Key-ring from a photographic roll film casing

Abstract

This present invention relates to a key-ring which makes use of a photographic roll film casing, where said photographic film has already been developed, thereby avoiding the creation of waste and reducing environmental pollution. Said photographic film casing, without the corresponding photographic material therein, will be used together with the structure proposed by this present invention as a means for holding keys, commonly referred to as key-rings. Our invention incorporates, on the periphery of the insert or cylindrical rod, outer lugs which will give a similar configuration to an outer threading, and which will allow said insert to become firmly fitted and locked to the corresponding threading central hole of the photographic film casing, thereby avoiding the use of any glue or adhesive. The rod end not inserted to the casing will have three preferred forms of embodiment, such as a ring or a loop which closes on itself or on a small hole on which the outer ring is coupled. It will be also possible to provide said rod with two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves or one longitudinal passing groove.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a key-ring which comprises the casing of photographic roll films, which have already been developed, thereby avoiding the creation of wastes and, therefore, reducing environmental pollution. Said photographic film casing, already without the photographic material, will be used together with the structure herein proposed as a means for holding keys, commonly referred to as a key-ring.

[0002] Regarding prior art related to this invention, a key-ring is already known in the market which comprises photographic film casings, though the same enjoys no patent protection. According to this prior art key-ring, the element on which the keys are inserted is attached to the casing through the use of an insert which keeps the same fitted to the hollow central structure of the film casing by the use of a glue or adhesive.

[0003] In the manufacture of said key-ring, the use of said adhesive or glue was time-consuming and more expensive. Said manufacture was carried out by the employers of photographic stores, who had to fix the insert with adhesive and then place it on the photographic roll film casing.

[0004] Use of an inadequate amount of adhesive many times caused the insert to get loose from the casing or the amount of adhesive was not sufficient for the scheduled number of inserts, because more adhesive than necessary had been already used.

[0005] This present invention further provides improvements to the key holding elements.

[0006] In the light of the foregoing, we have developed a system for fastening the inserts which will avoid any other disadvantages.

[0007] This invention solves the above problems by incorporating, on the periphery of the insert, outer lugs which lead to a configuration similar to that of an outer thread and which allow said insert to become firmly fitted and locked to the corresponding thread-shaped central hole of the photographic roll film casing, thereby avoiding the use of any glue or adhesive.

[0008] Considering the nearest prior art, we can state that this invention refers to a novel object with the necessary inventive merit to be granted a patent protection.

[0009] For the better understanding of this present invention and of the above-commented advantages, together with any other characteristics those skilled in the art may also consider, there follows a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the proposed key-ring comprising a photographic roll film casing of this invention, based on the attached drawings, wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1a shows a first perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of this invention.

[0011] FIG. 1b shows a second perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of this invention.

[0012] FIG. 1c shows a side view of the invention of FIG. 1a.

[0013] FIG. 1d shows a plan view of the invention of FIG. 1a.

[0014] FIG. 2a shows a first perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2b shows a second perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2c shows a top view of the invention of FIG. 2a.

[0017] FIG. 2d shows a side view of the invention of FIG. 2a.

[0018] FIG. 2e shows a plan view of the invention of FIG. 2a.

[0019] FIG. 3a shows a first perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3b shows a second perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention

[0021] FIG. 3c shows a type of hook or ring to be coupled to the device of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 3d shows a side view of the invention of FIG. 3a.

[0023] FIG. 3e shows a plan view of the invention of FIG. 3a.

[0024] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show respective perspective views of the first, second and third embodiments incorporated to the photographic film casing.

[0025] FIG. 1a y 1b show the perspective view of the first embodiment of our invention, which contains a plastic loop 1 which closes on itself (its end being fixed to hole 7) at the time the key-ring is formed, and on the other end thereof there is a rod 2 which will allow the device to become attached to the photographic film casing.

[0026] FIG. 1e shows the side view of the first embodiment of the invention, where the rod or cylindrical element 2 will allow—through retention lugs 3 on the periphery thereof—to attach loop 1 to the photographic film casing.

[0027] Once lugs 3 are inserted in the cylindrical rod on the photographic film casing, the said lugs will be fitted to the inner threading central hole of the photographic film casing.

[0028] The said cylindrical rod 2 shall not be longer than the length of the casing where the same is introduced.

[0029] It can be seen that rod 2 shall be provided with two longitudinal opposite grooves 4 on the periphery. The two-part symmetrical configuration of the rod allows the same to easily enter the central hole of the film casing.

[0030] FIG. 1d shows a plan view of the longitudinal groove 4 and lugs 3.

[0031] FIGS. 2a y 2b are perspective views of the second embodiment of our invention, which show a second configuration of the key-holding ring 1. In this case, the ring is closed differently from the loop of the first embodiment of the invention.

[0032] It can be seen that this embodiment of the body of the key-ring is formed by a single body comprising a longitudinal passing groove which defines two equal halves thereof. Said rod configuration allows it to easily enter the central hole of the film casing. When entering the film casing, the said parts will approximate one to the other as a result of the longitudinal groove, and will then go back to their original configuration, thereby achieving the safe fitting and locking of the rod within the casing.

[0033] FIGS. 2c, 2d and 2e are respective top, side and bottom views of the drawing of FIG. 2a, and which show passing groove 4 and lugs 3.

[0034] FIGS. 3a and 3b are perspective views of the third embodiment of our invention, which show a third configuration of rod head 1 (in this case the rod is identical to that of the first embodiment of the invention), which upper part 5 comprises a small hole 7 for the passage of an outer ring, as shown by reference 8.

[0035] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show respectively the three preferred embodiments of the invention incorporating a rod in the central hole of the photographic film casing, referred to as “d”. Said figures show the different embodiments of this invention as a, b and c.

[0036] We consider the above description of the structure of the holder of our invention will fully understandable for a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Key-ring from a photographic film casing, characterized in that it is comprises a cylindrical rod which outer surface comprises retention lugs, and wherein the key holding element projects from one end thereof.

2. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that the key holding element is a ring.

3. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that the key holding element is a loop which closes on the rod head.

4. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that the key holding element comprises a small hole on the rod end.

5. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that the said rod comprises two diametrically opposed peripheral longitudinal grooves.

6. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod comprises a longitudinal groove passing from side to side oo the periphery thereof.

7. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that the said key-ring is made of plastic material.

8. Key-ring from a photographic film casing according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical rod extends along the full length of the photographic film casing.