Patents by Inventor Byron Grice

Byron Grice 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).

  • Key duplication system with key blank orientation detection features
    Patent number: 12128486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for duplicating keys are disclosed. A key duplication system receives a key blank into a key receiving module. The key receiving module includes opposable jaws that assist with alignment of the key blank within the module. The key receiving module also includes an end stop that engages the tip of the received key blank and is linearly displaced as the key blank is further inserted. The linear displacement of the end stop is compared to a known value corresponding to a length of the shank of the key blank, and if the displacement does not match the known value, the user is instructed to re-orient the key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Byron Grice
  • KEY DUPLICATION SYSTEM WITH KEY BLANK ORIENTATION DETECTION FEATURES
    Publication number: 20200331076
    Abstract: Systems and methods for duplicating keys are disclosed. A key duplication system receives a key blank into a key receiving module. The key receiving module includes opposable jaws that assist with alignment of the key blank within the module. The key receiving module also includes an end stop that engages the tip of the received key blank and is linearly displaced as the key blank is further inserted. The linear displacement of the end stop is compared to a known value corresponding to a length of the shank of the key blank, and if the displacement does not match the known value, the user is instructed to re-orient the key blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Michael SCHMIDT, Byron GRICE
  • Key duplication system with key blank orientation detection features
    Patent number: 10737335
    Abstract: Systems and methods for duplicating keys are disclosed. A key duplication system receives a key blank into a key receiving module. The key receiving module includes opposable jaws that assist with alignment of the key blank within the module. The key receiving module also includes an end stop that engages the tip of the received key blank and is linearly displaced as the key blank is further inserted. The linear displacement of the end stop is compared to a known value corresponding to a length of the shank of the key blank, and if the displacement does not match the known value, the user is instructed to re-orient the key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Byron Grice
  • KEY DUPLICATION SYSTEM WITH KEY BLANK ORIENTATION DETECTION FEATURES
    Publication number: 20180264561
    Abstract: Systems and methods for duplicating keys are disclosed. A key duplication system receives a key blank into a key receiving module. The key receiving module includes opposable jaws that assist with alignment of the key blank within the module. The key receiving module also includes an end stop that engages the tip of the received key blank and is linearly displaced as the key blank is further inserted. The linear displacement of the end stop is compared to a known value corresponding to a length of the shank of the key blank, and if the displacement does not match the known value, the user is instructed to re-orient the key blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Byron Grice