Patent ID: 7252065

Claim:
An energy-storing starting device for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, the starting device including: a starter pulley including an engagement structure; a starter spring adapted to accumulate energy to rotate the crankshaft in an engine starting direction; a spring housing operatively connected to the starter pulley and at least partially housing the starter spring, wherein a portion of the starter spring is attached to the spring housing; a toothed housing including a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein a portion of the starter spring is attached to the toothed housing; a pawl member adapted to provide a locking engagement with at least one of the ratchet teeth of the toothed housing to thereby prevent rotation of the toothed housing in an engine starting direction; and an actuator adapted to disengage the pawl member from the toothed housing to thereby permit the toothed housing to rotate in an engine starting direction, wherein the engagement structure is adapted to bias a portion of the pawl towards at least one of the ratchet teeth of the toothed housing automatically when the starter pulley is rotated.