One-Way Snare Apparatus and Method for Isolating A Broken Elastic Strand

An apparatus for isolating a broken elastic strand, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a snare member movably connected with the housing, the snare member movable between a first position and a second position;
• a pathway extending through the housing adapted to receive an advancing elastic strand;
• wherein the pathway is relatively wide when the snare member is in the first position;
• and
• wherein the pathway is relatively narrow when the snare member is in the second position.

A method for isolating broken strands of elastic with a one way snare comprising a housing and a snare member movably connected with the housing, the method comprising the steps of:

• advancing an elastic strand in a first direction through the housing;
• placing the snare member in a first position;
• separating the elastic strand in the first direction to create an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion;
• retracting the upstream end portion in a second direction toward the housing, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction;
• and
• capturing the upstream end portion by moving the snare member in the second direction to a second position.