US5083362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making a vehicle anti-theft key with resistor
Assignee: Strattec Security Corp
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Filing: 1990-12-13
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A key with a resistor pellet is assembled by mechanically inserting the pellet into a suitable aperture in the key and displacing a portion of the key material into the body of the pellet by compressing the key around the perimeter of the pellet in a swaging process. The pellet is automatically selected from a plurality of pellets having a plurality of distinctive resistance properties. The pellet is tested to determine conformance with a pre-selected resistance property prior to insertion in the key. After insertion and swaging of the pellet in the key, the resistance properties of the pellet are reconfirmed.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Edgar
- 👤 Eric J. Neusen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:23
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P15/00; B23P15/005; B23P11/00; G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00658; G07C9/00714; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49925; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7051; Y10T70/7062; Y10T70/7068; Y10T70/7073; Y10T70/7079; Y10T70/80; Y10T70/8432; Y10T70/8811
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of mechanically securing a pellet with predefined electrical properties in a pellet receptacle aperture of a key made of a malleable material, the pellet of a softer material than the key, the method comprising the steps of: a. selecting a pellet from a plurality of pellets having a plurality of predefined electrical properties; b. confirming that said selected pellet has the preselected, predefined electrical properties; c. rejecting said selected pellet if it does not have the preselected, predefined electrical properties; d. accepting and inserting said selected pellet in the pellet receptive aperture in the key if the selected pellet has the preselected, predefined electrical properties; and e. mechanically displacing a portion of the malleable material of the key into the pellet for securing the key and pellet in assembled relationship.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of mechanically securing a pellet with predefined electrical properties in a pellet receptacle aperture of a key made of a malleable material, the pellet of a softer material than the key, the method comprising the steps of: a. selecting a pellet from a plurality of pellets having a plurality of predefined electrical properties; b. confirming that said selected pellet has the preselected, predefined electrical properties; c. rejecting said selected pellet if it does not have the preselected, predefined electrical properties; d. accepting and inserting said selected pellet in the pellet receptive aperture in the key if the selected pellet has the preselected, predefined electrical properties; and e. mechanically displacing a portion of the malleable material of the key into the pellet for securing the key and pellet in assembled relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the displacing step comprises exerting a force against the outer surfaces of the key at selected points around the periphery of the pellet receptive aperture, thereby forcing the key material into the aperture and into the pellet.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of 1, wherein the pellet is made of a polyester material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of 1, wherein the pellet is made of a polyester material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of reconfirming that the pellet has retained the selected, predefined electrical properties after completion of the displacing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the step of repeating steps (a) through (e), in sequence, a preselected number of times to make a preselected number of keys with the same predefined pellet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, comprising prior to the pellet inserting step the additional steps of: a. locating the aperture in the key in alignment with the pellet; and b. clamping the key in position with a non-destructive force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the locating step comprises inserting a pilot probe conforming to the dimensions of the pellet into the aperture of the key to position the key in alignment with the pellet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the clamping step is performed while the pilot probe is in the aperture of the key, and comprising the additional step of withdrawing the pilot probe from the aperture of the key after the clamping step and prior to the pellet inserting step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the clamping force and displacing force are applied to the key by the same means, the clamping force being non-destructive and the displacing force being sufficient to displace key material into the aperture of the key and the pellet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the displacing force is an order of magnitude greater than the clamping force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the clamping force is approximately two hundred pounds and the displacing force is approximately 3,500 pounds.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of mechanically securing a pellet with predefined electrical resistance properties to a key, comprising the steps of: a. serially advancing a plurality of pellets with a plurality of predefined electrical resistance properties to a ready station; b. feeding the first pellet in the series of pellets to a test station; c. testing the resistance properties of said pellet; d. rejecting said pellet if the pellet does not have the predefined electrical resistance properties; e. accepting and presenting said pellet to an inserting position if the pellet has the selected predefined electrical resistance properties; f. inserting said pellet into the key; and g. securing said pellet in the key.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of mechanically securing a pellet with predefined electrical resistance properties to a key, comprising the steps of: a. serially advancing a plurality of pellets with a plurality of predefined electrical resistance properties to a ready station; b. feeding the first pellet in the series of pellets to a test station; c. testing the resistance properties of said pellet; d. rejecting said pellet if the pellet does not have the predefined electrical resistance properties; e. accepting and presenting said pellet to an inserting position if the pellet has the selected predefined electrical resistance properties; f. inserting said pellet into the key; and g. securing said pellet in the key.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said resistance testing comprises, two electric probes, one contacting each side of said pellet for completing an electric circuit and measuring the resistance properties of said pellet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said inserting position is adjacent an aperture in said key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the step of positioning of the key to accept said pellet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of clamping the key after the position step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said securing step comprises swaging key material into said pellet.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of mechanically securing a pellet with predefined electrical resistance properties to a key, comprising the steps of: a. serially advancing a plurality of said pellets into a ready station; b. advancing one pellet per actuation into a transfer passage; c. propelling said pellet with air pressure to a test station; d. testing the resistance properties of said pellet by advancing electrical contact probes into contact with each side of the pellet for completing an electrical circuit and measuring the resistance properties of said pellet; e. presenting said pellet to an inserting station; f. positioning a key to accept the pellet; g. clamping the key in position with a non-destructive force; h. inserting the pellet into the key; and i. securing the pellet into the key by swaging key material into the pellet.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of mechanically securing a pellet with predefined electrical resistance properties to a key, comprising the steps of: a. serially advancing a plurality of said pellets into a ready station; b. advancing one pellet per actuation into a transfer passage; c. propelling said pellet with air pressure to a test station; d. testing the resistance properties of said pellet by advancing electrical contact probes into contact with each side of the pellet for completing an electrical circuit and measuring the resistance properties of said pellet; e. presenting said pellet to an inserting station; f. positioning a key to accept the pellet; g. clamping the key in position with a non-destructive force; h. inserting the pellet into the key; and i. securing the pellet into the key by swaging key material into the pellet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |