Method and Apparatus for Key Origination
OwnerEric Anthony Perozzielloinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A retainer, that holds a group of precision, off-the-shelf components in relative alignment so as to allow a standard key duplicating machine to function as a key code origination machine is disclosed. A person of ordinary skill in pinning a lock and operating a key duplicating machine is able to practice the invention. An aspect of the invention is that an ordinary, inexpensive key duplicating machine can be converted to code-cutting functionality with minimal cost, requiring no adaptation of key duplicating machine. Also disclosed are methods of positional registration, machine error compensation, and notch shaping.
Claims15
A method for generating an original key specified by a code using a key duplicating machine, comprising:
- calculating one or more length dimensions from said code;
- selecting one or more pins corresponding to said length dimensions;
- providing a retainer to align said pins at a predetermined spacing in a longitudinal direction;
- affixing said retainer into a master vise of said key duplicating machine;
- affixing a key blank into a slave vise of said key duplicating machine;
- registering a position of said retainer relative to said key blank;
- tracing a profile formed by said retainer and said pins using a tracer of said key duplicating machine;
- whereby said key duplicating machine transforms said key blank into said original key corresponding to said code.
An assembly for adapting a key duplicating machine to transform a key blank into an original key specified by a code, comprising:
- a retainer;
- a plurality of cavities in said retainer, disposed in a longitudinal direction;
- a plurality of slots in said retainer, substantially aligned with said cavities;
- a plurality of pins having a length calculated from said code, installed in said cavities;
- whereby said retainer and said pins form a template for said key duplicating machine to trace, and thereby transform said key blank into said original key corresponding to said code.
A system to transform a key blank into an original key specified by a code, comprising:
- a key duplicating machine;
- a retainer having a plurality of cavities disposed in a longitudinal direction at a predetermined spacing, installed in a master vise of said key duplicating machine;
- a plurality pins having a length calculated from said code, installed in said cavities;
- whereby said retainer and said pins form a tracing template for said key duplicating machine to transform said key blank into said original key corresponding to said code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.