Multi-key holder with individual docking ports
A key inventory chest including a case having a docking port formed therein and including first means for attaching the case to a carrying element, and a tag including second means for attaching the tag to keys, the tag further including a docking button, spaced apart from the second means, of a size and shape for lockable engagement in the docking port to temporarily fasten the keys in the case, wherein the docking button is arranged for snap-in fitting and locking into the docking port and releasable therefrom by digital pressure applied to the button.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/627,527, filed Jul. 25, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the filed of key holders. More particularly, the invention pertains to a container for holding a plurality of keys where the keys have docking ports so that they are easily removed from and replaced in the holder without having to deal with keys at other docking ports.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
We live in an era where distrust is rampant and, as a result, we often place our assets under lock and key. We lock our cars, our houses, our offices, and our mail boxes. In locking so many things, we have amassed an inventory of keys that we must carry with us nearly at all times. The weight of these keys is becoming burdensome; however, the most annoying problem is that selecting one key out of the inventory brings with it the noise of all the keys jangling together, the confusion of which key is used for which lock, and the problem of separating one key from all the rest.
To this end, the key industry has developed some key holders that contain a plurality of keys in a case or grip to be carried on one's person, such as in a pocket book or a coat pocket. Usually the key holder merely clumps the keys together so that selecting one specific key and separating it from the rest remains an annoying problem.
Some key holders allow the keys to be kept in twos and threes and anchored in a central housing for transportation, to be pulled from the inventory when necessary for use. Most of these key holders are made of metal and merely increase the noise of jangling them together. Often the metal holders become difficult to separate due to dirt, dust and oil from a person's skin that gets on the keys and makes them slippery to handle. Other times, the heat of the day or the cold of the night gives the keys a temperature far from one's body temperature so that the keys become uncomfortably hot or cold and reduce their ability to be adroitly handled. In addition, loose or clumped keys frequently rip pocket material and poke holes in the lining of purses.
Even more of a problem is the fact that the finish on many keys is smooth, sleek, and highly polished making them very attractive. However, such a finish makes the surfaces slippery and hard to hold thus making the chore of picking out one key from a group of keys an onerous task.
What is needed is a key inventory chest where each key is removeably attached thereto in such a manner that the keys do not jangle together, remain apart while in the chest, are easily identifiable because of their separation from each other, and are easily handled or carried by a tag or other device, attached thereto, allowing a better grip on the key than in the case where handling of the keys is confined to touching the finish on the key itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a key inventory chest that includes a case of modem design having a series of docking ports formed therein and including a carrying element to fix the inventory chest at various locations, such as on a person's belt or on a wall. A tag is provided for each key to be located in the case. Each tag includes a slot or opening for holding a wire wound spring to attach to the blunt end of the key head. Each tag further includes a docking button, spaced-apart from the opening that is of a size and shape, such as a circular, button-like element, spring-loaded to the tag, for insertion in the docking port and temporarily lockable therein to temporarily fasten the key in the case. The docking button is arranged for slipping into the locking port and snap-fitting therein. It is releasable from the docking port by applying digital or finger pressure downward on the button to allow the tag to slip out of the docking port.
The principal object of this invention is a key inventory chest that carries keys in a case and separates them to the extent that they can be individually located and handled separately and not in a group. Another object of this invention is a key inventory chest that may carry a plurality of keys that may be stored on a carrying means but may be separated from other keys stored on the same inventory chest. Other objects of the invention include a means for allowing a key and/or keys to be handled through a tag that is fixed to each key; a means of allowing a key and/or keys to be temporarily removed from the case and used and then relocated on the case in the same location from where it originally came; a means of being able to identify each and every key in a case of keys without having to paw through a quantity of them where they, and anything attached to them, become entangled; and a means of storing keys in a location where they do not bump together and produce irritating noise.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent when reading the description of the preferred embodiment along with the drawings that are appended hereto. The protection sought by the inventor may be gleaned from a fair reading of the claims that conclude the specification.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein elements are identified with numbers and like elements are identified by like numbers throughout the 24 drawings,
Case 3 has an outer border or outline 15 that may range from triangular (
Wall mounting 33 is shown in
A tag 47, or a plurality of them, are provided. One is shown in
A docking button 77 is provided, preferably circular in outline, spaced apart from tag second means 51, and is adapted for entrance into case 3, through slot 21, and then into lockable engagement in docking port 17 to temporarily attach key and/or a plurality of keys 61 to case 3 and chest 1. Docking button 77 is preferably of similar size and shape as docking port 17, and is connected to tag 47 by a narrow arm 79 extending inward from tag 47 and connected between tag 47 and button 77. In addition, docking button 77 is formed with an upper surface 75 that resides above the plane X-Y of wall 85 of slot 21 (
As shown in
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Docking buttons 77 can be sculptured to have a variety of outer surfaces. Shown in the drawings (
While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that all combinations of elements and steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result are within the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A key inventory chest comprising:
- a) a case having a docking port formed therein and including first means for attaching said case to a carrying element;
- b) a tag including second means for attaching said tag to keys, said tag further including a docking button, spaced apart from said second means, of a size and shape for lockable engagement in said docking port to temporarily fasten said keys in said case; and,
- c) wherein said docking button is arranged for snap-in fitting and locking into said docking port and releasable therefrom by digital pressure applied to said button.
2. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said case contains a single docking port and said docking port and said docking button allow for complete inter-fitting thereof.
3. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said case contains a plurality of docking ports and said docking ports and said docking buttons allow for complete inter-fitting thereof.
4. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said case is generally flat having an overall elongated outline.
5. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said case is generally flat having an overall elongated outline and contains means for attaching more than one case together in end-to-end fashion.
6. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said case further includes a side loop for holding other keys.
7. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said case is circular in outline and said docking ports are circular and of equal size.
8. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said first means to attach said case to a carrying element is a belt clip.
9. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said second means is a circular wire winding.
10. The key inventory chest of claim 1 wherein said docking button is supported on said tag by a spring arm extending therebetween.
11. A key inventory chest comprising:
- a) a case having first and second docking ports formed therein, in spaced-apart arrangement, and including first means for removeably attaching said case to a carrying element; and,
- b) first and second tags, each said tag including second means for loosely attaching said tag to a finger-holding portion of standard keys, said tags further including docking buttons, each said tag spaced apart from said second means, and of a size and shape for temporary lockable engagement in said first and second docking ports, respectively, to temporarily fasten said keys to said case;
- c) wherein said docking buttons are arranged for snap-in fitting and locking into said first and second docking ports, respectively, and releasable therefrom by digital pressure applied to said buttons.
12. The key inventory chest of claim 11 further including a second case for interconnection with said first case.
13. The key inventory chest of claim 12 further including a second case for interconnection with said first case through interconnection of a docking button with a docking port.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 6, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Inventor: Raymond Howard (Santaluz, CA)
Application Number: 11/482,590
International Classification: A47G 29/10 (20060101);