US 6,053,677 AGranted

Apparatus for supporting keys and key blanks during cutting thereof

AssigneeMedeco Security Locks, Inc.

InventorVincent Juchinewicz

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for supporting angled or chevron-shaped keys or key blanks during cutting of bit surfaces in the blade portions thereof. The angled key blank is supported at the intermediate horizontal ledge portion thereof such that the upper portion of the key which is to be cut is oriented in a horizontal manner so as to be properly engaged by the cutting mechanism. The apparatus may include a plurality of lower vice jaws each of which is configured to support a particular angled key blank, or it may include a plurality of detachable inserts that form part of a modular system which allows a single lower vice jaw to detachably receive any of various inserts, thereby permitting the jaw to support various angled key blanks. A support member also is provided which may be utilized on preexisting vice jaws of a key cutting machine to permit the machine to be modified so as to properly support and cut bit surfaces into the upper portion of an angled key blank.

Claims3

Dependent claims

An apparatus for supporting a key blank having an angled blade which includes an upper portion and a lower portion which is angled away from the upper portion at a predetermined angle, said apparatus comprising:

a support member for engaging the lower portion of the key blank;
wherein the support member includes a substantially vertical portion and a substantially flat surface which is slanted relative the substantially vertical portion, and the substantially flat surface forms an angle with a horizontal axis which is in the range of from about 5.degree. to about 85.degree.;
and
wherein the angle formed between the substantially flat surface of the support member and said horizontal axis substantially corresponds to a predetermined angle formed between an upper portion and a lower portion of an angled key blank thereby permitting the lower portion of the key blank to rest on the substantially flat surface of the support member with the upper portion of the key blank disposed substantially horizontally;
wherein the support member includes a base member and a separate insert secured thereto, and the separate insert includes the substantially vertical portion and the substantially flat surface;
and
further comprising a plurality of separate inserts each being securable to the base member, each of said inserts including a substantially vertical portion and a substantially flat surface, and wherein the angle formed between the horizontal axis and the substantially flat surface is different for each of said plurality of inserts.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.