Patents Assigned to Minute Key Inc.
  • Patent number: 8979446
    Abstract: A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key-receiving entry in the housing receives at least a portion of the customer's key to be duplicated, and a key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank magazine within the housing stores key blanks for each of the preselected key types. A key blank extraction system extracts from the magazine a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Patent number: 8634951
    Abstract: A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank extraction system extracts from a magazine within the kiosk a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank. The kiosk includes a processor coupled to sensors and controllable devices within the kiosk and to a communications port for communicating with a remote central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Publication number: 20130331976
    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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Publication number: 20130325161
    Abstract: A network of self-service, fully-automatic kiosks for duplicating keys includes a multiplicity of kiosks at different locations. Each kiosk includes a customer interface, a key-receiving entry, a key analysis system, and a key duplicating system. An original key is analyzed and duplicated to form a first key copy by analyzing a tooth pattern on a blade of the original key and replicating the tooth pattern on a blade of a first key blank. The network also includes a remote central server that is coupled to the kiosks for receiving information from the kiosks and for sending information to the kiosks. The remote central server maintains recorded information for replicating the tooth pattern of the blade of the original key on a blade of a second key blank to form a second key copy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Patent number: 8532809
    Abstract: A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank extraction system extracts from a magazine within the kiosk a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Publication number: 20130017030
    Abstract: A fully automatic key duplicating machine. A master key alignment module is movably disposed into and out of proximity with a master key clamping module, the master key being aligned by the alignment module within the master key clamping module. A master key identification module is disposed in fixed relation to the master key clamping module and identifies a type of key secured in the master key clamping module. A central positioning base is provided automatically movable into and out of engagement with the key cutting module and optionally the alignment module, adapted to move the master key alignment module into proximity with the master key clamping module and adapted to secure a key blank to be cut at the key cutting module in accordance with the tooth pattern of a clamped master key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Minute Key Inc.
  • Patent number: 8287215
    Abstract: A fully automatic key duplicating machine. A master key alignment module is movably disposed into and out of proximity with a master key clamping module, the master key being aligned by the alignment module within the master key clamping module. A master key identification module is disposed in fixed relation to the master key clamping module and identifies a type of key secured in the master key clamping module. A central positioning base is provided automatically movable into and out of engagement with the key cutting module and optionally the alignment module, adapted to move the master key alignment module into proximity with the master key clamping module and adapted to secure a key blank to be cut at the key cutting module in accordance with the tooth pattern of a clamped master key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Freeman, Ari Freeman
  • Publication number: 20110301738
    Abstract: A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank extraction system extracts from a magazine within the kiosk a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank. The kiosk includes a processor coupled to sensors and controllable devices within the kiosk and to a communications port for communicating with a remote central server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman
  • Publication number: 20110297691
    Abstract: A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key-receiving entry in the housing receives at least a portion of the customer's key to be duplicated, and a key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank magazine within the housing stores key blanks for each of the preselected key types. A key blank extraction system extracts from the magazine a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Minute Key Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Freeman