Patent US4570469A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4570469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key retaining device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-04-14
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Granted: 1986-02-18
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Expires: 2003-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A key retaining device for capturing and selectively locking therein a portion of the working section of a key. When the key is locked in the device, its handle section is visible so that the presence of the key can be instantly determined without the unlocking of the apparatus, yet the key cannot be removed from the device until unlocked with a master key. Retention of the key within the housing is accomplished by a clamping mechanism employing a longitudinally sliding member having a wedge-like member which is urged toward the working section of the key upon the sliding member moving in a first longitudinal direction. The sliding member is moved by a bolt coupled to a lock which is rotated by a master key, and a nut which is held in a transverse slot of the slideable member. The master key when rotated in a second direction unthreads the bolt from the nut, moving the sliding member in the opposite longitudinal direction to release the wedge-like member which holds the key.
Inventors
- 👤 Hildaur L. Neilsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:27
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B11/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/411; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/7768
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A key retaining device for capturing and selectively locking a key having a working section and handle section comprising: a housing having at least one end wall and a side wall and having a chamber therein; said end wall having a slot therein communicating with said chamber and dimensioned to receive said working section of said key therethrough; and means for selectively securing said working section of said key, including means to slideably actuate a clamping member to releasably engage and secure said working section of said key within said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A key retaining device for capturing and selectively locking a key having a working section and handle section comprising: a housing having at least one end wall and a side wall and having a chamber therein; said end wall having a slot therein communicating with said chamber and dimensioned to receive said working section of said key therethrough; and means for selectively securing said working section of said key, including means to slideably actuate a clamping member to releasably engage and secure said working section of said key within said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selective securing means includes a cam wedge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cam wedge is resiliently urged by resilient means held in position by lock means and released by insertion of a master key into said lock means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the actuating means includes a slidable member having a slot therein for receiving the cam wedge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A key retaining device as claimed in 3 or 4 wherein the resilient means is received in said slot with said cam wedge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 4 further including a channeled member for receiving said slotted member moveably therein, and means coupling said slotted member to said lock means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said coupling means includes a nut insertable into said slotted member, and further includes a bolt member connected to said lock and cooperating with said channeled member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the other end of the housing, after insertion of the bolt member in said nut is closed by locking means for releasably securing said wedge means in said slotted member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 6, 7, or 8 further including resilient means in said slot urging and holding said cam wedge in position by lock means and released by insertion of a master key in said lock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 3 or 6 wherein said resilient means is a curved wedge-like member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
A key retaining device comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical housing open at one end to receive a key having a working section and a handle section which remains in said housing; (b) a channelled member having a transverse slot, said channeled member receiving the working section of the key axially within the housing; (c) a member slideable within the channeled member, said slideable member having a transverse slot therein; (d) a wedge member in the transverse slot of the channeled member having a beveled edge portion extending into the transverse slot of said slideable member; (e) a nut member inserted into said slideable member; (f) a bolt member insertable into said nut member for moving said slideable member upon threading in said nut thereby moving said wedge member to secure and release a key in said channeled member; (g) locking means closing the other end of said housing connected to said bolt member for threading and unthreading the bolt member in said nut member thereby locking and unlocking said key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
A key retaining device comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical housing open at one end to receive a key having a working section and a handle section which remains in said housing; (b) a channelled member having a transverse slot, said channeled member receiving the working section of the key axially within the housing; (c) a member slideable within the channeled member, said slideable member having a transverse slot therein; (d) a wedge member in the transverse slot of the channeled member having a beveled edge portion extending into the transverse slot of said slideable member; (e) a nut member inserted into said slideable member; (f) a bolt member insertable into said nut member for moving said slideable member upon threading in said nut thereby moving said wedge member to secure and release a key in said channeled member; (g) locking means closing the other end of said housing connected to said bolt member for threading and unthreading the bolt member in said nut member thereby locking and unlocking said key.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claim 11 in which said locking member is releasable with a master key, thereby unthreading said bolt in said nut and releasing said wedge-like member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claims 11 or 12 further including a resilient member in said slot with said wedge member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claims 11 or 12 in which the resilient member is a curved wedge-like member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A key retaining device as claimed in claims 11 or 12 including a resilient member in said slot with said wedge member and further including a projection on the floor of said channeled member for holding said key when said bolt is threaded into the nut and the wedge is held against the key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
161 words
A key retaining device for capturing and selectively securing a key having a working section and a handle section, comprising: a housing having first and second opposed end walls and defining a chamber therein; the first said end wall having a slot therein communicating with said chamber for receiving said working section of the said key therethrough; slide means longitudinally displaceable within said chamber; wedge means moveable in response to displacement of said slide means between a first angular position in which said wedge is out of contact with said working section of said key, and a second angular position wherein said wedge engages both the working section of said key and the interior wall of said housing to effect a wedging action with respect to said key, thereby precluding its withdrawal from said chamber; and means for displacing said slide means within the interior of the said chamber to effect movement of said wedge between said first and second positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
161 words
A key retaining device for capturing and selectively securing a key having a working section and a handle section, comprising: a housing having first and second opposed end walls and defining a chamber therein; the first said end wall having a slot therein communicating with said chamber for receiving said working section of the said key therethrough; slide means longitudinally displaceable within said chamber; wedge means moveable in response to displacement of said slide means between a first angular position in which said wedge is out of contact with said working section of said key, and a second angular position wherein said wedge engages both the working section of said key and the interior wall of said housing to effect a wedging action with respect to said key, thereby precluding its withdrawal from said chamber; and means for displacing said slide means within the interior of the said chamber to effect movement of said wedge between said first and second positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means for moving said slide means comprises a rotatable shaft threadingly received at the said slide means, said shaft being rotated by means extending therefrom and through said second end wall of said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device in accordance with claim 17, wherein said means for moving said slide comprises a lock, rotation of said shaft being effected by a master key insertable by said operator into said lock.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |