Locked/unlocked indicator for a key

• US 6,575,005 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Theodore K. Hunter
• Original Assignee: Theodore K. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Theodore K.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US10/032,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 703/95, 704/08, 704/32, 704/38, 704/41, 704/56.R
• US Class Current: 70/432
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/22 Keys with devices for indicating whether the last operation was locking or unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7802 Multi-part structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8189 Contactual feeler

Abstract

A locked/unlocked indicator for a key that shows whether a person has locked a door lock or any type of lock. The indicator has a base member having a window formed in the top surface that communicates with a channel formed in the bottom surface. A slide member has a thumb tab that extends upwardly through the aperture that allows the slide member to be slid back and forth between a position that indicates whether the door lock is locked or unlocked. The bottom of the slide member is a spring member that has curved lips on the front and rear end that make an audible sound when the slide member reaches both the locked and the unlocked position. The base member has adhesive on the bottom surface for attachment to the head member of a key.

Claims

1. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key that shows whether a person has locked a door or not comprising:

a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a length (L1), a width (W1) and a thickness (H1);

a channel is formed in said bottom surface of said base member and said channel extends from said left side wall to said right side wall;

said channel has a height (H2) and a width (W2);

a window is formed in said top surface of said base member and said window extends downwardly and connects with said channel;

an elongated spring member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a length (L2), a left end, a right end and a thumb tab that extends upwardly from said top surface of said spring member at a point intermediate said length (L2);

said spring member is slidably received in said channel and said thumb tab extends upwardly through said window a predetermined height (H3) above said top surface of said base member;

an elongated cover panel having a width (W2) and a length (L3) is removably positioned under said spring member to close said channel; and

visual signal means on said top surface of said spring member to indicate whether a person has locked a door or not.

2. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 wherein said visual signal means comprises a first color on said top surface of said spring member to the left of said thumb tab and a different color on said top surface of said spring member to the right of said thumb tab.

3. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 further comprising a layer of adhesive on said bottom surface of said base member and said cover panel.

4. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 3 wherein said base member is adhered to the head member of a key.

5. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 3 further comprising a cover sheet on said layer of adhesive.

6. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 wherein said spring member is made of plastic material.

7. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 wherein said spring member is made of metal.

8. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 wherein said base member is made of plastic material.

9. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 further comprising a ridge extending upwardly from said top surface of said base member along said rear wall.

10. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key as recited in claim 1 farther comprising audible signal means for indicating if a door has been locked or unlocked.

11. A locked/unlocked indicator for a key that shows whether a person has locked a door or not comprising:

a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a length (L1), a width (W1) and a thickness (H1);

a channel is formed in said bottom surface of said base member and said channel extends from said left side wall to said right side wall;

said channel has a height (H2) and a width (W2);

a window is formed in said top surface of said base member and said window extends downwardly and connects with said channel;

an elongated spring member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a length (L2), a left end, a right end and a thumb tab that extends upwardly from said top surface at a point intermediate said length (L2);

said spring member is slidably received in said channel and said thumb tab extends upwardly through said window a predetermined height (H3) above said top surface of said base member;

an elongated cover panel having a width (W2) and a length (L3) is removably positioned under said spring member to close said channel; and

audible signal means for indicating if a door has been locked or unlocked.

12. A reminding key, comprising:

A key having a head with two sides;

An indicator which can move to show whether a person has locked a door; and

An adhesive attaching said indicator to one of said two sides of said head of said key; and

wherein said adhesive provides the sole attachment for said indicator to said key.