Independently drawing and tensioning lines with bi-directional rotary device having two spools

Abstract

A method of drawing lines into a housing includes: rotating a dial in a first rotational direction of the dial such that a first spool located in an interior of the housing is mechanically rotated in a first rotational direction thereby winding a first line thereabout; and rotating the same dial in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction such that a second spool located in the interior of the housing is mechanically rotated in a first rotational direction thereby winding a second line thereabout. The rotating of the same dial in the second, opposite rotational direction does not result in unwinding of the first line from the first spool, and the rotating of the same dial in the first rotational direction does not result in unwinding of the second line from the second spool.

1 . A method of drawing lines into a housing, comprising the steps of:
 (a) rotating a dial in a first rotational direction of the dial such that a first spool located in an interior of the housing is mechanically rotated in a first rotational direction thereby winding a first line thereabout;   (b) rotating the dial in a second rotational direction of the dial opposite to the first rotational direction of the dial such that a second spool located in the interior of the housing is mechanically rotated in a first rotational direction thereby winding a second line thereabout; and   (c) during rotation of the dial in the second rotational direction of the dial, inhibiting the first spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the first spool, thereby keeping the first line from unwinding from the first spool.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of,
 (d) during rotation of the dial in the first rotational direction of the dial, inhibiting the second spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the second spool, thereby keeping the second line from unwinding from the second spool.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of,
 (e) disengaging a first pawl inhibiting the first spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the first spool, whereby the first line may be unwound from the first spool and withdrawn from the housing; and   (f) disengaging a second pawl inhibiting the second spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the second spool, whereby the second line may be unwound from the second spool and withdrawn from the housing.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first pawl is disengaged independently of the second pawl and wherein the second pawl is disengaged independently of the first pawl. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first pawl is first disengaged and then the second pawl is disengaged. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first pawl and the second pawl are simultaneously disengaged. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each line is anchored at a point exterior to the housing whereby each line is tensioned as each line is drawn into the housing, each line being independently tensioned. 
   
   
       8 . A method of tensioning lines, comprising the steps of:
 (a) rotating a dial in a first rotational direction of the dial such that a first spool located in an interior of a housing is mechanically rotated by the dial in a first rotational direction thereby winding first and second lines thereabout; and   (b) rotating the dial in a second rotational direction of the dial opposite to the first rotational direction of the dial such that a second spool located in the interior of the housing is mechanically rotated by the dial in a first rotational direction thereby winding third and fourth lines thereabout; and   (c) during rotation of the dial in the second rotational direction of the dial, inhibiting the first spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the first spool, thereby keeping the first and second lines from unwinding from the first spool.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of,
 (d) during rotation of the dial in the first rotational direction of the dial, inhibiting the second spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the second spool, thereby keeping the third and fourth lines from unwinding from the second spool.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of,
 (e) disengaging a first pawl inhibiting the first spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the first spool, whereby the first and second lines may be unwound from the first spool and withdrawn from the housing; and   (f) disengaging a second pawl inhibiting the second spool from rotating in the second rotational direction of the second spool, whereby the third and fourth lines may be unwound from the second spool and withdrawn from the housing.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first pawl is disengaged independently of the second pawl and wherein the second pawl is disengaged independently of the first pawl. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first pawl is first disengaged and then the second pawl is disengaged. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first pawl and the second pawl are simultaneously disengaged. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second lines are tensioned together, wherein the third and fourth lines are tensioned together, and wherein the first and second lines are independently tensioned with respect to the third and fourth lines. 
   
   
       15 . A method, comprising:
 (a) a step for winding a first line about a first spool located within a housing by rotating a dial in a first rotational direction, whereby the first line is drawn into the housing while inhibiting unwinding of a second line from a second spool also located within the housing; and   (b) a step for winding the second line about the second spool by rotating the dial in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, whereby the second line is drawn into the housing while inhibiting unwinding of the first line from the first spool.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising,
 (c) a step for unwinding the first line from the first spool; and   (d) a step for unwinding the second line from the second spool independent of the unwinding of the first line from the first spool.   
   
   
       17 . A device for winding lines within a housing, comprising:
 (a) means for winding a first line about a first spool located within a housing by rotating a dial in a first rotational direction, whereby the first line is drawn into the housing while inhibiting unwinding of a second line from a second spool also located within the housing; and   (b) means for winding the second line about the second spool by rotating the dial in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, whereby the second line is drawn into the housing while inhibiting unwinding of the first line from the first spool.   
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising,
 (c) means for unwinding the first line from the first spool; and   (d) means for unwinding the second line from the second spool independent of the unwinding of the first line from the first spool.