Lock position indicator

A device for indicating the position into which a lock was last actuated by the user of a key comprising:

• a housing including
• a first half and
• a second half, each half including
• a surface recess so located as to cooperate with the other recess when the halves are in operative abutment, each recess being relatively shallow adjacent one edge of its respective half, extending substantially uniformly to be relatively deep adjacent an opposite edge of its respective half, and extending to an intermediate edge of its respective half
• means for joining the housing halves so that the relatively shallow portions of the recesses are opposed to one another and the relatively deep portions of the recesses are also opposed to one another, thus forming an opening within the housing;
• a key having
• a shank and
• a handle including
• a first edge and
• a second edge;
• means for holding the key within the opening such that the key shank extends out of the housing with the first edge thereof positioned adjacent the shallow portions of the recesses and the second edge movable between the relatively deep portions thereof;
• means for inhibiting but not prohibiting movement of the second edge of the key between opposite sides of the opening formed by the recesses adjacent the relatively deep portions thereof;
• and
• means for providing an indication, on the exterior of the housing, of the position of the second key edge relative to the relatively deep portions of the recesses.

A device for indicating to the user of a key whether the lock last actuated by the key was left in the locked or unlocked condition comprising:

• a casing having
• an opening therein of approximately triangular cross-sectional configuration including
• a first, relatively narrow wall of slightly greater width than the key and
• a second, relatively wide wall, the opening extending to one edge of the casing;
• a key within the casing and having
• a shank extending outwardly from the opening and
• a handle having
• a first edge extending along the first wall of the opening and
• a second edge extending generally along the second wall of the opening;
• means for limiting movement of the key to pivotal movement within the opening about an axis extending along the first edge between a first position in which the second edge is adjacent one side of the second wall and a second position in which the second edge is adjacent the other side of the second wall;
• and
• means, actuated by the key upon pivotal movement thereof within the casing in a first direction, for locating an indicator exteriorly of the casing periphery and, upon pivotal movement of the key in the second direction, for withdrawing the indicator to a position which is at least coextensive with the periphery of the casing.