2) United States Patent Stein (4) KEY LOCATOR (73) Inventor: Sandra Stein, West Hills, CA (US) Assignee ey ” Aexx,Ine,, West Hills, CA (US) Notice: Subject wo any disclaimer, the tema of this patent is extended or adjust under 35 USC. 154(5) by 205 days. Appl. Nos 109919,494 Filed: Aug, 17, 2004 Publication Data US 200610037681 AL Feb. 23, 2006 (I) Ia, ASC 1182 (2006.01) (2) US.CL 150/106; 243.8; 701456 701859) (58) Field of Classification Search 1500106; V3.6, 70/486, 459; D8207.211; 63/11, 63/12, 12,43 ‘ce application fle far complete search history. 66) References Cited US, PATENT DOCUMENTS A * 81914 egens ous. A * 121915 Killon 70459 A * $1938 Ryan 1501106 A$ 101940 Colas “nase R 2224972 A * 121940 Long, Ie eal 2436 2250328 A * 71941 Daniels 236 DITSA82 § 81956 Bacon 3016226 A © 11962 Hall 42083 3071938 A+ 14963. Davideon ei 367524 A * 61972 Konwin ous ANTI A A9T3 ive of a 2 US007308922B2 (io) Patent Noz US 7,308,922 B2 (45) Date of Paten Dee. 18, 2007 ROMSIT.A 1976 Langwll 4004325 A LN9TT bach SUIS A 91978 Brito 4201259 A S198 Ando? 42208 A * 919K Chicckine ons 42261105 A 101980 Webrman 4282733 A * BIBL Schmit Cohasion) .. 70486 R DIO408 § 192 Bells 431938 A MI9R2 Home 4A07 88 A 101985 Rowsseaw 440778 A D198 Sander A5i6ai8 A $1985 Cuter ASHAG A 6198S Moments (Continued) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 2606258 AL * 5/1988 (Continued) OTHER PUBLICATIONS Missing Quarter fom the United Sates Mit, sve 2002 * A, Weaver Jones Day; Brett Lov Primary Examiner (74) Attorney, Agent, oF Firm on ABSTRACT A key loctor includes frst and second memibers. Te fist ‘member has opposed ends and an intermediate u-shaped region, One ofthe ends ofthe first member comprises a hook. for engaging the second member which includes a clasp \whle the ether end comprises an enlarged portion foe fin ‘an omanient thereto, The amangement is suitable for hang ing at the open top of a bag-hike device such as a purse, ‘boekpack or briefcase whereby the ornament i displayed at the same time that the keys are readily acoessible without ‘undue fishing effors 19 Claims,US 7,308,922 B2 Page? US. PATENT DOCUMENTS Dia» § 4200 eRe a Daa $3301 fa ssnox9 Pea ox Bi ilar Boke Sona Gas BI ‘Le? Kau toe Seo oko fe Basost Serta ese §2 300 Mma teed Noe Ssouat BI 7200 thay Boonase esse DR 8) 6300) Mew Dosa fon e007) BI S30 tars bantast oe Sates) S300) Mee bas oo Diss $1230 tan Bore soi mass nett Bre “at Cheng ase doo wi 0 Seuss BD as ch Sint Se sist Fan Bt 3308 Bare Sih» 2 We eal Saou s! Azo: sa bse Mon Droeaay $4308 eter Sita ‘te Bi Sor Rear baer Sivan S$ ioaes Sagan newinge Br thos baste ton ea sions Al l0z00 Dastaet Siena Jonsuspor A. toss es tell Rotcoae at+ ‘Sane mas 371,325 Fritsche 20050208848 AL 9/2005 Grossman Sassr Mina vou Bosna At 3a Seon Seize Uewimtin 90489 pou at ‘S300 Shon Basan Vinowt Spowsts Al $2008 by oe cot FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS Sasa Sar N07 A+ 987 Sieore Cree ah se 6291 pas seed val besson Warr a aes 8 he 403.501 Winter » 2003 174913.A * 62007 beosstp wae 2m A+ L198 Uae 486 R ete by xineU.S. Patent Dec. 18, 2007 Sheet 1 of 2 US 7,308,922 B2 FIG. 1A FIG. 1BUS. Patent Dee. 18, 2007 Sheet 2 of 2 US 7,308,922 B2 10US 7,308,922 B2 1 KEY LOCATOR BACKGROUND |, Field ofthe Invention “The present invention relates to hey holders. More par: ticularly, this invention periins to a Key holder that is expecially adapted to facilitate the ready location of keys in purse, backpack, briefcase or like ig. 2. Brief Description of the Prior Ar ‘Acommon aud popula type af purse oF ike bag has atop ‘that includes atleast a regioa that is upwardly open in se (Often this type of bag is rather deep, permitting the owner- user fo slore a variety of items. Further, such depth is ‘generally considered fashionable, ‘A knowa drawback of the above-described purse or like ‘bag configuration resides in the dificulty of readily retriev- ing keys, or a group thereof gathered on a key chain, from its interior. This ean lead to the fastration of the owneraser and to others. For example the culty of locating ea keys at the bottom of a purse can ease significant delay in vocating 9 parking space ‘SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the preceding and other shortcomings of the prior ar by providing a Key locator Such key locator includes a fist member having opposed end portions. ‘The member incorporates a w-shaped region intermediate the end portions. second member includes a clasp for selectively retaining atleast one key. The first and second ‘members are engaged to one another. “The preceding and other features of the iavention will ‘become further appareat from the detailed description tht follows. Such description i accompanied by a set of draw~ ing figures, Numerals ofthe drawing figures correspond to ‘numerals of the written description with like numerals referring ta like features throughout both the written desi tion and the drawing figuees BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1(2) and 1(8) are a front elevation view ofthe key locator of the invention and a partial planar view of the ‘ormament mouating pad thereof respectively, and FIG. 1(e) is a front elevation view of the key locator ofthe invention with the decorative element shown attached FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the key locator of the ‘vention in use: and FIG, 3 is a cross-sectional view of the key locator ofthe invention in use taken at line 33 of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT “Tumsing now to the drawings, FIG. 1(a) is from eleva tion view of the key locator 10 of the invention. The key locator 10 comprises interdockng first and second members {12and Ld respectively. Each ofthe first and second members 12, 14s preferably of stel or otber metal alnough plastic or other rigid elastomeric material may be employed ‘The second membor 14 includes a clasp 16 that is pret= crably rotatably engaged to an inverted u-shaped element 18, The v-shaped clement 18 is arranged to engage a hook 20a one end of the fist memiber 12 10 provide lexible engagement of the members 12 and 14 vo » s 2 ‘The fist member 12 includes a v-shaped interior region 22. Its opposed end, as shown clearly in FIG. 10), come prises an enlarged region 24 that serves as an omament ‘mounting pad for afxation ofa decorative ornament 26 ‘The omament 26, comprising a lowerike shape as shown in the dravings but not limited tert, is eran to face away from te interior ofthe fst member 12 with its back portion 28 preferably fixed tothe enlarged region 24 of the member by solder or the like FIG. 2a perspective view ofthe key locator 19 ofthe invention in se. In FIG. 2th key lear 10s hung from the upper edge 29 ofa Side panel 30 of a hag-like purse 32 ‘withthe u-shaped region 22 overhanging the side panel 30 Sort tbe feo the omarent 26s expose. This provides the user with an atactive adjunct othe purse 32 that serves the aditional fneton of edly locating the ke lear 10 FIG. 3 isa crss-soctional view ofthe key locator ofthe ‘invention in us taken at ine 3.3 of FIG. 2 Keys 4, secured bythe clasp 16 the secoda member 14, re seen‘ le near or atthe bottom 36 of the baglke purse 32, somewhst suspended from the upper edge 29 ofthe side pane! 30, The ‘shaped interior repion 22 ofthe fist memiber 12 ofthe key Jocater 10, as mentionod with reference to the preceding figure is raped oF hung over the upper edge 29 o create the suspension efect. The altude ofthe botom of the Key locator 10 and keys 34 ill depend upon the length ofthe gy locator 10 relative tothe depth ofthe side panel 30 of the baglike puse 32. However, regardless of the previse altitude ofthe keys 34 within the puse 32, thy may be readily located duet the visible presence ofthe omament 26 ‘Thus, itcan be seen thatthe preset invention prvies a key lcaor especially suitable for use with a purse, back- pick, briefs or other baglike device. By employing the key locator of the invention in conjunction with such @ device, one may find Keys stored within without delay. Furiber, by proving @ decorative ornament fo indicating te location ofthe ey locator, the appearance ofthe hag is cahanced ‘While this invention hs bee deserbe with reference to its presently prefered embodiment, isnt limited ther. Rather the invention is init only insofar asi is defined bythe follwing st of patent lama includes within its scope all equivalents thereof ‘Whats elimed is 1. Akey locator comprising, in combination: 2) bent rod-shaped fst member having 9 fist end poston and a second end potion and ja second member including ehse-orm clasp for selectively retaining at lest one ke; wherein said fist end portion and said second end pation are opposed to cach other said bent m-shaped fst member inomporatesa shaped region intermediate said fist end potion axl tid second end portion, Said fst end potion and sid secon end potion are not ued agaist each eter and are configneed 10 allow Seid veshaped region to hang rom an ele, said bent shaped fit member an said second mem ter are substantially pemaneatly and exibly engaged ‘one athe va single hok at said ist end portion of sid bent rod-shaped fist member, and said closed-form clasp is oatably fixed to @ u-shaped clement of sid second member, whereia the wsbaped element is substantially pemmanentiy and flexibly engage 1 sid single hook at ai fis end portion of ‘sid eat rod-shaped fist member.US 7,308,922 B2 3 2. key locatoras defined in claim 1 frther inching an ‘omament directly and permanently fixed to said second end portion of said beat rod-shaped frst member so that a firs. face ofthe omamen is exposed and so thatthe ornament is arranged to face away ftom an interior of sad bent rod shaped frst member, wherein the omameat provides the Function of readily locating the Key locator on sad edge and ‘wherein the emament provides the function ofan atactive adjunct 3. key locator as defined in claim 2 wherein sid second nd portion of said beat rod-shaped fist member comprises ‘an enlarged portion for allxation of suid ornament. 4. key locator as defined in claim 3 wherein said ‘omament comprises flower shape 5, A key locator as defined in claim 3 wherein back portion of suid omament is soldered onto suid enlarged Porton 6, Thekey locators defined in claims 4 wherein said beat ‘nd-shaped first member and suid second member are each ‘made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, steel, and plastic, 7. A ey locator as defined in elim 1, wherein the edge isan upper edge of a side panel of a bog-like purse: 8A key locator as defined in claim 7, wherein the bag-lke purse is purse, a backpack, ora briefcase. 9A key lear as defined in claim 1, wherein sid bent se-shaped fest member and said secoad member are eon figured so that when the beat ed-shaped frst member is ‘ivieved from the edge, the second member is necessarily reteoved 10. A two-member apparatus comprising a bent rode shed first member and second member, wherein (@) said bent rod-shaped first member has a first end portion anda second end portion, wherein sid frst end Portion and said second end portion ate opposed to each other: said bent rod-shaped fist member incorporates a ‘usshaped region intermediate said first end portion and said second end portion, wherein said first end portion (i tnd said second end portion are not urged aginst each 40 other and are configured to allow said u-shaped region to hang from an edge; (Gi) said bent rod-shaped frst member and said second ‘member are substantially permanently and flexibly engaged to one another via a single hook at said fist end portion of said bent rod-shaped first member and (jv) an ornament is directly and permanently fixed to 3 said socond portion so that @ face ofthe omament is exposed and wherein the ormameat provides the fune- tion of realy lating the two-member apparatus on the edge and wherein the ornament provides the fune- tion of serving as an attractive adjune; and ‘wherein said second member comprises a closed-form clasp that is rotatably fixed to a v-shaped element and wherein said u-shoped element engages suid single hook at said fst end portion of said Bent rod-shaped fist member, wherein tho closed-form clasp is config- ured for selectively holding keys. 11 The two-member apparatus of claim 10, wherein said ‘ormament comprises a flower shape. 12. The twosnember apparatus of elsim 10, wherein a bck portion of suid ornament is soldered onto sid second end portion 4 13. The two-member apparatus of claim 10, wherein said ‘ent rod-shaped fist member and sad second member are cach made of a material selected from the group consisting of mea, tel, and plastic. 14. A two-member apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the edge is an upper edge of a side panel of a agelke purse 15. A twounember apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the baglike purse is @ purse, 2 backpack, oF a brefease, 16. A two-member apparatus as defined in claim 10, ‘wherein sid bent rod-shaped fist member and said second. member are configured so that when the bent rod-shaped. first member is retrieved from the edge, the second member is necessarily retrieved 17. A method comprising: (@) retaining at east one key in a closed-form clasp of a second member of a wo-member appara, wherein (a bent rod-shaped fist member of said two-msember apparatus has a frst end portion and second end Porton, wherein said fst end portion and suid second end portion are opposed to cach other, (i) said bent rod-shaped first member incorporates usshaped region intermediate suid frst end portion ‘and said second end portion, wherein ssid fist end portion and ssid second end portion are not urged ‘against each other and are configured to allow said usshaped region to hang from aa upper edge of aside panel ofa bag-like purse (ii ssid bemt rod-shaped fist member and sid second rember are substantially permanently and flexibly ‘engaged to one another va a single hook at sid ist ‘end portion of said bent rod-shaped first member, and (iv) an ornament is fixed to said second end potion; and (b) hanging the two-member apparatus from said upper ‘ge of said side pane of said bag-like purse with the usshaped region overhanging the side panel so that 2 fe of the omament is exposed, wherein std closed- {rm clasp is rotatably fixed to wshaped element and \whercin said u-shaped element engages suid single hook, and wherein the omament provides the Function of readily locating the two-member apparatus on the upper edge and wherein the orsament provides the faction of an attactive adjunct. 18. The method of claim 17, whercin the bog like purse is a purse, a backpack, ora briefcase, 19. The method of claim 17, the method further compris- ing: «) retioving sid bent rod-shaped first member of said ‘wo-memer apparatus from Said upper edge soc that, when said bent rod-shaped fist member is retrieved fom the upper ee, the atleast one key retains inthe closed-form clasp of the second member is necessarily retrieved 8