Key ring assembly

A key ring assembly includes a flexible wire whose two ends removably extend through a passage of a retainer and can be snapped to each other. One of the two ends of the flexible wire can be easily removed from the passage so as to extend through the keys and then re-inserted through the passage and connected to the other end of the flexible wire.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a key ring assembly having flexible wire and a retainer so as to easily attach keys to the assembly or remove keys from the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional key ring is simply a metal ring which includes two overlapped ends which are matched with each other tight due to its material mature so that when the user wants to attached keys to the key ring or remove keys from the key ring, he or she has to use nail inserted between the two overlapped ends and separate then apart slight and then move the keys through the gap between the two ends of the key ring. It is a common experience that the two ends of the key ring is so difficult to be separated by nail and maintained in separated status.

The present invention intends to provide a key ring assembly which includes a flexible wire whose two ends removably extend through a passage of a retainer. One of the two ends of the flexible wire can be easily removed from the passage so that keys are convenient to be attached to or remove from the flexible wire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a key ring assembly which comprises a retainer having a passage defined therethrough and a flexible wire whose a first end and a second end extend through the passage. The first end of the flexible wire has a protrusion extending radially therefrom so as to be engaged with a hole in the second end. The first end of the flexible wire has a first stop to stop the first end of the flexible wire from being pulling out from the passage of the retainer. The flexible wire extend through keys which can be easily removed by pulled the second end of the flexible wire out from the retainer.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a key ring assembly which is easily to be operated to connect keys or remove keys from the assembly.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the key ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows that the retainer is slightly pulled and the two ends of the flexible wire are exposed;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show that the retainer is to be pulled downward;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show that the retainer is pulled downward and the two ends of the flexible wire are separated;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show that one of the two ends of the flexible wire is to be pulled out from the retainer;

FIG. 6 shows a key is to be connected to the key ring assembly;

FIG. 7 shows that the key is connected to the flexible wire;

FIG. 8 shows that the two ends of the flexible wire are to be connected with each other again;

FIG. 9 shows that the retainer is re-located at its final position;

FIG. 10 shows a decoration rope is connected to the ring on the flexible wire;

FIG. 11 shows a connection member is connected to the ring on the flexible wire, and

FIG. 12 shows a collar is connected to the connection member by a retractable cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the key ring assembly “A” of the present invention comprises a retainer 10 having a passage 11 defined axially therethrough. A recess 12 is defined in a first end of the retainer 10 and communicates with the passage 11.

A flexible wire 20 has a first end and a second end, wherein both of the first and second ends of the flexible wire 20 extend through the passage 11. The first end of the flexible wire 20 has a ring 21 connected thereon and an aperture 22 is defined through the ring 21. The ring 21 is located beyond the retainer 10 and a stop 23 is connected to the ring 21 so as to form an enlarged section which is removably engaged with the recess 12 of the retainer 10 to stop the first end of the flexible wire 20 from being pulling out from the passage 11 of the retainer 10 in downward direction.

A protrusion 24 extends radially from the first end of the flexible wire 20 and located below the first stop 23. A hole 25 is defined through the second end of the flexible wire 20 so that the protrusion 24 is removably engaged with the hole 25 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A boss 26 extends radially from the second end of the flexible wire 20 and is located to contact an end surface of a second end of the retainer 10.

When attaching a key 30 to the key ring assembly “A”, referring to FIGS. 3 to 9, the retainer 10 is first pulled downward and the retainer 10 moves over the boss 26. The first and second ends of the flexible wire 20 is separated by removing the protrusion 24 from the hole 25. The second end of the flexible wire 20 is then pulled downward and out from the passage 11. The second end of the flexible wire 20 extends through the through hole 31 of the key 30 as shown in FIG. 7 and then is inserted into the passage 11 again as shown in FIG. 8. The protrusion 24 is engaged with the hole 25 again and the retainer 10 is lifted to let the stop 23 be engaged with the recess 12 as shown in FIG. 9. The operation to the flexible wire 20 is easy and suitable for the users of different ages.

As shown in FIG. 10, a decoration rope 40 is tied to the ring 21 and the other end of the decoration rope 40 can be connected to a cellular phone for example. FIG. 10 shows that a ring-shaped connection member 50 is connected to the ring 21 and a connector 51 with a hooking device is connected to the ring 21. The connector 51 can be hooked to the user's clothes.

FIG. 12 shows that a triangular connection member 50 is connected to the ring 21 and a collar 52 is connected to the connection member 50 by a retractable cable 53 which has one end connected to the connection member 50 and the other end of the retractable cable 53 retractably received in the collar 52. The collar 52 is connected to the user's cloth and the key ring assembly “A” can be pulled directly by pulling the retractable cable 53. After use, the user simply releases the key ring assembly “A” which is pulled back by the retractable cable 53.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A key ring assembly comprising:

a retainer having a passage defined therethrough, and
a flexible wire having a first end and a second end, the first end of the flexible wire having a protrusion extending radially therefrom and the second end of the flexible wire having a hole with which the protrusion is removably engaged, the first end of the flexible wire extending through the passage and having a stop so as to stop the first end of the flexible wire from being pulling out from the passage of the retainer.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a recess is defined in a first end of the retainer and communicates with the passage, the stop is removably engaged with the recess.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ring is connected to the first end of the flexible wire and has an aperture, the ring is located beyond the retainer.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein a boss extends radially from the second end of the flexible wire and is located to contact an end surface of a second end of the retainer.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a decoration rope is tied to the ring.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a connector with a hooking device is connected to a connection member which is connected to the ring.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a connection member is connected to the ring and a collar is connected to the connection member by a retractable cable which has one end connected to the connection member and the other end of the retractable cable retractably received in the collar.

Patent History
Publication number: 20080087063
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 4, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2008
Inventor: Hsu Tzu-Shun (Lu-Kang Town)
Application Number: 11/806,689
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Flexible (70/457)
International Classification: A44B 15/00 (20060101);