Child seat retractor

A retractor for use with a harness and interengaged combination of a tongue and a seat belt buckle having a slot for receiving said tongue, comprising:

• a frame;
• a spool adapted to wrappingly receive a portion of a harness, said spool further having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel, said spool rotatably mounted to said frame;
• a first spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position, whereat said portion of said harness is wrapped thereon;
• a locking bar mounted to said frame to be movable between a removed position, whereat said locking bar is located apart from said ratchet wheel, and a locking position, whereat said locking bar lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool;
• a second spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said locking bar to said removed position apart from said ratchet wheel;
• and
• a locking bar extension having a first end and a second end, said locking bar extension sufficiently rigid to transmit force applied at said second end to said first end, said first end attached to said locking bar and said second end extending into a seat belt buckle slot, wherein upon insertion of a tongue into said seat belt buckle slot, said locking bar extension urges said locking bar into said locking position.

A retractor for use with a child seat having a harness and interengaged combination of a tongue and seat belt buckle, comprising:

• a frame;
• a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of a harness and further having an axle and end walls, at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel, said spool rotatably mounted to said frame;
• a first spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position, whereat said portion of said harness is wrapped thereon;
• a locking bar mounted to said frame to be movable between a removed position, whereat said locking bar is located apart from said ratchet wheel, and a locking position, whereat said locking bar lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool;
• means for controlling said locking bar between said removed position and said locking position, said means for controlling having an attachment portion, said attachment portion attached to said locking bar;
• and
• a lever having an engagement end adapted to engage said means for controlling, said lever pivotable with respect to the child seat between an engaged position, wherein said engagement end engages said means for controlling, and a disengaged position, wherein said engagement end is spaced from said means for controlling.