US 12,297,072 B2
Web retractor including web take-up prevention apparatus
Jeffrey A. King, Markleville, IN (US)
Assigned to INDIANA MILLS & MANUFACTURING, INC., Westfield, IN (US)
Appl. No. 17/635,923
Filed by INDIANA MILLS & MANUFACTURING, INC., Westfield, IN (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 25, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/047749
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/041382, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/891,491, filed on Aug. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332531 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 75/00 (2006.01); B65H 75/48 (2006.01); B60P 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 75/486 (2013.01) [B60P 7/0823 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A web retractor, comprising:
a frame including spaced-apart side walls and a bottom wall extending between the spaced-apart side walls,
a spool rotatably mounted between the side walls,
a web having one end mounted to the spool, the spool rotatable in a web take-up direction to wrap the web onto the spool and in a web pay out direction to unwrap the web from the spool, and
a web take-up prevention apparatus movably mounted to the frame and responsive to actuation thereof to move relative to the frame to impart a resistance directly on the web sufficient to prevent the spool from rotating in the web take-up direction while also allowing the spool to rotate in the web pay out direction by pulling the web away from the retractor, the web take-up prevention apparatus including a body portion movably mounted to the at least one of the side walls, and a paddle lever coupled to or integral with the body portion, the paddle lever having a free end extending away from the body portion toward the web,
wherein the web is positioned between a top surface of the bottom wall and paddle lever and the free end of the paddle lever contacts the web upon actuation of the web take-up prevention apparatus to impart the resistance directly on the web,
wherein, with the spool rotating in the web take-up direction, the web rides on and along the top surface of the bottom wall as the web advances toward the spool, and with the spool rotating in the web pay out direction, the web rides on and along the top surface of the bottom wall as the web advances away from the spool,
and wherein the body portion moves relative to the side walls upon actuation of the web take-up prevention apparatus to press the free end of the paddle lever into the web and thereby press the web into the top surface of the bottom wall to impart the resistance on the web.