Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application claims priority from my Provisional Patent Application titled “Key Case with Key Select Mechanism,” Ser. No. 60/902,704, filed Feb. 21, 2007. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of apparatus for the storage of keys and more particularly to a key case with a key select mechanism and having rotationally mounted key holders. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The field of equipment for the storage of keys includes a broad range of devices including a variety of ring type devices and a variety of wallet type devices in which individual keys are retained in individual holders within a wallet like structure. In each of these prior art devices the user must select the desired key for the individual lock which the user desires to open. This process requires a combination of the ability to visually recognize the proper key and a degree of manual dexterity to manually select the desired key from the balance of the keys being stored. This process results in a degree of difficulty for older persons or persons having either visual difficulty or impairment of eye-hand coordination. 
   Despite the developments of the prior art there remains a need for a key case which can easily present the desired key in response to the pressing of a button. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the present invention is to provide a key case in which a desired key can be selected from a holder responsive to the pressing of a button on the holder. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a key case with a key select mechanism which has a plurality of key holders each rotationally mounted in a housing. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a key case with a key select mechanism which can be used to easily select a desired key from a housing. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a key case with a key select mechanism which has a relatively small number of component parts which can be manufactured economically in volume resulting in a relatively low unit cost. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear hereinafter. 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a key case having a housing within which there is a plurality of rotationally mounted key holders. Each key holder is connected to an individual key. A plurality of buttons are mounted on the housing. Pressing on a selected button enables a desired key to swing out of the housing and move into a position wherein it can be used to unlock a lock. In an alternative embodiment of the invention a key selector assembly which has a single button is mounted on the housing. The key selector assembly may be moved to a selected position relative to the housing to select the desired key. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other important objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of a key case with a key select mechanism made according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view generally taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  showing the key contained in the housing of the key case; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the key projecting out of the housing of the key case; 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic view of the button portion of the key case of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an overall perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the key case of  FIG. 1  incorporating a sliding key select assembly, and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view generally taken along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5  showing the key select assembly. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to the drawings, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  a key case with a key select mechanism  10 , in accordance with the present invention, which includes a housing  12  within which there is mounted a plurality of keys  14 . The mounting of each of the keys  14  is shown schematically in  FIG. 2 . 
   Each key  14  is mounted in a key holder  16  which is pivotally connected to the housing  12  via an axle  18 . While the operation of a single key holder  16  will be described in detail it should be understood that this description is by way of example and that the key case  10  according to the present invention may have a single key holder  16  which supports a single key  14  or, more typically, a plurality of key holders  16  thereby accommodating a plurality of keys  14 . 
   The key case  10  includes a flexible operating link or flexible arm  20  which has a first end  22  which is pivotally connected to the key holder  16  via a pin  24 . A first portion  26  of the flexible arm  20  is generally curved. A first intermediate portion  28  of the flexible arm  20  has a finger  30  which rides in a curved groove  32  or ramp area formed in a wall  34  of the housing  12 . A second portion  36  of the flexible arm  20  has an end  38  which engages the button member  40 . The end  42  of the second portion  36  of the flexible arm  20  has an integrally formed pin  44  which engages a socket  46  formed in a first portion  48  of the button member  40 . 
   The button member  40  includes a pressing portion  50  which has a smooth surface  52  adapted for pressing, a first portion  48  connected to the flexible arm  20  and a second portion  52 . The second portion  52  is connected to a button latch mechanism which is indicated schematically by a rectangle  54  in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and which will be described presently. 
     FIG. 2  is a schematic view generally taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  showing the relative positions of the various components when the key  14  is contained in the housing  12  of the key case  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the key  14  is container in the housing  12 , the finger portion  30  of the flexible arm  20  rests in a first detent  58  which is formed in the groove portion  60  of the wall  34 . When the end  42  of the flexible arm  20  is moved in the direction shown by the arrow  62  in  FIG. 2 , the finger  30  leaves the first detent  58 , and rides in the curved portion  63  of the groove  32  and enters the second detent  64 . This action of the flexible arm  20  causes the first end  22  of the flexible arm  20  to rotate the key holder  16  causing the key holder  16  to rotate the key  14  in a direction shown by the arrow  66  in  FIG. 2  to a position projecting outwardly relative to the housing  12  as is shown in  FIG. 3 . The key  14  can now be used to operate a lock. The button member  40  remains depressed as is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   When the button  40  is pressed a second time, the button  40  is released from the latch mechanism  54  and moves in a direction relatively outwardly relative to the housing  12  as shown by the arrow  68  in  FIG. 3 . This action causes the finger  30  on the flexible arm  20  to return to the first detent  58  and the key holder  16  rotates the key  14  to enter the housing  12  and the position of the various components returns to the position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The components of the button latch mechanism  54  which was indicated as a rectangle  54  in  FIGS. 2 and 3  are shown schematically in  FIG. 4 . The button latch mechanism  54  is conventional in nature and is generally similar to the latch mechanism found on retractable pens and will therefore not be described in detail. The button latch mechanism  54  includes the button member  40  which has a first portion  48  connected to the base  70  and a second portion  52  also connected to the base  70 . The second portion  52  has a finger  74  which bears against a rotateably mounted cam member  76  which engages one of a plurality of complementary cam fingers  78  which are formed on the internal surface  80  of a stroke cylinder  82 . The finger  74  is spring loaded by spring  88 . The pressure of the finger  74  causes the cam member  76  to rotate relative to shaft  90  to lock the button member  40  in the last position. Depressing the button member  40  again rotates the cam member  76  and releases the button member  40  and allows the helical compression spring  84 , which bears on member  86  to return the button member  40  to the position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show an alternative embodiment of the invention  200  which incorporates an external button selector assembly  202  which the user can slide along the housing  204  to select the desired key  206 ,  208 ,  210 . The housing  204  may have indicia  212  as indicated by the numerals  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  to aid in selecting the desired key  206 ,  208 ,  210 . When the external button  214  is moved along the directions shown by the arrows  216 ,  218  to the desired location which is in alignment with a button member  40 , which has been previously described, and which corresponds to the desired key  206 ,  208 ,  210  and the external button  202  is depressed by the user, the desired key swings  206 ,  208 ,  210  out of the housing  204  in the direction shown by the arrow  220  in the manner previously described and is ready for use. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  the external button selector assembly  202  includes a sliding block  222  which has slots  224 ,  226  which ride in projections  228 ,  230  which are formed in the housing  204  and a spring  232  which urges an outer operating button  214  in the direction shown by the arrow  234  in  FIG. 6 . The outer operating button  214  is retained on the sliding block  222  by the retainer portion  236  which is formed on the end  238  of the outer operating button  214 . 
   The foregoing specific embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention without departing from the main theme thereof.

Technology Category: 4