Key Holder

Abstract

A key holder includes a U-shaped rod structure. The rod structure has first and second generally-straight parallel side rod sections that extend from opposite ends of an outwardly-bowed bridging rod section. A key hook is permanently connected to a distal end of the first side section. An ornament is permanently connected to the second side section.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/919,494, filed Aug. 17, 2004, hereby incorporated herein by reference, and of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/285,165, filed Mar. 22, 2007, hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to key holders and to toys.

BACKGROUND

A prior art key holder is typically carried out of sight, within a purse. A user seeking to locate the key holder must ruffle through the purse to find it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of a first key holder (or “key locator”), shown partially disassembled.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of a portion of the holder.

FIG. 1C is a side view of the holder, shown totally assembled.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder hanging on a purse, as viewed from outside the purse.

FIG. 3 is a view of the holder hanging on the purse, as viewed from inside the purse.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second key holder that includes a teddy bear.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second holder, showing the teddy bear's arms and legs in a different orientation than in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a third key holder that is similar to the second key holder but with a toy rabbit in place of the teddy bear, with parts labeled with primed reference numerals that correspond to reference numerals of corresponding parts of the second key holder.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the rabbit's arms and legs in a different orientation than in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION

The apparatus shown in the figures has parts that are examples of the elements recited in the claims. The apparatus thus includes examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimed invention. It is described here to meet the requirements of enablement and best mode without imposing limitations that are not specified in the claims.

First Example

FIGS. 1A and 2C show a first example of a key locator 10. The key locator 10 comprises interlocking first and second members 12 and 14. Each of the first and second members 12, 14 is preferably of steel or other metal, although plastic or other rigid elastomeric material may be employed.

The second member 14 includes a clasp 16 that is preferably rotatably engaged by a swivel joint 13 to an inverted U-shaped element 18. The U-shaped element 18 is configured to engage a hook 20 at one end of the first member 12 to provide flexible pivotable engagement of the members 12 and 14.

The first member 12 includes a U-shaped interior region 22. Its opposed end, as shown in FIG. 1B, comprises an enlarged region 24 that serves as an ornament mounting pad for permanent affixation of a decorative ornament 26. The ornament 26, comprising a flower-like shape as shown in the drawings but not limited thereto, is arranged to face away from the interior of the first member 12 with its back portion 28 preferably permanently fixed to the enlarged region 24 of the member by solder or the like.

The key locator 10 is shown in FIG. 2B hung from the upper edge 29 of a side panel 30 of a bag-like purse 32 with the U-shaped region 22 overhanging the side panel 30 so that the face of the ornament 26 is exposed. This provides the user with an attractive adjunct to the purse 32 that serves the additional function of readily locating the key locator 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, keys 34 can be secured by the clasp 16 of the second member 14. They are shown lying near or at the bottom 36 of the bag-like purse 32, somewhat suspended from the upper edge 29 of the side panel 30. The U-shaped interior region 22 of the first member 12 of the key locator 10, as mentioned above, is draped or hung over the upper edge 29 to create the suspension effect. The height of the bottom of the key locator 10 and keys 34 will depend upon the length of the key locator 10 relative to the depth of the side panel 30 of the bag-like purse 32. However, regardless of the precise height of the keys 34 within the purse 32, they may be readily located due to the visible presence of the ornament 26.

Thus, the present invention provides a key locator especially suitable for use with a purse, backpack, briefcase or other bag-like device. By employing the key locator in conjunction with such a device, one may quickly find keys stored in the device. Further, by providing a decorative ornament for indicating the location of the key locator, the appearance of the bag is enhanced.

In this example, the first member 12 is formed from a one-piece cylindrical rod that is bent to yield first and second straight parallel rod sections extending from opposite ends of a U-shaped rod section 22. The rod's hook section 20 extends from a distal end of the first straight section, and the enlarged region 24 adjoins the distal end of the second straight section. The first element's first and second sections, U-shaped section 22 and hook section 20 all share a common cross-sectional size and shape. Since, in this example, they are all formed from the same cylindrical rod, they all have a round cross-section with a common diameter. The first and second straight sections are parallel and spaced apart so as not to grasp the side panel 30, but to remain in place over the purse panel 30 through gravity.

Second and Third Examples

FIGS. 4-5 show a second key holder 101. As shown in FIG. 5, the second holder 101 includes a U-shaped rod structure 110 formed preferably from a cylindrical metal rod that is bent to yield first and second generally-straight parallel side sections 111 and 112 that extend from opposite ends of a bridging section 114. In this example, the generally-straight side sections 111 and 112 are totally straight. The bridging section 114, including its upper and lower edges 114a, 114b, is bowed outward (i.e., bowed away from the side sections 111, 112, which is upward with respect to the rod structure's orientation shown in FIG. 5) and preferably circular. The first side section 111 is longer than the second side section 112. A hook section 116 extends from a distal end 111a of the first side section 111. These sections 111, 112, 114 and 116 all share a common cross-sectional size and shape. Since, in this example, they are all formed from the same cylindrical rod, they all have a round cross-section with a common diameter.

A closable clasp 120 (like the clasp 16 of FIG. 1A) can be used to hold keys. It is attached to the distal end 111a of the first side section 111 by both a swivel junction 121 and a pivot junction 122. The swivel junction 121 enables the clasp 120 to rotate 360 degrees relative to the first rod section 111. The pivot junction 122, comprising a loop 123 hooked by the hook section 116, enables the clasp 120 to swing in any direction relative to the first side section 111.

The clasp 120 has a round key hook 124 and a key hook opening 125 through which keys 150 can be strung onto the key hook 124. A closing bar 126 is spring-biased into a closed position that closes the clasp 120 by blocking the opening 124 to prevent the keys from slipping off the key hook 124. The closing bar 126 can be pivoted, about a pivot pin 128, away from its closed position by manually pressing a release lever 129 adjoined to the closing bar 126.

An ornamental toy 130 is permanently attached to a distal end 112a of the second side section 112. The attachment means can entail sewing the toy 130 to the side section 112, such as with thread that is sewn into the toy 130 and looped securely about the side section 112, or by attaching or adhering (such as with glue) the toy 130 to a disk-shaped expanded attachment piece 134 (like the enlarged region 24 of FIG. 1A).

The toy 130 can be a stuffed animal. It is a teddy bear in the second key holder 101 of FIGS. 4-5. It is a rabbit 130′ in the third key holder 101′ of FIGS. 6-7. These stuffed animals 130, 130′ are ornaments. They are also toys, in that they have re-orientable parts that can be manually moved by a child to, and remain in, different orientations. In these examples, the re-orientable parts of each toy 130, 131′ are the toy's arms 140 and legs 142 that are pivotably attached to the toy's torso 144. This re-orientation capability is exemplified by comparison of FIG. 4 to FIG. 5 and of FIG. 6 to FIG. 7. In these examples, the head 146, 146′ of each toy can be manually rotated about its neck 148, 148′, but will return to its original orientation when released. The toy 130, 130′ is positioned on the opposite side of the second side section 112 from the first side section 111 and faces away from the first side section 111. Both the bottom of the toy 130 and the bottom 112a of the second side section 112 are higher than the clasp 120 and its key hook 124. This prevents the keys 150 from knocking the toy 140 or the second side section 112, and also prevents the toy 130 and the side section 112 from getting in the way of the keys 150 when the keys are being used to open a lock.

The key holder 101 can be hung onto the purse panel 30 of FIG. 2. The first and second side sections 111 and 112 are parallel and spaced apart so as not to grasp the panel 30. This facilitates both hanging the holder 110 onto the panel 30 and removing it from the panel 30. The holder 101 remains in its hung position through gravity. Because the rod structure 110 does not grasp whatever it is hanging on, there is no benefit for it to have flat panel-engaging surfaces to distribute a grasping force across a surface area, and also no benefit in the structure 110 being elastic. The structure 110 is instead preferably cylindrical, rigid and inelastic. The structure 110 is sufficiently rigid such that manually squeezing its side sections 111 and 112 together would exceed its elastic limit, beyond which the structure 110 will break or otherwise not return to its initial shape.

When the holder 101 is hung on the purse panel 30, the key clasp 120 and keys 150, which are generally utilitarian and unattractive and a target for thieves, are out of sight within the purse. In contrast, the toy, which is ornamental and less of a target to thieves, is exposed. This enables a user to quickly visually locate the key holder 110 with its keys 150, despite keeping the keys out of sight.

The key holder 101 can be hung also onto other items, such as a peg 152 (shown sectioned in FIG. 5) extending horizontally from a wall. The spacing between the side sections 111 and 112 is sufficiently large, preferably more than 0.5, 1 or 1.5 cm, to accommodate a wide range of peg diameters. Since the bridging section's bottom edge 114b is rounded, preferably even circular, the peg 140 is likely to be spaced from both side sections 111 and 112. If the holder 110, together with its keys 150, is sufficiently balanced, the peg 140 will engage the center 154, or apex, of the bridging section's bottom edge 114b.

The toy 130 facilitates finding the key holder 101 when the key holder 101 is lost. Children will be more interested in helping to find it than if it lacked the toy 130, since they will be looking for a lost toy instead of just a lost keychain. The children will also be more likely to remember where they saw it last or played with it last. The re-orientable parts of the toy 130 spark a child's interest. Without the re-orientable parts, it would be just an ornament, which is much less attractive, interesting and memorable to a child.

The rod structure 110 can be made of plastic or a metal, including a metal selected from steel, aluminum, nickel, and their alloys.

The second key holder 101 provides examples of the following features: A U-shaped rod structure 110 has first and second generally-straight parallel rod sections 111 and 112 that extend from opposite ends of an outwardly-bowed bridging rod section 114. A key hook 124 is permanently connected to a distal end 111a of the first side section 111. An ornament 130 is permanently connected to the second parallel section 112.

In this example: The ornament 130 is a toy, such as a stuffed animal, with parts, such as arms 140 and legs 142, that are manually re-orientable by a child. The key hook 124 is connected to the first parallel section 111 by a swivel junction 121 enabling the key hook 124 to rotate 360 degrees relative to the first side section 111. The key hook 124 is also connected to the first side section 111 by a pivot junction 122 enabling the key hook 124 to pivot in any direction relative to the first side section 111. The key hook 124 is below both the first side section 111 and the ornament 130. The key hook 124 is part of a closable key clasp 120 that is permanently connected to the distal end 111a of the first side section 111. The rod sections 111, 112 and 114 are formed from a single bent cylindrical rod. The first and second side sections 111,112 are spaced more than 0.5 cm apart.

In another example not shown, one or both of the generally-straight side rod sections 111, 112 are not totally straight in that they include a small protrusion from the side rod or a small bend in the side rod. If the protrusion or bend is directed toward the other side rod, it reduces the extent to which rod structure 110 can sway when hanging onto the panel 30, but does not negate the “generally-straight” character of the respective side section. Even if the bend is sufficiently large to negate the “generally-straight” character of the first side rod 111, the generally-straight side section 111 would then extend from the bridging section 114 down to its distal 111a, which in this case would be at the bend. The distal end 111a would then be connected to the clasp 120 by not only the swivel junction and the pivot junction (as in the above examples) but also by the remainder of the rod, from the bend downward.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including best mode, and to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A key holder comprising:

a U-shaped rod structure that includes first and second generally-straight parallel rod sections that extend from opposite ends of an outwardly-bowed bridging rod section;

a key hook permanently connected to a distal end of the first side section; and

an ornament permanently connected to the second straight rod section.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the ornament is a toy with parts that are manually re-orientable by a child.

3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the ornament is a stuffed animal.

4. The holder of claim 3 wherein the stuffed animal has re-orientable arms.

5. The holder of claim 1 wherein the key hook is connected to the first side section by a swivel junction enabling the key hook to rotate 360 degrees relative to the first side section.

6. The holder of claim 1 wherein the key hook is connected to the first side section by a pivot junction enabling the key hook to pivot in all directions relative to the first side section.

7. The holder of claim 1 wherein the key hook is below the first side section.

8. The holder of claim 7 wherein the key hook is also below the ornament.

9. The holder of claim 1 wherein the key hook is part of a closable key clasp that is permanently coupled to the distal end of the first side section.

10. The holder of claim 1 wherein the side and bridging sections are formed from a single bent cylindrical rod.

11. The holder of claim 1 wherein the rod structure is sufficient rigid such that squeezing the side sections together would exceed the rod structure's elastic limit.

12. The holder of claim 1 wherein the first straight section is longer than the second side section.

13. The holder of claim 1 wherein the first and second side sections are spaced more than 0.5 cm apart.

14. The holder of claim 1 wherein the first and second side sections are totally straight.

15. The holder of claim 1 wherein the first and second side sections are not totally straight.

16. A key holder comprising:

a U-shaped structure that includes first and second parallel side sections that extend from opposite ends of a bridging section and that are permanently spaced more than 0.5 cm apart;

a key clasp permanently connected to a distal end of the first side section; and

a toy, with parts that are manually re-orientable by a child, permanently connected to the second side section.

17. The holder of claim 16 wherein the toy is a toy stuffed animal.

18. The holder of claim 16 wherein the stuffed animal has re-orientable arms.

19. The holder of claim 16 wherein the stuffed animal has re-orientable legs.

20. The holder of claim 16 wherein the stuffed animal faces away from the second side rod section.

21. The holder of claim 16 wherein the side sections are generally-straight.

22. The holder of claim 21 wherein the side sections are totally straight.

23. A key holder comprising:

a U-shaped structure that includes first and second parallel generally-straight side sections that extend from opposite ends of a bridging section;

a key clasp connected to a distal end of the first side section; and

a toy stuffed animal permanently connected to a distal end of the second side section.

24. The holder of claim 23 wherein the toy is a teddy bear.

25. The holder of claim 23 wherein the stuffed animal faces away from the first side section.