Thin profile retractor apparatus and systems
A thin profile retractor allows for a wheelchair securement system to be installed in-floor without the need for large holes to be cut into the OEM vehicle flooring. A plurality of thin profile retractors may be combined in a single housing to define a drop-in, in-floor system. The thickness of the in-floor system is approximately equal to or slightly thicker than the thickness of the type of aftermarket flooring that is typically placed on top of the OEM flooring or vehicle frame—for example, plywood. In that regard, a large hole corresponding to the outline of the in-floor system need only be cut in the aftermarket flooring, and only small holes need to be drilled to secure the in-floor system to the vehicle frame. The thin profile retractor includes specialized components and component configurations that permit the thin profile and/or allow the retractor to perform better during accident scenarios.
1 . A securement system for securing a wheeled mobility device in a vehicle, the vehicle having a floor panel with a bottom surface defining a first plane and an upper surface defining a second plane, the securement system comprising at least one retractor, wherein the at least one retractor comprises a drum holding a flat belt and configured to rotate about a drum axis, whereby the drum axis is substantially perpendicular to the second plane, wherein the at least one retractor sits no higher than approximately ½″ above the second plane, the securement system further comprising a guide member for guiding the flat belt, wherein the flat belt includes a twisted region as the flat belt extends from the drum to the guide member and, a twist angle in the twisted region is greater than 0°.
2 . The securement system of claim 1 , the distance between the first plane and the second plane is less than approximately 2″ and substantially all of the at least one retractor sits above the first plane.
3 . The securement system of claim 1 , wherein the twist angle is approximately 90° and a width of the flat belt at the guide member is aligned generally parallel to the second plane.
4 . The securement system of claim 2 , wherein the twist angle is approximately 90° and a width of the flat belt at the guide member is aligned generally parallel to the second plane.
5 . The securement system of claim 4 securing the wheeled mobility device in the vehicle, wherein: the flat belt extends from the drum to the wheeled mobility device; the flat belt comprises a substantially straight first line between the drum and the guide member that defines a first restraint longitudinal axis and a substantially straight second line between the guide member and the wheeled mobility device that defines a second restraint longitudinal axis; and, a redirect angle between the first restraint longitudinal axis and the second restraint longitudinal axis is greater than approximately 90° and less than approximately 180°.
6 . The securement system of claim 5 , wherein the redirect angle between the first restraint longitudinal axis and the second restraint longitudinal axis is between approximately 120° and approximately 150°.
7 . A vehicle comprising: an OEM floor; a floor panel disposed on top of the OEM floor and having a bottom surface defining a first plane, an upper surface defining a second plane, and an aperture; a securement system for securing a wheeled mobility device, the securement system comprising at least one retractor disposed in the aperture of the floor panel, wherein substantially all of the at least one retractor sits on top of the OEM floor and no higher than approximately ½″ above a top surface of the floor panel, wherein the retractor comprises a drum that rotates relative to a retractor frame about a rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis is substantially perpendicular to the second plane, wherein the drum holds a flat belt and the securement system further comprises a guide member for guiding the flat belt, wherein the flat belt includes a twisted region as the flat belt extends from the drum to the guide member and, a twist angle in the twisted region is greater than 0°.
8 . The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the securement system further comprises a housing holding the at least one retractor; and substantially all of the housing sits above the first plane and no higher than approximately ½″ above the second plane.
9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a top panel that defines a securement floor area for the wheeled mobility device.
10 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the twist angle is approximately 90° and a width of the flat belt at the guide member is aligned generally parallel to the second plane.
11 . The vehicle claim 7 with the securement system securing the wheeled mobility device, wherein: a restraint extends from the drum to the wheeled mobility device; the restraint comprises a substantially straight first line between the drum and the guide member that defines a first restraint longitudinal axis and a substantially straight second line between the guide member and the wheeled mobility device that defines a second restraint longitudinal axis; and, a redirect angle between the first restraint longitudinal axis and the second restraint longitudinal axis is greater than approximately 90° and less than approximately 180°.
12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the redirect angle between the first restraint longitudinal axis and the second restraint longitudinal axis is between approximately 120° and approximately 150°.
13 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein a distance between the first plane and the second plane is less than approximately 2″.
14 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein a distance between the first plane and the second plane is less than approximately 1″.
15 . A securement system for securing a wheeled mobility device in a vehicle, the securement system comprising at least one retractor, wherein the at least one retractor comprises a drum holding a flat belt and configured to rotate about a drum axis, the securement system further comprising a guide member for guiding the flat belt, wherein the flat belt includes a twisted region as the flat belt extends from the drum to the guide member and, a twist angle in the twisted region is greater than 0°.
16 . The securement system of claim 15 , wherein the twist angle is approximately 90°.
17 . The securement system of claim 15 securing the wheeled mobility device in the vehicle, wherein: the flat belt extends from the drum to the wheeled mobility device; the flat belt comprises a substantially straight first line between the drum and the guide member that defines a first restraint longitudinal axis and a substantially straight second line between the guide member and the wheeled mobility device that defines a second restraint longitudinal axis; and, a redirect angle between the first restraint longitudinal axis and the second restraint longitudinal axis is greater than approximately 90° and less than approximately 180°.
18 . The securement system of claim 17 , wherein the redirect angle between the first restraint longitudinal axis and the second restraint longitudinal axis is between approximately 120° and approximately 150°.
19 . The securement system of claim 15 , wherein the retractor is mounted to a surface of the vehicle, wherein the drum axis is generally perpendicular to the surface.
20 . The securement system of claim 19 , wherein the twist angle is approximately 90° and a width of the flat belt at the guide member is aligned generally parallel to the surface.