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US 9,055,789 B2Granted
Connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like
AssigneeAha LLC
InventorsDouglas D. Danforth, Jr., Warren V. Moore, David R. Peck, Dale W. Sass
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Connection devices for holding objects, such as, for instance, keys or dog tags, are disclosed. The connection device includes a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween through which objects may be added or removed to the connection device. The device also includes a body with a blocking portion configured to adequately span the ring opening to selectively prohibit addition or removal of objects from the ring. The ring and body are shiftably interconnected at a hinged connection.
Claims91
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring and body being configured to prevent relative swinging therebetween when the hinged connection is in the first position,
- said blocking portion including a first recess configured to receive one of the respective ring ends therein thereby restricting relative swinging of the ring and body when the hinged connection is in the first position.
4 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring presenting a hinge portion that cooperates with the body to define the hinged connection,
- said ring presenting an arcuate ring portion extending between the hinge portion and one of the ring ends;
- and
- said body presenting an elongated side cooperating with the arcuate ring portion to define therebetween a space so as to accommodate the object.
6 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said body including a manually actuatable locking mechanism that releasably locks the hinged connection in the first position.
3 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring and body cooperatively defining the hinged connection, with the ring moving between first and second locations relative to the body which correspond to the first and second positions of the hinged connection,
- said body including arms defining therebetween an elongated slot, with the ring being shiftable within the slot between the first and second locations.
4 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said body and ring being configured so that the hinged connection is urged into the first position,
- said ring and body cooperatively defining the hinged connection, with the ring moving between first and second locations relative to the body which correspond to the first and second positions of the hinged connection,
- said body including arms defining therebetween an elongated slot, with the ring being shiftable within the slot into and out of the first and second locations.
5 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring presenting a pair of ring-alignment surfaces that face in opposite axial directions and extend substantially radially,
- said body presenting a pair of oppositely facing body surfaces, each of which interengages a respective one of the ring-alignment surfaces so that movement of the body along the ring is generally restricted to thereby ensure alignment of the blocking portion with the opening when the body is in the first position,
- said blocking portion including a first recess configured to receive one of the respective ring ends therein thereby restricting relative swinging of the ring and body when the hinged connection is in the first position.
5 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring presenting a pair of ring-alignment surfaces that face in opposite axial directions and extend substantially radially;
- said body presenting a pair of oppositely facing body surfaces, each of which interengages a respective one of the ring-alignment surfaces so that movement of the body along the ring is generally restricted to thereby ensure alignment of the blocking portion with the opening when the body is in the first position,
- said ring presenting a pair of spaced apart projections that cooperatively present the ring alignment surfaces along opposed faces thereof.
5 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring presenting a body-engaging surface,
- said body including a pair of flexible arms, with each of said flexible arms including a wall engaging the body-engaging surface of the ring to thereby releasably retain the body and the ring in one of a plurality of indexed positions, with relative swinging of the body and ring between positions causing the arms to yieldably flex.
4 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough;
- and
- a body including a blocking portion operable to substantially close the ring opening so as to restrict removal of the object from the ring,
- wherein the body is interconnected with the ring at a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between a first position in which the blocking portion blocks said at least a portion of the object from passing through the ring opening and a second position in which the ring and body are relatively swingable about the hinged connection so that the blocking portion may be moved away from the ring to thereby allow access to the opening and removal of the object,
- said ring being substantially toroidal in shape,
- said ring including a straight section that cooperates with the body to define the hinged connection,
- said ring further including a pair of arcuate sections each extending between the straight section and a respect one of the ends.
5 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured and so dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the object;
- and
- a body swingably interconnected with the ring about a hinged connection so that the body may be swung into and out of a blocking position relative to the opening to thereby prevent removal of the object,
- said ring presenting a body-engaging ring surface,
- said body including a pair of flexible arms, with each of said flexible arms including a wall engaging the ring surface to cooperatively define the hinged connection,
- said ring surface presenting a plurality of ring faces and said walls each having a wall face engaging the surface to thereby releasably retain the body and ring in one of a plurality of indexed positions, with relative swinging of the body and ring between the positions causing the arms to yieldably flex.
3 more elements
A connection device for holding an object, such as a key, dog tag, and the like, said connection device comprising:
- a ring having ends operable to define an opening therebetween that is configured to receive at least a portion of the object therethrough,
- said ring including a hinge portion spaced from the ends;
- and
- a body cooperating with the hinge portion of the ring to define a hinged connection that forms an axis about which the ring and body are swingable relative to one another,
- said hinged connection being shiftable in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis between first and second positions spaced along the body, with the ends being moveable into engagement with the body when the hinged connection is in the first position and the ends being spaced from the body when the hinged connection is in the second position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.