Michael T Gauthier

US Patent:

6817458, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Jan 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/342707

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Oak Creek WI 53154

International Classification:

F16D 1106

US Classification:

192 431, 81 62

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 are arcuate or circular end portion opposite the central opening which circumscribes an are of greater than 180Â 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.

US Patent:

6948605, Sep 27, 2005

Filed:

Oct 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/969402

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Oak Creek WI, US

Assignee:

Gauthier Biomedical Inc. - Brown Deer WI

International Classification:

F16D011/06
B25B013/46

US Classification:

192 431, 81 62

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.

US Patent:

7014023, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Apr 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/825384

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Oak Creek WI, US

Assignee:

Gauthier Biomedical, Inc. - Brown Deer WI

International Classification:

F16D 41/16
B25B 13/46

US Classification:

192 431, 192 46, 81 62

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.

US Patent:

7156216, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Sep 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/232634

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Oak Creek WI, US

Assignee:

Gauthier Biomedical Inc. - Brown Deer WI

International Classification:

F16D 11/06
B25B 13/46

US Classification:

192 431, 81 62

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.

US Patent:

7272998, Sep 25, 2007

Filed:

Jun 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/153286

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Grafton WI, US

International Classification:

B25B 23/157

US Classification:

81473, 81474, 81475, 81476

Abstract:

A torque-limiting mechanism is provided for use in a variety of torque-applying tools. The mechanism includes a handle defining a housing in which are disposed a slip gear and a fixed gear. The fixed gear is attached to the housing while the slip gear is attached to drive body extending outwardly from the housing and engageable with an item to be turned utilizing the tool. The slip gear and the fixed gear are connected by ball bearings disposed within recesses located on each gear that are pressed into the recesses by a force exerted on the gears by a number of spring members disposed between an enclosed end of the housing and the fixed gear. The amount of force exerted by the springs on the gears can be varied as necessary, thereby allowing the amount of torque required to enable the slip gear to move with respect to the fixed gear to be set where desired. The use of the ball bearings as the engagement members between the fixed gear and the slip gear provides a smooth transition between positions when the slip gear rotates with respect to the fixed gear, and greatly reduces the amount of friction forces acting on the torque-limiting mechanism, such that the force controlling the operation of the mechanism is solely provided by the springs and easily predictable and controllable.

US Patent:

7413065, Aug 19, 2008

Filed:

Dec 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/645942

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Oak Creek WI, US

Assignee:

Gauthier Biomedical Inc. - Grafton WI

International Classification:

F16D 41/16

US Classification:

192 431, 81 62

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.

US Patent:

7430945, Oct 7, 2008

Filed:

May 17, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/750175

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Grafton WI, US
Steven S. Landowski - Random Lake WI, US

Assignee:

Gauthier Biomedical Inc. - Brown Deer WI

International Classification:

B25B 23/14
B25B 13/46
B25B 23/143

US Classification:

81467, 81478, 81480, 81 61

Abstract:

A tool is provided for driving fasteners that includes a torque limiting mechanism therein. The torque limiting mechanism includes a first frictional engagement member disposed on the drive shaft for the tool that is engaged by one or more second frictional engagement members disposed on one or more sides of the first frictional member. The second frictional engagement members are biased into engagement with the first member by biasing members disposed within the handle that can be adjusted in order to provide more or less of a biasing force to control the frictional engagement of the second member with the first member and thereby control the torque limiting function of the torque limiting mechanism. In addition, a drive shaft is also engaged with a ratcheting mechanism that enables the tool to drive a fastener into a suitable substrate in only a single direction.

US Patent:

7650821, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Jun 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/474242

Inventors:

Michael T. Gauthier - Grafton WI, US
Steven S. Landowski - Random Lake WI, US

Assignee:

Gauthier Biomedical Inc. - Grafton WI

International Classification:

B25B 23/157

US Classification:

81473, 81 52, 81467, 81476

Abstract:

A torque-limiting mechanism is provided for use in a variety of torque-applying tools. The mechanism includes a handle defining a housing in which are disposed a slip gear and a fixed gear. The fixed gear is attached to the housing while the slip gear is attached to drive body extending outwardly from the housing and engageable with an item to be turned utilizing the tool. The slip gear and the fixed gear are connected by teeth disposed on each gear and by ball bearings disposed within recesses located on each gear that are pressed into the recesses by a force exerted on the gears by a number of spring members disposed between an enclosed end of the housing and the fixed gear. The amount of force exerted by the springs on the gears can be varied as necessary, thereby allowing the amount of torque required to enable the slip gear to move with respect to the fixed gear to be set where desired. The use of the ball bearings as the engagement members between the fixed gear and the slip gear provides a smooth transition between positions when the slip gear rotates with respect to the fixed gear, and greatly reduces the amount of friction forces acting on the torque-limiting mechanism, such that the force controlling the operation of the mechanism is solely provided by the springs and easily predictable and controllable. Further, the teeth, due to the angled locking surfaces formed in the teeth, enable the gears to only rotate with respect to one another in one direction.