Abstract: A quick lacing machine is disclosed, including a base, a screw cap, a pulley, a rotating wheel, a rotary driving member, an elastic member, and a pressing member. The base is provided with a rotating cavity, a lace hole and a ratchet; the pulley is rotatably arranged in the rotating cavity, and the pulley is provided with a plurality of a first spiral teeth; the rotating wheel is provided with a pawl, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet, and the rotating wheel is provided with a sliding hole, the rotary driving member is slidably arranged in the sliding hole. The present disclosure can loosen a shoelace by pressing the pressing member, and tighten the shoelace by rotating the screw cap, which is simple and convenient to operate, saves time and effort, and thereby improving efficiency of a user taking off and putting on shoes.

Abstract: A bungee spool for collecting and storing bungee cords in a portable manner comprising a core and two rims where at least one has multiple slots radiating and the slots have raised inner edges outward from the point where the rim joins the top of the cylinder.

Abstract: A knot plate (1) for a tying machine (3) is described. The knot plate (1) is designed as a substantially circular disc, wherein the knot plate (1) comprises: an aperture (5) arranged substantially in the middle of the knot plate (1), wherein the aperture (5) comprises a substantially circular form, and two through slots (7, 9) for receiving of a binding wire (11) arranged in the knot plate (1) substantially on opposite sides of each other in relation to the aperture (5). The knot plate (1) comprises two grooves (13, 15) for receiving the binding wire, wherein each of the two grooves (13, 15) connects one respective through slot (7, 9) of the two through slots (7, 9) with the aperture (5), each of the two grooves (13, 15) ends in the aperture (5) in a direction that coincides with substantially tangential directions of the aperture (5) so that initially the binding wire substantially follows a wall of the substantially circular formed aperture (5).

Abstract: A cable retaining apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a band that is wrapped around a group of cables and a clamping portion that holds the ends of the band. The clamping portion has a body portion that is fixed to one end of the band. The body portion also has an axle mounted to it, the axle having a slot cut into it to receive the other end of the band. The end of the axle has a rotatable head for engagement by a tool such as a spanner so that rotation of the head causes the axle to rotate. The body portion also has an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in the axle so that a pin can extend through the apertures to prevent rotation of the axle. In use the band is placed round the cables and its end inserted into the slot. The axle is then rotated and band winds around the axle until it tightens around the cable. The pin is then inserted into the apertures to prevent the band unwinding.

Abstract: An adjustable anchor for anchoring a lift cord in a movable rail of a covering for an architectural opening includes a housing which is releasably positionable interiorly of the movable rail in alignment with a lift cord for the covering with the anchor including a rotatable drum within the housing and around which the lift cord can be wrapped or unwrapped by rotating movement of the drum with a tool. Two distinct systems are provided for releasably securing the drum in any selected position to retain the amount of lift cord wrapped therearound with the two system acting in mutually perpendicular planes for reliable anchoring of the lift cord.

Abstract: A cord winder device that may be used to shorten the length of a pull cord that hangs from a window covering, such that it can adjust the exposed length of window blinds. The cord winder device includes a spindle and sides that overlap the spindle. A cord hanging from the window covering may be wound around the spindle so that the length of the cord is reduced. Reducing the height of the cord may keep the cord out of reach of children and prevent injury. The sides of the spindle may have slots to secure the cord to the cord winder device after it is wound around the spindle.

Abstract: A line tightening device with a detachable handle, a hook and a coupler for securing the handle and the hook together while the tightener is being used. After the line tightener is used to achieve the desired tension in the line tightened, the handle and coupler can be quickly and easily disengaged and removed from the hook, thereby leaving only the hook attached to the tightened line. The hook is adapted for tightening the line by forming and fixing convolutions about its shank. A tether secures the hook to adjacent portions of the line to prevent accidental separation of the hook from the tensioned line.

Abstract: A lace winding device includes a base, a spool rotatably mounted in the base, a lace having two distal ends each extending through the base and each secured on the spool, a limit barrel mounted on the base, a drive member rotatably mounted in the limit barrel and connected with the spool to rotate the spool, and a ratchet block movably mounted on the limit barrel and engaging the drive member. Thus, the drive member is rotated in one direction only by limit of the ratchet block so that the spool is driven by the drive member to rotate in the positive direction only and cannot be rotated in the opposite direction so as to wind the lace easily and quickly.

Abstract: A line tightening device with a detachable handle, a hook and a coupler for securing the handle and the hook together while the tightener is being used. After the line tightener is used to achieve the desired tension in the line tightened, the handle and coupler can be quickly and easily disengaged and removed from the hook, thereby leaving only the hook attached to the tightened line. The hook is adapted for tightening the line by forming and fixing convolutions about its shank. A tether secures the hook to adjacent portions of the line to prevent accidental separation of the hook from the tensioned line.

Abstract: A clothesline system comprises at least two separate cables that are independently tensionable through separate cable tensioning devices. The tension devices are attached together to provide for common, parallel movement of the separate cables though the cables are separately passed around separate pulleys at the both ends of the system. The two separate cables add strength to the system. The separate cables are preferably wound in left and right windings to prevent unraveling of the braid of the cable. By providing separate cables, assembly of the system is less complex as the two loops of cable are separate.

Abstract: Cord organizers including a first shell, a second shell, and a spindle connecting the first shell and the second shell. The inside face of the first shell is held proximate the inside face of the second shell with a gap there between. The cord organizer is configured to allow the user to manually wind the cord around the spindle. The cord organizer may comprise containment surfaces extending from the inside face of the first shell and/or the inside face of the second shell as well as opposing elastomeric grips connected to the inside faces of the shells, so that the elastomeric grips encircle the spindle to receive and clamp the connection end and the listening end of the cord between the first elastomeric grip and the second elastomeric grip. A cord restraint is used to hold the cord close to the spindle and the inside face of one of the shells.

Abstract: A miniature cord reel device comprising latch mechanism, where the latch mechanism is realized with a top flange, a bottom flange, attached on both ends of a core, a rotating sleeve, two projections on both sides of the cutout on the sleeve, a groove with groove notches on the top flange and the bottom flange.

Abstract: A method and a spool (1, 10, 21, 22, 35) for shortening the length of a cord (14) and optionally tensioning it at the same time is provided. The spool has a shank having two ends each of which has a transverse retainer formation (4, 13, 20, 40, 51 and 5, 11, 25, 33, 36, 42, 49, 50, 58) adapted operatively to prevent unravelling off the shank of cord wound around the elongate shank, at least whilst it is held under tension and with the axis of the shank extending in the same general direction as that in which the cord extends. A keeper formation (4, 13, 20, 40, 51) that is preferably one in the same with the ring and a formation at one end of the shank cooperates with a cord to maintain said end in association with the cord whilst the shank is rotated to wind cord onto the shank by rotation thereof.

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.

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.

Abstract: A cable shortener apparatus for permitting the length adjustment of a cable having a certain incompressable diameter. The cable is arranged for supporting a sign carrier from an overhead support. The cable shortener apparatus may be comprised of a duplicate pair of generally rigid annular rings lockably engagable with one another. Each ring may have an inner arcuate hub flange which defines a fixed hub surface for receiving at least one wrap of a support cable. An annular edge on each of the rings is spaced apart from one another when the rings are mated together. The spaced apart annular edges defining a gap no wider than the diameter of the cable being wrapped about the hub of the shortener.

Abstract: The subject invention is a holder for a window-shade cord to securely hold the cord in a temporarily stored position to prevent entanglement by the cord, particularly with a child, with the holder being structured to hold a portion of the cord as wound around two separated cord reel members on such holder, with the reel members being peripherally formed to permit circumferential movement of the temporarily encircled cord portion about such reel members as necessary to adjust the length of the cord on such cord holder.

Abstract: A spooler for tensioning a fence rail includes a hub with an aperture. The aperture receives the rail such that the rail may pass through the hub. Each of a pair of cup-shaped discs has a plurality of openings in the bottom. The discs are located at each end of the hub and face away from each other. At least one drive is located on one of the discs and receives a driver. A rim of the disc extends to be at least flush with the end portion of the drive. At least one locking pin is adapted to be inserted into one opening in each disc. When the at least one locking pin is fully inserted, the sides of each disc extend beyond ends of the at least one locking pin.

Abstract: A tool for tightening a plurality of wire lengths that extend between a first bracing location on a first fence support and a second bracing location on a second fence support, the wire lengths defining an axis extending generally parallel to their lengths. The tool includes a body adapted to be transversely inserted between the wire lengths so that the wire lengths pass around the body. The body has at least one seating portion formed on its outer surface for retaining at least one of the wire lengths generally between the ends of the body when the body is inserted between the wire lengths. The body is adapted so that, when inserted between the wire lengths, the body can be selectively rotated about the axis to twist the wire lengths around one another and thereby exert a contracting force on the fence supports.

Abstract: A line tightening device, for use in removing slack from a flexible line has a plate-like body member. The body member has a pair of spaced holes and a pair of opposing ends. The holes are between the ends of the member. One end is bent generally at a right angle to the body member. At least one line receiving groove is provided along an edge of the bent up region. A flexible rope or line is strung through the pair of holes. The rotation of the body member in a first direction, around an axis substantially perpendicular to said first plane winds the flexible line around itself along an axis substantially midway between said two holes. This is repeated until the flexible line is taut. Then the flexible line is locked into one of the line receiving grooves. The line receiving groove is on the side of the body member that faces away from said direction of rotation, such that the device cannot unwind.

Abstract: A reel which is driven by a motor is disposed in a casing. First and second restraining mechanisms for restraining movement of a cable are located at first and second openings formed in the casing for insertion of the cable. The cable extends between said first and second openings and is wound around the reel. One end of the cable is secured by the first restraining mechanism, and the motor is activated to rotate the reel, thereby winding the cable around the reel. When a pressure sensor located on the surface of the reel detects that the pressure between the cable and the reel reaches a given value, the motor is stopped. The other end of the cable is secured by the second restraining mechanism.