Retractor with space-saving features
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.
1. A retractor comprising: a spool disposed inside of a housing, a guide having a rotational movement whereby the guide is rotatable around at least a portion of a circumference of said spool and with respect to said housing, and a belt being wound about said spool and being passable through a guide opening in said guide, wherein the housing comprises an opening that restricts the rotational movement of the guide within a predetermined range of angles.
2. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the belt comes off of the top of the spool.
3. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the spool comprises a mandrel with end plates positioned at least near opposite sides of the mandrel, and the guide comprises two guide plates that are separated by spaced-apart guiding members, wherein an upper and lower boundary of the guide opening is defined by the guiding members.
4. The retractor of claim 3 , wherein the guide plates have openings that receive the opposite sides of the mandrel, whereby the guide may rotate about the mandrel.
5. The retractor of claim 4 , wherein the guide plates are separated from the end plates by thrust bearings.
6. The retractor of claim 3 , wherein the belt comes off of the top of the spool.
7. A retractor comprising: a spool, a guide having a rotational movement whereby the guide is rotatable around at least a portion of a circumference of said spool, and a belt being wound about said spool and being passable through a guide opening in said guide, wherein the spool comprises a mandrel with end plates positioned at least near opposite sides of the mandrel, and the guide comprises two guide plates that are separated by spaced-apart guiding members, wherein an upper and lower boundary of the guide opening is defined by the guiding members.
8. The retractor of claim 7 , wherein the guide plates have openings that receive the opposite sides of the mandrel, whereby the guide may rotate about the mandrel.
9. The retractor of claim 8 , wherein the guide plates are separated from the end plates by thrust bearings.
10. The retractor of claim 9 further comprising a housing with an opening that restricts the rotational movement of the guide within a predetermined range of angles.
11. The retractor of claim 10 , wherein the belt comes off of the top of the spool.
12. A retractor comprising: a spool, a guide positioned adjacent a circumference of said spool, and a belt being wound about said spool, coming off the top of the spool, and being passable through a guide opening in said guide, wherein the guide has a rotational movement whereby the guide is rotatable around at least a portion of the circumference of said spool, and wherein the spool comprises a mandrel with end plates positioned at least near opposite sides of the mandrel, and the guide comprises two guide plates that are separated by spaced-apart guiding members, wherein an upper and lower boundary of the guide opening is defined by the guiding members.
13. The retractor of claim 12 , wherein the guide plates have openings that receive the opposite sides of the mandrel, whereby the guide may rotate about the mandrel.
14. The retractor of claim 13 , wherein the guide plates are separated from the end plates by thrust bearings.
15. The retractor of claim 14 further comprising a housing with an opening that restricts the rotational movement of the guide within a predetermined range of angles.