Starting device for internal combustion engines

A starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, comprising:

• a. an elongated flexible starter strip having a handle on a first end and a connection means on a second end;
• b. a housing partially enclosing said apparatus, said housing having an opening therein for receiving said starter strip;
• c. a receptacle having a central hub and a post, said receptacle being fixed within said housing;
• d. a starter pulley rotatably positioned on said hub and provided with a channel for storing said starter strip, said pulley having one or more slots for securely receiving said connection means, said first end of said starter strip being secured to said starter pulley and said elongated starter strip being wound around said starter pulley within said channel;
• e. a spirally wound spring having inner and outer ends for rewinding said starter pulley, said spring being positioned within said receptacle and having said inner end fixed to said pulley and said outer end fixed to said post;
• and
• f. a ratcheting means for connecting said pulley to the drive shaft of said internal combustion engine, said ratcheting means being operative to produce uncoupled rotation between said pulley and said drive shaft when said pulley rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction extant during normal drive shaft rotation, and coupled rotation between said pulley and said drive shaft when said pulley rotates in said rotation direction extant during normal drive shaft rotation;
• g. said handle, upon being pulled, unwinding said strip, thereby winding said spring and rotating said pulley, causing said ratchet means to engage said drive shaft and start said engine;
• and
• h. said spring unwinding upon release of said strip, causing said strip to be rewound on said pulley.