Patents Assigned to Hy-Ko Products
  • Patent number: 10421133
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, William R. Mutch, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Chester O. D. Thompson, Robert E. Drake, Randall A. Porras
  • Patent number: 9934448
    Abstract: A key identification system is provided. The key identification system comprises an imaging system to capture an image of a master key, and a logic to analyze the captured image. The imaging system may be capture an image of a groove in the master key from an angle between perpendicular and parallel to the blade of said master key. The logic analyzes the captured image to compare characteristics of the groove with groove characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between the master key and a known key blank. The key identification system may further compensate for displacement or orientation of the master key with respect to the imaging system when analyzing characteristics of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Chester O. D. Thompson, William R. Mutch
  • Patent number: 9687920
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, William R. Mutch, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Chester O. D. Thompson, Robert E. Drake, Randall A. Porras
  • Patent number: 9682432
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: William R. Mutch, Randall A. Porras, Thomas F. Fiore
  • Patent number: 9656332
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, William R. Mutch, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Chester O. D. Thompson, Robert E. Drake, Randall A. Porras
  • Patent number: 9550263
    Abstract: A key cutting machine includes a housing, carriage, key clamp, and motor to drive the carriage. The key cutting machine may include a vacuum removably attached to the housing. The key cutting machine may be selected between manual, automatic, and semi-automatic user modes. Additional improvements or features of a key cutting machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Michael A. Bass
  • Patent number: 9415451
    Abstract: A key cutting machine is provided for cutting a key blank from a master key. The key cutting machine comprises a first cutting member that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis for cutting a key pattern on a key blank and a second cutting member that rotates about a substantially vertical axis for cutting a key pattern on a key blank. Additional improvements or features of a key cutting machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HY-KO Products Company
    Inventor: Richard W. Ryai, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9308590
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, William R. Mutch, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Chester O. D. Thompson, Robert E. Drake, Randall A. Porras
  • Patent number: 9101990
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products
    Inventors: William R. Mutch, Randall A. Porras, Thomas F. Fiore
  • Patent number: 8985918
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, William R. Mutch, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Chester O. D. Thompson, Robert E. Drake, Randall A. Porras
  • Patent number: 8965794
    Abstract: An interactive retail identification system for identifying a retail object based upon known or identified features of master object is disclosed, wherein the system utilizes a graphical user interface having a computer display screen for displaying a plurality of input fields related to a retail object and an input device for selecting variables based upon a physical inspection of a known master object having known or identifiable features. The graphical user interface is electronically connected to a database which identifies a specific retail object equivalent to the master object through comparison of the retail object variables. The systems includes a plurality of compartments for holding retail objects based upon the retail object variables and an indicator for identifying the compartment having the retail object is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, Michael Chipchak, William R. Mutch, Jamie Peltz, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Kevin Shepard
  • Patent number: 8851809
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding a key or key blank while copying a key including at least one holder having an opening configured to at least partially enclose at least two sides of a keyway is provided herein. The opening of the holder includes at least one longitudinal groove or one longitudinal protrusion configured to mate with at least one longitudinal protrusion or longitudinal groove of the keyway. A user slides a first holder over the keyway of a key blank, and a second holder over a keyway of a key to be copied and places the holders into clamping jaws of a key cutting machine prior to copying a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Ryai, Sr., David Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8784020
    Abstract: A key cutting machine includes a housing, carriage, key clamp, and motor to drive the carriage. The key cutting machine may include a vacuum removably attached to the housing. The key cutting machine may be selected between manual, automatic, and semi-automatic user modes. Additional improvements or features of a key cutting machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Michael A. Bass
  • Patent number: 8770564
    Abstract: A key clamping device includes a first key clamp, a second key clamp and a rotational device connected to the first and second key clamps. The rotational device may facilitate rotation of the first and second key clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: HY-KO Products Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, Richard W. Ryai, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8644619
    Abstract: A key identification system is provided. The key identification system comprises an imaging system to capture an image of a master key, and a logic to analyze the captured image. The imaging system may be capture an image of a groove in the master key from an angle between perpendicular and parallel to the blade of said master key. The logic analyzes the captured image to compare characteristics of the groove with groove characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between the master key and a known key blank. The key identification system may further compensate for displacement or orientation of the master key with respect to the imaging system when analyzing characteristics of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Chester O. D. Thompson, William R. Mutch
  • Patent number: 8634655
    Abstract: A key identification system is provided. The key identification system comprises a sensing device configured to extract bitting information from a master key, and a logic configured to analyze the image. The sensing device may be configured to capture information about the bittings of the master key, such as an image of the bittings. The logic analyzes information about the bittings of the master key and compares it with bitting characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between the master key and a known key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Chester O. D. Thompson, William R. Mutch, Randall A. Porras
  • Patent number: 8585029
    Abstract: A clamping device comprising for clamping a plurality of key styles is provided. The clamping device includes a base block and a clamping block rotatably connected to the base block. The clamping block may include a plurality of sides configured to clamp a key between the clamping block and the base block. A sidewinder key clamp may be connected to the clamping device. The sidewinder key clamp may be capable of clamping a first style of key in a horizontal position and clamping a second style of key in a vertical position. The clamping device may further include a multi-faced block with a plurality sides rotatably connected to the clamping block. Each side of the multi-faced block may have a geometry configured to clamp a key between the multi-faced block and the base block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products
    Inventor: Richard W. Ryai, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8342783
    Abstract: A key cutting machine is provided for cutting a key blank from a master key. The key cutting machine comprises a first cutting member that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis for cutting a key pattern on a key blank and a second cutting member that rotates about a substantially vertical axis for cutting a key pattern on a key blank. Additional improvements or features of a key cutting machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Co.
    Inventor: Richard W. Ryai, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8292556
    Abstract: A key cutting machine has multiple modes of operation, including an automatic mode of operation wherein a clamp mechanism configured to hold a key blank is held without manual assistance in a position engaged with a key cutting element and a motor controls a movement of the clamp mechanism, a semi-automatic mode of operation wherein the clamp mechanism is held without manual assistance in a position engaged with the key cutting element and the motor does not control a movement of the clamp mechanism, and a manual mode of operation wherein the clamp mechanism is manually held in a position engaged with the key cutting element and the motor does not control a movement of the clamp mechanism. Additional improvements or features of a key cutting machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Richard Wm. Ryai, Sr., Michael A. Bass
  • Patent number: 8128322
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Bass, William R. Mutch, Richard W. Ryai, Sr., Chester O. D. Thompson, Robert E. Drake, Randall A. Porras