Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8156776 | Card type mechanical key A card type mechanical key including a card member having a card surface and an edge portion. The card member includes a mechanical code pattern formed by partially eliminating the card surface or the edge portion and functioning as a verification code mechanically ... | 04/17/2012 |
| 7866194 | Unlocking device for concealing keyhole of lock An unlocking device includes a casing mounted to a side of a lock having a keyhole. A movable body is rotatably received in the casing about an axis. The movable body has a closed end having a hole. A key receiving seat is received in the movable body and has a key ... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7380428 | Separable transponder key assembly A transponder key assembly is provided with a key blade and head assembly, with the head formed with a transponder holder opening therein from a face of the head and a separable transponder carrier matingly configured to the opening and adapted to be received into a... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7370501 | Key unit A key unit includes a grip case which includes at least a pair of synthetic resin case members joined to each other, and a mechanical key supported in the grip case and having a pivotable key head. A plurality of fitting projections are projectingly provided integra... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7370503 | Safety key and locking cylinder, and locking system with such safety keys and locking cylinders The safety key has a shank which is provided with a plurality of control surfaces for properly positioning tumblers and has a front end and a rear end. At a front end, the rotor of the associated locking cylinder has at least one further control surface, which inter... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7360383 | Key sheath A key sheath has a casing, an attracting element and a connector. The casing is hollow and has an inserting groove, a chamber, an opening and two mounting holes. The inserting groove is defined in the front end of the casing. The chamber is defined inside the casing... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7360334 | Fishing garment system A fishing net system comprises a handle having a top and a bottom. A loop extends from the bottom of the handle, and a mesh is attached to the loop. A connector system is operably coupled to the fishing net at a location spaced apart from the top of the handle. The ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7322146 | Fishing net retraction system A fishing net retraction system for efficiently retracting a receiving net during non-use to avoid entanglement while allowing expansion of the receiving net upon receiving a fish. The fishing net retraction system includes a base attachable to a handle of a fishing... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7290419 | Key system for a motor vehicle A key system (1) for a motor vehicle comprises transmitter electronics arranged inside a housing (2) and used for the contactless locking and/or unlocking of a door of the motor vehicle and/or operation of the motor vehicle. The system further comprise... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7260965 | Locking device A locking device, which mounts a user key (the first key) and a manager key (the second key) separatedly, places a first lock and a second lock unitedly in an outer cylinder. The first lock is opened or rotated by the first key. After the first lock is open, the fir... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7218202 | Biometric key A biometric key having a key body incorporating a biometric sensor. There is also provided a receptor body for engagement with the biometric key, wherein the reader has a slot for retention of the key. When the key engages with the receptor body, a signal representi... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7217003 | LED flashlight including a housing having a translucent portion A flashlight having a light-emitting diode light source with first and second leads extending therefrom, a power source, a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source; a housing containing the light source and power source, a switch located a... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7181939 | Key assembly A key assembly includes a key, a cap and a fastener to selectively secure the cap to the key. The cap may include an opening for receiving a key ring, or other structure, therethrough. In one embodiment, the key includes a grip, and the cap and grip cooperate to enc... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7171831 | Tool for turning keys A tool for turning keys comprising a tool body having an elongate slot adapted to removably receive the head of a key. The tool has an aperture, by means of which a key ring is attached to the tool. The aperture may have a constriction to prevent the key ring slidin... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7166812 | Housing for a key fob A remote keyless entry device for use with a vehicle that includes a printed circuit board, at least one button configured to cooperate with the printed circuit board to selectively form an electrical circuit, a power source, and a housing. The printed circuit board... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7162900 | Tubular lock and master key A master key includes a key base having a key handle, a fixing seat and a sleeve, all of which are connected to each other integrally. The fixing seat has a plurality of angularly spaced apart spring holes having respective key springs. A key tube includes a large c... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7159993 | Auxiliary light device for a key An auxiliary light device for a key comprises a base, a lighting element, two batteries and a casing assembly. The base is to be fixed permanently on a gripping portion of a key, in the base are formed two battery chambers, in a front portion of the base is defined ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7158008 | Electronic key system and method The present invention provides an electronic key system including an electrical/electronic key-like device and an electrical/electronic key receptacle capable of receiving a contactless type, contact type, or both types of key-like devices. The present invention fur... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7142816 | Remote control key for a vehicle The wave strength of a remote control key of a vehicle can be enhanced by forming the remote control key including a gripping portion, a metallic blade portion projecting from the gripping portion, and a transmitter contained in the gripping portion and electrically... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7131302 | Keyway plug for safe deposit locks A keyway plug that discretely provides a device for preventing a person from unlocking a tumbler lock even if the correct key is used. The present invention includes a plug member that is sized to fit entirely within a keyhole and is effective to block a key from be... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7073360 | Lock cylinder A lock cylinder having a master key capability wherein the lock cylinder can be provided with either a master annular ring on the front of the lock plug which can only be opened by a master key or a low level security annular ring which permits the lock cylinder to ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7051559 | Message delivery assembly and a method for conducting business using the message delivery assembly A message delivery assembly (10) and a method for conducting business (400) using the message delivery assembly (10) which has an exterior (12) in the shape of a Teddy-bear or substantially any other desired shape. Particularly, the messa... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7047777 | Key with transponder and rotating shuttle A key assembly which includes a key shank having a forward portion and a handle portion having an aperture. A shuttle is also included. The shuttle includes first and second substantially planar portions and a center portion connected to the substantially planar por... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7034238 | Wireless key fob for vehicles A key fob assembly comprises an electronic circuit comprising a substrate carrying a plurality of switching elements and a display element. A rear casing member having a first outer rim and receives the electronic circuit. A front casing member has a second outer ri... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6973814 | Safety key and locking cylinder, and locking system with such safety keys and locking cylinders The safety key has a shank (6) which is provided with a plurality of control surfaces (7) for properly positioning tumblers and has a front end and a rear end (6a, 6b). At a front end (4a), the rotor (4)... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6959568 | Apparatus for indicating a closure state of a lock An apparatus indicates the closure state of a key-operated lock, having a housing that is fitted to the key and has a rotation detection sensor which is held therein and comprises a hollow body that is filled with a first electrically conductive liquid and has elect... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6957556 | Disk tumbler lock and key, improved means and methods of manufacturing for An improved disk-tumbler lock and key for use with a gun-lock device includes a key specifically adapted to be ring-mounted so that it may be worn by and is thus available for the user at all times. The particular shape of the key includes those characteristics whic... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6951122 | Key with ornamental bow device A key includes a blade, a bow formed on an end of the blade, and an ornamental member mounted in a hole of the bow. A transparent casing accommodates the bow and thus retain the ornamental member in the hole of the bow. In another embodiment, the hole is delimited b... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6948344 | Key assembly for vehicle ignition locks A method of decreasing resonant frequency shifting of an electrical circuit mounted on a vehicle key includes providing a frame in an opening in the head portion of a vehicle key and locating the transponder in the frame. The frame comprises substantially rigid non-... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6935147 | Key with indicator and retractable shield The key with a lock-unlock indicator is operable with a complementary lock set. The key has a body and an elongated key stem extending therefrom. A toggle bar is pivotally mounted or disposed on the key stem. The toggle bar operates in conjunction with a lock cam an... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6931898 | Tool for releasing a locking cylinder A tool for unlocking a locking cylinder, with a tumbler consisting of a plurality of spring-loaded locking bodes that can be displaced crosswise to the rotational axis of the locking cylinder. The tool comprises a rotating part (1) provided with two driver no... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6928845 | Key cap A universal key cap for receiving the head of a key, where the key includes a key head portion with edged segments and an extending shank portion, including a pair of spaced-apart planar walls in close proximity to each other for developing a tight frictional fit ag... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6925844 | Lock having a helical keyway and accompanying key and methods therefor The present application advantageously provides at least one keyway in a lock core that poses tremendous difficulty for a lock breaker by not allowing the lock breaker to see all of the pin tumblers in the keyway. The keyway according to a preferred embodiment of th... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6927670 | Conventional mechanical lock cylinders and keys with electronic access control feature A mechanical key and lock cylinder with mechanical bittings include electronic access control feature. A small, low-profile memory cell is embedded in a recess or hole through the key, with one cell terminal grounded to the key and the other having a contact extensi... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6886382 | Key with indicator The key with a lock-unlock indicator is operable with a complementary lock set. The key has a body and an elongated key stem extending therefrom. A toggle bar is pivotally mounted or disposed on the key stem. The toggle bar operates in conjunction with a lock cam an... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6877347 | Remote key turning tool and method for using the same A tool for remotely turning a key includes a key unit including an engagement assembly adapted to engage the key and an operator unit including a control assembly. At least one cable segment is provided linking the key unit and the operator unit such that the engage... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6879242 | Color based lock and key A colored based lock and key, wherein the key includes a color indication incorporated thereon, and the lock includes a color sensor for identifying the color indication, so as to open the lock. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the key includes ... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6862908 | Key device and method for assembling the same A key case comprises three parts, a center body, a first case piece, and a second case piece. The center body has a first cavity which side facing the first case piece is opened. The second case piece has four tabs extending toward the first case piece at positions ... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6817217 | Overmolded key including an ornamental element and method of making same A vehicle ignition key having an ornamental element molded onto the key. The key includes a key blank and an undermold which is formed by molding a first plastic material over a portion of a key blank, defining a mounting surface for the element. The ornamental elem... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6701760 | Remote key turning tool and method for using the same A tool for remotely turning a key includes a key unit including an engagement assembly adapted to engage the key and an operator unit including a control assembly. At least one cable segment is provided linking the key unit and the operator unit such that... | 03/09/2004 |
