Abstract:
A case for holding, protecting, yet allowing easy linear access to a keyless entry device, the case comprising an open ended enclosure with a springlike element provided to frictionally hold the device securely yet slidably within the case.

Description:
CONTINUATION IN PART APPLICATION 
     PRIORITY 
     Applicants claim priority of and is a continuation-in-part copending Non-Provisional Patent Application filed Oct. 14, 2000 (14 Oct. 2000) and having Ser. No. 09/687,803, now abandoned. Applicants also claim priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/223,704 filed Aug. 8, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to cases for holding and protecting keyless entry devices such as have become common substitutes for keys to open and close garage doors and to gain entry to and to secure locking after exiting from automobiles and other types of passenger vehicles. A serious problem has been found with these keyless devices since even a slight pressure on the opening button can inadvertently cause the auto doors or trunk lid or garage door to be opened or left open as the user is walking away after having deliberately remotely actuated the locking mechanism. Inadvertent unlocking of the auto trunk or garage door is even more egregiously obvious than inadvertent unlocking of the auto doors, since open trunks and garage doors signal their unlocked status to all viewers where, by contrast, passenger and driver side doors remain physically closed even when unlocked. 
     Therefore, this invention is directed to a case for receiving and securely holding a keyless entry device or transmitter and permitting easy access to its features while, simultaneously sharply limiting the possibility of accidental actuation. The invention performs its protective function by providing a rigid substantially rectangularly shaped tubular sheath open at both ends and having a springlike insert positioned within the sheath. The springlike insert is formed to deflect and impose force on the keyless device as it is inserted into the insert within the sheath. The forces between the keyless device and the insert generate frictional effect between the insert and the keyless device. This frictional effect between the insert and the keyless device acts to resist both entry and removal of the keyless device from the insert and therefore from the sheath within which the insert is positioned. The insertion of the keyless device into the insert causes the insert to deflect and thereby to frictionally secure the device against accidental removal from the insert and from the sheath. Several embodiments of the sheath and the springlike inserts are shown. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Applicant&#39;s search has disclosed only Des. 427,926 by Lowery of Jul. 11, 2000 titled “Roots toyless Entry and Cover.” The FIGS. 1-6 of this design patent appear to disclose a case for a keyless entry device. The case has a hinged cover. Lawrey&#39;s FIG. 5 shows the keyless device within the case with the cover open. The cover is seen edge-on at the top of the figure. Thee is no suggestion of any of the features of applicants&#39; structure such as springlike inserts or retainers within a sheath to provide frictional resistance to insertion or removal of the device. This is discussed in the Disclosure Document. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In this specification the term case refers to the complete assembly which includes an outer sheath and other components. The term keyless device or transmitter refers to a small substantially rectilinear unit 
     The invention comprises an easy access case for a keyless entry device, the case including a sheath, the sheath having slide-in springlike means for frictionally securing the keyless device within the sheath and permitting frictionally resisted straight-line entry and removal of the device. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     A primary object of the invention is to provide a case for a keyless entry device. The case includes a tubular sheath having a substantially rectangular crossection and springlike means positioned within the sheath for causing the device to be inserted into the sheath against frictional resistance and withdrawn from the sheath against frictional resistance. 
     A further object is to provide such a case including a sheath having means provided to prevent accidental removal of the springlike means from the sheath. 
     A further object is to provide such a case including a sheath having both broad sides and narrow sides where the springlike means include means for biasing the keyless device against both a broad side and the narrow sides of the sheath. 
     A further object is to provide such a case where the sheath is open at both ends thereby allowing the frictionally held keyless device to be pushed out from one end whereby the 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A shows the end part of the tubular sheath having a substantially rectangular crossection with a springlike insert installed. The sheath includes corner stops for preventing accidental removal of the springlike insert from the sheath. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates the construction and form of one embodiment of the springlike insert. 
     FIG. 2 shows in isometric view a case of the invention with the springlike insert installed and with the keyless entry device partly inserted into the sheath and corner stops formed in the sheath to prevent inadvertent removal of the insert. 
     FIG. 3 shows the sheath of FIG. 2 with the keyless device fully inserted and with an inwardly turned tab formed in the sheath to prevent inadvertent removal of the insert. 
     FIG. 4 shows an end view of a case having a sheath with a springlike insert having integral opposing side compression elements and a bottom v-shaped compression element. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Attention will be drawn to other figures where referenced details may be most clearly depicted. All mention of degrees will be degrees of angle. 
     FIG.  1 A: 
     FIG. 1A shows an isometric view of the end of a preferred embodiment of a case assembly  20  comprising the invention. Dimensions provided are typical for a keyless device  32  or similar wireless transmitter (FIG.  2 ). A typical keyless device  32  or transmitter as described herein is a substantially rectilinear unit having a width of 1 inch, a length of 1.75 inches and a depth of 0.5 inches. However, the invention is not restricted to keyless devices or transmitters of this size since the case can be made to fit and provide frictional resistance to the insertion and removal of such devices of any similar size. The keyless device is generally restricted to a size that can readily be clipped to an automobile visor or carried with keys on a keyring. The assembly  20 , selected to accommodate device  32 , includes a sheath  22  having corner stops  28  and a springlike element or insert  24  for allowing straight line insertion and full or partial straight line removal of the device. The sheath  22 , when viewed from the end as in FIG. 4, is in the form of a cylinder or tube having a substantially rectangular crossection. Substantially rectangular means that the tube or cylinder has two opposing or oppositely positioned wider (or broader) sides of approximately equal width joined to two opposing or oppositely positioned narrower sides. As viewed in FIG. 1A the opposing wider sides are identified as  22 T and  22 B. The wider sides  22 T and  22 B are joined by opposing narrower sides  22 L and  22 R (FIG.  4 ). The junctures between the wider sides and the narrower sides may be sharp or curved. The sides may be planar or curved. FIG. 1A illustrates substantially rectangular sheath  22  having slightly curved wider and narrower sides joined at rounded corners  22 C 1 ,  22 C 2 ,  22 C 3  and  22 C 4 . While the preferred embodiment, as shown, has slightly curved wider and narrower sides, the principles of the invention are fulfilled as well by planar sides. The corners may be flat (planar) as shown at  22 C 2  in FIG. 4 or rounded as in FIG. 1A or square showing only a line interface where the wider and narrower sides join. The sheath is typically formed of metal or of a semirigid plastic sheet or material that is heat formable or extrudable. Typical dimensions for the sheath  22  are ⅝ inch high and 1{fraction (9/16)} wide with an overall length of 1⅞ inches. The length of the tubular sheath  22  is the distance between the open ends  22 E 1  and  22 E 2  identified in FIG.  2 . For these overall dimensions the sheath preferably is formed of polypropylene sheet having a thickness of 0.031 inches. If the sheath is formed of aluminum sheet the thickness may be as little as 0.020 inches. The sheath may have a wide variety of dimensions depending on the range of sizes of keyless devices it is intended to accommodate. Larger sheaths may employ thicker materials. A springlike insert  24  is positioned within the sheath  22  for providing frictional resistance to the straight line entry and removal of a keyless device. Springlike insert  24  is described more completely in connection with FIG.  1 B. Corner stops  28  are provided integral with sheath  22  to prevent the springlike insert  24  from sliding out of the sheath. Typically the corner stops  28 L and R have a substantially triangular shape with sides equal to about 25 percent of the width of the narrow side. All dimensions may be selected and adjusted to suit the particular size of the keyless device. Reference will be made to narrow sides and broad or wide sides of the sheath. 
     FIG.  1 B: 
     Springlike insert  24  shown in FIG.  1 B. The overall width of the spring like insert  24  is such that, when squeezed at the v-shaped portions it will just slide into sheath  22  and engage corner stops  28 L and R (FIGS.  1 A and  2 ). In a typical embodiment of the springlike element  24 , the width of the central portion  30  between upwardly turned parts  27  is about 1.25 inches, the width between interior leaves  26 R and  26 L is about ⅞ inch and the length is about 1⅝ inches, slightly less than the overall length of sheath  22 . The insert  24  is formed of a springy plastic sheet such as polypropylene having a thickness between 0.015 and 0.035 inches. The insert can also be made of tempered aluminum having a thickness of about 0.012 inches or spring steel having a thickness of about 0.006 inches. The insert  24  has a central span  30  having a width and a length. The central span  30  is positioned substantially adjacent a sheath wider side  22 B. The central span  30  has two opposing edges, a right edge and a left edge, positioned substantially adjacent the sheath narrower sides  22 L and  22 R. The central span  30  has formed in the left edge of its left longitudinal side a v-shaped structure having an upturned portion  27 L connected to the central span  30  and a downward turned portion or leaf  26 L connected to its related upturned portion  27 L. The central span  30  has formed at the right edge of its right longitudinal side a v-shaped structure having an upturned portion  27 R connected to the central span  30  and a downward turned portion or leaf  26 R connected to its related upturned portion  27 R. The central span  30  of insert  24  therefore serves to join the two v-shaped portions  27 L,  26 L and  27 R,  26 R along its length. The width of the central span  30  is the dimension between the two v-shaped elements  27 L,  26 L and  27 R and  26 R. There is an open channel  31  formed between the two v-shaped portions  26 R,  27 R and  26 L,  27 L. The angles  38 L and  38 R between parts  27 L,  26 L and parts  26 R,  37 R respectively are between 25 and 75 degrees before the keyless device  32  is inserted into channel  31 . Since the parts  27 L,  26 L and the parts  27 R and  26 R and the angles  38 L and  38 R are substantially identical, they will be identified further without the L and R designations unless these are required for clarity. The central span  30  may be planar (flat) or formed into a segment of a cylinder (arcuate). Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the angles  38 L and  38 R between the parts  26  and  27  are reduced when the keyless device  32  is inserted into channel  31 . This is because the case assembly  20 , comprising the sheath  22  and insert  24 , is selected based on the size of the keyless device so that the flexing leaves  26  and  27  will be compressed when the keyless device  32  is inserted into the open channel  31 , thereby causing the flexing leaves  26  and  27  to exert force on the keyless device whereby friction between the keyless device  32  and the flexing leaves  26 ,  27  is generated. Typically the angles  38  are between 15 and 35 degrees after the keyless device  32  is inserted into channel  31 . 
     FIG.  2 : 
     In FIG. 2 there is shown an isometric view of one preferred complete embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 2 there is shown the keyless device  32  having buttons or touch pad areas  34 . The keyless device  32  is shown inserted part way into the end  22 E 2  of sheath  22  of the invention. Bearing on the sides of the keyless device  32  are shown the springy v-shaped structures including upturned part  27  and the down turned part  26 , together forming springy assemblies having an included angle  38 . Corner stops  28 L and  28 R are shown positioned to prevent the springy insert  24  from slipping out of sheath  22 . The opposite end of the sheath  22  identified as  22 E 2  is open and may be provided with or formed into an extended portion  40  that has positioned therein keychain hole  42 . When the user wishes to access a touchpad area  34  of the keyless device she will insert her finger into the open end  22 E 1  and press the keyless device out of the sheath  22  against the frictional restraint imposed by insert  24 , thereby moving the keyless device to its position with respect to the sheath and insert shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  3 : 
     In FIG. 3 there is shown the completed assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The keyless device  32  is inserted fully into the sheath and held securely by the frictional force applied by springy insert  24 . This frictional force is sufficient to hold the keyless device securely in place within sheath  22 , but still allows the keyless device  32  to be relatively easily pressed out and partially withdrawn from sheath  22  to a position shown in FIG. 2 to provide access to any of the actuation buttons  34 . Upturned lip  50  formed in the material of sheath  22  is provided in the structure of FIG. 3 as a substitute for the corner stops  28  of FIGS. 1A and 2. Stop  50  can also be extended to mechanically prevent accidental removal of device  32 . The keyless device  32  may be provided, as part of its structure, with a keychain loop  44 . A keychain  46  is routed in a novel route through both the loop  44  of the keyless device  32  and the hole  42  formed in the sheath extended portion  40 . With this chain routing it is possible to hang or otherwise fully support the assembly of the keyless device  32  and the sheath  22  from the chain without pulling the keyless device from the sheath  22 . 
     Note that the sheath  22  is open at both ends. Open sheath end  22 E 2  is visible. Sheath end  22 E 1  is shown to be open by virtue of loop  44  that is integral with the keyless device extending from sheath end  22 E 1 . 
     FIG.  4 : 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of case assembly  20  comprising sheath  22  with springlike insert  24 . Sheath  22  is cylindrical or tubular in shape with a substantially rectangular crossection as described more fully in connection with FIG.  1 A. No corner stops  28  or upturned lip  50  are shown. The springlike insert  24  of FIG. 1B has been modified by the addition of V-shaped configuration  52  formed in the span of insert  24  and positioned approximately midway between the sheath narrower sides  22 L and  22 R. The purpose of the V-shaped configuration is to apply upward pressure on the bottom of the keyless device, thereby pushing it firmly against the upper inner wall of sheath  22  to ensure proper snug fit of keyless devices made in a variety of sizes within a given case  20 . 
     Preamble to Claims: 
     From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present invention comprises a case or construction for containing and protecting a keyless entry device, while at the same time allowing easy access to the device. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described in the foregoing description without departing from the broad inventive concepts embodies therein. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims, its elements, and equivalents thereof as described in the above specification.