Patent ID: 7614158

Claim:
A method for decoding a lock comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a one piece device that conforms to a profile of a keyway of the lock into the keyway until a stopping resistance occurs when a pin of the lock reaches a shear line position; (b) making a marking on the device that corresponds to a point at which the resistance occurred as the device is inserted, the marking further representing a position where a cut may be made on an uncut key; (c) making a measurement from the marking to one of a plurality of reference indicators on the device; and (d) comparing the measurement with pre-determined depth values to determine a current depth for the cut associated with the marking, the one piece device comprising a modifiable surface including the plurality of reference indicators, each indicator indicating spacing of a pin within the lock, and a space between indicators further indicates a range of depth values of each pin within the lock.