Key ring

Claim 1

A key ring comprising, in combination: a ring having at least a portion thereof that is circular, said circular portion being split at one point to provide a gap through which a key can be passed; a retainer shell mounted on an arc of said circular portion of the ring, said shell comprising two identical halves of sheet metal, each of which is formed with arcuate, semi-cylindrical channels which cooperate to form an arcuate cylindrical conduit when the halves are joined together face-to-face, said ring being slidably received within said conduit; said halves being also formed with radial, semi-cylindrical channels intersecting sAid arcuate channels, and cooperating to form a short, radial barrel when the halves are joined together, said barrel extending radially inward from said arcuate conduit; a detent member contained within said barrel, said detent member having an aperture in the center and a spring disposed within said aperture and bearing at one end against said detent member in the direction urging one end of the member into the gap in said ring when the gap is aligned with said barrel, the other end of said spring bearing against said retainer shell, and the other end of said detent member extending to the outside of said retainer shell and having finger grip means for lifting the same against the spring pressure to retract the detent member from said gap so that said ring can be turned; and means for securing said two halves together in face-to-face relationship.