Key holder

#Some situations require ready access to many keys -- for example, real estate management or building security involving many building locks, and motor vehicle operation such as automobile dealerships, service garages, truck and taxi fleets, and parking garages. If the many keys involved in some operations are not securely stored and efficiently displayed, they can be jumbled together, tangled, difficult to sort through and select, or easily lost or stolen. Also, some key holders must be conveniently portable and yet capable of storing a large number of keys. Furthermore, any portable key holder must securely retain keys in any orientation and yet allow easy key removal and replacement.

#The invention involves analysis of all these problems, and realization of a way that a key holder can be made more simple and efficient to meet all the needs in an economical and practical way. The invention aims at a better key holder that is more versatile and convenient and is still very inexpensive.

#In one preferred form, the inventive key holder uses a case formed of a pair of molded resin portions hingedly joined together. A plurality of strips, each formed as one part of a two-part hook-and-loop pile fastener are secured to the inside of each of the case portions, either directly or to the inside of a foamed resin body in each half of the case, to be approximately perpendicular to the hinge line and approximately parallel with each other. A plurality of key tags are each preferably die cut from a strip of extruded resin joined to the other part of the two-part hook-and-loop fastener, and each of the key tags has a hole for receiving a key ring to support a key. Several of the key tags are attachable to each of the strips to support a number of keys in a row along each of the strips. The case can also have a sheet of resin material hinged on an axis parallel with the hinge line of the case and bearing several of the strips to support additional rows of keys, and several pivoted sheets can be mounted in the case if the case encloses sufficient volume. Resin sheets bearing fastener strips can also be arranged in a looseleaf notebook.

#FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one preferred embodiment of the inventive key holder;

#FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the key holder of FIG. 1 in a ring binder;

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top view of a key tag preferred for use with the inventive key holder;

#One preferred embodiment of the inventive key holder as illustrated in FIG. 1 uses a base sheet 10 preferably formed of a resin material. Several different resin materials are suitable, and base sheet 10 is preferably sturdy enough to support the weight of many keys without folding or collapsing. For appearance sake, base sheet 10 preferably has an embossed surface.

#Strips 11 are secured to base sheet 10 to support rows of keys, and strips 11 are formed of one part of a two-part hook-and-loop pile fastener material. Preferably, strips 11 are formed of the hook part of the hook-and-loop pile fastener and are securely attached to base sheet 11 by a reliable adhesive or solvent bond. Strips 11 are oriented on base sheet 10 in preferably parallel relation to extend horizontally as illustrated when base sheet 10 is in its ordinary display orientation.

#Strips 11 are commercially available as a fabric strip having the hook portion of a hook-and-loop pile fastener and backed with a resin material specially prepared for solvent bonding. Methylethyl keytone is a typical solvent for bonding the backs of strips 11 to a resin sheet or body, and support sheets 10 or other resin support bodies are preferably formed of a material that is also soluble in methylethyl keytone so that application of the solvent for bonding strips 11 to a resin sheet or body produces a very secure and convenient attachment for strips 11. Normal wear and tear in attaching and removing keys and supporting the weight of keys is then insufficient to loosen strips 11 from their anchorage, so that the inventive key case has a long wear life.