Patents by Inventor Brian Edward Walls

Brian Edward Walls has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10808421
    Abstract: An exemplary lock cylinder includes a shell, a plug positioned in the shell, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the plug when no key is inserted, and to permit rotation of the plug upon insertion of any of a plurality of keys having different bitting profiles. The locking assembly may further be configured to prevent key extraction when the plug is in a rotated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby, Brian Andrew Rappl, Brian Edward Walls, Peter Malenkovic, Kenton Hayes Barker
  • Publication number: 20200024865
    Abstract: An exemplary lock cylinder includes a shell, a plug positioned in the shell, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the plug when no key is inserted, and to permit rotation of the plug upon insertion of any of a plurality of keys having different bitting profiles. The locking assembly may further be configured to prevent key extraction when the plug is in a rotated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby, Brian Andrew Rappl, Brian Edward Walls, Peter Malenkovic, Kenton Hayes Barker
  • Patent number: 9725928
    Abstract: A door lock chassis has a gauge insert that defines different dimensions corresponding to different door thicknesses. The gauge insert is positionable in the lock chassis in different orientations corresponding to the different dimensions used to align the lock chassis for different door thicknesses. Additionally, a door lock may include an anti-rotation assembly for preventing rotation of the lock chassis. The anti-rotation assembly may include a retention member that is secured to an inside hub of a lock chassis. As an anti-rotation member is displaced in a first axial direction along the inside hub to a mount position, the anti-rotational member may deflect resilient members of the retention member. With the anti-rotation member at the mounted position, the anti-rotation member may be in a frictional engagement with the previously deflected resilient members so that anti-rotation member is retained at the mount position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Rich Dale Shelinbarger, Scott Douglas Welsby, Peter Malenkovic
  • Patent number: 9598880
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a plug assembly includes a plug body, a sidebar, a cover plate, and a plurality of rack pins positioned in the plug assembly. A first portion of the sidebar is positioned in the plug and a second portion protrudes beyond the outer surface of the plug body. The rack pins are configured to selectably resist and permit radially inward motion of the sidebar. The cover plate is operable to selectably retain the rack pins within the plug body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby
  • Patent number: 9587415
    Abstract: A retention mechanism for retaining a lock cylinder in a lock housing. The retention mechanism includes a control lug, a control pin, and a finger pin. A portion of the control lug is configured to be positioned in a retention recess of the lock housing when the control lug is in an engagement position to prevent the removal of the lock cylinder from the lock housing. With the control lug in the engaged position, at least a portion of the control pin may be biased into a chamber of the control lug to retain the control lug at the engaged position. When the control lug is to be displaced from the engaged position, the finger pin may be lifted to an activation position, such as by a sidebit of a key, wherein the finger pin may removably displace the control pin from at least a portion of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Ajeya Suratkal Rao, Evan Earl Evans
  • Patent number: 9464459
    Abstract: A progressive key notching system that includes a plurality of key notches positioned along at least one surface, such as, for example, a top surface, of a key blade. Each of the plurality of key notches includes a central axis. The central axes of at least one pair of adjacent key notches are separated by a distance that is different than a distance separating another, adjacent pair of key notches. Further, when the key blade is operably positioned within a key slot, at least one of the central axes may be offset from a chamber central axis of an adjacent retention pin chamber. Moreover, one or more of the chamber central axes may be aligned with a portion of a trailing surface and/or leading surface of an adjacent key notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Brian Edward Walls
  • Patent number: 9447605
    Abstract: A plug assembly for a lock includes a generally cylindrical plug body that defines a keyway and a generally cylindrical plug housing that rotatably receives the plug body. A plurality of blocking members are housed in the plug body and are movable into the keyway upon rotation of the plug body relative to the plug housing to obstruct the keyway. A key can be provided that is positionable into the keyway, and the blade of the key defines receptacles for receiving the blocking members when the plug body is rotated so that the lock can be unlocked. However, the blocking members prevent rotation of the plug body when a picking tool or unauthorized key is inserted in the keyway since either the blocking members cannot move into the keyway and remain engaged to the plug housing due to the object in the keyway, or obstruct the keyway and prevent insertion of the picking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Brian Edward Walls, Evan Earl Evans
  • Publication number: 20160265247
    Abstract: A plug assembly for a lock includes a generally cylindrical plug body that defines a keyway and a generally cylindrical plug housing that rotatably receives the plug body, A plurality of blocking members are housed in the plug body and are movable into the keyway upon rotation of the plug body relative to the plug housing to obstruct the keyway. A key can be provided that is positionable into the keyway, and the blade of the key defines receptacles for receiving the blocking members when the plug body is rotated so that the lock can be unlocked. However, the blocking members prevent rotation of the plug body when a picking tool or unauthorized key is inserted in the keyway since either the blocking members cannot move into the keyway and remain engaged to the plug housing due to the object in the keyway, or obstruct the keyway and prevent insertion of the picking tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Brian Edward Walls, Evan Earl Evans
  • Patent number: 9435138
    Abstract: A plug assembly including, a plug, a sidebar movably mounted on the plug, and a plurality of rack pins seated in the plug. The sidebar is biased to an outer position in which the sidebar extends beyond an outer surface of the plug. Each rack pin is a single-piece unitary structure including a key-following leg, and a sidebar-engaging leg. The sidebar-engaging leg includes at least one true gate and a plurality of false gates. When a true gate of each rack pin is aligned with the sidebar, the sidebar is free to move radially inward to an inner position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby
  • Publication number: 20150247344
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a plug assembly includes a plug body, a sidebar, a cover plate, and a plurality of rack pins positioned in the plug assembly. A first portion of the sidebar is positioned in the plug and a second portion protrudes beyond the outer surface of the plug body. The rack pins are configured to selectably resist and permit radially inward motion of the sidebar. The cover plate is operable to selectably retain the rack pins within the plug body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby
  • Publication number: 20150247343
    Abstract: A plug assembly including, a plug, a sidebar movably mounted on the plug, and a plurality of rack pins seated in the plug. The sidebar is biased to an outer position in which the sidebar extends beyond an outer surface of the plug. Each rack pin is a single-piece unitary structure including a key-following leg, and a sidebar-engaging leg. The sidebar-engaging leg includes at least one true gate and a plurality of false gates. When a true gate of each rack pin is aligned with the sidebar, the sidebar is free to move radially inward to an inner position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby
  • Publication number: 20150240522
    Abstract: A progressive key notching system that includes a plurality of key notches positioned along at least one surface, such as, for example, a top surface, of a key blade. Each of the plurality of key notches includes a central axis. The central axes of at least one pair of adjacent key notches are separated by a distance that is different than a distance separating another, adjacent pair of key notches. Further, when the key blade is operably positioned within a key slot, at least one of the central axes may be offset from a chamber central axis of an adjacent retention pin chamber. Moreover, one or more of the chamber central axes may be aligned with a portion of a trailing surface and/or leading surface of an adjacent key notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Brian Edward Walls
  • Publication number: 20150240525
    Abstract: A retention mechanism for retaining a lock cylinder in a lock housing. The retention mechanism includes a control lug, a control pin, and a finger pin. A portion of the control lug is configured to be positioned in a retention recess of the lock housing when the control lug is in an engagement position to prevent the removal of the lock cylinder from the lock housing. With the control lug in the engaged position, at least a portion of the control pin may be biased into a chamber of the control lug to retain the control lug at the engaged position. When the control lug is to be displaced from the engaged position, the finger pin may be lifted to an activation position, such as by a sidebit of a key, wherein the finger pin may removably displace the control pin from at least a portion of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Ajeya Suratkal Rao, Evan Earl Evans
  • Publication number: 20140265376
    Abstract: A door lock chassis has a gauge insert that defines different dimensions corresponding to different door thicknesses. The gauge insert is positionable in the lock chassis in different orientations corresponding to the different dimensions used to align the lock chassis for different door thicknesses. Additionally, a door lock may include an anti-rotation assembly for preventing rotation of the lock chassis. The anti-rotation assembly may include a retention member that is secured to an inside hub of a lock chassis. As an anti-rotation member is displaced in a first axial direction along the inside hub to a mount position, the anti-rotational member may deflect resilient members of the retention member. With the anti-rotation member at the mounted position, the anti-rotation member may be in a frictional engagement with the previously deflected resilient members so that anti-rotation member is retained at the mount position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Walls, Rich Dale Shelinbarger, Scott Douglas Welsby, Peter Malenkovic
  • Publication number: 20140216114
    Abstract: An exemplary lock cylinder includes a shell, a plug positioned in the shell, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the plug when no key is inserted, and to permit rotation of the plug upon insertion of any of a plurality of keys having different bitting profiles. The locking assembly may further be configured to prevent key extraction when the plug is in a rotated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Scott Douglas Welsby, Brian Andrew Rappl, Brian Edward Walls, Peter Malenkovic, Kenton Hayes Barker