Key duplication system
AssigneeThe Hillman Group, Inc.
InventorDaniel Freeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A key-duplicating system comprises a network that includes a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of the kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to the customer interface. A remote central server coupled to the kiosks is adapted to receive, from the kiosks, information identifying master keys to be duplicated. A key analysis module uses the information identifying master keys to be duplicated to derive information required to produce duplicates of the identified master keys, and a key duplicating module uses that information to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.
Claims13
A system for duplicating keys, comprising:
- one or more key duplicating machines, each of the one or more key duplicating machines comprising:
- a kiosk housing having a customer interface comprising a touchscreen display;
- a key insertion slot in said housing configured to receive only a portion of a master key to be duplicated;
- a key analysis system within said housing configured to analyze grooves on each side of the blade of the master key inserted in the key insertion slot to determine whether the master key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched;
- a key duplicating system within said housing configured to replicate a tooth pattern of the blade of the master key on the blade of a key blank of the preselected key type;
- a vacuum system comprising a vacuum source and a vacuum shroud, wherein the vacuum shroud encloses at least a portion of the key duplicating system;
- a payment device comprising a credit or debit card reader configured to receive payment from a customer for the duplicated key blank;
- a communications interface;
- and
- a key removal exit in said housing providing customer access to the duplicated key blank for removal from the kiosk;
- and a remote server, configured to:
- receive information from the communications interfaces of the one or more key duplicating machines;
- store the information received from the one or more key duplicating machines;
- and
- transmit information to the communications interfaces of the one or more key duplicating machines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.