Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-15
2003-11-11
Picard, Leo (Department: 2125)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C700S120000, C264S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06647308
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to key duplicating processes, and more particularly is directed to a method for fabricating duplicate keys without a master key, and to a method for such fabrication that is compatible with automatic key making such that special key blanks and trained personnel are not necessary to the key making process.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,130 (Gartner) describes an unattended semi-automatic, coin operated duplicate key vending machine for use by members of the general public, the machine having a supply of key blade blanks with different cross sectional shapes in storage. A customer may quickly select the correct blank by placing his key into one of a plurality of slots or selector openings. Each of the slots is adapted to receive a key blade of a different shape which cross section corresponds to the shape of one of the blanks in storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,261 (Stahl) describes a key cutting apparatus for cutting a series of longitudinally spaced notches in the blade of a key blank according to specifications set forth in key manufacturers' codebooks. The apparatus includes a cutter mounted on a base, and a carriage assembly movably mounted on the base for controllable movement toward and away from the cutter. The carriage assembly includes a sub-carriage adapted for controllable independent movement in a direction perpendicular to the carriage assembly movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,763 (Uyeda) describes a method and apparatus for decoding and duplicating a key wherein the notches in the shank of the key are coded to a predetermined coded depth and spacing. An index card having a sequential index thereon corresponding to the predetermined coded depth is inserted into a housing and the key to be duplicated is inserted into, a slot in the housing where it engages an indexing member which enters one of the notches on the key and indicates on the card the coded depth of that notch.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,582 (Heimann) describes a small and simply operated recording apparatus employing an elastic pressure element that is utilized to make a three dimensional recording in thin metallic foil from each of the two sides of a primary key from which a secondary key is to be manufactured, the recordings placed in an interpreting apparatus, which may be located remotely from the recording apparatus, which permits extraction of precise three dimensional data stored in the recordings whereafter the extracted data is utilized in a key cutting apparatus to produce a secondary key, in all comprising a key making system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,173 (Saucedo) describes a key cutter that includes a machine for cutting keys for most pin tumbler or disc tumbler locks. The machine is not a duplicator but is a machine for cutting keys by the code or number. The machine includes base, turret assembly, and an electric motor for operating or driving a cutting wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,498 (Fieldhouse) describes a key forming machine that includes a machine frame, key cutting means mounted on the machine frame and operable to cut bittings at preselected locations and depths into a key blank to form a key, and a carriage assembly adapted to carry a key blank and mounted on the machine frame for movement for presentation of the key blank to the key cutting means. First and second indexing mechanisms are mounted on the machine frame and are operable to move the carriage assembly, for presentation of a carried key blank to the key cutting means, to indexed positions respectively corresponding to preselected biting locations and bitting depths.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,448 (Alexander) describes a pantograph angular bitted key cutting machine which facilitates the replication of angular bitted keys, commonly known as Medecod keys by automatically replicating the position, depth and angularity of each tooth. Accurate angularity, the most difficult of the variables to replicate, is assured by ensuring that the center of rotation of the angular tooth wall is perpendicular to the radius of the cutting head. Two major embodiments are provided. In the first, the cutting head and the guide that aligns with the original key are fixed in the same line. In the second embodiment the guide and the original key are placed directly behind the cutting head and the blank duplicate key.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,032 (Uyeda et al.) describes a key duplicating apparatus, which includes a base and platform supporting a reciprocating carriage assembly and a pivotally mounted housing. The carriage assembly has a key securement means which secures a blank key and a template key in alignment for positioning, respectively, with a notch cutting means and a notch depth indicating means, so that a template key may be duplicated by cutting notches of a predetermined depth and position into the shank portion of the blank key.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,330 (Lo) describes a key manufacturing method, which includes a first procedure to produce key bodies through material shape molding, side-edge cutting process, thickness, curvature and length milling process, bitting forming process, and numbering and classification process according to shape of bitting; a second procedure to produce sheaths through copper rod planing process, conical front end milling process, groove lathing process and opposite inner wall trimming process; and a third procedure to fixedly fasten a key body in a sheath to form a unitary round key.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,531 (Fadel) describes an optical profile reader, particularly for key duplicating machines, incorporating a photoemitter on one side of the profile to be read, and a photodetector facing the photoemitter, but on the opposite side of the profile to be read. Stepper motors are included for causing the profile to be read to move orthogonal to the direction of a light beam striking the profile to be read. An electronic circuit controlled by the output signal of the photodetector is also provided. The electronic circuit uses a threshold discriminator set at a value between the values corresponding to the maximum and minimum illumination states of the photodetector. The threshold discrimination circuit also controls the operations of the stepper motors.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,555 (Matsumoto) describes a holography device which is comprised of a beam splitter arranged in the optical path of an incident beam from a beam source, and beam splitter splitting said incident beam into at least three beams. At least one transmitted beam and at least two reflected beams, said transmitted beam and at least one of said reflected beams being used as an illuminating beam for the object and the other reflected beam being used as a reference beam, said object transferring its illuminating beam into a signal beam.
Conventional key duplicating machines are typically manually operated wherein a skilled technician is needed to set-up, operate, and guide a holding device to produce a working product. Such duplicating machines are designed so that the technician must have a prior knowledge, skill, and ability to select a specific key blank or stock as to match the master or original key to be-duplicated or copied.
Such devices (machines) are produced with specific instructions as to the degree of capabilities for its original intent. Some machines are solely designed to cut and duplicate only certain manufacturers' keys, as for example: Medeco, Abloy, Assa, Schlage Primus, with side milled, dimpled and grooved keys. Others are designed to only cut simple common keys such as Kwikset, Weslock, and Weiser generally used in household locks.
Such machines are temperamental requiring frequent adjustments and alignments caused by wear and tear from motor driven belts, worn key cutting blades, and key alignment guides, gauges and stops.
Also, the user must correctly and consistently install and align the original or master key and key blank in the holding apparatus of the key machine to insure correct
Kelly Bauersfeld Lowry & Kelley LLP
Kidest Bahta
Picard Leo
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