Patents Assigned to The Hillman Group, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10539266
    Abstract: A wall anchors in the form of a base with one or more wall penetrating retainers having respective wall penetrating extents that are curved. The retainers and base are configured to enable manual insertion onto wall without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gary E. Will, Byron K. Grice, Dale G. Malott
  • Patent number: 10524587
    Abstract: A fastener storage and display cabinet includes a housing defining an internal space, with a plurality of tray units positioned within the internal space. Each tray unit is movable between a closed position primarily within the internal space and an extended position in which a majority of the tray unit is cantilevered forward of the housing. At least one tray unit is formed as a telescoping tray assembly comprising an upper tray component and a lower tray component, wherein the upper tray component fits within the lower tray component and is movable with respect to the lower tray component between a first position nested within the lower tray component and a second position cantilevered forwardly from the lower tray component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Rosner, James F. Huss, Nalinikanth Garikapati
  • Patent number: 10526117
    Abstract: A container assembly includes a jar and a lid assembly. The jar includes a body portion defining an interior space for holding items and an upper neck portion disposed about a jar opening leading to the interior space. The lid assembly is connected to the upper neck portion of the jar and includes an inner lid component and an outer lid component. The outer lid component is rotatable relative to the inner lid component while the inner lid component remains stationary relative to the upper neck portion of the jar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: James F. Huss
  • Publication number: 20190366499
    Abstract: A self-service knife-sharpening kiosk is disclosed. The kiosk may have a housing and a board within the housing. The board may be configured to receive a knife. The kiosk may have an imaging device configured to scan a cutting edge of the knife. Further, the kiosk may have a sharpening wheel configured to sharpen the cutting edge. The kiosk may also have a manipulator disposed within the housing. The manipulator may be configured to pick up the knife from the board. The manipulator may also be configured to orient the knife in a first position such that the imaging device detects the cutting edge of the knife. The manipulator may be configured to orient the knife in a second position such that the cutting edge of the knife contacts the sharpening wheel. The manipulator may also be configured to replace the at least one knife on the board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Michael ROSENBLATT
  • Patent number: 10482439
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Patent number: 10436238
    Abstract: A screw includes at least one helical thread with a peripheral edge having notched regions spaced apart by notch-free regions. An underside of a head of the screw includes projecting nibs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Michael K. Falkenstein, Farhad Lajewardi
  • Patent number: 10428859
    Abstract: A threaded fastener includes a head end, a shank and an entry end, the head end located at one end of the shank and the entry end located at an opposite end of the shank. The head end includes an end face with a drive recess configured for being driven by multiple drive bit shapes, including a star or six lobe drive, a Phillips drive, a square drive and a flat blade drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Michael K. Falkenstein, Farhad Lajewardi
  • Publication number: 20190279458
    Abstract: A self-service kiosk is disclosed. The self-service kiosk may have a housing, including a user interface. The user interface may receive from a user a selection of an item. The user interface may also receive from the user a payment for a purchase of the item. The self-service kiosk may include a fabrication system disposed within the housing. The fabrication system may fabricate the item selected by the user. The self-service kiosk may also include a packaging system. The packaging system may sealingly enclose the item in a package. Further, the self-service kiosk may include a bin that may dispense the package, including the item, to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Andy VOLKMANN, Chris LOHMANN, Michael ROSENBLATT, Roberto AIMI
  • Patent number: 10406607
    Abstract: A clamp is disclosed for a key making machine. The clamp may have an anvil, and a door movable toward the anvil to sandwich a key blank therebetween. The clamp may also have a gate pivotally connected to the door and configured to engage the key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Gerlings, Michael Schmidt, Lawrence Perea
  • Patent number: 10400474
    Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10390618
    Abstract: A wall mounted object support system includes a grid member with a peripheral portion proximate a wall and a body portion offset from the peripheral portion and spaced further away from the wall than the peripheral portion. The grid member is formed by a plurality of spaced apart first elongated rod or wire portions each running in a first direction and a plurality of spaced apart second rod or wire portions each running in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. One or more of a support block and/or pivoting anchor components may be used to hold the grid member against the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gary E. Will, Byron K. Grice, Michael J. Schmidt, Wayne R. Mayville
  • Publication number: 20190162361
    Abstract: An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component. The first anchor component includes a base having front, back, top, bottom, left and right sides, and at least one wall penetrating retainer extending from the base and having a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the base and has a downwardly curved configuration. The second anchor component includes a base having front, back, top, bottom, left and right sides, at least one wall penetrating retainer extending from the base of the second anchor component and having a wall penetrating extent that protrudes rearwardly of the base of the second anchor component and has a curved configuration. The second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gary E. WILL, Byron K. GRICE, Dale G. MALOTT, Ryan HAMBLIN
  • Patent number: 10301844
    Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20190142188
    Abstract: An anchor assembly for hanging an object on a wall includes a first anchor component and a second anchor component. The second anchor component is pivotably associated with the first anchor component for movement between an anchoring orientation and a non-anchoring orientation to enable staged installation of the anchor assembly into a wall. At least one wall penetrating retainer extends from each of the first and second anchor components. When the second anchor component is in the anchoring orientation a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the second anchor component opposes a curved configuration of the wall penetrating extent of the retainer of the first anchor component to form a jaw-type arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Gary E. Will, Byron K. Grice, Dale G. Malott
  • Patent number: 10259052
    Abstract: A system for duplicating a master key includes a clamping mechanism for receiving and positioning a master key. The master key defines a major key axis and an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends. The key blade has an upper surface and a minor key axis along a key thickness. A mechanical measurement device includes a probe that deflects along the intermediate key axis during a measurement process. A movement mechanism imparts relative motion along the major key axis between the mechanical measurement device and the master key. The mechanical probe follows the upper surface of the key blade. The mechanical measurement device generates a signal indicative of the deflection of the probe. A processor receives the signal and generates information usable for defining the machining of a duplicate key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L Gardner, Jr., Bradford Shayne Cooley, David Kortbawi
  • Patent number: 10258180
    Abstract: A hook rail assembly for hanging objects on a wall includes an elongated rail member for abutting the wall, at least one anchor component connected to a back side of the rail member and at least one hook member positioned at a front side of the rail member. The anchor component including a base and at least one wall penetrating retainer, the wall penetrating retainer having a wall penetrating extent that that protrudes rearwardly of the rail member and has a curved configuration. The wall penetrating extent may be arcuate and have a radius of curvature with a center point proximate a bottom side of the rail member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Dale G. Malott, Gary E. Will, Byron K. Grice, Ryan Hamblin
  • Patent number: 10252392
    Abstract: A system for duplicating a master key includes a mechanism for receiving and positioning a master key. The master key defines a major key axis and an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends, and a minor key axis along a key thickness. Optical path components direct a light beam along the minor key axis. The light beam impinges upon the key blade. A portion of the light beam traverses the key blade. A detector receives the portion of the light beam that traverses the key blade. An apparatus imparts relative motion along the major key axis between the light beam and the master key. The light beam scans along the major key axis of the master key. A processor receives a signal from the detector as the beam scans along the major key axis and generates information usable for defining the machining of a duplicate key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L Gardner, Bradford Shayne Cooley, David Kortbawi
  • Patent number: 10247219
    Abstract: A multi-thread screw includes a head end, a shank and a tapered end. Both a high thread and a low thread begin on the tapered end and extend onto the shank. The tapered end of the thread may include a polygonal cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Farhad Lajewardi, Michael K. Falkenstein
  • Patent number: 10196834
    Abstract: A fabrication system is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The fabrication system may have a housing with a slot configured to receive a key blank, and a receiving unit configured to accept a shank of the key blank at the slot. The receiving unit may be configured to mechanically align the shank as it is inserted by a user. The fabrication system may also have a clamp movable between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to move the receiving unit and the key blank to the clamp, and to move the receiving unit away from the key blank after the clamp has moved to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Gerlings
  • Patent number: D852611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Jordan D. Shoenhair