Title: Key cap
Abstract: A universal key cap for receiving the head of a key, where the key includes a key head portion with edged segments and an extending shank portion, including a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing a tight frictional fit against the key head portion, wherein the pair of spaced-apart planar walls includes an inner and an outer surface and an outer periphery which are joined together by a rind for providing a full cover over the key head, the rind having an inner and outer surface; wherein the cap forms a slot at the bottom of the cap between the walls into which the key head can be inserted, a hollow chamber formed between the pair of spaced-apart planar walls and the rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion of the key in close confronting relationship therewith, and edged segments molded on the inner surface of the rind wherein the edged segments register with at least one of the edged segments of the key head portion.
Patent Number: 6,928,845 Issued on 08/16/2005 to Howard
| Inventors:
|
Howard; Raymond W. (1133 First St., #319, Coronado, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
299272 |
| Filed:
|
November 18, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
70/408; 70/395; 70/456.R; 70/460; D3/207 |
| Intern'l Class: |
E05B 019/04 |
| Field of Search: |
70/408,456.R,460,432,395
D3/207,211
24/36
206/371,381
40/330
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 1837114 | Dec., 1931 | Cicourel.
| |
| 1966550 | Jul., 1934 | Handy.
| |
| 2982041 | May., 1961 | Kent.
| |
| 3349589 | Oct., 1967 | Fricke.
| |
| 3841120 | Oct., 1974 | Gartner.
| |
| 4102166 | Jul., 1978 | Hughes.
| |
| D252732 | Aug., 1979 | Price.
| |
| 4305267 | Dec., 1981 | Nish et al.
| |
| 4403487 | Sep., 1983 | Marty.
| |
| D293549 | Jan., 1988 | Stinson.
| |
| 4901548 | Feb., 1990 | Deslandes.
| |
| 5029459 | Jul., 1991 | Almblad.
| |
| 5038590 | Aug., 1991 | Sawyer et al.
| |
| 5181605 | Jan., 1993 | Bishop et al.
| |
| 5435160 | Jul., 1995 | Linsalato et al.
| |
| 5577403 | Nov., 1996 | Steeley.
| |
| 5730013 | Mar., 1998 | Huang.
| |
| 5775148 | Jul., 1998 | Layton et al.
| |
| 5819564 | Oct., 1998 | Watanuki.
| |
| 6233987 | May., 2001 | Ueno et al.
| |
| 6308542 | Oct., 2001 | Bolton.
| |
| 6367298 | Apr., 2002 | Janssen et al.
| |
| 6609402 | Aug., 2003 | Blankenship et al.
| |
Other References
LVSales, Inc. website (www.lvsales.com), "The House Key", pp. 1-3, 1997-2001.
|
Primary Examiner: Barrett; Suzanne Dino
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gordon & Rees LLP, Sayed; Hani Z.
Claims
1. A universal key cap for receiving the head of a key, where the key includes
a key head portion with edged segments and an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the key head portion, wherein said pair of spaced-apart
planar walls includes an inner and an outer surface and an outer periphery which
are joined together by a rind for providing a full cover over the key head, said
rind having an inner and outer surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom
of said cap between said walls into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the key in close confronting relationship therewith; and,
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with at least one of the edged segments of the key head portion.
2. The universal key cap in claim 1 wherein said edged segments comprise:
a. a central convex edged segment which registers with the central convex edged
segment of the KW
1 key head and with the central convex edged segment of
the KW
10 key head;
b. a pair of inwardly arched segments extending outwardly from said central convex
edged segment and registering with the pair of spaced-apart arched corners of the
SC
1 key head;
c. a first pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments extending from said
pair of inwardly arched segments and registering with the central horizontal segment
of the WR
5 key head;
d. a pair of outwardly protruding edged corners extending from said first pair
of outwardly directed horizontal segments and registering with the pair of spaced-apart
arched corners of the WR
5 key head;
e. a first pair of inwardly directed edged indentations extending from said pair
of outwardly protruding edged corners and registering with the pair of spaced-apart
arched corners of the WR
5 key head;
f. a pair of outwardly and downwardly straight edges extending from said first
pair of inwardly directed edged indentations and terminating by a second pair of
inwardly directed edged indentations, wherein said second pair of inwardly directed
edged indentations register with the KW
1 key head between the pair of outwardly
and downwardly directed straight edged segments and the first pair of spaced-apart
rounded corners;
g. a second pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments, extending from said
second pair of inwardly directed edged indentations and registering with the pair
of horizontal segments of the WR
5 key head;
h. a pair of outwardly protruding rounded corners extending from said second
pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments and registering with the pair of
rounded corners of the WR
5 key head;
i. a pair of straight edges extending from said pair of outwardly protruding
rounded corners and registering with the pair of substantially long downwardly
descended edges of the WR
5 key head;
j. a first pair of inwardly curved indentations extending from said pair of straight
edges and registering with the second pair of outwardly edged corners of the SC
1
key head;
k. a pair of substantially large side convex segments extending from said first
pair of inwardly curved indentations and registering with the pair of substantially
long downwardly directed side edges of the SC
1 key head; said pair of substantially
large side convex segments further registering with the first pair of convex segments
of the KW
10 key head;
l. a second pair of inwardly curved indentations extending from said pair of
large side convex segments and registering with the third pair of outwardly edged
corners of the SC
1 key head; said second pair of inwardly curved indentations
further registering with the second pair of spaced-apart rounded corners of the
KW
1 key head; and,
m. a pair of downwardly descending straight edges extending from said second
pair of inwardly curved indentations and registering with the pair of substantially
long downwardly descending edges of the WR
5 key head; said pair of downwardly
descending straight edges terminating in said slot.
3. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said rind extends toward said bottom
of said cap to form a pair of upsets within said hollow chamber for providing resistance
in the removal of the key head portion.
4. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said planar walls have formed there
through aligned apertures with a sufficiently wide diameter to accommodate a retaining member.
5. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said aligned apertures align with
the apertures in the head portion of the keys.
6. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said planar walls are sufficiently
thin to provide substantial flexibility to allow snug ingress and egress of the
key head without damaging said cap.
7. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said outer surfaces of said planar
walls and said rind have smooth surfaces.
8. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said outer surfaces of said planar
walls and said rind have printable surfaces.
9. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said slot is rectangular.
10. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said cap forms a periphery in the
silhouette of a house.
11. The universal key cap of claim 1 wherein said cap forms a circular periphery.
12. A key cap for receiving the head of the KW
1 common house key where
the KW
1 common house key includes a head portion with edged segments and
an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the head portion of the KW
1 common house
key, wherein said pair of spaced-apart planar walls includes an inner and an outer
surface and an outer periphery which are joined together by a rind for providing
a full cover over the KW
1 key head, said rind having an inner and outer
surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom of said cap between said walls
into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the KW
1 key in close confronting relationship therewith; and
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with the edged segments of the head portion of the KW
1
key.
13. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said edged segments comprise:
a. a central convex edged segment which registers with the central convex edged
segment of the KW
1 key head;
b. a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight segments extending from
said central convex edged segment and registering with the pair of outwardly and
downwardly directed straight edged segments of the KW
1 key head;
c. a first pair of rounded corners extending from said pair of outwardly and
downwardly directed straight segments and registering with the pair of spaced-apart
rounded corners of the KW
1 key head;
d. a pair of straight downwardly directed edges extending from said first pair
of rounded corners and registering with the pair of downwardly directed side edges
of the KW
1 key head; and
e. a second pair of rounded corners extending from said pair of straight downwardly
directed edges and registering with the second pair of spaced apart rounded corners
of the KW
1 key head, wherein said second pair of rounded corners terminate
in said slot.
14. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said planar walls have formed there through
aligned apertures with a sufficiently wide diameter to accommodate a retaining member.
15. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said aligned apertures align with the aperture
in the KW
1 key head.
16. The cap of claim 12 wherein said planar walls are sufficiently thin to provide
substantial flexibility to allow snug ingress and egress of the key head without
damaging said cap.
17. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said outer surfaces of said planar walls
and said rind have smooth surfaces.
18. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said outer surfaces of said planar walls
and said rind have printable surfaces.
19. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said slot is rectangular.
20. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said cap forms a periphery in the silhouette
of a house.
21. The key cap of claim 12 wherein said cap forms a circular periphery.
22. A universal key cap for receiving the head of a key, where the key includes
a key head portion with edged segments and an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the key head portion, wherein said pair of spaced-apart
planar walls includes an inner and an outer surface and an outer periphery which
are joined together by a rind for providing a full cover over the key head, said
rind having an inner and outer surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom
of said cap between said walls into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the key in close confronting relationship therewith;
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with at least one of the edged segments of the key head portion;
d. a central convex edged segment which registers with the central convex edged
segment of the KW
1 key head and with the central convex edged segment of
the KW
10 key head;
e. a pair of inwardly arched segments extending outwardly from said central convex
edged segment and registering with the pair of spaced-apart arched corners of the
SC
1 key head;
f. a first pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments extending from said
pair of inwardly arched segments and registering with the central horizontal segment
of the WR
5 key head;
g. a pair of outwardly protruding edged corners extending from said first pair
of outwardly directed horizontal segments and registering with the pair of spaced-apart
arched corners of the WR
5 key head;
h. a first pair of inwardly directed edged indentations extending from said pair
of outwardly protruding edged corners and registering with the pair of spaced-apart
arched corners of the WR
5 key head;
i. a pair of outwardly and downwardly straight edges extending from said first
pair of inwardly directed edged indentations and terminating by a second pair of
inwardly directed edged indentations, wherein said second pair of inwardly directed
edged indentations register with the KW
1 key head between the pair of outwardly
and downwardly directed straight edged segments and the first pair of spaced-apart
rounded corners;
j. a second pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments, extending from said
second pair of inwardly directed edged indentations and registering with the pair
of horizontal segments of the WR
5 key head;
k. a pair of outwardly protruding rounded corners extending from said second
pair of outwardly directed horizontal segments and registering with the pair of
rounded corners of the WR
5 key head;
l. a pair of straight edges extending from said pair of outwardly protruding
rounded corners and registering with the pair of substantially long downwardly
descended edges of the WR
5 key head;
m. a first pair of inwardly curved indentations extending from said pair of straight
edges and registering with the second pair of outwardly edged corners of the SC
1
key head;
n. a pair of substantially large side convex segments extending from said first
pair of inwardly curved indentations and registering with the pair of substantially
long downwardly directed side edges of the SC
1 key head; said pair of substantially
large side convex segments further registering with the first pair of convex segments
of the KW
10 key head;
o. a second pair of inwardly curved indentations extending from said pair of
large side convex segments and registering with the third pair of outwardly edged
corners of the SC
1 key head; said second pair of inwardly curved indentations
further registering with the second pair of spaced-apart rounded corners of the
KW
1 key head; and,
p. a pair of downwardly descending straight edges extending from said second
pair of inwardly curved indentations and registering with the pair of substantially
long downwardly descending edges of the WR
5 key head; said pair of downwardly
descending straight edges terminating in said slot.
23. A universal key cap for receiving the head of a key, where the key includes
a key head portion with edged segments and an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the key head portion, wherein said pair of spaced-apart
planar walls includes an inner and an outer surface and an outer periphery which
are joined together by a rind for providing a full cover over the key head, said
rind having an inner and outer surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom
of said cap between said walls into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the key in close confronting relationship therewith;
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with at least one of the edged segments of the key head portion;
and wherein said apertures align with the apertures in the head portion of the
keys.
24. A key cap for receiving the head of the KW
1 common house key where
the KW
1 common house key includes a head portion with edged segments and
an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the head portion of the KW
1 common house
key, wherein said pair of spaced-apart planar walls includes an inner and an outer
surface and an outer periphery which are joined together by a rind for providing
a full cover over the KW
1 key head, said rind having an inner and outer
surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom of said cap between said walls
into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the KW
1 key in close confronting relationship therewith;
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with the edged segments of the head portion of the KW
1
key;
d. a central convex edged segment which registers with the central convex edged
segment of the KW
1 key head;
e. a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight segments extending from
said central convex edged segment and registering with the pair of outwardly and
downwardly directed straight edged segments of the KW
1 key head;
f. a first pair of rounded corners extending from said pair of outwardly and
downwardly directed straight segments and registering with the pair of spaced-apart
rounded corners of the KW
1 key head;
g. a pair of straight downwardly directed edges extending from said first pair
of rounded corners and registering with the pair of downwardly directed side edges
of the KW
1 key head; and
h. a second pair of rounded corners extending from said pair of straight downwardly
directed edges and registering with the second pair of spaced apart rounded corners
of the KW
1 key head, wherein said second pair of rounded corners terminate
in said slot.
25. A key cap for receiving the head of the KW
1 common house key where
the KW
1 common house key includes a head portion with edged segments and
an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the head portion of the KW
1 common house
key, wherein said pair of spaced-apart planar walls includes an inner and an outer
surface and an outer periphery which are joined together by a rind for providing
a full cover over the KW
1 key head, said rind having an inner and outer
surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom of said cap between said walls
into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the KW
1 key in close confronting relationship therewith; and
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with the edged segments of the head portion of the KW
1
key; and said aligned apertures align with the aperture in the KW
1 key head.
26. A key cap for receiving the head of the KW
1 common house key where
the KW
1 common house key includes a head portion with edged segments and
an extending shank portion, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing
a tight frictional fit against the head portion of the KW
1 common house
key, wherein said pair of spaced-apart planar walls includes an inner and an outer
surface and an outer periphery which are joined together by a rind for providing
a full cover over the KW
1 key head, said rind having an inner and outer
surface; wherein said cap forms a slot at the bottom of said cap between said walls
into which the key head can be inserted;
b. a hollow chamber formed between said pair of spaced-apart planar walls and
said rind for providing sufficient internal volume to receive the head portion
of the KW
1 key in close confronting relationship therewith; and
c. edged segments molded on said inner surface of said rind wherein said edged
segments register with the edged segments of the head portion of the KW
1
key; and said cap forms a circular periphery.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of key caps. More particularly, the invention
pertains to a key cap to comfortably fit around the different edged heads of various
common house keys.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, most people carry keys with them, e.g., house keys, vehicle keys, mail
box keys, office keys. People may also, absentmindedly, carry outdated keys that
have no function anymore. They carry duplicate keys of close relatives and friends
for emergency situations. Thus, some people carry a plurality of keys at any given
time where these keys are bound with a key ring or other retaining means. They
do not want to waste time looking or identifying a specific key among the many
different keys on a key ring. Therefore, rapid identification of various keys is required.
Of all the various types of keys, the house key is predominantly the most used
key as everyone has a place to live and needs to secure or unlock his or her home.
There are at least four common house keys being used in America today. These four
common house keys differ in the shape and sizes in the key head portions where
each has distinctively edged key heads. In the key industry, these keys are individually
identified based on the different shape and sizes of the key head portions of these
common house keys. They are: the KW
1 key, the SC
1 key, the WR
5
key, and the KW
10 key. The KW
10 key is a newly introduced house key.
Prior art key caps are limited in their use with these house keys. Firstly,
they do not fit around the wider keys, including the SC
1 and the KW
10
key heads which have obvious wide lateral sides. Therefore, the prior caps cannot
be used if the user happens to own any such keys.
More significantly, however, the prior art key caps do not to fit well over
the different edged key heads of the different house keys. Consequently, when the
cap is placed over some of the key heads, the inner surface of the cap gets grossly
distorted by the various curves and corners of the house keys and the cap bulges
out. As a result, this bulging causes an unusual amount of stretching of the cap
and the resulting stress of the surface areas causes tearing of the cap. Additionally,
because of the rapid tearing of the cap, the user has to replace the cap often.
The prior art key caps are limited in its use because they are ineffective with
some of the common house keys and with others, they cannot even be used at all.
Moreover, the prior caps become distorted and stretched an exceptional amount when
they are placed, or forced, over the common house keys. Additionally, the prior
cap is subject to great wear and tear as a result and needs to be replaced quite often.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a polymeric or plastic-based cap for covering the head portion
of the most common house keys and overcomes the problems set forth above with regard
to the prior art key caps. This key cap is useful specifically with the four most
common keys used in America today where the common house keys each consist of a
distinctive edged key head portion.
The inventive key cap is sufficiently flexible for slipping it over the head
portions of the four most common house keys discussed herein. The cap comprises
two closely spaced-apart planar walls where the walls include an inner surface
and outer surface, and an outer periphery which has a top edge and a pair of side
edges. The top edge and side edges of the walls are monolithically joined together
by a rind to form a complete cover over the key head portion. A hollow chamber
is formed on the inside of the walls and the rind. The inventive cap includes a
slot located at the bottom of the cap between the walls into which the head portion
of the four most common house keys may be inserted. The invention lies in the internal
make-up of the hollow chamber to accept the varied geometry of the head portions
of the keys.
The cap of this invention is made wide enough to house the widest of the four
house keys, such as the KW10 and the SC1 key head portions, without
compromising a desired small appearance.
The cap of this invention would cut costs to the consumer because it fits all
four of the most common house keys comfortably and does not get distorted or stretched
around the segments and as a result, the wear and tear is greatly reduced. Thus,
a consumer need not replace the key cap as often.
Accordingly, the main object of this invention is a key cap which is
able to house all four of the most common house keys without distorting the cap.
Other objects of the invention include a cap which is durable and resists wear
and tear and a cap that is large enough to comfortably house larger key heads.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent when reading
the description of the preferred embodiment along with the drawings that are appended
hereto. The protection sought by the inventor may be gleaned from a fair reading
of the claims that conclude the specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
a is an elevational front view of a KW1 house key;
FIG. 1
b is a perspective view of a KW1 house key;
FIG. 1
c is an elevational front view of a SC1 house key;
FIG. 1
d is perspective view of a partial SC1 house key;
FIG. 1
e is an elevational front view of a WR5 house key;
FIG. 1
f is perspective view of a WR5 house key;
FIG. 1
g is an elevational front view of a KW10 house key;
FIG. 1
h is a perspective view of a KW10 house key;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the inventive cap shaped in the periphery of a house
and constructed according to the teachings of this invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive cap shaped in a circular periphery
and constructed according to the teachings of this invention;
FIG. 4 is perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cap shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 2 taken along the lines
6-6 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 2 showing a segment cut
out from one of the walls of the cap;
FIG. 8 is cross-sectional front view of the cap shown in FIG. 2 made according
to the teachings of this inventions showing the edged segments of the inner surface
of the rind;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sectional view of the cap taken along the
lines 9-9 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the KW1 key cap showing a circular
outer periphery with the edged segments of the inner surface of the rind; and
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the KW1 key cap showing a house-shaped
outer periphery with the edged segments on the inner surface of the rind.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings where elements or limitations are identified
with numbers and like elements or limitations are identified with like numbers
throughout the 18 figures, FIGS. 1
a-
1h show the four different
types of house keys to which this invention is applicable. Shown in FIGS. 1
a
and
1b is a KW
1 house key
1 that includes a head
portion
3 for grasping key
1 by the fingers, where head portion
3
has edged segments
4, a broad front surface
5 and rear surface
7,
preferably parallel, and having an aperture
8 therethrough, and an outwardly
extending key shank portion
9, for insertion into a lock. In viewing key
1 with head portion
3 at the top and shank portion
9 extending
downward therefrom, head portion
3 comprises a central convex edged segment
13, a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight edged segments
15 extending from convex segment
13, terminated by a pair of spaced-apart
rounded corners
17, a pair of downwardly directed side edges
19 extending
from corners
17, terminating in another pair of spaced-apart rounded corners
21, and a pair of inwardly directed curved edges
23 that terminates
in sharp corners
25 at or above the upper end of shank portion
9.
Shown in FIGS. 1
c and
1d, is a SC
1 house key
27
that includes a head portion
3 with edged segments
4, a broad front
surface
5 and rear surface
7, preferably parallel, and having an
aperture
8 therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion
9.
FIG. 1
d depicts only a partial SC
1 house key
27, showing only
one side of the key, the other side (not shown) having the exact shape as the shown
portion. In viewing key
27 with head portion
9 at the top and shank
portion
9 extending downward therefrom, head portion
3 comprises
a top central horizontal segment
29, terminating on both ends in a pair
of spaced-apart arched corners
31, a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed
straight edges
33 extending from corners
31, terminating in a pair
of inwardly curved indentations
35, a first pair of outwardly directed horizontal
edges
37 extending from indentations
35, into a first pair of outwardly
edged corners
39, a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed straight segments
41 extending from corners
39, terminating in a pair of inwardly curved
corners
43, and a second pair of outwardly directed horizontal edges
45
extending from curved corners
43 and terminating in a second pair of outwardly
edged corners
47. A pair of concavely indentations
49 extending from
corners
47 into a pair of substantially long downwardly directed side edges
51 and terminates by another pair of concavely indentations
53. A
third pair of outwardly edged corners
55 extends from concavely indentations
53 into a pair of inwardly directed horizontal segments
57, terminating
in a pair of inwardly arched corners
59, and a pair of substantially short
downwardly descending side edges
61 extending from corners
59 and
terminating by a fourth pair of outwardly edged corners
63. A pair of concave
segments
65 extending into a pair of downwardly directed straight segments
67, terminating in a pair of outwardly curved segments
69, extending
into a pair of inwardly directed straight segments
71, and terminating in
a pair of rounded corners
73 at or above the upper end of shank portion
9.
Shown in FIGS. 1
e and
1f, is a WR
5 house key
75
that includes a head portion
9 with edged segments
4, a broad front
surface
5 and rear surface
7, preferably parallel, and having an
aperture
8 therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion
9.
In viewing key
75 with head portion
3 at the top and shank portion
9 extending downward therefrom, head portion
75 comprises a central
horizontal segment
77, terminating at both ends in a pair of spaced-apart
arched corners
79, a pair of outwardly directed straight edges
81
extending from corners
79, terminating by a pair of inwardly directed sharp
corners
83, a pair of horizontal segments
85 extending outwardly
from corners
83 into a pair of rounded corners
87, a pair of substantially
long downwardly descending edges
89 extending from rounded corners
87,
terminating in a pair of outwardly rounded corners
91, a pair of horizontal
inwardly directed segments
93 terminating in sharp corners
95 at
or above the upper end of shank portion
9.
Shown in FIGS. 1
g and
1h is a KW
10 house key
97
that includes a head portion
3 with edged segments
4, a broad front
surface
5 and rear surface
7, preferably parallel, and having an
aperture
8 therethrough, and an outwardly extending key shank portion
9.
In viewing key
97 with head portion
3 at the top and shank portion
9 extending downward therefrom, head portion
3 comprises a central
convex edged segment
99 extending into a pair of spaced-apart substantially
large concave edged segments
101, a pair of convex segments
103 extending
from concave segments
101 into a pair of inwardly curved side segments
105
extending into another pair of convex segments
106, that terminate at another
pair of substantially large concave segments
107, wherein concave segments
107 terminate at a pair of sharp corners
108 at or above the upper
end of shank portion
9.
The preferred embodiment of the inventive key cap is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and
shows a polymeric or plastic-based cap
109 for slipping over the head portions
3 of the four common house keys discussed herein. As shown in FIGS. 4,
5,
6,
7 and
9, the cap
109 comprises two closely spaced-apart
planar walls
111 and
112 where walls
111 and
112 include
an inner surface
113 and outer surface
115, an outer periphery
117
having a top edge
119 and a pair of side edges
121 which are monolithically
joined together by a rind
123 to form a complete cover over key head portion
3, and a hollow chamber
125 formed on inside of walls
111
and
112 and rind
123. The inventive cap includes a slot
127
located at the bottom
129 of cap
109 between walls
111 and
112 into which head portion
3 of the four most common house keys
may be inserted. The invention lies in the internal make-up of hollow chamber
125
to accept the varied geometry of the head portions
3 of the keys previously
disclosed herein.
Walls
111 and
112 of cap
109 are made sufficiently thin
to provide substantial flexibility to allow snug ingress and egress of head portion
3 of the house keys without damaging cap
109. Outer surface
115
of walls
111 and
112 and outer surface
133 of rind
123
are smooth and printable and an indicia or design can be printed on them. Walls
111 and
112 further have aligned apertures
131 therethrough,
shown in FIG. 3, which also align with aperture
8 in key head portion
3
when cap
109 is placed over key head portion
3. Aperture
131
is sufficiently wide in diameter to accommodate a retaining member such as a key
ring or key chain.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, rind
123 having an outer surface
133
and inner surface
135, extends toward bottom
129 of cap
109
into a pair of upsets
137 to provide resistance in the removal of the key
heads. As shown in the cross-sectional side view in FIG. 8, inner surface
135
of rind
123 includes edged segments
139 that snugly fit at least
around one of edged segments
4 of head portion
3 of the four most
common house keys. In viewing the side cross-section of cap
109 with top
edge
119 of walls
111 and
112 at the top and side edges
121
extending downward therefrom, edged segments
139 comprise a central convex
edged segment
141, a pair of inwardly arched segments
143, extending
from convex segment
141 into a first pair of outwardly directed horizontal
segments
145, where horizontal segments
145 terminate by a pair of
outwardly protruding edged corners
147. A first pair of inwardly directed
edged indentations
149 extends from corners
147 into a pair of outwardly
and downwardly straight edges
151, which terminates by a second pair of
inwardly directed edged indentations
153. A second pair of outwardly directed
horizontal segments
155 extends from indentations
153 and terminates
by a pair of outwardly protruding rounded corners
157. Corners
157
extend downwardly into a pair of straight edges
159, terminated by a first
pair of inwardly curved indentations
161, and a pair of substantially large
side convex segments
163 extending from indentations
161 into a second
pair of inwardly curved indentations
165. A pair of downwardly descending
straight edges
167 extends from indentations
165 and terminates in
slot
127.
When head portion
3 of KW
1 key
1 (FIGS. 1
a and
1b)
is received by edged segments
139 of cap
109, convex edged segment
141 of cap
109 registers with convex edged segment
13 of KW
1
key
1, second pair of edged indentations
153 of cap
109 presses
between straight segment
15 and rounded corners
17 of KW
1
key
1, and second pair of curved indentations
165 of cap
109
contacts rounded corners
21 of KW
1 key
1.
When head portion
3 of SC
1 key
27 (FIGS. 1
c and
1d) is received by edged segments
139 of cap
109, arched
segments
143 of cap
109 abut arched corners
31 of SC
1
key
27, curved indentations
161 of cap
109 press against edged
corners
47 of SC
1 key
27, side convex segments
163
of cap
109 receive in adjacent juxtaposition side edges
51 of SC
1
key
27, and curved indentations
165 of cap
109 abut edged
corners
55 of SC
1 key
27. Round corners
73 of SC
1
key
27 align with entrance of slot
127 of cap
109.
When head portion
3 of WR
5 key
75 (FIGS. 1
e and
1f) is received by edged segments
139 of cap
109, horizontal
segments
145 of cap
109 receive horizontal segment
77 of key
75 in adjacent juxtaposition, arched corners
79 of WR
5 key
75 hook into edged corners
147 of cap
109, and rounded corners
87 of key
75 hook into rounded corners
157 of cap
109.
First pair of straight edges
159 and second pair of straight edges
167
of cap
109 are forced against descending edges
89 of key
75,
and horizontal segments
93 of WR
5 key
75 forming an alignment
with slot
127.
When head portion
3 of KW
10 key
97 (FIGS. 1
g and
1h) is received by edged segments
139 of cap
109, central
convex segment
141 of cap
109 presses against central convex segment
99 of KW
10 key
97, and side convex segments
163 of
cap
109 capture large convex edged segments
103 of KW
10 key
97. Other convex segments
106 of key
97 press against curved
indentations
165 of cap
109 and concave segments
107 of KW
10
key
97 extend through slot
127 to the outside of cap
109.
To assist the user in the identification of a house key, cap
109 can be
shaped in the periphery of a house
169, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Alternatively,
cap
109 can be shaped in a circular periphery
171, shown in FIG.
3. Where cap
109 is shaped in the periphery of house
169,
walls
111 and
112 represent the front wall
173 and back wall
175 of house
169, respectively. Rind
123 includes opposite
longitudinal side walls
177 of house
169 and a V-shaped roof
179
of house
169.
In a modification of this invention, FIGS. 10 and 11 show a key cap
180
for housing head portion
3 of KW
1 key
1 where cap
180
comprises a pair of spaced-apart planar walls
111 and
112 joined
together about their outer periphery
117 by rind
123 having an inner
surface
135 which include edged segments
139 that register with edged
segments
4 of KW
1 key
1. In viewing the side cross-section
of cap
180 with top edge
119 of walls
111 and
112 at
the top and side edges
121 extending downward therefrom, rind
123
comprises a central convex edged segment
181, a pair of outwardly and downwardly
directed straight segments
183 extending from convex segment
181
into a first pair of rounded corners
185, a pair of straight downwardly
directed edges
187 extending from corners
185, and terminated by
a second pair of rounded corners
189. Second pair of rounded corners
189
terminate in slot
127. Cap
180 can be shaped in the periphery of
a house or in a circular periphery.
When head portion
3 of KW
1 key
1 is received by edged segments
139 of cap
180, convex segment
13 of key
1 is forced
against convex segment
181 of cap
180, straight segments
183
of cap
180 abut straight edged segments
15 of key
1, rounded
corners
185 of cap
180 contacts rounded corners
17 of key
1, straight edges
19 of key
1 is forced against straight edges
187 of cap
180, and another pair of rounded corners
21 of
key
1 hooks into rounded corners
189 of cap
180.
While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment
thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to
the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the true spirit
and scope thereof. It is intended that all combinations of elements and steps which
perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve
substantially the same result are within the scope of this invention.
*
