Granted Patent B1

US 9,556,649 · App. 13/940,156 · Granted Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. A key identification system, comprising:

a key identification system housing comprising a key receiving aperture extending therethrough and sized to receive at least a portion of a key blade of a master key;

a key clamp positioned adjacent the key receiving aperture and operable to maintain the key blade in a fixed position within the key identification system housing when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture;

a key ring support tray coupled to the key identification system housing proximate the key receiving aperture;

one or more key identifiers positioned within the key identification system housing; and

an alignment clamp within the key identification system housing, the alignment clamp comprising a fixed first arm, a movable second arm, a movable third arm, a movable fourth arm, and an alignment aperture comprising a boundary formed by at least a portion of each of the first, second, third, and fourth arms, wherein the second, third, and fourth arms are biased toward the alignment aperture such that when the key is inserted into the alignment aperture, the second, third, and fourth arms move outward from the alignment aperture and each of the first, second, third, and fourth arms exert pressure on each side of the key blade.

2. The key identification system of claim 1 , wherein the key ring support tray is positioned with an upper surface at between about one half to about four inches vertically below the key receiving aperture and extends out from the key identification system housing between about two to about four inches.

3. The key identification system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more key identifiers comprise at least two digital identifiers positioned within the key identification system housing, wherein a first digital identifier of the at least two digital identifiers is positioned to maintain a substantially perpendicular angle toward the key blade when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

4. The key identification system of claim 3 , wherein the key clamp is coupled to the key identification housing adjacent the key receiving aperture and positioned to clamp a portion of a key head of the master key while exposing the key blade to at least one of the first and the second digital identifiers when the key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

5. The key identification system of claim 3 , wherein the key tray is movable between a raised and a lowered position.

6. The key identification system of claim 3 , further comprising a movable guard biased to cover the key receiving aperture when the master key is removed from the key receiving aperture and to retract into the key identification housing when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

7. The key identification system of claim 3 , wherein the key clamp comprises a biased clamp arm configured to exert pressure on one side of the master key when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

8. A key identification system, comprising:

a key identification system housing comprising a key receiving aperture extending therethrough and sized to receive at least a portion of a key blade of a master key;

a key clamp positioned adjacent the key receiving aperture and operable to maintain the key blade in a fixed position within the key identification system housing when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture;

a key ring support tray coupled to the key identification system housing proximate the key receiving aperture;

one or more key identifiers positioned within the key identification system housing; and

an alignment clamp within the key identification system housing, the alignment clamp comprising a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, and a fourth arm together surrounding an alignment aperture, wherein relative to a position of the first arm, the second arm is movable in four directions, the third arm is movable in four directions and the fourth arm is movable in at least two directions.

9. The key identification system of claim 8 , wherein the key ring support tray is positioned with an upper surface at between about one half to about four inches vertically below the key receiving aperture and extends out from the key identification system housing between about two to about four inches.

10. The key identification system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more key identifiers comprise at least two digital identifiers positioned within the key identification system housing, wherein a first digital identifier of the at least two digital identifiers is positioned to maintain a substantially perpendicular angle toward the key blade when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

11. The key identification system of claim 8 , wherein the key clamp is coupled to the key identification housing adjacent the key receiving aperture and positioned to clamp a portion of a key head of the master key while exposing the key blade to at least one of the first and the second digital identifiers when the key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

12. The key identification system of claim 10 , wherein the key tray is movable between a raised and a lowered position.

13. The key identification system of claim 10 , further comprising a movable guard biased to cover the key receiving aperture when the master key is removed from the key receiving aperture and to retract into the key identification housing when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

14. The key identification system of claim 10 , wherein the key clamp comprises a biased clamp arm configured to exert pressure on one side of the master key when the master key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

Assignments (8)