Patents by Inventor Nigel Buchanan

Nigel Buchanan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240367292
    Abstract: A three jaw open wrench or socket 1, capable of having a “proof torque” over ten times that of the ASME 107.6 standard for equivalent sized heavy duty crowfoot socket or wrench, having an elongate handle portion 20 and incorporating at least one head portion 300, having an inner drive profile 301 robustly gripping in the drive torque direction D correspondingly near sized, metric or inch hexagonal fasteners 40 by three triangulated 305, equidistant 306, first 307, second 308 and third 309 torque application points, one engaging every second corresponding hexagonal fastener head 41 driven half face 43 in the direction of torque application D, the occurring projected forces PF simultaneously self centring the projected force PF, upon said worked fastener driven half faces 43, any slight variances in fastener drive flat to flats 42, manufacturing tolerances or worn or damaged fastener drive flats 46 being automatically compensated for in the same manner as a three legged stool compensates for an uneven floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20240335922
    Abstract: A compact three torque application point, ratcheting open-wrench, wherein the operated first and third torque application points are under tension gripping and pulling around their corresponding fastener driven half face whilst the second torque application point is under compression pushing its corresponding fastener driven half face. Contact with the worked fastener driven half faces being in generally the same point within each driven half face largely equalizing any lever arm force applied. The head portion fastener access being approximately at 90 degrees to the handle portion and the second torque application points radiused leading edge is incorporated near the extremely strong point of convergence between the handle portion and the head portion resulting in a far greater inherent ratcheting open-wrench torque capability as there is now no circumstance that the normally susceptible second jaw can either flex or fail as in effect there is no second jaw as such.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 12059783
    Abstract: A hand operated gripping tool has a first handle (301), a first jaw (201) connected with the first handle, a second handle (302) pivotably connected with the first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of the second handle with respect to the first handle and a second jaw (202) connected with the second handle. One of the first jaw and second jaw is a removable jaw and the removable jaw is push-fit attachable to the respective handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: ATE International Ltd
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 12048987
    Abstract: A ratchet comprises a head portion with a circular central housing having modular inserts in the form of three flat ring like layers, two outer fixed ramped profile layers engaged into housing locking profiles with a sequential actuating layer capable of limited rotation between. Opposing direction pawls are situated within the fixed layer ramped profiles. The actuating layer has engagement and disengagement profiles at either end of its pawl recesses projecting the incumbent pawls against the fixed layer ramped profiles in the chosen direction projecting them inwards locking the pawl teeth within the driven element teeth, whilst simultaneously disengaging the pawls facing the other direction. The actuating layer biasing protrusion resiliently projected in the chosen direction by a robust sprung plunger acting from within a switch bore, in the reverse direction the actuating layer resiliently rotates against said sprung plunger allowing the pawl teeth to resiliently slide over one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20240217073
    Abstract: A no switch, dual direction, ratcheting screwdriver (1), comprising a handle (60) incorporating a housing (50) encapsulated ratchet mechanism (11), further comprising a drive gear (30), attached to the housing (50) within the handle (60) and the driven gear (31) attached to the screwdriver shaft (20), the annular crown wheel type drive and driven gears (30, 31) having gear-engaging teeth (32) around their periphery. At rest a resilient member (40) prevents the drive and driven gears (30, 31) from engagement with each other. The operator engaging the screwdriver operating profile (26) into the corresponding screw head (81) naturally pushing the screwdriver handle (60) forward (FF), robustly engaging the fastener (80), further compressing the resilient member (40), robustly locking the drive and driven gears (30, 31) as one, the screw (80) being operated as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11911878
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench (1) has a flexible clutch ring (500) that forms the mid part of a laminate-like structure comprising a wrench head (200), the clutch ring (500) and a drive element (40). When under load, the compression forces applied to the clutch ring (500) are substantially dissipated around its circumference (508) and inner surface (509), this inward force clamping upon the inherently strong drive outer surface (45). The laminate-like construction enables a reduction in the width or depth of the wrench head without a loss in strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11883937
    Abstract: The main fixed handle optionally incorporates two swivel out arms, which can form part of a three-legged base. When operated thus, the jaws and moving handle point generally upwards from the formed base, the moving handle can now be operated by one hand leaving the other free to position the workpiece. The moving handle can incorporate a further locking switch that can be utilised in both a switchable locking position or non-locking position upon a sprung toothed strut between the handles, at least one of which further incorporates a curved resilient portion in order to provide useful sprung closure of the parallel moving jaws upon the workpiece in the locking method. A lanyard can be optimally attached to the swivel out arm ends to provide the user with a chest mounted portable vice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11865676
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench (1) with a head portion (200), automatically adjustable within its size range. The fastener (80) to be operated is fitted between the fixed jaw (201) and moving jaw (300), the operators thumb pressure released, automatically propelling the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw (200), the use of four workpiece contacting surfaces (202, 203, 302, 303), two within each opposing jaw (201, 300), engaging the four corresponding actual levered faces (83) to each apply a drive force to a hexagonal fastener head 81. The head portion (200) illustrated in section in order to show the gear teeth (403) on the head end (402) of the handle (400) levering closed the moving jaw (300) via its associated wedge-shaped rack gear (312).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11554465
    Abstract: Pliers (1) comprising jaw (201, 301) portions incorporating gripping faces for the clamping of the desired workpiece (90), three pivotal handle (202) portions and a sprung toothed strut (60) positioned between the handles (202). A bow shaped resilient portion (408) or portions, incorporated within the third arm (200, 300, 400) portion, when the pliers are operated this resilient portion imparts a sprung pressure upon the clamped workpiece (90) by the gripping face (203, 303) of the jaws (201, 301). The third arm (200, 300, 400) and bend promoting portion are contiguous with each other. The jaws (201, 301) can further be usefully locked in the required clamping position upon the workpiece (90) by a toothed sprung strut (60) pivotally attached to the first and third arms (200) and conveniently being locked or unlocked according to the locking switch (500, 50) pivotal within the first arm (200, 300, 400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11478903
    Abstract: A pliers has jaw portions incorporating gripping faces for the clamping of the desired workpiece, two pivotal handle portions and a sprung toothed strut positioned between the handles. A bow shaped resilient portion, incorporated within the second arm portion, when the pliers are operated this resilient portion imparts a useful superior sprung pressure upon the clamped workpiece by the gripping face of the jaws. The second arm and bend promoting portion are contiguous with each other. The jaws can further be usefully locked in the required clamping position upon the workpiece by a toothed sprung strut pivotally attached to the first and second arms and conveniently being locked or unlocked according to the locking switch pivotal within the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11453103
    Abstract: A locking clutch ratchet wrench (1) is configured such that a clutch ring (500) forms the mid part of aminate like structure. Under torque applying conditions, the compression forces applied to the clutch ring (500) are substantially dissipated around the circumference (507) of the clutch ring. This inwardly directed force clamp against the inherently strong outer surface 405 of the drive element (400). The resultant pseudo laminate structure of the drive element (400), clutch (500) and housing (201, 202) enables the construction of a proportionately stronger ratchet wrench of reduced height or width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20220219293
    Abstract: A ratchet comprises a head portion with a circular central housing having modular inserts in the form of three flat ring like layers, two outer fixed ramped profile layers engaged into housing locking profiles with a sequential actuating layer capable of limited rotation between. Opposing direction pawls are situated within the fixed layer ramped profiles. The actuating layer has engagement and disengagement profiles at either end of its pawl recesses projecting the incumbent pawls against the fixed layer ramped profiles in the chosen direction projecting them inwards locking the pawl teeth within the driven element teeth, whilst simultaneously disengaging the pawls facing the other direction. The actuating layer biasing protrusion resiliently projected in the chosen direction by a robust sprung plunger acting from within a switch bore, in the reverse direction the actuating layer resiliently rotates against said sprung plunger allowing the pawl teeth to resiliently slide over one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11179829
    Abstract: The ratchet 1 is designed such that the flexible clutch ring 500 forms the mid part of an extremely strong laminate like housing 200 structure, under torque conditions the resultant compression forces applied to the clutch ring 500 are substantially dissipated around its circumference 507 and inner surface 508, this inward force clamping upon the inherently strong drive outer surface 405. The resultant pseudo laminate like construction of the drive 400, clutch 500 and housing 201, 202 enables a proportionately far stronger reduced width ratchet 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11173581
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench has a wrench head provided with a fixed jaw, a movable jaw carried by the wrench head, a first movable jaw actuator mounted on the wrench head and a second movable jaw actuator mounted on said wrench head. The movable jaw is provided with teeth engagable by the first and second movable jaw actuators and the first movable jaw actuator is movable to an inoperative position to enable actuation of the movable jaw by the second movable jaw actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210276157
    Abstract: A hand operated gripping tool has a first handle (301), a first jaw (201) connected with the first handle, a second handle (302) pivotably connected with the first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of the second handle with respect to the first handle and a second jaw (202) connected with the second handle. One of the first jaw and second jaw is a removable jaw and the removable jaw is push-fit attachable to the respective handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210276158
    Abstract: The main fixed handle optionally incorporates two swivel out arms, which can form part of a three-legged base. When operated thus, the jaws and moving handle point generally upwards from the formed base, the moving handle can now be operated by one hand leaving the other free to position the workpiece. The moving handle can incorporate a further locking switch that can be utilised in both a switchable locking position or non-locking position upon a sprung toothed strut between the handles, at least one of which further incorporates a curved resilient portion in order to provide useful sprung closure of the parallel moving jaws upon the workpiece in the locking method. A lanyard can be optimally attached to the swivel out arm ends to provide the user with a chest mounted portable vice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210245332
    Abstract: Pliers comprising a head portion incorporating gripping faces within the opposing jaws for the clamping of the desired workpiece, pivotal handle portions and a sprung toothed link positioned between the handles. Bow shaped resilient portion or portions are usefully incorporated within either or both the jaw or handle portions, when the pliers are operated these resilient portions impart a useful superior sprung pressure upon the clamped workpiece by the gripping face of the jaws. The Jaws and bend promoting portion are contiguous with each individual handle and gripping portion. The jaws can further be usefully locked in the required clamping position upon the workpiece by a toothed sprung strut pivotally attached to the fixed handle and conveniently being locked or unlocked according to the locking switch pivotal within the opposing moving handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210146505
    Abstract: Pliers (1) comprising jaw (201, 301) portions incorporating gripping faces for the clamping of the desired workpiece (90), three pivotal handle (202) portions and a sprung toothed strut (60) positioned between the handles (202). A bow shaped resilient portion (408) or portions, incorporated within the third arm (200, 300, 400) portion, when the pliers are operated this resilient portion imparts a sprung pressure upon the clamped workpiece (90) by the gripping face (203, 303) of the jaws (201, 301). The third arm (200, 300, 400) and bend promoting portion are contiguous with each other. The jaws (201, 301) can further be usefully locked in the required clamping position upon the workpiece (90) by a toothed sprung strut (60) pivotally attached to the first and third arms (200) and conveniently being locked or unlocked according to the locking switch (500, 50) pivotal within the first arm (200, 300, 400).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210122012
    Abstract: The wrench has a thumb switch, when operated, opens against a spring bias the pivotal ring portion around the axis pin attached to the fixed head portion of the wrench head portion, allowing a tube or pipe attached to the fastener to access the confines of the wrench head hexagonal inner profile via the said access channel now provided, the opening of the pivotal ring portion involves approximately 50% of the wrench head portion, the said pivotal ring portion encompassing approximately 50% of the wrench head inner profile. The corner profiles next to the swivel joints are scalloped such that when the pivotal ring is opened the scallops substantially align forming a passageway required for the abutting fastener drive corner to traverse through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210046618
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench (1) with a head portion (200), automatically adjustable within its size range. The fastener (80) to be operated is fitted between the fixed jaw (201) and moving jaw (300), the operators thumb pressure released, automatically propelling the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw (200), the use of four workpiece contacting surfaces (202, 203, 302, 303), two within each opposing jaw (201, 300), engaging the four corresponding actual levered faces (83) to each apply a drive force to a hexagonal fastener head 81. The head portion (200) illustrated in section in order to show the gear teeth (403) on the head end (402) of the handle (400) levering closed the moving jaw (300) via its associated wedge-shaped rack gear (312).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan