Patents Assigned to Gauthier Biomedical Inc.
  • Patent number: 7014023
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved ratcheting mechanism for a tool that includes a number of bearings disposed within the mechanism that maintain the alignment of a gear forming a part of the mechanism with the remainder of the parts of the mechanism. The bearings are disposed within a housing for the mechanism and serve to align and allow the free rotation of a shaft connected to the gear. The bearings, by maintaining the alignment of the shaft and gear with the remainder of the mechanism, prevent the gear from experiencing any lateral or axial displacement with respect to the remainder of the mechanism. Further, the various components of the mechanism are effectively sealed to the housing in order to provide a fluid tight mechanism for use in a variety of different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Gauthier Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Gauthier
  • Patent number: 6948605
    Abstract: A ratcheting mechanism for a hand-held tool is provided. The mechanism includes a housing having a central opening and a pair of slots disposed on opposite sides of the opening. Each slot has an arcuate or circular end portion opposite the central opening which circumscribes an arc of greater than 180° in order to pivotally retain a generally circular stem of a pawl therein. Due to the presence of a pair of biasing members within the housing, each pawl is biased inwardly towards the central opening and into engagement with teeth located on the exterior of a gear rotatably disposed within the central opening. A cap rotatably connected to the housing over the pawls and the central opening is able to selectively disengage one of the pawls to allow the rotation of the gear within the central opening in a specified direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Gauthier Biomedical Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Gauthier