Apparatus and method to visually decipher a keyed lock cylinder
OwnerKeith Capehart, Brian Capehartinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for digital decoding and deciphering a lock cylinder pin configuration, such as for a Kwikset or a Smart Key lock is disclosed. The digital decoder includes a light source placed inside of the keyhole that eliminates glare from the face of the lock and improves the decoding process. A digital camera is configured to provide an optical view of an interior of the lock cylinder to detect the pin settings for each of a plurality of lock tumbler pins carried by the lock cylinder. The digital camera is configured to provide a live feed displayed on a video screen or recorded for later analysis.
Claims17
A lock cylinder decoding apparatus for decoding a lock cylinder of a lock, comprising:
- a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a camera mounted within the proximal end of the housing;
- a modified key removably coupled to the distal end, the modified key having a profile dimensioned to fit a corresponding profile of the lock cylinder, a channel defined within the profile has an opening to a pin side of the lock cylinder;
- and
- a mirror attached at a distal end of the channel, wherein the mirror is angled to orient a sight line of the camera on a selected pin of a plurality of pins carried by the lock cylinder to provide a visual observation of the selected pin by the camera.
A method of decoding a lock cylinder having a plurality of pins, comprising:
- inserting a modified key removably coupled to a distal end of a lock cylinder decoding device, the modified key having a profile dimensioned to fit a corresponding profile of the lock cylinder, a channel defined within the profile has an opening to a pin side of the lock cylinder, a mirror attached at a distal end of the channel, wherein the mirror is angled to orient a sight line of a camera carried by the lock cylinder decoding device on a distal pin of the plurality of pins carried by the lock cylinder to provide a visual observation of a selected pin by the camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.