Key turning device

• US 7,240,527 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry M. Boyd
• Original Assignee: Terry M. Boyd
• Inventors: Boyd, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Suzanne Dino
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US11/103,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 704/08, 704/56.R, 704/56.B, 704/59, 704/29, 704/30, 164/22, 164/26, 164/30, 81/58, 81/60
• US Class Current: 70/456.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0053 Handles or handle attachments facilitating operation, e.g. by children or burdened persons foot-operation E05B53/001
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/04 Construction of the bow or head of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7876 Bow or head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7989 Key securers, fasteners or retainers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8757 Releasable catches

Abstract

A device to facilitate manipulating a key by persons having restricted finger and/or hand use that includes a key holding unit with a socket in one end thereof and means to removably secure a key to such unit. The device also includes a hand tool that has a hand grippable body portion with a rounded outer surface in which there is located finger engageable indentations. The indentations are spaced apart from one another around an outer peripheral portion of the body to facilitate gripping and turning the same. A shaft projects outwardly from the body a terminating in a rounded bullet like free outer end that facilitates inserting the same into the socket in the key holding unit. The shaft has a portion proximate the rounded end that is non circular in outline cross sectional shape that is matingly insertable into the socket in the key holding unit. For those having limited hand movement there is provided a reversible ratchet between the hey holding unit and the hand tool.

Claims

1. A device to facilitate manipulating a key by persons having restricted finger and/or hand use, said device comprising:

a key holding unit having a socket in one end thereof and means to removably attach a key to said unit;

a hand tool having a hand grippable body that includes a rounded outer surface with finger engageable indentations therein, said indentations being are spaced apart from one another around an outer peripheral portion of said body to facilitate gripping and turning the same;

said body having a shaft projecting therefrom that terminates in a rounded bullet like free outer end facilitating inserting the same into said socket in said key holding unit;

said shaft having a portion proximate said rounded end that has a non circular in outline cross sectional shape that is matingly insertable into said socket;

including a reversible ratchet drivingly interposable between said hand tool and said key holder unit;

said reversible ratchet including a lever projecting beyond said tool body of said reversible ratchet so as to be readily engaged by a finger to move it from one position to another to change the direction of rotation of said shaft; and

said key holding unit comprising a short length of a shaft having a socket extending there into corresponding in outline shape to the outline cross-sectional shape of a first portion of said shaft and having a short length second portion of said the short length of said shaft being split longitudinally providing a plate removably attached to said key holding unit by means of retaining there between a head end portion of said key.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool body has a generally flat rear face and a rounded front face and wherein said shaft projects from said front face.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said front face is generally spherical.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said ratchet is a separate unit detachably connectable to said shaft and to said key holding unit.

5. The device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flash light including a light emitting bulb disposed in a front face of said tool body so as to selectively emit light that is directed toward a key hole when using the device, a switch disposed in a finger engageable indentation in said tool body, and a battery in electrical communication with said light emitting bulb disposed in a compartment having a removable cover in said body.

6. A device to facilitate manipulating a key by persons having restricted finger and/or hand use, said device consisting essentially of:

a key holding unit having a socket in one end thereof and means to removably attach a key to said unit;

a hand tool having a hand grippable body that includes a rounded outer surface with finger engageable indentations therein, said indentations being are spaced apart from one another around an outer peripheral portion of said body to facilitate gripping and turning the same;

said body having a shaft projecting therefrom that terminates in a rounded bullet like free outer end facilitating inserting the same into said socket in said key holding unit;

said shaft having a portion proximate said rounded end that has a non circular in outline cross sectional shape that is matingly insertable into said socket;

including a reversible ratchet drivingly interposable between said hand tool and said key holder unit;

said reversible ratchet including a lever projecting beyond said tool body of said reversible ratchet so as to be readily engaged by a finger to move it from one position to another to change the direction of rotation of said shaft; and

said key holding unit comprising a short length of a shaft having a socket extending there into corresponding in outline shape to the outline cross-sectional shape of a first portion of said shaft and having a short length second portion of said the short length of said shaft being split longitudinally providing a plate removably attached to said key holding unit by means of retaining there between a head end portion of said key.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein said tool body has a generally flat rear face and a rounded front face and wherein said shaft projects from said front face.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said front face is generally spherical.

9. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein said ratchet is a separate unit detachably connectable to said shaft and to said key holding unit.

10. The device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a flash light including a light emitting bulb disposed in a front face of said tool body so as to selectively emit light that is directed toward a key hole when using the device, a switch disposed in a finger engageable indentation in said tool body, and a battery in electrical communication with said light emitting bulb disposed in a compartment having a removable cover in said body.

11. A device to facilitate manipulating a key by persons having restricted finger and/or hand use, said device comprising:

a key holding unit having a socket in one end thereof and means to removably attach a key to said unit;

a hand tool having a hand grippable body that includes a rounded outer surface with finger engageable indentations therein, said indentations being are spaced apart from one another around an outer peripheral portion of said body to facilitate gripping and turning the same;

said body having a shaft projecting therefrom that terminates in a rounded bullet like free outer end facilitating inserting the same into said socket in said key holding unit;

said shaft having a portion proximate said rounded end that has a non circular in outline cross sectional shape that is matingly insertable into said socket;

including a reversible ratchet drivingly interposable between said hand tool and said key holder unit;

said reversible ratchet including means projecting beyond said tool body of said reversible ratchet so as to be readily engaged by a finger to move it from one position to another to change the direction of rotation of said shaft; and

said key holding unit comprising a short length of a shaft having a socket extending there into corresponding in outline shape to the outline cross-sectional shape of a first portion of said shaft and having a short length second portion of said the short length of said shaft being split longitudinally providing a plate removably attached to said key holding unit by means of retaining there between a head end portion of said key.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said means projecting beyond said tool body is a lever.

13. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said tool body has a generally flat rear face and a rounded front face and wherein said shaft projects from said front face.

14. The device as defined in claim 12 wherein said front face is generally spherical.

15. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said ratchet is a separate unit detachably connectable to said shaft and to said key holding unit.

16. The device as defined in claim 11, further comprising a flash light including a light emitting bulb disposed in a front face of said tool body so as to selectively emit light that is directed toward a key hole when using the device, a switch disposed in a finger engageable indentation in said tool body, and a battery in electrical communication with said light emitting bulb disposed in a compartment having a removable cover in said body.