Patents Assigned to Kwikset Corporation
  • Patent number: 9406181
    Abstract: An electronic lock that is self-configurable to automatically set a wireless communication protocol profile, or configuration, to allow the electronic lock to communicatively join the system in which the electronic lock is to be incorporated. In some embodiments, the electronic lock is programmed to execute in sequence a plurality of wireless protocol profiles stored in memory until a wireless protocol profile establishes wireless communications with another wireless communication device. Once this happens, the wireless protocol profile that was able to establish wireless communications is set as the default wireless protocol profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Nedal Akram Almomani, Michael Maridakis
  • Patent number: 9390572
    Abstract: An electronic lock having one or more lock settings that can be updated using a mobile device. The mobile device includes an app that provides a user interface through which one or more lock settings of the electronic lock can be selected and modified. When the user has made the desired selections to the lock settings on the mobile device, the mobile device wirelessly transmits these settings to the electronic lock. The electronic lock is configured to update its lock settings based on the wireless communication from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Nedal Akram Almomani
  • Patent number: 9359791
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder includes a plug body with a keyway opening along a longitudinal axis and a multiple of channels transverse to the axis. A rekeying feature located adjacent to the keyway opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Zhang
  • Patent number: 9340999
    Abstract: A manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly configured with an electromechanical coupling mechanism to selectively couple a manually operable bezel to a torque blade for operation of a deadbolt mechanism. The electro-mechanical coupling mechanism is configured such that in a locked condition the manually operable bezel is drivably decoupled from the torque blade, such that the manually operable bezel is free-spinning when rotated so as to be rendered incapable of rotating the torque blade to operate the deadbolt mechanism. Also, the electro-mechanical coupling mechanism is configured to drivably couple the manually operable bezel to the torque blade when a valid code is input to a code input mechanism to facilitate the unlocked condition, such that a rotation of the manually operable bezel effects a rotation of the torque blade to operate the deadbolt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Oscar Romero
  • Patent number: 9328535
    Abstract: A padlock with a removable lock cylinder. A retaining member couples the lock cylinder to the padlock's body. In some embodiments, the retaining member includes a flange for actuating the retaining member between a retained position and a released position. The flange is accessible through an opening of the lock body when the shackle is in the unlocked position and inaccessible when the shackle is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Calvin Baker, Matthew Jacob Richman
  • Patent number: 9328532
    Abstract: An electronic lockset with a radio frequency harvesting circuit. In one embodiment, the electronic lockset includes a mechanical locking portion movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. One or more energy consumption devices are provided that actuate the mechanical locking portion between the locked position and the unlocked position. A rechargeable battery provides electrical power to the energy consumption devices. A radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter and RF energy harvesting circuit are used to wirelessly recharge the battery. Typically, the RF transmitter is configured to transmit at a predetermined frequency. The RF energy harvesting circuit is tuned to the predetermined frequency and is electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery to recharge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Thuan Nguyen, Michael Maridakis, Troy Brown, Nedal Akram Almomani
  • Patent number: 9181728
    Abstract: A torque augmentor operatively associated with the cylinder assembly and the plug assembly of a pin tumbler lock cylinder increases the threshold torque required to rotate the plug assembly in the cylinder assembly, thereby hampering an attacker's “feel” for the relationship of the cylinder pins to the shear line, and of the plug assembly to the cylinder. One embodiment of the pick-resistant lock cylinder includes a spring-biased ball normally disposed across the shear line. Another embodiment has a cam normally biased into engagement with a cam follower, the cam being disposed on one of the cylinder assembly and the plug assembly, and the cam follower being disposed on the other. Another embodiment includes an hourglass-shaped false shear line creator operatively associated with the cylinder assembly and plug assembly. The coaction of the torque augmentor and false shear line creator of the lock cylinder of the present invention also hampers an attack by bumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Hanna O. Farag, John C. Charnley, Mark S. Bloom, Clinton E. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 9175500
    Abstract: A cylinder guard for a deadbolt lock having a face portion and an inner portion. The inner portion includes a radial flange and an axial flange created by forming the wall of the guard into a doubled portion. Indentations are formed in the axial flange which enhances the resistance of the guard to an attack upon the deadbolt. The guard also includes a tapered blow-deflecting portion between the inner portion and face portion. A crush zone may be formed between the inner and face portions to attenuate the energy from an attack that is transferred to the axial and radial flanges. A method for making the guard includes stamping a body from steel strip using a multi-station press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Behrang F. Lahiji, Jeffrey Dean Pearson
  • Patent number: 9127479
    Abstract: A rekeyable lock cylinder includes a cylinder body and a plug assembly, which includes key followers normally biased for linear movement into a home position. Locking bar interfaces in the plug assembly are rotatably connected to respective key followers for simultaneous linear movement with the key followers, and are movable from a non-rotatable to a rotatable position within the plug assembly. Each interface defines a plurality of angularly-spaced unlocking cavities alignable with a locking bar operatively associated with the cylinder body and plug assembly. When the user causes the interface to move into the rotatable position, it can be rotated to re-align any or all of the unlocking cavities with the locking bar. Inasmuch as each unlocking cavity is also associated with a particular elevation of the interface's respective key follower, re-aligning one or more such cavities resets the respective elevations of the key followers so that they can accept only a different valid key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Oscar Romero, John C. Charnley
  • Patent number: 9051761
    Abstract: An exterior actuator assembly for a manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly includes a torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess, and is rotatable about a first rotational axis. A clutch assembly is drivably interposed between an exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver. A motor shaft is arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis that is non-coaxial with the first rotational axis. A locking shifter is configured for axial translation along the second rotational axis. The locking shifter has a blocking tab portion configured for selective engagement with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver. A rotational-to-linear motion converter is drivably interposed between the motor shaft and the locking shifter and is configured such that a rotation of the motor shaft results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter to one of a locked position and an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Oscar Romero
  • Patent number: 9024759
    Abstract: A wireless electromechanical lock with one or more of an internal antenna, touch activation, and/or a light communication device that acts as a user interface. In some embodiments, the lock utilizes an antenna near the exterior face of the lockset, designed inside the metal body of the lockset itself. A light communication device is provided in some embodiments to communicate information, visually, to the user via animations and dynamic displays of light. In some embodiments, the lockset includes a touch activation capability, which can be used to lock/unlock the lock and/or otherwise provide input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Uyeda, Michael Maridakis, Jerome F. Czerwinski, Jr., Elliott B. Schneider, Troy M. Brown, David K J Kim
  • Patent number: 9010163
    Abstract: A lock assembly is provided that includes: a lock cylinder having a bore disposed therein and at least one pocket located adjacent the periphery of the bore; a plug including a cassette slot; a plunger that fits in the plug; a locking tab having a slot disposed therein; the slot of the locking tab receives a portion of the plunger; a cassette having a key slot configured to receive a key; the cassette includes a tool slot configured to receive a tool to selectively engage the plunger to selectively move at least a portion of the locking tab into and out of the pocket; when a portion of the locking tab is located in the pocket the locking tab does not block the cassette from being removed from the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Oscar Romero
  • Patent number: D732371
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Elliot Barlow Schneider
  • Patent number: D734120
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: D734121
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Elliott Barlow Schneider, Yos Singtoroj
  • Patent number: D734122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: D734123
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Andy Chen
  • Patent number: RE45627
    Abstract: A re-keyable lockset that employs pairs of first and second pins. Coupling of the first and second pins to one another defines a key profile for a mating key. A second key with a different key profile may be installed to the lockset when the first and second pins are uncoupled from one another. Thereafter, the first and second pins may be re-coupled to one another to define the key profile of a new mating key. A method for re-keying a lockset is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: KWIKSET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald Chong, Steven Armstrong
  • Patent number: D739203
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventors: Elliott Schneider, Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: D745865
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kwikset Corporation
    Inventor: Wei Hsu