Key duplication system
AssigneeThe Hillman Group, Inc.
InventorDaniel Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
A system for duplicating keys, comprising:
- at least one key duplicating machine, the at least one key duplicating machine comprising:
- a kiosk housing having a user interface comprising a touchscreen display;
- a key duplicating system within the kiosk housing configured to replicate a tooth pattern of a blade of a master key on a blade of a key blank, using a cutting code;
- a communications interface;
- and
- a key removal exit in the kiosk housing providing access to the key blank for removal from the kiosk;
- and
- a remote server, configured to:
- receive an image of the master key;
- identify the cutting code based on the image of the master key;
- and
- transmit the cutting code to the key duplicating system for replicating the tooth pattern of the blade of the master key on the blade of the key blank.
A method of duplicating a master key, comprising:
- receiving, at a remote server, an image of the master key;
- identifying, by the remote server, a cutting code based on the received image;
- transmitting, by the remote server, the cutting code to a key duplication kiosk;
- receiving, at the key duplication kiosk, the cutting code from the remote server;
- and
- generating, by the key duplication kiosk, a duplicate of the master key using the cutting code and a key blank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.