Three piece key assembly

Abstract

A lock key comprising of (3) pieces. A head, a key blade and a snap lock. These pieces are interlocked together, so that separation is not possible in normal usage. The head is made of precious metal or non precious metal set with or without stones and may consist of various esthetic and ornamental forms. The snap lock engages the head and the key blade in a way to inhibit the removal of the head from the key blade in normal use. The key blade can be easily removed from the head and exchanged with another key blade as needed.

Claims

1. A key assembly comprising: (a) a head having a front surface and a back surface and on one end of said head having an ornamental area and on the other end of said head having a casing area, said casing area has on its one surface a substantially square opening to accommodate a snap lock and on its distal end a slot to accommodate a key blade, said slot intersects perpendicularly with said substantially square opening; (b) a key blade which has two flat sides and on its one end has a substantially square opening through the key blade to accommodate the snap lock; (c) a snap lock which includes a flat platform with two springy arms vertically protruding from it, being parallel to each other, with convex protrusions on the outsides of said arms, said protrusions pointing outward from the center of the platform.

2. The key assembly of claim 1, wherein said snap lock has an angled notch on one side starting from an edge of said platform and being located on the same side of said platform were said arms are protruding.

3. The key assembly of claim 1, comprised of material including metal, precious metals or plastic.

Description

DRAWING FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 Shows an exploded view of the Three Part Assembly

(2) FIG. 2 Shows the front view of the key assembly

(3) FIG. 3 Shows a cross-section of the assembly before locking in with the Snap-lock

(4) FIG. 4 Shows a cross-section of the assembly after inserting the snap-lock

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS.

(5) A key assembly consisting of a head 10 FIG. 1, a snap-lock 11 FIG. 1, and a key blade 12 FIG. 1. The head 10 having a casing area on it's one end 13 FIG. 2, and a ornamental area 16 FIG. 2. The ornamental area 16 might change in style for artistic purposes. The casing area 13 will be in design always the same. The casing area 13 has a slot on it's distal end 14 FIG. 1 to receive the key blade 12. The slot having a stop on its end 15 FIG. 1 and tight slide fits on the sides 26 FIG. 3 to make a tight engagement with the key blade 12. The key blade having a square opening 17 FIG. 1. The casing area having a square opening 19 on the top surface 20 FIG. 1 to facilitate entry of the snap-lock 11. The snap-lock having two springy arms 22 FIG. 3 with protrusions 21 FIG. 3 to slide and bend inwards and slide over the dead point 23 FIG. 3 of the casing area of the head, and to snap back after passing the dead point of the casing area 23 FIG. 3 and positioning itself into the square hole 17 FIG. 3 of the key blade 12 FIG. 3, having a tight fit with the hole of the key blade and positively locking the key blade 12 into position. In addition the snap-lock has on its side on the lower part of its flange an angled notch 25 FIG. 4 which exist to insert a small sharp tool to release the snap lock from the head and to disengage the key blade from the casing.

(6) Operation:

(7) In order to assemble these three parts into a key assembly the key blade 12 FIG. 1 is inserted into the slot 14 of the casing until it hits the end stop 15 of the head 10. The snap-lock 11 is than pushed from above into the square opening 19 of the casing where it will engage with a distinctive click and lock the key blade 12 into position being seated in the square opening 19 of the casing, and locking the key blade into position by engaging the square opening 17 FIG. 3 of the key blade. Although the key assembly is perfectly rigid it can be taken apart by means of an angled notch 25 FIG. 4. To disengage this assembly, a small sharp tool will be inserted into the angled notch 25 on the side of the snap-lock 11 and by doing a lever action with a small tool the snap-lock 11 will be disengaged from its locked position and the key assembly will be disassembled.

DRAWINGS Reference Numerals

(8) Head 10 Snap-Lock 11 Key Blade 12 Casing area 13 Slot 14 Stop End 15 Ornamental Area 16 Key square opening 17 Head square opening 19 Top surface 20 Protrusions of Snap-Lock 21 Springy Arms 22 Dead point 23 Angled Slot 25 Slide Fits 26