Combined key holder and security device

Claim 2

A combined key holder and security device comprising an elongated body having transverse dimensions of a size to be readily gripped by the hand, said body having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots in one side thereof, with each of the slots having a width sufficient to accommodate reception of the head of a key therein, said slots having longitudinal spacings approximating the widths of the fingers of a body gripping hand, and means carried by the body for releasably retaining the head portion of a key in each of the slots, whereby a selected plurality of keys can be held by the body for selective individual key use while so held, and whereby the body can be gripped in the hand with the shanks of the keys extending outwardly from between the fingers of a gripping hand.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein said means comprises a rod carried by the body in a position intersecting said slots, whereby the rod can be extended through the key head openings to retain the key heads in the slots.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, wherein said body has a longitudinally extending groove therein that intersects said slots, with said rod being disposed in said groove.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 and a plurality of generally key-shaped members each comprising a generally flat head portion and an integral elongated shank, with said head portion having an opening therethrough, said members having their head portions projecting into the slots, said means including an elongated rod carried by the body for lengthwise movement relative thereto between first and second positions respectively clear of and intersecting all said slots, means for releasably securing said rod in its second position, and said rod extending through the openings of all the key head portions when in its second position.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4, wherein said rod has an open loop at one end thereof constituting a key and whistle hanger, said loop being respectively in and out of engagement with the body when the rod is in its first and second positions in an arrangement such that articles hanging on the loop are secured against removal therefrom by the body when the rod is in its second position.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5, wherein a whistle is carried by said hanger.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 4, wherein said means for releasably retaining the rod in its second position comprises said rod having an end portion having an extent transverse to the extent of the body, said body having a recess removably receiving said rod end portion when the rod is in its second position, and a detachably secured band embracing the body and said rod end portion to retain the rod end portion in said recess.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1, wherein said means comprises said body having a longitudinal groove in said one side thereof intersecting said slots, an elongated rod removably received in the groove in a position traversing the slots in an arrangement adapted to extend through the openings in the key head portions, and means for releasably retaining the rod in the groove in its position traversing the slots, said last means including a pair of retainer bands detachably secured to the body to embrace the rod and the body adjacent opposite ends of the latter.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8, wherein said last means includes said rod having an inturned end portion with the body having a recess removably receiving such inturned end portion, with one of said bands embracing such inturned end portion of the rod to retain the latter in the recess.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1, wherein said means comprises said body having an elongated groove intersecting all the slots, said body having a recess therein adjacent one end thereof at a position diametrically opposed to the groove, a generally J-shaped elongated element including a long and a relatively short leg connected thereto by a bight portion, said short leg having an inturned end portion, said long leg being removably seated in the groove with the inturned end portion of the short leg being removably received in the recess in an arrangement such that the bight portion is spaced from said one end of the body and is adapted for the hanging of apertured objects thereon, and a pair of retainer bands detachably secured to the body adjacent said one end and its opposite end to embrace the body and the free ends of the legs.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10, inclusive of a second J-shaped element constituted of a long leg and a short leg connected by a bight portion, with short leg of the second element having an inturned end portion, said body having a second longitudinal groove, said body having a second recess adjacent said opposite end thereof at a position diametrically opposed to the second groove, said long leg of the second element being removably received in the second groove and the inturned end portion of the second element being removably received in the second recess in an arrangement such that the bight portion of the second element is spaced from said opposite end of the body and adapted for the hanging of apertured objects thereon, with said second element being releasably retained in position by said bands embracing the free ends of the legs of the second element.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11, wherein the grooves are diametrically opposed to each other, and wherein the J-shaped elements are identical to each other.