Plate-Shaped Holder

This application claims priority to R.O.C. Patent Application No. 113,115,873 filed Apr. 26, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a holder for holding and carrying items, such as keyrings, loops, bead chains and hooks, and more particularly to a holder with a flat, hollow, plate-shaped case appearance which is integrally formed for conveniently and stably holding a number of keyrings, loops, bead chains and hooks.

Ordinary people often carry significant quantities of keys with different functions, including among others, keys for the residence gate and the house door, automobile and motorcycle keys, and office keys. For the sake of conveniently carrying these keys, most people tend to use a keyring to hold the keys together. However, conventional keyrings usually include a circular ring body made of resilient metal material and wound several times, wherein the free ends of the ring body are arranged to tightly abut against the ring body. The users have to open the circular ring body with a great strength for inserting a key thereinto and usually repeat several times before the key is successfully inserted. Although the keyrings of this type are easy to manufacture and cost-effective, they are rather inconvenient to use.

Efforts have been made by the related industry, and several solutions have been proposed to address the above-mentioned problems. R.O.C. Patent No. 541877 requires a keyring to be paired with a limiting block, a pivot hole and a pivot shaft. An elastic element and a stopper are installed on the pivot shaft, assembled into the accommodating seat of the elastic clasp plate, and then secured by its stopper block. As a result, the required structural components are relatively numerous and complex. R.O.C. Patent Nos. 198187 and M355591 disclose a keyring set having a main body with an internal movable space. The main body has a top surface formed with a hole-shaped connection area at one side, a pivot hole in the middle, and a groove at the opposite side following the outer contour. An enlarged insertion area extends from one end of the groove, and an elastic stop plate with a joining area is fixed to the connection area. The elastic stop plate is provided on the middle portion thereof with a press stud protruding through a pivot hole, so as to allow the elastic stop plate to elastically abut against the inner wall of the movable space, with one end of the elastic stop plate blocking the insertion area to constitute a barrier surface. The keyring set further includes a holder which is provided at one side with a latch block for engaging the groove and the insertion area and provided at the other side with a hole for holding a ring, thus constituting a keyring capable of flexible assembly and disassembly. However, keyrings of this type still suffer from the drawback of being overly complex in structure, which increases material and processing costs. Additionally, the production process is more labor-intensive due to the required manual assembly, making them cost-ineffective.

Therefore, there is still a need in the relevant art for an integrally formed plate-shaped holder that is highly versatile in use, simple in structure, and easy to manufacture.

In response to the above-mentioned need, the inventor has conducted extensive research and development to arrive at the invention. The invention relates to an integrally formed holder, which is configured in form of a flat hollow plate-shaped case and adapted to be manufactured through conventional sheet metal processing processes. The invention comprises at least one first holding groove formed between a first end portion and a first folded portion of the holder, with an enlarged first insertion port extending from one end of the first holding groove, and a second end portion arranged to locate at one side of and partially hinder the first insertion port. In the light of the deformability of the holder herein, the first insertion port can be triggered to be accessible by a small force applied by the user, through which items may be introduced and slide along the first holding groove. The invention is of high durability, versatility and cost-effectiveness accordingly and adapted for conveniently and stably holding a number of keyrings, loops, bead chains and hooks.

Therefore, in one aspect provided herein is a holder, which comprises an integrally formed resilient plate-shaped body, extending from a first end portion through a first folded section and a second folded section and terminated at the second end portion, thus constituting a movable space. The first and second end portions are arranged to be superimposed in an upward-downward direction. At least one first holding groove is formed between the first end portion and the first folded portion, with an enlarged first insertion port extending from one end of the first holding groove. The second end portion is arranged to locate at one side of and partially hinder the first insertion port, so that the first insertion port can be triggered to become accessible by applying an external force to separate the first end portion and the second end portion from each other.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one second holding groove is formed between the second end portion and the second folded section, with an enlarged second insertion port extending from one end of the second holding groove, wherein the first end portion is arranged to locate above and partially hinder the second insertion port.

In a preferred embodiment, the first insertion port is located proximal to the first end portion, while the first holding groove is formed on the first upper flat section and extends from the first insertion port towards the first folded section. The second insertion port is located proximal to the second end portion, while the second holding groove is formed on the second upper flat section and extends from the second insertion port towards the second folded section.

In a preferred embodiment, the first end portion and the second end portion are spaced, in part, from each other in the upward-downward direction to create a gap for receiving insertion of an object.

In one preferred embodiment, the first holding groove extends from the first upper flat section to the first folded section, and the second holding groove extends from the second upper flat section to the second folded section.

In one preferred embodiment, the first upper flat section has a shorter length compared to the second upper flat section.

In one preferred embodiment, the holder further comprises an inclined surface formed between the second end portion and the second upper flat section.

In one preferred embodiment, the object to be inserted is selected from keyrings, loops, bead chains and hooks.

In one preferred embodiment, the first folded section and the second folded section are composed of two corners and a side section connecting the two corners, respectively.

Unless specified otherwise, the following terms as used in the specification and appended claims are given the following definitions. It should be noted that the indefinite article “a” or “an” as used in the specification and claims is intended to mean one or more than one, such as “at least one,” “at least two,” or “at least three,” and does not merely refer to a singular one. In addition, the terms “comprising/comprises,” “including/includes” and “having/has” as used in the claims are open languages and do not exclude unrecited elements. The term “or” generally covers “and/or”, unless otherwise specified. The terms “about” and “substantially” used throughout the specification and appended claims are used to describe and account for small fluctuations or slight changes that do not materially affect the nature of the invention.

is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment according to the invention, which shows that a plate-shaped holdercomprises a plate-shaped bodymade of resilient material. The term “resilient” as used herein may refer to a characteristic of material to be deformed without occurrence of substantial cracks and damages upon application of an external force and that substantially returns to its original dimensions upon release of the force. The material with suitable resiliency includes but is not limited to plastics, metals, and the like. In preferred embodiments, the resilient material may comprise metallic sheet material made of stainless steel, brass or zinc alloy. More preferably, the metallic sheet material may have a substantially constant thickness and a substantially rectangular cross-section, which may be made into the plate-shaped body by using metal die casting, forging and electroplating processes. The plate-shaped body is integrally formed, which means that it is processed from a single piece of sheet material.

According to the first embodiment shown in, the plate-shaped bodyis generally a flat, hollow plate-shaped case which is bent multiple times. It extends from the first end portionthrough a first folded sectionand a second folded sectionand is terminated at the second end portion, thus constituting a movable space. The first and second end portions,are arranged to be superimposed in an upward-downward direction. Specifically, the plate-shaped bodystarts from the first end portionand extends integrally along a first upper flat plate sectionto the first folded section. The first folded sectionmay be composed of two cornersand a side sectionconnecting the two corners. The first upper flat plate sectioncontinues to extend sequentially through one of the corners, the side sectionand the other of the cornersto a lower flat sectionand then to the second folded sectioncomposed of two cornersand a side sectionconnecting the two corners. Afterwards, the lower flat sectioncontinues to extend sequentially through one of the corners, the side sectionand the other of the cornersto a second upper flat sectionand is then terminated at the second end portion. The first and the second upper flat sections,are positioned above the lower flat section. In this embodiment, as shown, the plate-shaped bodyis generally rectangular, and the movable spaceis generally rectangular in cross-section.

According to the invention, at least one first holding grooveis formed between the first end portionand the first folded portion, with an enlarged first insertion portextending from one end of the first holding groove. The first insertion portis located proximal to the first end portion, while the first holding grooveis formed on the first upper flat sectionand extends from the first insertion porttowards the first folded sectionand, in some cases, reaches the side sectionof the first folded section. The first holding grooveextends in a longitudinal direction defined by the longitudinally extending first upper flat section. The second end portionis arranged to locate at one side of and partially hinder the first insertion port, so that the first insertion portcan be triggered to open up and become accessible by applying an external force to separate the first end portionand the second end portionfrom each other.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the second end portionis positioned beneath the first insertion port. When the user presses down on the second upper flat section, the cornerabove the side sectionacts as a pivot, and the second upper flat sectionand the second end portionare forced to move inwardly into the movable space, whereby the second end portionis moved away from the first end portion, as shown in. As a result, the normally partially hindered first insertion portbecomes accessible and allows items such as keyrings, loops, bead chains and hooks to be inserted. It is worth noting that the first insertion portmay be configured in circular form, through which spherical items, such as bead chains and clips, can enter the first insertion portand slide along the first holding groovefor hanging. When the external force is released from the second upper flat plate section, the second end portionreturns to its original position due to the resiliency of the plate-shaped bodyand, therefore, partially hinders the first insertion port, as shown in. At this point, the first insertion portis closed again, thus preventing the inserted items from falling out.

In a preferred embodiment of the plate-shaped holder, at least one second holding grooveis further formed between the second end portionand the second folded section. According to the second embodiment shown in, an enlarged second insertion portextends from one end of the second holding groove, with the first end portionbeing positioned above and partially hindering the second insertion port. The second insertion portis located proximal to the second end portion, while the second holding grooveis formed on the second upper flat sectionand extends from the second insertion porttowards the second folded sectionand, in some cases, reaches the side sectionof the second folded section.

In-(C), a bead chaincomposed of multiple spherical beadsconnected by short rodsis taken as an example to illustrate a process of operating the plate-shaped holder. As shown in, a user may first press the second upper flat section, so that the second upper flat sectionand the second end portionare forced to move inwardly into the movable spacein light of the cornerlocated above the side sectionof the second folded section, which functions as a pivot, whereby the second end portionis moved away from the first end portion. As a result, the normally partially hindered first insertion portand second insertion portare opened up and become accessible. At this moment, the end-most beadlocated at one end of the bead chainmay be introduced into the first insertion portas shown in, so that the short rodcan register with and slide into the first holding groove. The two beadslocated on either side of the short rodrest against the side walls of the first holding groove, allowing one end of the bead chainto move along the first holding groovewithout restriction. The end-most beadlocated at the other end of the bead chainmay also be introduced into the second insertion port, so as to allow the other end of the bead chainto be held by the second holding groove. As shown in, once the pressing force is released from the second upper flat section, the first end portionand second end portionreturn to their original positions where the two end portions are in contact with each other. As shown in, following the steps described above, the plate-shaped holdercan stably hold the bead chainin place and may, if desired, carry additional items via the bead chain. When disassembly is desired, simply press down on the second upper flat sectionand slide the short rodsof the bead chainalong the first and second holding grooves,to remove the inserted beadsout of the first and second insertion portsand, thereby disconnecting the bead chainfrom the holder. The structural arrangement herein makes the holdereasy to attach or detach various items, providing convenient usability.

In-(C), a keyringhaving a ring structure with a through holeis taken as an example to illustrate an alternative process of operating the plate-shaped holder. In, a user may first press the second upper flat section, so that the second upper flat sectionand the second end portionare forced to move inwardly into the movable spacein light of the cornerlocated above the side section, which functions as a pivot. As a result, the first end portionand the second end portionare spaced, in part, from each other in the upward-downward direction to create a gapfor receiving insertion of the keyring. As shown in, the keyringmay be rotated, so that the through holethereof is brought to register with the first end portionor the second end portion. For the purpose of illustration, the through holeis shown in the drawing to register with the first end portion, and then the keyringis sleeved onto the free end of the first end portion. As shown in, once the second upper flat sectionis no longer subjected to an external force, the first end portionand second end portionreturn to their original positions where the two end portions are in contact with each other. As shown in, through the operating process above, the plate-shaped holdercan stably hold a lot of keyrings, loops or hooks, and additional items may be hung up subsequently through the keyrings, loops or hookswhich have already been held.

-(E) illustrate the third to sixth embodiments of the invention, showing certain variations of the invention. In these embodiments, the plate-shaped bodyis similar in shape to the first and second embodiments and have a generally flat, hollow, plate-shaped case. Referring to, the third and the fourth embodiments differ from the first and second the embodiments in having multiple first groovesor multiple second grooves, which allows for further increased capacity for hanging items. Referring to, the fifth embodiment differs from the first and the second embodiments in the shape of the plate-shaped body, which can be further modified into other shapes. In the fifth embodiment, the first and the second upper flat sections,, as well as the lower flat section, are configured in trapezoidal shape, and the first groovemay be arranged to extend laterally on the side portion. As shown in, the first groovemay have an end portion shaped like a “T.” Referring to, the sixth embodiment differs the first embodiment in that the second end portionis located above the first insertion port. Therefore, the user can directly press the first upper flat sectionto force the first upper flat sectionand the first end portionto move inwards into the movable space, causing the first end portionto move away from the second end portion, thereby enabling the normally hindered first insertion portto open. Additionally, the first holding groovemay extend from the first folded sectionto the lower flat sectionand may further extend to the second folded section.

Furthermore, in the first to the fifth embodiments, the first upper flat sectionhas a shorter length compared to the second upper flat section, as shown in, thereby facilitating the pressing operation by the user. In addition, an inclined surfacemay be formed between the second end portionand the second upper flat section, so that the first upper flat sectionand the second upper flat sectionappear to be coplanar.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments above, it should be recognized that the preferred embodiments are given for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and that various modifications and changes, which will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.