Patents by Inventor Jason Curtis Clifford

Jason Curtis Clifford 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: 9694505
    Abstract: An actuator assembly including a mounting device, a manual actuator rotatably mounted on the mounting device, and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is disposed in a gap that is formed between the manual actuator and the mounting device. The cutting mechanism is structured to cut a ligature inserted into the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Jason Curtis Clifford
  • Patent number: 9624696
    Abstract: An exemplary locking cartridge includes a generally cylindrical housing, first and second plates, and a sliding member. The plates are rotatable with respect to the housing, and at least one of the plates is movable in the axial direction of the housing. The housing and the movable plate include cam surfaces that interact to cause the movable plate to move toward the other plate when the movable plate is rotated. The sliding member is slidingly coupled to one of the plates and operable in a blocked state in which the sliding member resists axial motion of the movable plate, and an unblocked state in which the sliding member does not resist axial motion of the movable plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Evan Earl Evans
  • 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: 9512638
    Abstract: A lock cylinder generally including a shell, a plug positioned within the shell, a locking member, and a leaf spring. The plug includes an opening which is aligned with a recess formed in the shell. The locking member is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the plug with respect to the shell. The leaf spring is positioned in the opening and includes a first portion extending radially inward toward the keyway, and a second portion extending radially outward toward the recess. When a key is inserted, a tip of the second portion extends into the recess. When the plug is subsequently rotated, a tapered surface of the recess urges the tip radially inward and into contact with an inner surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Brian Andrew Rappl
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9447608
    Abstract: A locking cartridge including a housing, first and second plates rotatably mounted in the housing, a blocking member, and a movable member. The cartridge also includes a cam interface which urges the first plate toward the second plate when the plates are rotated. The blocking member is configured to move among a blocking position and an unblocking position in response to engagement with a first cut on a key. When in the blocking position, the blocking member blocks the first plate from moving toward the second plate. With the second plate blocked from moving toward the first plate, the cam interface prevents rotation of the first plate. The movable member is configured to move among a first position and a second position in response to engagement with a second cut on the key. In certain embodiments, the movable member may be a control pin or a second blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, 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: 20160237719
    Abstract: An actuator assembly including a mounting device, a manual actuator rotatably mounted on the mounting device, and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is disposed in a gap between the manual actuator and the mounting device, and is configured to cut a ligature inserted into the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Curtis Clifford
  • Publication number: 20160115711
    Abstract: A locking cartridge including a housing, first and second plates rotatably mounted in the housing, a blocking member, and a movable member. The cartridge also includes a cam interface which urges the first plate toward the second plate when the plates are rotated. The blocking member is configured to move among a blocking position and an unblocking position in response to engagement with a first cut on a key. When in the blocking position, the blocking member blocks the first plate from moving toward the second plate. With the second plate blocked from moving toward the first plate, the cam interface prevents rotation of the first plate. The movable member is configured to move among a first position and a second position in response to engagement with a second cut on the key. In certain embodiments, the movable member may be a control pin or a second blocking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Evan Earl Evans
  • Publication number: 20150354246
    Abstract: An exemplary locking cartridge includes a generally cylindrical housing, first and second plates, and a sliding member. The plates are rotatable with respect to the housing, and at least one of the plates is movable in the axial direction of the housing. The housing and the movable plate include cam surfaces that interact to cause the movable plate to move toward the other plate when the movable plate is rotated. The sliding member is slidingly coupled to one of the plates and operable in a blocked state in which the sliding member resists axial motion of the movable plate, and an unblocked state in which the sliding member does not resist axial motion of the movable plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Evan Earl Evans
  • 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: 20150225981
    Abstract: A lock cylinder generally including a shell, a plug positioned within the shell, a locking member, and a leaf spring. The plug includes an opening which is aligned with a recess formed in the shell. The locking member is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the plug with respect to the shell. The leaf spring is positioned in the opening and includes a first portion extending radially inward toward the keyway, and a second portion extending radially outward toward the recess. When a key is inserted, a tip of the second portion extends into the recess. When the plug is subsequently rotated, a tapered surface of the recess urges the tip radially inward and into contact with an inner surface of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Curtis Clifford, Brian Andrew Rappl
  • 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