KEY HOLDER

Abstract

A key holder (10) is disclosed in which keys (12) are each carried in a respective key carrier (46). The key carriers (46) are rotatably mounted to a main housing (14), and is able to turn relative to the housing between a use position in which the key (12) projects from the main housing (14) and a stowed position. Each of the key carriers (12) is spring-biased toward the use position and each is engageable with a catch arrangement (82) for retaining the key carrier in the stowed position. Each key carrier (46) is provided with a respective user-actuable member (74), actuation of which by a user releases the key carrier (46) from the catch arrangement (82) and permits the key carrier (46) to move to the use position under the influence of the spring biasing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application Number 2113783.1 filed Sep. 27, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns key holders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Despite the advent of electronic entry systems, physical keys remain ubiquitous in the modern world. Individuals habitually carry with them the keys they need to gain access to their home, for example, and many of us need to carry door keys for a place of work, or a physical key to deactivate a security system, or keys for myriad other purposes. Equally ubiquitous is the key ring, typically comprising a metal ring to be passed through a hole in the key's bow, and used to keep multiple keys together.

Despite its hugely widespread adoption the key ring suffers from various disadvantages. A set of keys carried on a ring has a set of exposed key blades which may, when carried in a pocket, cause tearing. They may become entangled with other items. Being free to turn about the key ring, a set of keys will often arrange itself by chance in a manner that maximises its volume, which is inconvenient. A set of keys on a ring is not a convenient item to accommodate in a handbag or the like. The selection of a key on a ring in order to use it can be an inconvenience for the user, and normally requires the use of 15 two hands. A bunch of keys is an unattractive object for the individual to carry about with them, and when carried in a bag or pocket may jangle in a manner which can cause irritation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

So there exists a practical need for a key holder which addresses one or more of these shortcomings. International patent application PCT/AU2012/000809, publication number WO2013/003907A1, discloses a key holder in which keys are carried between a base sheathing plate and a retainer sheathing plate upon pins which extend between the sheathing plates and which engage with the retainer sheathing plate through a part-turn lock. To install a key in the holder, the pins are disengaged from the retainer sheathing plate and one of them is inserted through the hole in the key's bow. The holder is then re-assembled. A spring carried on each pin urges the keys against the base sheathing plate, which seemingly provides friction so that once turned to lie within the holder, the keys tend to remain in that position.

Another keyholder has been disclosed in a pair of campaigns on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter® (https://www.kickstarter.com) titled “Keeo Carbon-First Keyholder with tracking App for smartphone” and “Keeo—World's First Keyholder with App for iPhone & Android”. Video footage used in these campaigns and available through the website shows a keyholder in which three keys are pivotally mounted. A rotary selector is moved by the user to select a key, and a single button is then depressed to release the chosen key, which flicks out of the holder ready for use. Little detail is provided about the mechanism used, but it seems clear that only three keys are able to be accommodated. Keys are to be bolted to movable plates in the key holder through the hole each key has in its bow.

Remaining problems include the following:

the mechanism of a key holder needs to be simple and robust, for the sake of economy and longevity;

user operation needs to be as simple and intuitive as possible. A key holder may for example be used many times in a day, and may be used in the dark. The user needs to be able to select and use a key without excessive fiddling, and preferably using one hand.

the arrangement used to mount keys to a key holder needs to accommodate keys whose bows have a range of different sizes and shapes, and needs to be easy for the user to operate, whilst at the same time keys must be securely retained since their accidental loss may present a security risk.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is a key holder according to appended claim 1.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a key holder embodying the present invention, a main housing being partly cut away to reveal internal detail;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows one of the keys in its use position;

FIG. 3 is a view of the key holder from beneath;

FIG. 4 is a view of the key carrier from above;

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 3 but shows one of the keys in its use position;

FIG. 6 is an exploded depiction of the key holder; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded depiction of a key carrier of the key holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiment takes the form of a key holder 10 configured to receive and mount a set of keys 12. The keys can be stowed in a main housing 14, making a compact configuration for storage and for carrying. By a simple, one-handed operation the user is able to release a selected key 12, causing it to move to a use position in which its blade 18 projects from the main housing 14 ready for insertion in a lock. After use, the key 12 can simply be turned to return it to stowage in the main housing 14.

The main housing of the present embodiment comprises first and second housing parts 14a, 14b (see FIG. 6 in particular) which form, when assembled to one another, a base housing wall 20 and a pair of housing side walls 22a, 22b, defining an internal space 24 for containing the keys 12 while they are in their stowed positions. A distal end 26 of the main housing 14 is open, while opposite proximal end 28 is largely closed by continuations of the side walls 22a, 22b, which converge to form a curved end wall 30. Opposite the base housing wall 20, the main housing 14 has an open face 32. The first and second housing parts 14a, 14b are separable along a line indicated at 34 in FIGS. 3 and 5, this line, running along the side and end walls 22a, 22b, 30, roughly parallel to the base housing wall 20.

In the region of the end wall 30, the first housing part 14a has an internal projection 36 carrying a depending engagement pin 38 (see FIG. 6). The second housing part 14b has a complementary internal projection 40 forming a socket 42 to receive the pin 36. The first and second housing parts 14a, 14b meet along respective edges 34a, 34b. The edge 34a of the first housing part 14a carries a pair of depending tongues 44 for receipt in complementary channels 45 in the edge 34b of the second housing part 14b. In this way, the first and second housing parts 14a, 14b are able to accurately locate one upon the other.

The key holder 10 comprises a set of key carriers 46 each configured to receive and carry a single key 12. The key carriers 46 are rotatably mounted side-by-side in the main housing 14. In the present embodiment, all the key carriers 46 are mounted upon a common pivot pin 48 which extends laterally across the main housing 14 from one side wall 22a to the other side wall 22b (see FIG. 6 in particular). Referring to FIG. 7, each key carrier 46 comprises first and second holder sides 50a, 50b and a retainer part 52. The first and second holder sides 50a, 50b are configured to be assembled to one another around the bow 54 (the head portion) of the key 12. In this way, the key 12 is mounted in the desired orientation with respect to the key holder 12. Each of the holder sides 50a, 50b comprises a respective side panel 56a, 56b provided with a respective upstanding, shallow peripheral wall 58a, 58b. Aligned breaks 60a, 60b in the peripheral walls 58a, 58b at a front edge of the key carrier 46 form an opening in the assembled key carrier 46 through which the blade 18 of the key 12 projects. The first and second holder sides 50a, 50b are provided with complementary engagement features to mechanically and releasably lock one to the other. In the present embodiment, the two sides are locked together by a sliding action, and then locked against sliding by means of the retainer part 52 to keep the assembled key carrier 46 together. In the present embodiment this is achieved using upstands 62 on the second holder side 50b each carrying a locking tooth 64 projecting along the sliding direction, and recesses 66 in the peripheral wall 58a of the first holder side 50a to receive the locking teeth 64, which then resist lateral separation of the holder sides 50a, 50b. The retainer part 52 has a channel 68 with inwardly facing lips 70. Each of the holder sides 50a, 50b has a respective outwardly-facing channel 70a, 70b arranged so that the two channels 70a, 70b are parallel and adjacent, but oppositely facing, in the assembled key carrier 46. By sliding the retainer part 52 over the channels 70a, 70b, causing the lips 70 to engage in them, the key carrier 46 is locked in its assembled state.

The process of installation of a key 12 in the key carrier 46 by a user is straightforward. The assembly formed by the holder sides 50a, 50b is first slid off the retainer part 52 and then disassembled. The bow 54 is placed between the holder sides 50a, 50b which are then re-assembled to one another and slid onto the retainer part 52.

Within the key carrier 46 is a pair of holding pads 71 which serve to keep the key 12 in position without slipping or rattling. The holding pads may comprise resilient material such as neoprene foam, to maintain pressure upon the key 12, and/or they may have an adhesive surface to adhere to the key 12.

The retainer part 52 has a through-going opening 72 to receive the pivot pin 48. Upstanding from an edge of the key carrier 46 is a user-actuable member 74. Looking at FIGS. 3 and 6, it can be seen that the base housing wall 20 has a set of openings 76, each aligned with a respective key carrier 46. When a key carrier 46 is in its stowed position in the main housing 14, its user-actuable member 74 projects through the corresponding opening 76 in the housing base wall to stand somewhat proud thereof at the exterior of the main housing 14.

Spacers 78 arranged at regular lateral intervals stand up from the base housing wall 20 to separate the key holders 46 from each other and to define their lateral positions in the main housing 14.

Each of the key carriers 46 is spring-biased toward its use position. In the present embodiment this spring-biasing is provided through a set of torsion springs 80, each acting on a respective key carrier and each received upon the pivot pin 48. A releasable catch arrangement 82 serves to maintain the keys 12 in their stowed positions. To deploy a key 12, the user actuates the corresponding user-actuable member 74, causing its corresponding key carrier 46 to be released from the catch arrangement and so allowing the assembly comprising the key 12 and the key carrier 46 to turn, under the spring-biasing, to its use position.

In the present embodiment, the catch arrangement 82 comprises a set of similarly-formed individual catch arrangements 82, each corresponding to a respective key carrier 46. Catch arrangement 82a is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and comprises a catch member 84a which is resilient and may for example comprise spring steel plate. The catch member 84a is secured in the main housing 14 through a threaded fastener 86a passing through an opening in a planar portion 88a of the catch member 84a into a pillar 90a upstanding from the base housing wall 20. Adjacent key carrier 46a, the catch member 84a is shaped to provide a female feature 92a. In the present embodiment, this takes the form of a “V”-shaped nock. Above the female feature 92a, a ramp portion 94a is inclined away from the rotary path of the key carrier 46a. The key carrier 46a comprises a male feature 96a for receipt in the female feature 92a. In the present embodiment, this takes the form of a stub upstanding from the key carrier 46a.

After use of the key 12a, the user is able to stow the key 12a away simply by turning it (in the anticlockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2) until the male feature 96a rides along the ramp 94a, deforming the catch member 84a somewhat, and then snaps into the female feature 92a to keep the key 12a in its stowed position. To deploy the key, the user applies pressure to the user-actuable member 74a (with the tip of a finger or thumb, say), causing the key carrier 46a to turn sufficiently to disengage the male feature 96a from the female feature 92a, after which the key carrier 46a and the key 12a, released from the catch arrangement, flick outwards to their use position under the spring-biasing.

An optional feature of the present embodiment is a carrying loop 98 coupled to the main housing 14 at its domed end 30.

In other embodiments, one or more of the key carriers 46 may be replaced with any of a range of suitably-formed accessories. For example, such accessories may comprise any of a pen, a USB data storage device, a bottle opener and so on. In each case, the accessory is sufficiently shallow to be received in the allotted space in the key holder 10, and is configured to engage with the catch arrangement 82 so that it can be stowed—in the same manner as the keys 12—when not required.

The aforegoing embodiments are presented by way of example and not of limitation. Numerous variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended independent claims. For instance, while the illustrated embodiment is able to mount a set of four keys, the number of keys accommodated is a design choice, involving a compromise between the facility to carry numerous keys and the bulk of the main housing 14. More keys, or fewer, may be mounted in other embodiments. Also while the illustrated embodiment is configured to mount keys on the Yale® pattern, other embodiments may additionally or alternatively be configured for use with keys of other type including mortice-type keys including keys on the Chubb pattern.

Claims

1. A key holder comprising a plurality of key carriers each of which is configured to receive a respective key, is rotatably mounted to a main housing, and is able to turn relative to the housing between a use position in which the key projects from the main housing and a stowed position, each of the key carriers being spring-biased toward the use position and each being engageable with a catch arrangement for retaining the key carrier in the stowed position, each key carrier being provided with a respective user-actuable member, actuation of which by a user releases the key carrier from the catch arrangement and permits the key carrier to move to the use position under the influence of the spring biasing.

2. A key holder as claimed in claim 1 in which the catch arrangement is configured to resiliently engage with the key carrier to retain the key carrier in the stowed position, and to be disengageable by application of a force to the user-actuable member.

3. A key holder as claimed in claim 1 in which the user-actuable member comprises a button which is depressable using a fingertip.

4. A key holder as claimed in claim 2 in which the user-actuable member comprises a button which is depressable using a fingertip.

5. A key holder as claimed in claim 2 in which the catch arrangement comprises a resilient member carried by one of the main housing and the key carrier, and an engagement feature carried by the other of the main housing and the key carrier, so that turning the key carrier into the stowed position causes the engagement feature to engage with the resilient member to retain the key carrier in the stowed position, and so that moving the key carrier in the opposite direction causes the engagement feature to disengage from the resilient member.

6. A key holder as claimed in claim 3 in which the catch arrangement comprises a resilient member carried by one of the main housing and the key carrier, and an engagement feature carried by the other of the main housing and the key carrier, so that turning the key carrier into the stowed position causes the engagement feature to engage with the resilient member to retain the key carrier in the stowed position, and so that moving the key carrier in the opposite direction causes the engagement feature to disengage from the resilient member.

7. A key holder as claimed in claim 4 in which the catch arrangement comprises a resilient member carried by one of the main housing and the key carrier, and an engagement feature carried by the other of the main housing and the key carrier, so that turning the key carrier into the stowed position causes the engagement feature to engage with the resilient member to retain the key carrier in the stowed position, and so that moving the key carrier in the opposite direction causes the engagement feature to disengage from the resilient member.

8. A key holder as claimed in claim 5 in which the resilient member comprises a ramp surface leading to a female feature, so that as the key carrier is turned toward the stowed position, the engagement feature first rides along the ramp surface to deform the resilient member, and then snaps into the female feature.

9. A key holder as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the key carriers comprises first and second carrier parts configured to be assembled to one another around the bow of a key with the key's blade or shank projecting from the key carrier.

10. A key holder as claimed in claim 2 in which at least one of the key carriers comprises first and second carrier parts configured to be assembled to one another around the bow of a key with the key's blade or shank projecting from the key carrier.

11. A key holder as claimed in claim 6 in which at least one of the key carriers comprises first and second carrier parts configured to be assembled to one another around the bow of a key with the key's blade or shank projecting from the key carrier.

12. A key holder as claimed in claim 8 in which at least one of the key carriers comprises first and second carrier parts configured to be assembled to one another around the bow of a key with the key's blade or shank projecting from the key carrier.

13. A key holder as claimed in claim 9 in which at least one of the key carriers comprises first and second carrier parts configured to be assembled to one another around the bow of a key with the key's blade or shank projecting from the key carrier.

14. A key holder as claimed in claim 9 in which the first and second carrier parts are configured to mechanically and releasably engage with one another.

15. A key holder as claimed in claim 14 in which the first and second carrier parts are configured to be engaged and disengaged by a sliding action.

16. A key holder as claimed in claim 1 in which, the user-actuable members are each configured to project through an opening in a wall of the main housing when the corresponding key carrier is in its stowed position, making that the user-actuable members accessible from the housing's exterior.

17. A key holder as claimed in claim 2 in which, the user-actuable members are each configured to project through an opening in a wall of the main housing when the corresponding key carrier is in its stowed position, making that the user-actuable members accessible from the housing's exterior.

18. A key holder as claimed in claim 3 in which, the user-actuable members are each configured to project through an opening in a wall of the main housing when the corresponding key carrier is in its stowed position, making that the user-actuable members accessible from the housing's exterior.

19. A key holder as claimed in claim 5 in which, the user-actuable members are each configured to project through an opening in a wall of the main housing when the corresponding key carrier is in its stowed position, making that the user-actuable members accessible from the housing's exterior.

20. A key holder as claimed in claim 9 in which, the user-actuable members are each configured to project through an opening in a wall of the main housing when the corresponding key carrier is in its stowed position, making that the user-actuable members accessible from the housing's exterior.