US 7,516,914 B2Granted

Bi-directional device

AssigneeEnventys, LLC

InventorsIan D. Kovacevich, Kevin J. Dahlquist, Tom J. Philpott, Daniel Lee Bizzell

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Abstract

A bi-directional device includes a rotatable control handle, a first line, and a second line, each extending from a housing. When the control handle is rotated in a first rotational direction, at least a portion of the first line is drawn into the housing. When the control handle is rotated in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, at least a portion of the second line is drawn into the housing. Optionally, the control handle is positionable into each of a drive position and a release position. The control handle is generally biased into the drive position by an elastic force such as that of a spring. While the control handle is at the drive position, those portions of the lines drawn into the housing by rotations of the control handle are prevented from being withdrawn. When the release position of the control handle is obtained, drawn portions of the lines can be withdrawn from the housing.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A bi-directional device comprising:

(a) a housing;
(b) a control handle extending from the housing;
(c) a first line extending from the housing;
and
(d) a second line extending from the housing;
(e) wherein, said control handle is rotatable about an axis in a first rotational direction, whereby at least a portion of said first line is drawn into said housing when said control handle is rotated in the first rotational direction;
(f) wherein, said control handle is rotatable about said axis in a second rotational direction, whereby at least a portion of said second line is drawn into said housing when said control handle is rotated in the second rotational direction;
(g) wherein said second rotational direction is opposite said first rotational direction;
(h) wherein said control handle is positionable along said axis into a drive position;
(i) wherein, when said control handle is positioned at said drive position, at least a portion of said first line is drawn into said housing when said control handle is rotated in the first rotational direction;
(j) wherein, when said control handle is positioned at said drive position, at least a portion of said second line is drawn into said housing when said control handle is rotated in the second rotational direction;
and
(k) wherein said control handle is positionable along said axis into a release position, whereby when said control handle is positioned at said release position, at least a portion of said first line is releasable from said housing.

10 more elements

A bi-directional device comprising:

(a) an axle rotatable about an axis;
(b) a first driving component attached to said axle;
(c) a second driving component attached to said axle;
(d) a first spool assembly comprising:
(I) a first spool concentric about said axis;
and
(II) a third driving component coupled to said first spool, engagable by said first driving component;
and
(e) a second spool assembly comprising:
(I) a second spool concentric about said axis;
and
(II) a fourth driving component coupled to said second spool, engagable by said second driving component;
(f) wherein, when said axle is rotated in a first rotational direction about said axis, said first driving component engages said third driving component thereby rotating said first spool about said axis in the first rotational direction;
(g) wherein, when said axle is rotated in a second rotational direction about said axis, said second driving component engages said fourth driving component thereby rotating said second spool about said axis in the second rotational direction;
and
(h) wherein said second rotational direction is rotationally opposite said first rotational direction.

13 more elements

A spool assembly comprising:

(a) a spool for winding a line thereabout;
(b) a first crown gear coupled to the spool for rotating said spool;
(c) a second crown gear coupled to the spool for preventing rotation of said spool;
(d) a driving gear for engaging said first crown gear;
and
(e) a locking gear for engaging said second crown gear;
(f) wherein said spool, said first crown gear, said second crown gear, said driving gear, and said locking crown gear are concentric about a common axis;
(g) wherein said first crown gear is positionable within a range along the common axis relative to said spool;
(h) wherein said first crown gear is biased away from said spool and toward said driving gear by an elastic force;
(i) wherein said second crown gear is positionable within a range along the common axis relative to said spool;
(j) wherein said second crown gear is biased away from said spool and toward said locking gear by an elastic force;
(k) wherein, when said driving gear is rotated in a first rotational direction about the common axis, said driving gear engages said first crown gear thereby rotating said spool about the common axis in the first rotational direction;
and
(l) wherein, said locking gear engages said second crown gear thereby preventing rotation of said spool in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/123,900Filed 6 May 2005 · us provisional application
Priority: 7 May 2004
Published: US 2005/0247813 A110 Nov 2005
Granted: 14 Apr 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16G 11/12
Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes: connections or attachments,…
A42B 3/08
Parts, details or accessories of helmets: chin straps or similar retention devices
A42B 3/14
Linings: suspension devices
A43C 11/165
Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like: characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation

Family

Application60/569,304Us provisional application · filed 7 May 2004
Application60/608,397Us provisional application · filed 9 Sep 2004
Application60/656,335Us provisional application · filed 25 Feb 2005
US 2005/0247813 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Nov 2005
US 7,516,914 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.