US2432498A - Key indicator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. '16, 1947- s. BLOOMFI'ELD 2,432,498

KEY INDICATOR Filed Aug. 24, 1945 BY A HTTO NEY.

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 KEY INDICATOR Samuel Bloomfield, Wichita, Rana, assignor to 0. Earl Hovey, trustee, Kansas City, Mo.

Application "august 24,1945, SerialNp. 612,427

1 Claims. (01. 4o-2) This invention relates to a new article of manufacture in the nature of an attachable indicator for keys or similar elements ,where it is desired to provide means for identifying the same through the sense of touch.

The primary aim of the invention is to provide a key indicator constructed for easy attachment to the handle portion of a lock key as it is hun upon a key ring or within a key case to the end that the user thereof may identify any of the keys of the collection when it becomes: necessary to select one for use in a lock and where it is impossible to view the key for visual recognition.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a key indicator that is positive in its gripping action after application to the key; that is small, unobtrusive and does not hinder the free use of the key to which it is attached;

that is attachable without the use of special tools or equipment and that is of such a size and contour as to permit a number thereof to be applied to keys for purpose of further identifying the keys of a group with respect to each other.

Other aims and important objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an edge eievational view of a door key showing a key indicator made in accordance with the present invention aflixed thereto for purpose of identifying the same.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the key and indicator assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the key indicator per se showing the same entirely removed from its operative association with a key.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the key indicator.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a key indicator made in accordance with a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevatlonal view of the key indicator shown in'Fig. 6.

It has heretofore been customary to identify keys by placing numerals thereon or by attaching tags with designating indicia' that would teach the, user of several keys the particular lock wrdch the keys fit. Objections are present when ioilcwing the customary course as just set down or when otherwise making efiort toidentify keys particularly because the individual keys are not visible in the dark and the keys cannot be distlished through the sense of touch. It is also inconvenient to prepare and condition the keys wit numerals or tags and therefore, the keys means of indication.

Because the indicator made pursuant to this invention may be quickly attached and further because a number of the relatively small indicators may be aflixed to a key, the commercialization of the invention has met with favor.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a conventional door key ill is equipped with an indicator broadly designated by' the numeral l2 and comprising a hollow case of drawn metal to present a head It and a pair of arms it between which arms the key is positioned when the indicator is moved to the operative location. Thesearms 16 are resilient, and during the formation of the indicator the distance between said arms i8 is made slightly less than the thickness of the conventional key. A spacer IS in the form of a sphere or ball-bearing having a diameter substantially the same or minutely greater than the thickness of the material from which the keys are made is interposed between arms I 6 to facilitat the introduction of key l0 therebetween. When such introduction is made and during the application of the indicator .to key l0, spacer I8 is rolled into hollow head i4 and there confined. Under some conditions thespacer 18 may be moved from between its position between arms i5 and thrown away. Under any consideration the spacer must be capable of holding arms l8 far enough apart to permit the convenient and easy assembly of key and indicator as just above set down.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the indicator case has ahollow head 52 and a pair of substantially parallel opposed arms 5| held apart by aspacer 58 which, in this particular instance, is struck from one ofarms 54 and bent inwardly to a point where the said arms are held apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the material from which the key is made. When the key is introduced betweenarms 54,spacer 56 is moved back toward its original position in a plane with one ofarms 54 and there remains so long as the indicator is in use. In some instances, keys ill have amarginal head 58 thereon and under that condition the free end of spacer it bears against thebead 58 as illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 6. A number of indicators may be applied at the periphery of the key handle and since the bulk of the indicator is not great enough to effect handling of the key nor present objections when carrying the same, the indicator is a highly desirable article of manufacture.

The indicator is sold in quantities and applied by the user to the keys in any number needed to fully indicate to him the locks to which the individual keys apply.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcm; is:

1. A key indicator comprising a body provided with opposed spaced apart parts for gripping the key to which it is applied, the space between said parts being less than the thickness of the key; and a displaceable member between the opposed parts for holding the latter in spaced relation greater than the thickness of said key before the key i introduced therebetween, said body having a tubular portionextending beyond the dge of the key when the indicator is in operative position.

2. A key indicatorcomprising a body provided with opposed spaced apart, resilient parts for gripping the key to which it is applied, the space between said parts being less than the thickness of the key; and a displaceable member between the opposed parts for holding the latter in spaced relation greater than the thickness of said key before the key is introduced therebetween, said body having a tubular portion extending beyond the edge of the key when the indicator is in operative position, said member being shiftable by the key as it is moved between the parts.

3. A key indicator comprising a body provided with opposed spaced apart, resilient parts for gripping the key to which it is applied, the space between said parts being less than the thickness of the key; and a displaceable member between the opposed parts for holding the latter in spaced relation greater than the thickness of said key before the key is introduced therebetween, said body having a tubular portion extending beyond the edge of the key when the indicator is in operative position, said member being shiftable by the key as it is moved between the parts, the space between said parts where the member is absent being slightly less than the thickness of the key with which the indicator is to be used.

4. A key indicator comprising a body provided with opposed spaced apart, resilient parts for gripping the key to which it is applied, the space between said parts being less than the thickness of the key; and a displaceable member between the opposed parts for holding the latter in spaced relation greater than the thickness of said key before the key is introduced therebetween, said body having a tubular portion extending beyond the edge of the key when the indicator is in operative position, said member being shiftable by the key as it is moved between the parts, said displaceable member being a spherical unit.

5. A key indicator comprising a body provided with opposed spaced apart, resilient parts for gripping the key to which it is applied, the space 4 between said parts being less than the thickness of the key; and a displaceable member between the opposed parts for holding the latter in spaced relation greater than the thickness of said key before the key is introduced therebetween, said body having a tubular portion extending 'beyond the edge of the key when the indicator is in operative position, said member being shiftable by the key as it is moved between the parts, said displaceable member being a spherical unit, said body having a cavity provided therein in communication with the space between said parts to receive the spherical unit-as the same is moved from a position between the parts by the key to which the indicator is being applied.

6. A key indicator comprising a body provided with opposed spaced apart, resilient parts for gripping the key to which it is applied, t Space between said parts being less than the thickness of the key; and a displaceable member between the opposed parts for holding the latter in spaced relation greater than the thickness of said key before the key is introduced therebetween, said body having a tubular portion extending beyond the edge of the key when the indicator is in operative position, said member being shiftable by the key as it is moved between the parts, said displaceable 'member being an ear struck from one of the said parts and having its free end against the other part before the key is introduced between the parts, said ear being bendable and having Said free end against one face of the key to exert gripping pressure thereagainst when the key is between the parts.

7.As a new article of manufacture, an indicator adapted for attachment to the thing to be identified, comprising a body having a hollow head and a pair of opposed spaced apart, resilient arms for straddling the thing t which the body is attached, the space between said parts bein less than the thickness of said thing; and an element for spacing the arms a distance greater than the thickness of the thing to be identified, formed to be shifted from its operative position to an inoperative position as the body is being attached, said head extending beyond the edge of the said thing for identifying thesame when the indicator is in operative position.

SAMUEL BLOOMFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 303,755 Schwarz et al Aug.-19, 1884 1,179,003 Haley Apr. 11, 1916 1,662,175 Thorne a Mar. 13, 1928 1,746,955 'Messer Feb. 11, 1930 2,043,022 'Iwite June 2, 1936 2,095,817 Johnson Oct. 12, 1937 2,173,752 Carrington Sept. 19, 1939

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