A reinforced spool assembly has a shaft, a spool member coaxially mounted around the shaft, and two ratchets mounted on two axial ends of a combination of the shaft and the spool member. Each one of two ratchets has a body having an inner surface. The two inner surfaces of the two bodies face each other. In each one of the ratchets, the body has a reinforced supporting structure. The reinforced supporting structure is located between the shaft and the spool member and is offset from the inner surface of the body. A reference plane is defined on and extends along the inner surface of the body, is perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft, and passes through the reinforced supporting structure. Mechanical strength of the reinforced spool assembly is increased by the reinforced supporting structure.

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.

An assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor spaced from the vehicle roof. The assembly includes a post elongated from the vehicle floor to the vehicle roof. The post being slidable along the vehicle roof and the vehicle floor in a vehicle-longitudinal direction. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the post.

A carrier element is configured to securely store a foldable wheelchair that is mountable in an ambulette or other vehicle without interfering with passenger space in the vehicle.

A vehicle interlock system includes a wheelchair fixing device configured to fix a wheelchair to a vehicle, a seatbelt device having a seatbelt configured such that, an occupant seated in the wheelchair wears the seatbelt, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to limit at least one of an upper limit traveling speed and an upper limit acceleration of the vehicle or output a warning signal, or to output a warning signal while limiting at least one of the upper limit traveling speed and the upper limit acceleration of the vehicle depending on at least one of the following conditions: whether the wheelchair is fixed to the vehicle with the wheelchair fixing device; whether the occupant is wearing the seatbelt; and so forth.

A retractor with a sensor assembly, comprising an indicator element and a sensor assembly that generates a signal when the indicator element is within a detection range of the sensor, for detecting the length of withdrawn restraint. The indicator element can be located anywhere along the length of the restraint. In one implementation, the retractor is a motorized retractor and the location of the indicator element is selected whereby the sensor generates the signal when the restraint is nearly or fully withdrawn. In an alternative implementation, the retractor is a motorized retractor configured to winch a wheelchair into a wheelchair securement area of a vehicle and the location of the indicator element is selected whereby the sensor detects the indicator element when a wheelchair is in a desired securement position.

A quick-release fitting for lockingly engaging between two inwardly-directed lips of a track may comprise two resilient plates that are spreadable via a blade moved between raised/disengaged and lowered/engaged positions via a four-bar linkage mechanism. The lower edges of the plates may comprise flanges that extend at angles corresponding to the angles of the undersides of the inwardly-directed lips. To concentrate contact forces between the fitting and the track, and reduce a spreading force on the track, the plates may include a neck region immediately above the flanges. The quick-release fitting may also include a roller assembly allowing the structure being supported by the fitting to be tilted rearward and moved. The roller assembly may include features to keep the quick-release fitting aligned with the track when moved.

Embodiments herein are directed to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a master controller. The passenger compartment has a plurality of rear passenger seats disposed on a track. Each seat of the plurality of rear passenger seats is configured to move on the track. The master controller is configured to receive a first data from a wheelchair and to direct a movement of each seat of the plurality of rear passenger seats along the track. In response to receiving the first data, the master controller actuates at least one actuator to move at least one of the plurality of rear passenger seats along the track to provide a transportation space for the wheelchair based on the first data received from the wheelchair.

A wheelchair securement system includes a first anchoring mechanism and a second anchoring mechanism. The first anchoring mechanism includes a first bar, a first set of seat track anchors, and a first set of adjustable strap anchors. The first bar extends between the first set of seat track anchors and is secured thereto. The first set of adjustable strap anchors is secured to the first bar, and the first set of adjustable strap anchors is configured to be securable to a wheelchair. The second anchoring mechanism includes a second bar, a second set of seat track anchors, and a second set of adjustable strap anchors. The second bar extends between the second set of seat track anchors and is secured thereto. The second set of adjustable strap anchors is secured to the second bar, and the second set of adjustable strap anchors is configured to be securable to the wheelchair.

A ramp assembly to accommodate a wheel-chaired passenger to enter or exit a motorized vehicle having a conventional floor includes a frame and a ramp. The ramp is slidably coupled to the frame. The ramp assembly further includes a drive block configured to translate longitudinally along the track system. The ramp assembly further includes a wheel pivotally coupled to the ramp. The wheel has a longitudinal axis and is rotatably coupled to the drive block or the frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis to move the ramp between a raised position and a lowered position.