Hand squeeze actuated spooler

Abstract

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to an improvement of string/material winding devices and mechanisms. Accordingly, a device is provided comprising of an axially rotatable spooler with shoulders defining a length between them to engage a roll of string/material, wherein the spooler comprises one end with a bevel gear mechanism defined inside the device's housing. Further, a second bevel gear mechanism is provided in the housing to engage the axially rotatable spooler's bevel gear mechanism. Further in the housing is a one-way spur gear rotatable by a rack actioned by a handle, wherein the rotary motion of the said spur gear is translated to the second bevel gear which causes an axial rotation of the spooler to wind or unwind a string/line. According to one embodiment, the one-way spur gear, rack and handle from a ratchet mechanism.

1 . A spooler apparatus comprising:
 an axially rotatable spooler with a bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) at one end defined in a housing of the apparatus;   a handle;   a housing enclosing:
 a second bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it); 
 a gear rotatable on one way, and; 
 a rack driving the one-way gear; 
   wherein, the one-way gear is driven by the said rack enclosed in the housing in that an action of pressing the handle thereof causes the rack to induce a rotary motion of the one-way gear, which in turn induces a rotary motion in one axis on the second bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it);   wherein said second bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) in turn induces a rotary motion on the spooler's bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) resulting in an axial rotation of the spooler to wind or unwind a lineal material such as a string or line, or any such.   
     
     
         2 . The string winder apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising of a stopper mechanism characterized in that the stopper may be activated to stop the rotary motion of the one-way gear by means of the latch, wherein engaging said latch prevents rotary motion of the one-way gear from being induced by an action of the handle, while disengaging said latch allows rotary motion of the one-way gear to be induced by an action of the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The string winder apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the one-way spur gear, rack and handle form a ratchet mechanism characterized in that the one-way spur gear comprises further of a small lever or latch that rotates about a pivot point and catches in the teeth of the gear, wherein the latch is designed and oriented such a manner that if the gear were to turn in one direction, the gear could spin freely and the latch would be pushed up by the teeth, but if the gear were to spin in the other direction, the latch would catch in the teeth of the gear and prevent it from moving. 
     
     
         4 . The string winder apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein said ratchet mechanism allows force to be applied in one direction resulting in a rotation of the spooler in a particular axial direction e.g., clockwise a continuous manner to unwind the lineal material attached thereto continuously. 
     
     
         5 . The string winder apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the one-way spur gear, rack and handle from a clutch mechanism characterized by input shaft with two gears of different sizes, and an output shaft with two gears that mesh with the gears on the input shaft, but can rotate freely around the output shaft, so they do not drive it. 
     
     
         6 . The string winder apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the clutch mechanism may be used to change the speed of the output shaft that drives a bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) at one end of a rotatable spooler. 
     
     
         7 . The string winder apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the one-way spur gear comprises of a pinion gear thereof, an which is driven by the rack to induce rotary motion of the one-way spur gear. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a string winder apparatus comprising of: applying a squeezing force by the hand of a user on a handle thereof to cause a rack to induce a rotary motion of the one-way gear; causing by the one-way gear a rotary motion in one axis on the second bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it); causing by the second bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) a rotary motion on the spooler's bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) resulting in an axial rotation of the spooler to wind or unwind a lineal material such as a string or line. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein it is provided a stopper mechanism characterized in that the stopper may be activated to stop the rotary motion of the one-way gear by means of the latch, wherein engaging said latch prevents rotary motion of the one-way gear from being induced by an action of the handle, while disengaging said latch allows rotary motion of the one-way gear to be induced by an action of the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein it is provided a one-way spur gear, rack and handle forming a ratchet mechanism characterized in that the one-way spur gear comprises further of a small lever or latch that rotates about a pivot point and catches in the teeth of the gear, wherein the latch is designed and oriented such a manner that if the gear were to turn in one direction, the gear could spin freely and the latch would be pushed up by the teeth, but if the gear were to spin in the other direction, the latch would catch in the teeth of the gear and prevent it from moving. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein it is provided a one-way spur gear, rack and handle forming a clutch mechanism characterized by input shaft with two gears of different sizes, and an output shaft with two gears that mesh with the gears on the input shaft, but can rotate freely around the output shaft, so they do not drive it. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the provided clutch mechanism may be used to change the speed of the output shaft that drives a bevel gear mechanism (or an equivalent of it) at one end of a rotatable spooler. 
     
     
         13 . The method an in  claim 8 , wherein the one-way spur gear comprises of a pinion gear thereof, an which is operated by the rack to induce rotary motion of the one-way spur gear.