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(11) | EP 0 607 743 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Keyholder |
| (57) A rectangular body (1), flat shape, with a folding band (2) by the half part and
having in one of the two faces several housings (5) for the same number of key blades
(6); said housings have a lenght that makes visible the ends of the key blades, provided
with the notch (7) by means of which said key-blades are coupled to a key head (8),
with the slot (9), by pushing the notched end therein and said key-head incorporating
conventional locking and loosing means. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a key-holder, whose obvious purpose is to constitute a grouping system for keys, so that the keys occupy a minimum volume and including the possibility of serving as a wallet.
[0002] The keyholder of the invention is thought as a device where the corresponding flat blades of different keys could be properly arranged, partially visible, but all of them without head, which is the most bulky part in a flat key.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] For grouping a large number of keys in a key-ring, these are all introduced in a ring or similar device, forming a big bunch too heavy to be carried by the user and bulky and difficult to keep in a pocket.
[0004] There are several types of key-holders like small cases with small hangers, where one or more keys can be carried. However, when there is a large number of keys, they will occupy also a big volume. In addition, these key-holders have the limitation that they can only house a certain number of keys.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The proposed key-holder has been thought for solving said problem, in the way that constituting a device of small size it is able to house a large number of keys which will occupy the minimum volume. This is achieved because the keys are headless and they just consist in a blade with a notch at the rear end of the key, so that this notch will be provided in all the keys to be housed, thus permitting the coupling of said key-blades with a key-head. This key-head can couple any keys, thus serving as a common head for all the key-blades.
[0006] In particular, the key-holder presents the shape of a flat wallet, preferably laminar and rectangular with a central folding band, so that two half-parts are defined provided with a plurality of housings for the same number ok keys, in particular for the corresponding key-blades, which notched ends wil be visible out of the housings. This notched end is introduced in a slot provided in the common key-head so that the key-blade can be pulled out of the housing and be handled by means of said key-head which is provided with locking and loosing means enabling the key-head to be used with any of the other key-blades stored in the mentioned case. Since all the keys are headless, a large number of key-blades can be stored occupying a minimum volume.
[0007] The key-holder is also provided with closing means, such as a stripe that holds both parts together when the key-holder is folded, said stripe incorporating an element where the common key-head for all the key-blades is fastened so that it does not get lost. This element can be carried independently or be attached to any other part of said key-holder. The key-holder can also incorporate an additional housing independent and different from those intended to store the keys, said housing being used for keeping coins or even banknotes, thus resulting a sole element of reduced volume for carrying keys as well as money.
[0008] The keyholder can also incorporate an element for the identification of the keys, so that the finding of each key is made easier.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present application includes a set of drawings in order to complete the description and to enhance the understanding of the features of the invention, said drawings representing:
Figure 1: General view of the key-holder of the invention when it is open, thus showing some of the large number of keys which can be stored as well as the head for any key which is bound to the closing stripe of the key-holder.
Figure 2: Perspective view of said key-head in the coupling position to the corresponding notch on one of the key-blades. This key-blade is fixed to the key-head by means of an internal lock which can be opened by handling the pusher provided on the key-head for this purpose.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] As represented in Figure 1, the key-holder of the invention is formed by a flat body (1) made of leather or similar material, presenting a rectangular shape or any other suitable form and incorporating a central folding band (2). The two half-parts (3) and (4) defined by the folding band (2) incorporate several housings (5) intended to store the key-blades (6) corresponding to the keys. Therefore, each housing is rectangular, has a reduced width and is deep enough for storing inside a flat key-blade, such as those presently used for house doors, table cases etc. Each key is headless and their rear end is provided with a notch (7), by means of which the key-blade is coupled to the supporting head (8) which has a slot (9). Pushing the end of the key-blade (6) provided with the notch (7) through the slot (9) the key-blade will be locked, the piece (8) constituting the head of the key. The key-blade can be unlocked by handling the pusher (10), the conventional locking system provided in the key-head being activated thereby. All the key-blades (6) in the key-holder (1) can be used with the same key-head (8).
[0011] The key-holder of the invention (1) can be also used as a wallet by providing it with housings for coins and banknotes.
[0012] By folding both half-parts (3) and (4) along the folding band (2) the key-holder is closed, the key-blades being hidden thereby. The closing of the key-holder is ensured by any conventional system. This could be a band (11) being provided at its end with one element having a notch (7) like the one on each key-blade (6), thus permitting that the key-head (8) is locked to the main body of the key-holder. In further embodiments of the invention, the key-head is attached to any other parts of the key-holder (1), or even forms an independent element which is stored in another housing provided in the key-holder (1) for this purpose.
[0013] The main feature of the invention is that the key-holder (1) can store several key-blades occupying a minimum volume, and that all the key-blades (6) can be locked into a common key-head (8) which enables the handling of the key (6), because without the key-head (8), the use of the keys (6) would be difficult.
1. Key-holder for housing several flat keys occupying a minimum volume characterized
in that it is formed by a laminar body of a suitable material, said body being provided
in one of its sides with a plurality of rectangular housings of reduced width, intended
to store therein a key-blade without head, all these keyblades being provided at their
rear ends with a notch, by means of which the key-blade can be locked to a key-head,
said key-head incorporating a pusher which permits the unlocking of the key-blade.
2. Key-holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the housings for the key-blades
are arranged forming rows, said housings having a length that makes visible the ends
of the key-blades provided with the notch by means of which said key-blades are coupled
to the key-head with the slot for pushing the notched end of the key-blade therein,
and said key-head incorporating conventional internal locking and loosing means which
are activated by the corresponding external pusher.
3. Key-holder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main
body of the key-holder with the housings for the key-blades is provided with a transversal
and central folding band which permits the folding and superposition of both half-parts
for closing the key-holder and hiding the keys, the closing and locking of the key-holder
being carried out by a conventional system, like a band provided with fastening means.
4. Keyholder according to claim 3, characterized in that the band provided with fastening
means has at its end an element with a notch similar to the ones provided on the key-blades
for the coupling to the key-head.
5. Key-holder according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the key-head for
the different key-blades is attached to any part or element of the key-holder, said
keyholder incorporating additional housings for coins and banknotes.