Retractor with space-saving features
AssigneeValeda Company, LLC
InventorsEdgardo Cardona, Patrick Girardin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractor may include various features that reduce the amount of space necessary to secure an object, for example, a wheelchair in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the webbing is designed to come off of the top of the retractor spool, which shifts the webbing take-off point from the spool rearward, as compared to prior art retractors. In another embodiment, the retractor is provided with a webbing guide that rotates around at least a portion of the circumference of the retractor spool. The rotatable guide also shifts the take-off point from the webbing guide rearward, as compared to prior art retractors. In yet another embodiment, the retractor is provided with both a rotatable webbing guide and webbing that comes off of the top of the spool.
Claims19
A retractor intended for use in a securement system for a wheeled mobility device, wherein the retractor comprises:
- a spool, the spool being contained with a housing, the housing including an opening;
- a portion of a belt being at least partially wound around the spool, the belt being adapted to extend from the spool through the opening and to the wheeled mobility device, where a terminal end of the belt may be secured, in approximately a straight line between the spool and the terminal end at an angle of approximately 35-55° relative to a surface upon which the wheeled mobility device is being secured;
- and,
- a moveable guide disposed in the opening, the belt passing through the moveable guide, wherein the moveable guide permits the belt to be presented in a generally direct path between the wheeled mobility device and a circumference of the spool.
A retractor intended for use in a securement system for a wheeled mobility device, wherein the retractor comprises:
- a spool, the spool being contained with a housing, the housing including an opening;
- and,
- a belt, a portion of the belt being at least partially wound around the spool, the belt extending from a top half of the spool through a moveable guide disposed in the opening and to a connector at a terminal end of the belt, wherein the belt is adapted to extend in approximately a straight line between the spool and the connector in a secured condition at an angle of approximately 35-55° relative to a surface upon which the wheeled mobility device is being secured.
A retractor intended for use in a securement system for a wheeled mobility device, wherein the retractor comprises:
- a spool, the spool being contained with a housing, the housing including an opening;
- a belt, a portion of the belt being at least partially wound around the spool, the belt extending from a top half of the spool through a moveable guide disposed in the opening and to a connector at a terminal end of the belt, wherein the belt is adapted to extend in approximately a straight line between the spool and the connector in a secured condition;
- and,
- the moveable guide being rotatable about an axis of the spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.