Automatically locking retractor

An automatically locking retractor comprising:

• a frame;
• a belt having a fully extended position, a fully retracted position, and a partially extended position between said fully extended position and said fully retracted position;
• a spool mounted to said frame for winding said belt, movable in a first direction, wherein said belt extends from said spool toward said fully extended position of said belt, and a second direction, wherein said belt retracts onto said spool toward said fully retracted position of said belt, and said spool biased for rotation in said second direction;
• at least one toothed wheel connected to said spool;
• a spool-locking mechanism engageable with said toothed wheel to restrain said spool against moving in said first direction;
• a clutch ring engageable with said spool-locking mechanism to separate said spool-locking mechanism from said toothed wheel while said spool is moving in said first direction;
• and
• a spacer connected to said spool-locking mechanism and engageable with said belt to separate said spool-locking mechanism from said toothed wheel while said belt moves between said fully retracted position and said partially extended position.

An automatically locking retractor comprising:

• a frame having a base portion, a first wall portion substantially perpendicular to said base portion, and a second wall portion substantially parallel to said first wall portion;
• a belt having a fully extended position, a fully retracted position, and a partially extended position between said fully extended position and said fully retracted position;
• an axle extending from said first wall portion of said frame to said second wall portion of said frame;
• a spool rotatably mounted on said axle for winding said belt, movable in a first direction, wherein said belt extends from said spool toward said fully extended position of said belt, and a second direction, wherein said belt retracts onto said spool toward said fully retracted position of said belt, and said spool biased for rotation in said second direction;
• at least one toothed wheel connected to said spool;
• a spool-locking mechanism engageable with said toothed wheel to restrain said spool against moving in said first direction, and said spool-locking mechanism biased for engagement with said toothed wheel;
• a spacer connected to said spool-locking mechanism and engageable with said belt to separate said spool-locking mechanism from said toothed wheel while said belt moves between said fully retracted position and said partially extended position;
• a semi-circular notch formed in said first wall portion;
• a clutch ring rotatably mounted on said axle for frictional engagement with said toothed wheel;
• a wave spring mounted on said axle and engageable with said first wall portion to bias said clutch ring into engagement with said toothed wheel so that rotation of said toothed wheel may cause rotation of said clutch ring;
• a first tab extending from the outer periphery of said clutch ring and engageable with said spool-locking mechanism to space said spool-locking mechanism and said toothed wheel;
• a second tab extending from the outer periphery of said clutch ring and engageable with said notch to limit the range of motion of said clutch ring between a first position, wherein said first tab engages said spool-locking mechanism, and a second position wherein said first tab is spaced from said spool-locking mechanism.