Master keyboard

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which: FIG.
1 is a front elevational view of the invented master key box apparatus.
FIG.
2 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the key retaining device taken along the line 2--2 of FIG.
1.
FIG.
3 is a rear view of a portion of the device of FIG.
1, with the back partially broken away.
FIG.
4 is an isometric view of a portion of the back of the device of FIG.
1 with a portion of the cover broken away, showing two embodiments of the universal key lock mechanism and key retainer.
FIG.
5 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the universal key lock mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, the face of the master key box or board 10 is preferably a stainless steel plate 12 having a series of key slots 14 provided therein.
The slots 14 are preferably the width of a pair of standard keys in order that both the door lock key and the ignition key of an automotive vehicle can be placed within a single slot.
Adjacent to each slot 14 in the face of board 10 is a hole 16 having a key retaining mechanism 18 situated therein, as best depicted in FIG.
2.
On the back of the plate 12, and associated with each key slot 14, is a receptacle 20, having a flange 22 engaging a pair of pins 24, which are fixed to plate 12, and urged toward the plate 12 by biasing means 26, such as a coil spring or a leaf spring.
The key retaining mechanism 18 includes a universal lock 30 controlled by a universal key 32 shown in FIG.
4, which has a single lug 33 for engaging the operating mechanism of lock 30.
A stop 34, shown in FIG.
5, on the fixed portion of the universal lock limits the movement of the lock to a predetermined radial distance, preferably about one quarter turn or 90.
degree.
, but no more than 120.
degree.
, or it could interfere with adjacent locks, and would be difficult to operate