Separable key holder

• US 3,979,934 A
• Filed: 05/14/1975
• Issued: 09/14/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PENN Virginia Corporation
• Original Assignee: PENN Virginia Corporation
• Inventors: Isenmann, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/577,238
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 70/459, 70/457, 70/456 R, 70/45 B, 150/40, 24/230 F, 24/230 SC, 24/230 CF
• US Class Current: 70/459
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/002 Separable rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45529 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8757 Releasable catches

Abstract

A releasable key ring connector comprises plug and socket members shaped to fit together snugly but to separate upon pressure placed on one of them. Key supporting means on each member accommodate separate key rings.

Claims

1. A releasable key ring connector comprising plug and socket members, the socket member comprising a slab-shaped elongated body with relatively wide front and back walls, relatively narrow side walls and relatively narrow first and second end walls, the first end wall having a large opening therein and the second end wall having two relatively small openings therein, a partition extending from the second end wall to adjacent the first end wall to form two body cavities between the first and second end walls, each cavity connecting the large opening to one of the small openings to permit passage between the large opening in the first end wall and one of the relatively small openings in the second end wall, each said body cavity decreasing in area between said large opening and the small opening to which it is connected, key supporting means on the end of the socket member adjacent the second end wall, the plug member having a resilient C-shaped body with detents at the end of each arm, the body being bifurcated to fit within said cavities with the detents positioned adjacent the openings in said second end wall when the plug is inserted in the socket and key supporting means on the plug member approximately equally remote from each of said detents.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which each body cavity in the socket member decreases in size as it approaches an opening in the second end wall.

3. A connector according to claim 2 in which the arms of the plug member are finger compressible.

4. A connector according to claim 3 in which the arms of the plug member are each sized to fit within one of said body cavities.

5. A connector according to claim 4 in which the arms are sized to position said detents within the openings in said second end wall when the plug member is substantially fully inserted in the socket member.

6. A connector according to claim 5 in which at least one arm includes stop means to inhibit compression of the arms of said plug member beyond a predetermined point.