Patent ID: 8303471

Claim:
A bi-directional tensioning apparatus comprising: one or more elongate resilient members each having a base end and a remote end, wherein the one or more elongate resilient members each comprise a first elastic material with a first enlargement at the base end and one or more spaced-apart enlargements along the length of each of the one or more elongate resilient members; one or more support members each having a base end and a remote end, wherein the one or more support members each comprise one or more first cavities at each remote end for receiving and holding the one or more elongate resilient members; one or more first guide members each having a base end and a remote end, wherein the one or more first guide members is each independently connected at or proximate to the base end of each of the one or more support members and extending generally perpendicular thereto, wherein the one or more first guide members each independently comprise a first hole extending through the one or more first guide members and generally parallel to the one or more support members; one or more couplers for independently securing one of the one or more spaced-apart enlargements, and one or more second guide members each having a base end and a remote end, wherein each of the one or more second guide members is movably mounted on each of the one or more support members between the one or more first guide members and the remote end of each of the one or more support members and extending generally perpendicular thereto, wherein the one or more second guide members each independently comprise a first snap-fit device on the base end and an optional second snap-fit device on the remote end for independently receiving one of the one or more support members, wherein the one or more second guide members each comprise one or more connectors for independently securing one of the one or more spaced-apart enlargements, wherein the one or more connectors each extend through each of the one or more second guide members and generally parallel to the one or more support members, wherein the one or more second guide members each independently rest at a point of equilibrium intermediate the base end and the remote end of each of the one or more support members.