KEY CASE, KEY HEAD AND KEY BOX

Abstract

A key case having a housing comprising at least two walls forming a space for storing at least one key, the housing being provided with at least one locking mechanism to prevent the key from falling out of the housing. Also, a key head for storage in the housing, comprising either modified side walls of the key head securing the key head with a cap, or enclosing the key head in the housing. Also, a key box comprising at least two cases, a shell of which comprises at least two walls between which, or in at least one of which, a space is formed for storing at least one key, the case being provided with at least one locking device to prevent the key from falling out of the case, the at least two cases being connected to each other.

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A system comprising a key and a key housing, wherein the housing shell (1) of the key housing comprises at least two walls between which, or in at least one of which, a space is formed for storing at least one key (4), characterized in that the key housing is provided with at least one key lock (4) transverse to the surface of the housing and at least one key lock (4) longitudinal to the surface of the key housing, which prevent the key (4) from falling out of the housing by itself and at least one element for facilitating the removal of the key (4) from the housing, wherein the head of the key (4) is unmodified or the head of the key is cut and pressed into a rigid cover (20) or is provided with a cap (24).

23. The system comprising a key and a key housing, according to claim 22, characterized in that the key head is unmodified and the key (4) lock transverse to the housing surface is formed by a tightly fitting face wall (18) of the housing shell (1) and a reverse wall (19) of the housing shell (1) at the key (4) seating positions, and the key lock (4) longitudinally with the surface of the housing (1) is formed by a space between the face wall (18) and the reverse wall (19) which is narrower than the thickness of the key (4), wherein the feature for facilitating the removal of the key (4) from the housing comprises at least one outer recess (34) in the face wall (18) of the housing shell (1), wherein the recess (34) has an area smaller than the area of the head of the key (4).

24. The system comprising a key and a key housing, according to claim 22, characterized in that the key head (3) is longitudinally cut and pressed into the fixed cover (20), wherein the space for storing the key (4) in the housing shell (1) comprises a cut-out (2) in the housing shell (1) and an internal recess (5) in the housing shell (1), wherein the inner bottom wall (35) of the cut-out (2) has a plan shape corresponding to the plan shape of the rigid cover (20) on the longitudinally cut head (3) of the key (4) and the key (4) lock transverse to the surface of the housing is formed by an overlap (36) over the cut-out (2) of the outer part of the face wall (18) of the housing (1), and the element for facilitating the removal of the key (4) from the housing is a recess (21) in the upper part of the fixed cover (20) of the cut head (3) of the key (4).

25. The system comprising a key and a key housing, according to claim 24, characterized in that a cut-out (2) in the housing shell (1) for accommodating the head (3) of the key (4) is formed in either all walls (12, 18, 19) of the housing shell (1), and then the key (4) lock transverse to the surface of the housing is formed by an overlap (36) over the cut-out (2) of both the outer face wall (18) and the reverse wall (19) of the housing shell (1), or the cut-out (2) in the housing shell (1) for holding the head (3) of the key (4) is formed only in some of the walls (12, 18, 19).

26. The system comprising a key and a key housing according to claim 22, characterized in that the key head (3) is without modification provided with a removable cap (24) comprising two walls, at least one of which is provided internally in the longitudinal axis with a ball cap (25) which fits into a hole (15) in the key head (3) of the key (4) to secure the cap (25) to the key head (3) of the key (4), wherein the locking of the key (4) transverse to the surface of the housing is formed by a notch (33) in the side walls of the cut-out (2) of the middle wall (12) of the housing shell (1) or in the face wall (18) of the housing shell (1), and the feature for facilitating the removal of the key (4) from the housing is a recess (21) in the top of the cap (24) of the head (3) of the key (4).

27. The system comprising a key and a key housing, according to claim 22, characterized in that the locking of the key (4) longitudinally with the surface of the housing is formed by at least one magnet (16), which is housed either in the housing shell (1) and/or in the head (3) of the key (4), or in the cap (24) of the head (3) of the key (4), or in the fixed cover (20) of the longitudinally cut key head.

28. A key case, comprising a housing shell, wherein the shell (1) comprises at least two walls between which or in at least one of which a space is formed for storing at least one key (4), characterized in that means are provided for locking the key (4) longitudinally with the surface of the housing, the means comprising either (a) a flexible blade (7) disposed in the central wall (12) of the housing shell (1), the lower end (8) of which is provided in a groove (9) and the upper end (10) of which is provided with a slope (11), or (b) a protrusion (13) formed on an inner surface of a reverse wall (10) of the housing shell (1).

29. The key case according to claim 28, wherein the means comprises the protrusion (13) formed on the inner surface of the reverse wall (10) of the housing shell (1).

30. The key case according to claim 28, characterized in that the housing shell (1) is provided with an illumination system for external illumination.

31. The key case, according to claim 30, characterized in that the illumination system comprises a diode (26) with an anode (27) and a cathode (28) and a switch comprising a sliding glider (30) with a single-cell battery (29) and a stop (31).

32. A key box, characterized in that it comprises at least two housings, the shell (1) of which comprises at least two walls, between which or in at least one of which a space is formed for storing at least one key (4), the housing being provided with at least one locking device to prevent the key (4) from falling out of the housing spontaneously, and the at least two housings being connected to each other.

33. The key box according to claim 32, characterized in that it comprises two housings in which the keys (4) are stored, the two housings being firmly connected to each other by their largest surfaces of identical plan.

34. The key box, according to claim 32, characterized in that the individual shells are connected to each other by a hinge mechanism (17).

35. The key box, according to claim 32, characterized in that the articulation mechanism (17) connecting each two adjacent cases is located identically on one of the two longitudinal sides of the key box and the hinge mechanisms (17) together form a single back (37) of the key box (4),

36. The key box, according to claim 32, characterized in that the hinge mechanism (17) is arranged alternately on two opposite longitudinal sides of the key box and all the hinge mechanisms (17) form two fold-out spines (37) of the box in the form of a cardboard box.

37. The key case according to claim 28, wherein the means comprises the flexible blade (7) disposed in the central wall (12) of the housing shell (1), the lower end (8) of which is provided in a groove (9) and the upper end (10) of which is provided with a slope (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings show examples of alternative embodiments of the invention, which are generally based on the rectangular shape of the housing.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the housing in axonometric view in a simple longitudinal alternative, with a conventional flat key that is not modified.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a representation of the housing in a simple alternative, corresponding to FIG. 1, but in a transverse view.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows schematically a possible method of steadying the key in the housing by means of a flat blade.

[0032] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another possible way of steadying the key in the housing by means of a protrusion on the inside of the reverse side of the housing shell.

[0033] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates another, basic alternative embodiment of the housing in axonometric view in a longitudinal embodiment in which the head of a conventional key is modified and provided with a fitted cap.

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 5, but in a transverse variant of the key arrangement.

[0035] FIG. 7a shows the modified key of the previous embodiments shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 with the cap fitted, and FIG. 7b shows the same embodiment of the key as in FIG. 7a, but the cap is not yet fitted.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows schematically the modification of the key head by moulding it into the housing, including a recess to facilitate handling of the key in the housing.

[0037] FIG. 9 schematically shows a detail of a cut-out in the housing shell at a location under the key head cover in the alternative where the key head is pre-pressed into the housing, including a recess for securing the key in the housing.

[0038] FIG. 10 schematically shows a detail of a key as shown in FIG. 9, but from the lower inner side, wherein the head cover has a recess into which the opposite protrusion fits when the key is inserted into the housing.

[0039] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the sleeve, wherein the locking of the key in the sleeve is accomplished by a magnet disposed in a recess of the sleeve.

[0040] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a key from the underside with the head encased in a housing, which houses a second magnet for securing the key in the housing.

[0041] FIG. 13 schematically illustrates another alternative embodiment of the key housing, wherein a cut-out for storing the key head is made in all walls of the housing, in a longitudinal variant.

[0042] FIG. 14 schematically illustrates the design of the housing according to FIG. 13, but in a transverse variant.

[0043] FIGS. 15 and 16 show schematically an alternative embodiment of the key housing in longitudinal and transverse versions, using a standard key without additional modification of the key head, wherein a key head cap is replaceably fitted to the standard key head.

[0044] FIGS. 17a to 17e show schematically in axonometric view how the key cap is positioned on the key head, wherein FIG. 17d shows schematically a section through the key cap and FIG. 17e shows a side view of the key cap according to FIG. 17e.

[0045] FIGS. 18a and 18b show a cut-out in the housing with a modification to secure the key in the housing, wherein the top wall of the housing shell exhibits a slight overhang over the cut-out to prevent the key from falling out of the housing.

[0046] FIG. 19 schematically illustrates the housing illumination system with the diode and sliding switch of the diode in the unlatched position.

[0047] FIG. 20 shows the housing lighting system with the sliding diode switch in the closed position.

[0048] FIG. 21 shows schematically the connection of two housings into one double box.

[0049] FIG. 22 shows the connection of two housings by a hinged mechanism into one folding box.

[0050] FIG. 23 schematically illustrates the joining of three sleeves into a single box so that the box with the sleeves can be opened or unfolded by means of a hinged mechanism into a book form, and

[0051] FIG. 24 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of the box by joining two adjacent sleeves in the form of a cardboard book.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] The subject matter of the present invention is a key case which forms a system for arranging keys into a single cohesive unit carrying one or more keys, in particular flat patent cylinder keys, and a flat key box which includes a plurality of key cases connected into a single unit.

[0053] The basic dimensions of the case are based on the internationally harmonised dimensions of bank payment cards and thus the physical characteristics of the identification cards are determined, as well as the surface dimensions and the determined rounding of the corners of the rectangular version of these cards. However, the invention does not focus only on the rectangular shape of the case. The invention can be used for any shape of the case, in particular for circular shapes or irregular shapes.

[0054] The thickness of the key case is greater than the thickness of the credit card according to the present standard, in order to allow for the storage of flat keys, which typically have a thickness of up to 2.5 mm. The keys can be arranged in the case in a single layer or, where appropriate, in several layers. It is essential that the flat keys for the cylinders be placed in a solid, flat housing in a continuous surface and form a single, compact unit with the housing. The case may be stored separately, for example, in bank card organisers of various kinds, such as wallets, or the case may be placed simply in a pocket of clothing or in a personal bag without risk of damage to the clothing, the bag or the objects stored with the keys in the pocket of clothing or in the personal bag due to the pressure of soft or abrasion-resistant objects on the sharp edges of the keys, otherwise arranged and not protected by the case.

[0055] The keys are inserted and withdrawn individually into the case by a single pull, most commonly in the number of three keys in the rectangular basic case shape, with a longitudinal variant or a transverse variant with four keys. The basic form of the case, which has a single layer of keys, can be further layered and combined to form a larger case.

[0056] A rigid box composed of two sleeves, where access to one or the other sleeve is provided by simply turning the box towards the user with one or the other sleeve, proves to be most advantageous. The user then selects a suitable key on the side of the box facing him and removes it for use, or retracts the key and stores it for future use.

[0057] In this box, which combines two cases of the same variant, twice the number of keys is thus organized, that is, six keys for the longitudinal variant of key storage in the surface, or eight keys for the transverse variant of key storage in the surface. Of course, it is possible to combine bushings with different key storage variants, i.e. the longitudinal variant of one bushing and the transverse variant of the other bushing. In two bushings connected in this way, seven keys are stored.

[0058] The cases can be layered without limitation. In the case of three or more bushings, however, access to the individual keys becomes more difficult. In order to allow access, the individual key cases can be joined together to form boxes in which the individual key cases are connected to each other by a hinge mechanism.

[0059] In the case of a parallel arrangement of any number n of cases by means of a common hinge mechanism, but preferably so that cases one through n?1 are connected to each subsequent case in a row by a separate hinge mechanism, the case of cases folding out or folding up in book form. Each such sleeve then forms a separate box of such a book.

[0060] In the case of a serial arrangement of sleeves, where two adjacent sleeves are always connected by a separate hinge mechanism, the cards can be folded and unfolded in the form of a cardboard book or accordion, where each sleeve consists of one page of a cardboard book.

[0061] These versions of three or more sleeves, however, are already so thick with respect to the thickness of the individual keys and thus their sleeves that it is difficult or impossible to insert such sleeves into conventional organizers for, for example, bank cards and other products which are adapted to the flat dimensions of a bank card. However, the other functionality of these articles, that is, the storage, clarity and aesthetics of the key storage, is retained.

Example 1

[0062] The invention comprises several alternatives or modifications depending on the method of attaching and storing the key 4 in the cut-out 2 of the case and thus removing or inserting it into the cut-out of the case, regardless of the given spatial longitudinal or transverse variation of their storage, as explained in the previous text.

[0063] In the case of the first, simplest variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing shell 1 comprises a cut-out 2 and an internal recess 5 for accommodating and inserting the key 4, the key 4 being a flat key, in this case with a circular head 3. The inner bottom wall 35 of the cut-out 2 has a shape corresponding to the bottom shape of the head 3 of the key 4, so that the key 4 rests against the inner bottom wall 35 of the cut-out 2 when fully inserted into the housing. The head 3 of the key 4 may have a shape other than circular, for example square or oval, but it is always a flat key. The casing shell 1 has an outer recess 34 in the face wall 18 at the edge, which partially exposes the head 3 of each key 4 inserted, and this key 4 can thus be ejected by the pull of an attached finger, which the user rests against the projections 13 in the head of the key 4, or against the round hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4, which is partially or completely exposed due to the outer recess 34 in the face wall 18 of the casing.

[0064] This round hole 15 served primarily for hanging the key on a key support ring, which is not used in this case of organization and storage of keys. In order to give the casing shell 1 a continuous edge in plan, for example in the shape of a rectangle the size of a bank card, the cut-out 2 for handling the key 4, i.e. for removing it from the casing, is formed only on the face wall 18 of the casing, or on the face wall 18 and the central wall 12 of the casing, while the reverse wall 19 of the casing is without the cut-out 2. If the reverse wall 19 also has a cut-out 2, it is possible that when inserting the sleeve into an organiser, such as a bank card organiser, the sleeve, whose areal dimensions correspond to the dimensions of a bank card, could be caught by the edge of the cut-out 2 by an unobstructed key 4 on the edge of a pocket in the organiser which is used for inserting a bank card or other product of the size of a bank card. This would result in difficult handling.

[0065] If the reverse wall 19 also has a cut-out 2, it could be the case that when inserting the case into an organiser, for example a bank card organiser, the case, whose planar dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the bank card, would be caught by the edge of the cut-out 2 by an uncovered key 4 on the edge of a pocket in the organiser which is used for inserting a bank card or other product of the size of a bank card. This would result in difficult handling.

[0066] All embodiments of the invention may be formed of either two walls, where machining or moulding on one or both walls, as the case may be, may produce a cut-out 2 and an internal recess 5 for accommodating a key 4 when they are flush-mounted. The cut-out 2 and internal recess 5 may also be formed in the central wall 12 of the housing shell 1, wherein the face wall 18 and the reverse wall 19 need not be machined.

[0067] The key 4 in the cut-out 2 and recess 5 of the housing is held in a variant of several possible ways. The first way, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is by simply tensioning the face wall 18 and the reverse wall 19 of the housing due to the pressure of the inserted key 4 against these walls of the housing.

[0068] Another possibility is to secure the key 4 in the housing according to FIG. 3 by means of a metallic flexible blade 7 or a flexible wire placed in the groove 9, so that the head 3 of the key 4 rests against this flexible blade 7 as the key is inserted along the side, the greatest pressure on the flexible blade 7 being exerted by the key 4 just before it is fully inserted or extended. The flexible blade 7 is provided with a bend at the lower end 8 which engages the recess 14 at the lower end of the groove 9 and secures the flexible blade in this position. At the opposite, i.e. upper end 10, the flexible blade 7 is provided with a slope 11.

[0069] In the groove 9 of the housing, formed by moulding or grinding, depending on the material of the housing, the metallic flat flexible blade 7 is arranged so that it is firmly fixed at the lower end 8 in the groove 9, while its other end is free, so that it has one degree of freedom lying in the plane of the housing and perpendicular to the axis of the flexible blade 7 or to the direction of movement of the key 4. When the key is inserted, the head 3 of the key 4 rests laterally against the free end of the flexible blade 7, the greatest pressure being exerted on the flexible blade 7 by the key 4 just before its complete insertion into the cut-out 2 and the inner recess 5, respectively, and just before its ejection. The elastic blade 7 then restrains the key 4 from spontaneously sliding out of the housing, whereby the key 4 can only be released from the housing by placing a finger of the user on the head 3 of the key 4 and pushing the finger outwards from the housing.

[0070] Another possibility of securing the key 4 in the housing is by means of a protrusion 13 with a spherical surface on the inside of the housing cover, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0071] The protrusion 13 is formed by moulding or grinding, depending on the material used in the manufacture of the housing, and is in the form of a spherical canopy having a plan view of the same radius as the hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4 and the central axis of the spherical canopy coincides with the central axis of the hole 15 in the key 4 when the key 4 is fully inserted into the cut-out 2, so that when the key is inserted, it slides over the inner surface of the housing and over the protrusion 13, which imposes an increased resistance to sliding until the protrusion is firmly seated in the hole in the key head. The protrusion 13, together with the sleeve cover, is partially sprung.

Example 2

[0072] This example embodiment is shown in more detail in the following FIG. 8, wherein the key 4 in this alternative shows a cut circular, possibly oval or square shape of the head 3 on two opposite sides parallel to the longitudinal axis of the key 4.

[0073] The head 3 of the key 4 is subsequently encased, or moulded, in a cover 20 which is preferably made of the same material as the housing material and which, when the key 4 is inserted into the cut-out 2 and the internal recess 5, forms one continuous unit with the housing. Thus, the cover 20 of the key head 3 of the key 4 forms a recessed part of the housing, comprising the key head 3 of the key 4 enclosed or moulded therein, while allowing a more rigid and compact arrangement of the entire housing. This variant of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 12.

[0074] Since the head 3 of the key 4 must first be shaped into a suitable, tapered shape and then moulded or pressed firmly into the housing 20 of the head 3 of the key 4, it is convenient to so shape the key in the raw version supplied as part of the complete housing. The user then receives the raw key so modified for the case and then has it ground to the lock insert in a manner analogous to the manufacture of duplicate keys.

[0075] The housing 20 of the head 3 of the key 4, which is rigidly connected to the key, has a cut-out 21 on the outer surface near the outer edge, the most suitable shape being the cavity of the ball portion. However, other shapes, such as a straight groove, are also possible in order to allow the inserted key 4 to be easily ejected by pulling an attached finger, preferably with the fingernail of a finger which the user rests against the cut-out 21.

[0076] The firm connection of the key 4 with the housing body, which prevents the key 4 from spontaneously sliding out and falling out of the housing, is made possible by a projection 22 in the bottom of the cut-out 2 of the housing, which has a spherical surface and is formed on the inside of the reverse wall 19 of the housing. This projection protrudes into a space defined just so that the socket portion of the key 4 slides over the inner portion of the face wall 18 of the housing, but does not allow it much freedom. The protrusion 22 thus imposes a resistance in the sliding of the key insert portion 4, but such that it can be overcome by pressure of the thumb on the key insert portion 4. The resistance of the protrusion 22 disappears after the key insert portion 4 has been fully inserted into the cut-out 2 and the inner recess 5 of the housing, when the key insert portion 4 is inserted into the housing one step at a time and the protrusion 22 engages the dimple 23 on the underside of the key insert portion 4 of a similar shape. This may be a groove extended perpendicularly to the movement of the key, so that the projection 22 fits better into the dimple 23, but more particularly of the same depth as the projection 22.

[0077] Another possibility of securing the key in the housing are small magnets 16 with inverted poles, embedded in the socket part of the key 4 and in the housing, whereby the distance between the poles of the two magnets 16 and hence the greatest attractive force is generated at the moment when the socket part of the housing with the key 4 is inserted to the stop into the housing.

[0078] A pair of thin magnets 16, one of which is located in the cover 20 of the head 3 of the key 4 and the other in the opposite position in the reverse wall 19 of the housing 1, performs a similar function to the system of projections 22 and the dimple 23. The location of the magnets is indicated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.

[0079] A further possibility of securing the position of the key 4 in the housing is shown in FIGS. 18a and 18b, where a cut-out 2 in the housing is shown with the outer face wall 18 of the housing shell 1 being modified by a slight overlap 36 over the cut-out 2 to prevent the key 4 from falling out of the housing.

Example 3

[0080] The reduced baseline alternative is derived from example number 2 and is shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 in longitudinal and transverse versions. It differs in that the sleeve has a reduced overall thickness by the portion that forms the reverse wall 19 of the sleeve below the socket portion of the key 4 in the basic unthinned alternative. The socket portion of the key 4, in particular the head 3 thereof, is thus easily grasped by the fingers of the user's hand from both sides. There is therefore no need for a recess 21 to be formed on the outer surface of the key 4 socket portion, as in the basic unthinned variant, because by opposing pressure with two fingers, for example the thumb and forefinger, sufficient frictional force can be achieved between the fingers and the socket portion of the case to overcome the force which keeps the key 4 compact in the case. Alternatively, this force is provided either by a flat metallic flexible blade 7, as in Example 1, or by small magnets 16 with inverted poles in the socket portion of the key 4 and in the housing, whereby the distance between the poles of the two magnets and thus the greatest attractive force occurs at the very moment when the socket portion of the housing with the key 4 is inserted to the stop into the housing, that is, as in Example 2, the magnets 16 being located in the central part of the housing.

Example 4

[0081] This example is a combination of the first two variants according to example numbers 1 and 2, in which a flat cap 24 is additionally fitted in a removable manner to the finished lock key 4, thus not necessarily a raw key and without a cut head, to form the socket portion of the housing. This solution is illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. The plan view of the head 3 of the key 4 extends beyond the outer contour of the socket part.

[0082] In order to allow a firm connection between the key 4 and its cap 24, which will form the socket part of the housing, the cap is provided on at least one side, but preferably on both opposite inner sides of the cavity of the cap 24 which surrounds the key head, with a ball cap 25 which fits into the hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4. This is clearly visible in FIG. 17d and FIG. 17e. The plan view of the ball cap 24 has the same radius as the hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4, and the axis of the ball cap 25 coincides with the axis of the hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4, when the cap 24 is slid onto the head 3 of the key 4, so that the ball cap 25 fits firmly into the hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4.

[0083] In this arrangement, there is no unwanted rotation of the cap 24 of the socket portion on the head 3 of the key 4 about the head 3 of the key 4 because the axis of rotation of the cap 24 about the head 3 of the key 4 does not coincide with the axis of the hole 15 into which the ball cap 25 fits. As soon as a force is exerted during the handling of the key 4, which could cause the cap 24 to rotate around the head 3 of the key 4, the ball cap 25 on the inner side of the cap 24 will rest against the edges of the hole 15 in the head 3 of the key 4 and thus prevent the key 4 from rotating. The key 4 is held in the cut-out 2 and in the inner recess 5 of the housing in the same manner as in Example 1 by a flat metal flexible blade Z, placed at each head 3 of the key 4, so that it rests on this flat flexible blade 7 during the insertion of the key 4, the greatest pressure on the flexible blade 7 being thus exerted by the key 4 immediately before full insertion, or as in Example 2 by the projection 22 and the dimple 23, respectively, through the small magnets 16. For the positioning of the magnet 16 in the cap 24 of the head 3 of the key 4, the opening 15 in the head 3 of the key 4 under the cap 24 of the head 3 of the key 4 can be used.

[0084] Because the head 3 of the key 4 has a greater width than the cap 24, the housing exhibits an additional notch 33 at the point of the cut-out 2 for inserting the head 3 of the key 4 which is wider than the cut-out 2 for inserting the cap 24 of the key 4.

[0085] All embodiments of the housing with a key 4 can be provided with an LED 26 and a mechanical switch to switch the LED 26 with a wire anode 27 and a wire cathode 28. This mechanical switch is formed by a sliding glider 30 with an inserted single-cell battery 29 and a check gate 31. This construction is illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20.

[0086] One electrode of the diode 26 freely but permanently contacts one surface, and thus one shell contact, of the single-cell battery 29 disposed in the sleeve of the slide switch; the other electrode contacts the other pole on the sleeve of the single-cell battery 29 when the switch is moved to the left, thereby completing a short circuit to light the diode 26.

[0087] The invention also includes a key box comprising a plurality of key cases as described in each of the above embodiments. The key boxes in various forms of embodiment are shown in FIGS. 21 to 24. It is possible to attach two key boxes to each other so that they are firmly attached to each other by their largest surfaces of identical plan.

[0088] It is also possible to layer the housings into a single box so that the box with the housings can be opened or unfolded. Each of two adjacent housings are always connected to each other by a separate hinge mechanism 17. When these hinged mechanisms 17 are located on one of the longitudinal sides of the case, the case unfolds in the form of a book and the hinged mechanisms 17 together form one back 37 of the key box 4.

[0089] In the case where these hinged mechanisms 17, connecting two adjacent housings, alternate regularly in position on opposite sides of the box, the book is unfolded in the form of a booklet. Such a construction is illustrated in FIG. 24.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0090] The subject matter of the present invention is particularly useful for the arrangement and protection of flat patent keys for cylinders and for the protection of articles which are stored together with the keys in common areas.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0091] 1 housing shell [0092] 2 cut-out [0093] 3 head [0094] 4 key [0095] 5 internal recess [0096] 6 shank [0097] 7 flexible blade [0098] 8 lower end [0099] 9 groove [0100] 10 upper end [0101] 11 slope [0102] 12 central wall [0103] 13 protrusion [0104] 14 cavity [0105] 15 hole [0106] 16 magnet [0107] 17 hinge mechanism [0108] 18 face wall [0109] 19 reverse wall [0110] 20 cover [0111] 21 recess [0112] 22 projection [0113] 23 dimple [0114] 24 cap [0115] 25 ball cap [0116] 26 diode [0117] 27 anode [0118] 28 cathode [0119] 29 single-cell battery [0120] 30 sliding glider [0121] 31 check gate [0122] 33 notch [0123] 34 outer recess [0124] 35 inner bottom wall [0125] 36 overlap [0126] 37 back