Patents by Inventor Byron Keith GRICE
Byron Keith 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).
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Publication number: 20240054849Abstract: A self-service kiosk includes a housing and an imaging device in a key fob receptacle in the housing. The imaging device captures an image of a master key fob placed in the receptacle. The kiosk includes a key fob dispenser having a dispensing slot to receive a duplicated key fob and a dispensing mechanism to dispense the duplicated key fob into the dispensing slot. The kiosk also includes a processor that receives an image from the imaging device, and detects a presence of the master key fob in the key fob receptacle based on an analysis of the received image. Upon detecting the presence of the master key fob, the processor reads codes stored on the master key fob, writes the codes on a blank key fob to generate the duplicated key fob, and causes the dispensing mechanism to dispense the duplicated key fob in the dispensing slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Byron Keith GRICE, Michael Kenneth HART, Michael James SCHMIDT, Brian David ROSNER, Ari BENNETT, Robert FOORD, Bryan Keith SOLACE
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Patent number: 11642744Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Publication number: 20230050287Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed for use in identifying and duplicating objects, particularly access devices such as house keys, office keys, automobile keys, and RFID key fobs. Within a singular housing, the customizable systems may include any or all of a key identification system, a key duplication system, an automobile key identification system, and/or an RFID key fob duplication system. Unique capabilities of the systems include the ability to verify that an existing automobile key matches data input by the user pertaining to the associated automobile. Further, the systems reduce frustration, error, and waste by programming a duplicate blank RFID key fob in a fully automated manner within the housing of the machine. To facilitate this process, blank RFID key fobs may be stored inside of the housing within RFID key fob containers that are readily stacked and dispensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Michael J. Schmidt, Michael Kenneth Hart, Ari Bennett, Patrick Kowalsky, Brian Rosner, Wendell Luckow, Bryan Solace, David Wilkinson, Roger Palmer
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Publication number: 20210172198Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Byron Keith GRICE, Phillip GERLINGS, John Clayton CAMPBELL, Michael James SCHMIDT
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Publication number: 20210118038Abstract: A self-service kiosk for determining glove size is disclosed. The kiosk may have a platform for placement of a user's hand. The kiosk may also have an imaging device that acquires a digital image of the hand. Further, the kiosk may have a memory, and a processor that executes instructions stored in the memory. The processor may determine a size characteristic of the hand based on the digital image or the scan. The processor may compare the size characteristic with one or more product characteristics stored in a data structure and associated with one or more products. Further, the processor may select a product, having a product characteristic matching the size characteristic. The kiosk may also have a display for displaying information associated with the at least one product selected by the processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Michael J. SCHMIDT, Jordan Daniel SHOENHAIR, Brian David ROSNER, Byron Keith GRICE, Michael ROSENBLATT, Wendell Makoto LUCKOW
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Publication number: 20200149315Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: THE HILLMAN GROUP, INC.Inventors: Byron Keith GRICE, Phillip GERLINGS, John Clayton CAMPBELL, Michael James SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 10577830Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Publication number: 20200002975Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Publication number: 20190284837Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Patent number: 10400474Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Patent number: 10301844Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Patent number: 9962979Abstract: A dye sublimation apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to either print one or more images onto transfer media, or to print images directly onto products. A selected product to receive the image(s) is positioned on a platen configured to receive one or more types of such products into channels matching those products' dimensions. Proper positioning of the transfer media (or the product, when directly printed) is facilitated by aligning fiducial markers printed on the transfer media and/or product with one or more lights disposed on the platen. The apparatus comprises one or more heating platens configured to sublimate one or more sides of the product in a single thermal cycle with a predetermined temperature, pressure, and duration based on properties of the product. The product platen is translated inside and out of the apparatus by a reversible motor.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.Inventors: Gary Edward Will, Byron Keith Grice, Brian David Rosner
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Publication number: 20180010364Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Patent number: 9797163Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key, and an imaging assembly configured to generate an image of the shank while the existing key is being manually held in the key receiving assembly. The identification module may also have a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly and the imaging assembly. The housing may have a slot formed therein to receive the existing key. The identification module further may have a tip guide configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key as the tip is inserted through the slot. The tip guide may be linearly movable by insertion of the existing key from a first location at the slot to a second location away from the slot.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.Inventors: Byron Keith Grice, Phillip Gerlings, John Clayton Campbell, Michael James Schmidt
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Publication number: 20170036472Abstract: A dye sublimation apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to either print one or more images onto transfer media, or to print images directly onto products. A selected product to receive the image(s) is positioned on a platen configured to receive one or more types of such products into channels matching those products' dimensions. Proper positioning of the transfer media (or the product, when directly printed) is facilitated by aligning fiducial markers printed on the transfer media and/or product with one or more lights disposed on the platen. The apparatus comprises one or more heating platens configured to sublimate one or more sides of the product in a single thermal cycle with a predetermined temperature, pressure, and duration based on properties of the product. The product platen is translated inside and out of the apparatus by a reversible motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Gary Edward Will, Byron Keith Grice, Brian David Rosner
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Publication number: 20150049181Abstract: An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key, and an imaging assembly configured to generate an image of the shank while the existing key is being manually held in the key receiving assembly. The identification module may also have a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly and the imaging assembly. The housing may have a slot formed therein to receive the existing key. The identification module further may have a tip guide configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key as the tip is inserted through the slot. The tip guide may be linearly movable by insertion of the existing key from a first location at the slot to a second location away from the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: The Hillman Group Inc.Inventors: Byron Keith GRICE, Phillip GERLINGS, John Clayton CAMPBELL, Michael James SCHMIDT