Rope starter for small engines

Claim 1

In a starter for a reciprocating internal combustion engine by which starting torque can be manually applied to the crankshaft of the engine, said starter being of the type comprising a part which can be rotated by means of a torque applying source external to the engine and which has a helically splined connection with a driving clutch element whereby initial rotation of said part in one direction causes the driving clutch element to be moved axially into engagement with a driven clutch element connected with the crankshaft and further rotation of said part in said direction is imparted to the driven clutch element through the driving clutch element and its helically splined connection with said part, means for inhibiting rotation of the driving clutch element to cause it to move axially relative to said part upon initial rotation of the part, said rotation inhibiting means comprising: A. cooperating fixed and movable magnet members, one of said members being a permanent magnet; B. means anchoring the fixed magnet member to stationary structure adjacent to the driving clutch element; and C. the movable magnet member being carried by the driving clutch element for rotation therewith in proximity to the stationary magnet member.