String winding and unwinding apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for convenient tightening and loosening of strings such as those found in shoelaces of footwear is provided. The apparatus includes a rotating portion within a base portion. A cover portion, when operated in a first position, provides a ratchet movement that allows rotation in a tightening direction while preventing movement in a loosening direction. When the cover is moved to a second position, the ratchet mechanism disengages, and the strings can then be easily loosened.

1 . A string winding apparatus, comprising:
 a base unit, the base unit comprising a housing and having a lateral aperture in the housing;   a middle unit coupled to the base unit;   a rotating unit positioned within the base unit, wherein the rotating unit is configured and disposed to be rotatable with respect to the base unit, and wherein the rotating unit comprises a upper surface with a first engaging portion formed thereon and allowing a string to be wound around an outer circumferential surface thereof or unwound therefrom through rotation; and   a cover unit coupled to the middle unit, wherein the cover unit is configured and disposed to be rotatable with respect to the middle unit, and wherein the cover unit comprises a second engaging portion configured and disposed to engage with the first engaging portion of the rotating unit.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cover unit further comprises a plurality of ratchet protrusions configured and disposed to engage with a plurality of responsive protrusions formed within the middle unit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral aperture comprises a first lateral aperture and a second lateral aperture at a different elevation than the first lateral aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the middle unit comprises an upper housing, and wherein the upper housing comprises an inwardly directed upper stoppage portion and an inwardly directed lower stoppage portion, and wherein the cover unit comprises a responsive stoppage portion configured and disposed to movably engage with the upper stoppage portion and lower stoppage portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging portion comprises a recess shape having a serrated sloped surface formed along an inner circumferential surface, and wherein the second engaging portion comprises a serrated sloped surface formed along an outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         6 . A string winding apparatus comprising:
 a base unit having a base plate and a lower housing positioned on an upper surface of the base plate and having a lateral aperture;   a middle unit having a upper housing coupled to the lower housing, an upper stoppage portion positioned within the upper housing, and a lower stoppage portion positioned within the upper housing and disposed to be closer to the base plate than the upper stoppage portion;   a rotating unit being at least partially positioned within the lower housing so as to be rotatable with respect to the base unit, and allowing a string to be wound around an outer circumferential surface thereof or unwound therefrom through rotation; and   a cover unit coupled to the middle unit so as to be rotatable with respect to the middle unit, having a responsive stoppage portion protruding in a radial direction, varied in distance to the base unit according to a relative position of the responsive stoppage portion with respect to the upper stoppage portion and the lower stoppage portion so as to be engaged with the rotating unit or separated from the rotating unit, and rotated together with the rotating unit when engaged therewith.   
     
     
         7 . The string winding apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the upper stoppage portion and the lower stoppage portion are positioned in the upper housing. 
     
     
         8 . The string winding apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the upper stoppage portion and the lower stoppage portion have a concave shape. 
     
     
         9 . The string winding apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the responsive stoppage portion is flexible. 
     
     
         10 . The string winding apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cover unit has a unidirectional ratchet protrusion and the middle unit has a responsive protrusion formed therein and engaged with the unidirectional ratchet protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The string winding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the cover unit is engaged with the rotating unit, the unidirectional ratchet protrusion is engaged with the responsive protrusion, and when the cover unit is separated from the rotating unit, the unidirectional ratchet protrusion is separated from the responsive protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . The string winding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the middle unit has a partition positioned to be closer to the base plate than the lower stoppage portion and protruding inwardly, and the responsive protrusion is positioned on a surface of the partition in a direction toward the lower stoppage portion. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled)