Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines

A starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a. an elongated starter strip provided with teeth along its length;
• b. a rotatable starter wheel having an edge for securely receiving said teeth of said starter strip, said teeth and said edge being constructed to grab and lock with each other during pulling of said strip in the starting direction, and to slip past each other during movement of said strip in a direction opposite to said starting direction;
• c. an axle for coupling rotation of said starter wheel to said internal combustion engine;
• and
• d. a channel having entry and exit ends for receiving said starter strip and for engaging said teeth with said edge of said starter wheel;
• whereby said strip is inserted into said entry end of said channel and pulled from said exit end;
• during pulling, said teeth engage said starter wheel edge causing said wheel to rotate;
• said axle is thereby caused to rotate, and actuation of said internal combustion engine is initiated.