63 , joining together the two long side structures therein at the constrained ends of each. This short side structure provides the constraining of the ends of the two long side structures  61  and  62  by joining together, and is shown positioned in a notch through the corresponding positioning slat  12 ′ a  in the holder bottom view in  FIG. 9B . Portions of long side structures  61  and  62  in ejection member  60 , and short side structure  63  thereof, are also positioned against the inner surfaces of base plate  11  and base support dividing bar  11 ′ a . (Short side structure  63  could be eliminated and the ends of resulting separated long side structures  61  and  62 , formerly connected to short side structure  63 , each instead suitably affixed to housing  14 ′ such as by adhering them to the inner surface of base plate  11 .) 
         [0058]    The remaining portions of long side structures  61  and  62  have the free ends thereof extend past the exposed edge of base plate  11  and further past base support dividing bar  11 ′ a . Ejection member  60  typically is formed of either a resilient polyacetyl polymer or copolymer material or a resilient polyamide polymer such as nylon. 
         [0059]    There is, in addition in ejection member  60 , two push bars,  64 , each extending perpendicularly outward to and past the outer surface of base plate  11  from relatively near the free ends thereof and from the side of each of the two long side structures in that ejection member facing base support dividing bar  11 ′ a . That is, there is a pair of push bars  64  provided for ejection member  60 , each extending from a corresponding one of long side structures  61  and  62 . One of push bars  64  in the pair thereof in ejection member  60  extends from long side structure  61  in that member on the base plate  11  side of base support dividing bar  11 ′ a  relatively far from the free end of that long side structure, and the other of push bars  64  in the pair extends from long side structure  62  in that member on the opposite side of base support dividing bar  11 ′ a  relatively near the free end of that long side structure. Thus, base support dividing bar  11 ′ a  divides the space between push bars  64  in ejection member  60  as assembled in housing  14 ′ of holder  10 ′, and aids in preventing items passing across these bars from snagging them. 
         [0060]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0