Tensioning assembly

Abstract

A tensioning assembly for applying tension to a line including a hub configured to rotate in a first direction to receive the line within the hub in the first direction, and discharge the line out of the hub in a second direction, is disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tensioning assembly for applying tension to a line, the assembly, comprising:
 a hub configured to rotate in a first direction to receive the line within the hub in the first direction, and discharge the line out of the hub in a second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a first hub section and a second hub section each having substantially the same structure and mated together along mating surfaces with a first orifice formed between the mating surfaces to receive the line within the hub in the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the hub further includes a second orifice to discharge the line from within the hub in the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein subsequent line received in the first direction is overlapped on an exterior of the hub in the first direction as the hub is rotate to wrap the line about the hub. 
     
     
         5 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 4 , wherein receiving of the line about the hub results in the shortening a length of the line in the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 4 , further includes a trough formed on the exterior of the hub, the overlapped line being disposed therein. 
     
     
         7 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the trough includes spaced apart protrusions that encircle the hub. 
     
     
         8 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the protrusions are spaced apart on opposite sides of an orifice formed in the hub to receive the line in the first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes an elongated hub body extending in the second direction, the hub body having a first orifice positioned at an approximate midpoint along the hub body to receive the line in the first direction, and a second orifice positioned to discharge the line in the second direction. 
     
     
         10 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first direction and second direction are perpendicular to each other and the first orifice and the second orifice connect to each other to form an “L” shaped channel within the hub body. 
     
     
         11 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second orifice extends completely through the hub body in the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The tensioning assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first direction and second direction are perpendicular to each other and the first orifice and the second orifice connect to each other to form a “T” shaped channel within the hub body. 
     
     
         13 . A method of tensioning a line, comprising:
 receiving the line within the hub in the first direction;   discharging the line out of the hub in a second direction;   rotating the hub in the first direction; and   overlapping on an exterior of the hub subsequent line received in the first direction as the hub is rotated to wrap the line about the hub.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further includes:
 mating together along mating surfaces a first hub section and a second hub section each having substantially the same structure, and   forming a first orifice between the mating surfaces to receive the line within the hub in the first direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further includes:
 forming a second orifice to discharge the line from within the hub in the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving of the line about the hub results in the shortening a length of the line in the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further includes:
 forming a trough formed on the exterior of the hub, the overlapping line being disposed therein.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming the trough includes spacing apart protrusions that encircle the hub. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further includes:
 spacing apart the protrusions on opposite sides of an orifice formed on the hub to receive the line in the first direction.