Patent ID: 8568053

Claim:
A release apparatus for controlling the deployment of a device by restraining or releasing a first releasable member under tension in a first direction, which respectively prevents or allows the deployment of the device, the release apparatus comprising: a first releasable member, the first releasable member comprising an expanded portion at a first end; a housing; a plurality of spool segments, the spool segments adapted to restrain the first releasable member along the first direction while the plurality of spool segments are in a first constrained position by contact of the first releasable member with a first side of the spool segments, the spool segments contained within the housing, the spool segments narrowing to an exterior pivoting contact surface on a second side of the spool segments, the exterior pivoting contact surface in contact with an inner surface of the housing; and a restraining tape wound around the plurality of spool segments, wherein the restraining tape comprises a plurality of layers completely wound around the plurality of spool segments and wherein the plurality of layers completely wound around the plurality of spool segments are in contact with another layer for the entire circumference of the winding, wherein: the spool segments are adapted to pivot radially outward from the first releasable member and about a rotational axis resulting from pivoting contact between the exterior pivoting contact surface and the inner surface of the housing, the spool segments are adapted to pivot radially outward from the first releasable member upon release from the first constrained position when the first releasable member is under tension along the first direction, and the spool segments are supported in a direction parallel to the first direction by the contact between the exterior pivoting contact surface and the inner surface of the housing.