Abstract
A key organizer, having a housing and a reel pivotally engaged therewith, is configured for engagement of a key with said reel. The reel has a first position holding a key engaged therewith, within an internal housing of the housing. The reel is pivotable to a second position wherein a second end of a key engaged therewith is engageable with a lock to actuate it.
Claims
1. A key organizer apparatus, comprising: a housing, said housing having an internal cavity communicating with an opening; a reel, said reel adapted to engage with a first end of a key, said reel in a pivoting engagement with said housing to move between a first position and a second position; a projection on said reel, said projection extending past a circumferential edge of said housing; said projection defining a lever to pivot said reel between said first position and said second position; said reel pivotable to said first position for positioning a second end of a said key engaged therewith, within said interior cavity; said reel pivotable to said second position for positioning said second end of said key engaged therewith to project through said opening, wherein said second end of said key is positioned to engage with a lock.
2. The key organizer apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said projection having a first curved side opposite a second curved side and having a curved peak positioned between said first curved side and second curved side.
3. The key organizer apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said housing having a first side opposite a second side; said first side having a projecting portion at a first end of said housing; and said pivoting engagement of said reel with said housing positioned upon said projecting portion.
4. The key organizer apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: said housing having a first side opposite a second side; said first side having a projecting portion at a first end of said housing; and said pivoting engagement of said reel with said housing positioned upon said projecting portion.
5. The key organizer apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said reel adapted for said engagement with said first end of a key in a static engagement therebetween.
6. The key organizer apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: said reel adapted for said engagement with said first end of a key in a static engagement therebetween.
7. The key organizer apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: said reel adapted for said engagement with said first end of a key in a static engagement therebetween.
8. The key organizer apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising: said reel adapted for said engagement with said first end of a key in a static engagement therebetween.
9. The key organizer apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said reel having a drum, said reel adapted to engage said first end of said key upon said drum; and a biasing member engaged with said drum, said biasing member for imparting a biasing force against said first end of said key.
10. The key organizer apparatus of claim 5, additionally comprising: said reel having a drum, said reel adapted to engage said first end of said key upon said drum; and a biasing member engaged with said drum, said biasing member for imparting a biasing force against said first end of said key.
11. The key organizer apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: a pivoting distance limiter for limiting a distance of rotation of said reel in said pivoting engagement; and said pivoting distance limiter defined by a curved slot formed through a reel sidewall having a pin engaged with said projecting portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES
(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed key organizer device herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.
(2) In the drawings:
(3) FIG. 1 depicts the key organizer device herein from a first side view of the housing and showing a projection extending from the key reel configured for pivoting the key reel from a retracted position to a deployed position.
(4) FIG. 2 shows the device as in FIG. 1, wherein the projection extending from the key reel is moved to the deployed position thereby pivoting the key reel to cause keys engaged thereto to project from the internal cavity of the device.
(5) FIG. 3 displays the device of FIGS. 1-2 wherein a clip has been removed to show an engageable center pin on which the reel pivots when actuated by the projection.
(6) FIG. 4 shows the key reel removed from the housing of the device, with one side of the key reel removed for clarity, and showing a pivoting member configured to contact and rotate keys from the internal cavity as the key reel is pivoted.
(7) FIG. 5 depicts the key reel removed from the a rotationally engaged position with the housing and showing a frictional restraint which imparts a biasing force to one or more keys engaged to the key reel, to maintain them in a static position.
(8) FIG. 6 depicts a perspective lower side view of the device of FIGS. 1-3, showing the key reel in a pivoting engagement with the housing, and showing an internal cavity in which keys are stored.
(9) FIG. 7 shows a second or rear side view of the device herein of FIGS. 1-3, showing the key reel in a pivoting engagement at one end of the housing.
(10) FIG. 8 is an overhead perspective view of a mode of the device herein showing the key reel in a pivoting engagement with the housing which is formed with a removable side and showing a projection extending from the key reel for use by the user to pivot the key reel.
(11) FIG. 9 is a lower perspective view of the device herein as in FIG. 8, showing the key reel pivotally engaged to the housing of the device, and showing the internal cavity of the housing.
(12) FIG. 10 shows the device as in FIG. 8, but with a first sidewall and clip removed to reveal the internal cavity of the housing and showing the pivoting engagement of the key reel thereto, and stops which communicate through a slot in a first sidewall to limit rotational travel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(13) In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right, first, second, and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and all such terms are used for convenience only and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.
(14) Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-10, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 the key organizer device 10. The device 10, as shown, has a housing 12 which has a first side 14 which may have a clip 16 engaged thereto, to allow the device to be engaged with a pocket or the like during storage. This first side 14 is positioned opposite the second side 15 of the housing 12.
(15) As seen in FIG. 1-3 and in FIGS. 6-8, in all modes of the device 10 herein, a reel 18 is pivotally engaged with the housing 12 to rotate between a first position or retracted position, as in FIG. 1, wherein the keys 22, which are engaged to the reel 18 which is rotationally attached to the housing, are held within an internal cavity 20 (FIGS. 6, 9-10) and a second position or deployed position, as in FIG. 2, wherein any keys 22 engaged with the reel 18 are pivoted to have a front portion 23 of the key 22 projecting from an opening 21 communicating with the internal cavity 20 and are, thus, pivoted outside the internal cavity 20. In this projecting position of a key 22, engaged with the reel 18, the front portion 23 of the keys 22, which is configured to engage with a mating lock, may engage with that lock actuated by the key 22.
(16) This pivoting of the reel 18 with the housing 12, between the two positions, which pivots the key 22, is actuated by the user by pushing upon a curved projection 24 which extends from the reel 18 a distance beyond a circumferential edge 13 of the housing 12. The curved-shaped projection 24, being part of or engaged to the reel 18, defines a lever to move the reel 18 between the first position thereof and the second position thereof. The reel 18 is curved in shape so as not to catch on the contents of any pocket or purse or the like during storage and is preferred. The projection 24 has a first curved side surface 26 on an opposite side of the projection 24 from a second curved side surface 28. The curve in both side surfaces, intersecting at a curved peak of the projection 24, renders the projection 24 easily engaged by a thumb or finger of the user to rotate the reel 18 between the first or retracted position shown in FIG. 1 and the second or deployed position shown in FIG. 2.
(17) Shown in FIG. 3 is an overhead perspective view of the device, as in FIGS. 1-2, wherein the clip 16 has been removed. As shown, an engageable center pin 30 communicates through the first side 14 of the housing 12 and rotationally engages with the drum 32 (FIGS. 6 and 9) portion of the reel 18 which extends between a first reel sidewall 34 and a second reel sidewall 36. The center pin 30, thus, forms a rotational engagement of the reel 22 with the housing 12. Currently, a favored mode for the center pin 30 rotationally engages the reel 18 to the first side 14, such that the entire reel 18 will pivot between the first position of FIG. 1 and second position of FIG. 2 in this engagement. As shown, the first side 14 of the housing is longer than the second side 15, such that a projecting portion 19 of the first side 14 extends from the housing 12. It is this projecting portion 19 to which the reel 18 is pivotally engaged by the center pin 30.
(18) As shown, the reel 18 is pivotally engaged to the housing 12, such as by a center pin 30 engaged with both the reel 18 and the first side 14 of the housing shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The center pin 30 may communicate through an aperture in the first side 14 to a threaded engagement in an opening 40 in the drum 32 (see FIG. 5), or the center pin 30 may communicate axially through the drum 32 and be threadably engaged with the opposite sidewall of the opening 40 as shown in FIG. 7, or the center pin 30 may be otherwise engaged through and to the projecting portion 19 of the first side 14 and achieve the pivoting engagement of the reel 18 with the first side 14 of the housing 12.
(19) This rotational or pivoting engagement of the reel 18 to one of the sides 14 or 15 of the housing 12 may also be formed in modes as would occur to those skilled in the art, such as by placing the projecting portion 19 of the housing 12 on the second side 15 rather than the first side 14.
(20) The device 10 preferably includes a pivot distance limiter which will limit and stop the pivoting of the reel 18 at both the first position of FIG. 1 and the second position of FIG. 2. Currently, a preferred pivot distance limiter is formed by at least a first pin 42 which is in a threaded engagement with the first side 14 or second side 15 of the housing 12, and projects into a curved slot 46 formed into the first reel side 34 or second reel side 36 as the case may be. The slot 40 can be seen in FIG. 10, which shows the device 10 with the first side 14 removed to reveal the interior of the device 10. A second pin 44 may also be included if more adjustment is desired of the travel distance of pivoting of the reel 18.
(21) In FIG. 4 is depicted the key reel 18 removed from the housing 12 of the device herein. As shown, the first side 34 of the reel 18 is removed and a first end of a key 22 is shown operatively engaged to the reel 18 by communication of the drum 32 of the reel 18 which is configured for passage through a hole 48, which is formed through the firs end or head portion of conventional keys 22. Additionally shown is a biased washer 50 which forms or defines the frictional restraint, such as is shown in FIG. 5, to maintain the key 22 in a static position upon the reel 18. By static engagement is meant that the first end or head of the key will rotate concurrently with the pivoting of the reel. Maintaining the keys 22 in a fixed or static engagement upon the reel 18 allows them to move concurrently with the reel 18 as it moves between the first or retracted position of FIG. 1 and the second or projecting position of FIG. 2 and, thus, places the key or keys 22 in position to operate a lock, when the user pivots the reel 18 to thereby pivot any key 22 engaged thereto.
(22) Also shown in FIG. 4 is a pivot member 52 which forms a central wall extending in between the first side 34 of the reel and the second side 36 of the reel. When the reel 18 is pivoted by moving the projection 24, should the key 22 not rotate at the same time, the leading end 54 of the pivot member 52 will contact the head portion of the key and cause it to rotate out of the internal cavity 20. However, with the frictional restraint, as shown and described in FIG. 5, or another means for fixed portioning of the key on the reel 18, the key 22 will be frictionally or otherwise held in a static position relative to the reel 18 and should normally rotate to project from the interior cavity 20 once the reel 18 is pivoted to the second position as in FIG. 2.
(23) Such a frictional restraint is shown, for example, in FIG. 5. By frictional restraint is meant that the key 22 engaged to the drum 32 of the reel 18 is held in a static position by frictional contact imparted by the frictional restraint but can be moved on its engagement to the drum 32 by imparting sufficient force to the key 22 to overcome the frictional engagement so imparted.
(24) A currently preferred frictional restraint, as shown in FIG. 5, is formed by a biasing member 58, such as a spring, which imparts biasing force against the washer 50. With the key 22 engaged upon the drum 32, the key 22 is sandwiched between the washer 50 and one side of the reel 18, such as the second side 36 as shown in FIG. 5. The biasing force of the biasing member 58, thus causes frictional contact on both side surfaces of the key 22 form the side of the reel 18 and the washer 50. Of course other frictional restraints may be employed as would occur to those skilled in the art. However, at this juncture, the biasing member 58 has shown to work well in experimentation.
(25) Shown in FIG. 6 is a perspective lower side view of the device 10 of FIGS. 1-3, wherein the housing 12 is formed in a unitary structure where the internal cavity 22 is located in between the first side 14 and a second side 15 and where the housing is formed in a single component. As shown, a central wall 62 extends between the first side 14 and second side 15 and the interior cavity 20 is situated between the first side 14 and second side 15 and the central wall 62.
(26) Also shown in FIG. 6, and in FIG. 7 which shows the device as in FIG. 6 from the second side 15, is the reel 18 pivotally engaged to the projecting portion of the first side 14 of the formed housing 12. As with the other figures herein, the projection 24 is formed by an extension of at least one of the first side 34 of the reel 18 or the second side 36 of the reel 18. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 10, the projection 24 is formed of curved extensions of both the first side 34 and the second side 36 of the reel 18, and the pivot member 52 extends therebetween and an exterior surface defines a contact surface 64 for the user to press upon and pivot the reel 18.
(27) FIGS. 8-10 depict the device 10 in a mode wherein the first side 14 is removably engageable to the housing 12. However, the mode in FIG. 8-10 functions the same as that of FIGS. 1-7 but with the ability to remove the first side 14, which is engaged to the housing 12 with fasteners as shown in FIG. 8.
(28) As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described as part of the key organizer herein. Additionally, while the disclosed key organizer invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and components engaged for operation, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures and it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or operations of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art, are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.
(29) Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.
