Patent Publication Number: US-2013248793-A1

Title: Safety Stanchion and Belt Reel

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to safety and guide stanchions of the type used in airports, stadiums, theatres and other public venues. This invention relates more particularly to the stanchion and belt reel apparatus used in such safety and guide systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many environments attended by large numbers of people such as airports, theatres, sports venues and the like, a need arises to manage the attendees to ensure a smooth trouble-free flow of participation. Often managers of such events and facilities employ systems of organization directed toward guiding attendees into one or more designated lines or cues. In many environments, a flexible easily-changed system is needed to shift and guide the flow of participants between various lines or to open new lines or close existing lines and so on. 
     One of the most popular attendee management systems utilizes a plurality of stanchions having interconnected pluralities of belts or cords to form pathways. To maintain system flexibility, provision is usually made for connecting and disconnecting belts between stanchions and thus changing the pathways formed by interconnected belts and stanchions. In this manner, one or more attendee lines can be opened while others are closed to route and reroute attendee crowd members as the volume of participant&#39;s flows. 
     Faced with the continuing popularity of such crowd management systems, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide improved systems which are more cost effective and useful. One of the most popular systems used in a variety of environments provides a plurality of free-standing stanchions each having a support base together with a vertical post extending upwardly from the base. A belt reel is supported upon the upper end of the post. The support base, vertical post and belt wheel combine to form the basic system stanchion. In each belt reel, a belt winding mechanism allows the belt to be wound within the belt reel or drawn from the reel to extend a substantial distance. Each belt is connectable to other belt reels upon other stanchions to provide the desired arrangement or network of guiding paths. 
     While the foregoing described types of crowd management systems have to some extent improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing and unresolved need in the art for ever more improved safety stanchions and belt reels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved safety stanchion and belt reel. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved safety stanchion and belt reel which is easier to assemble and fabricate and which provides additional features and flexibility in use. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a safety stanchion comprising: a base; a hollow post formed of a light transmissive material having a first end joined to said base and extending vertically from said base, said post having an upper end and a center passage between said ends; a belt reel having a housing supported upon said upper end and a rotatably supported belt spool within said housing; a length of flexible belt having a first end coupled to said belt spool, a portion wound upon said belt spool and a second end extending outwardly from said housing; a return spring within said housing coupled to said belt spool urging said belt spool toward winding said belt; a belt connector secured to said second end of said flexible belt; and a message element having usable indicia thereon said message element being supported within said center passage such that said visible indicia are visible through said post. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of a safety stanchion constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  sets forth an assembly view of the present invention safety stanchion; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  set forth section views of the present invention safety stanchion taken along section lines  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show alternative embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective view of a belt reel constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  sets forth a perspective view of the belt reel of  FIG. 4  illustrating the withdraw of a belt portion from the reel; 
         FIG. 6  sets forth a top view of the belt reel of the present invention safety stanchion; 
         FIG. 7  sets forth a bottom view of the belt reel shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  sets forth a perspective assembly view of the belt reel of the present invention safety stanchion; 
         FIG. 9  sets forth a section view of the belt reel of the present invention safety stanchion taken along section lines  9 - 9  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  sets forth a partial section view of the present invention safety stanchion and belt reel showing the stanchion to belt reel attachment; 
         FIG. 11  sets forth a partial section view of the belt reel of the present invention safety stanchion showing the assembly thereof utilizing a single fastener; and 
         FIG. 12  sets forth a section view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention safety stanchion showing an alternate single fastener assembly. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of a safety stanchion constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Stanchion  10  is shown in a typical arrangement in which a belt is drawn outwardly from stanchion  10  and in which a plurality of belts drawn from other stanchions (not shown) have their respective ends secured to stanchion  10 . 
     More specifically, stanchion  10  includes a support base  11  together with a vertically extending generally cylindrical post  12 . In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, post  12  is formed of a clear transparent material such as clear plastic or the like. In further accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, post  12  further supports a message sleeve  21  within its interior. Message sleeve  21  further supports a visible message  25 . Stanchion  10  further includes a belt reel  13  having a quantity of a belt  14  wound therein. Belt  14  defines an outer end secured to a belt connector  15 . 
     In the embodiment of the present invention safety stanchion shown in  FIG. 1 , stanchion  10  is shown having a quantity of belt  14  drawn outwardly from belt reel  13  in the direction indicated by arrow  16 . In the anticipated use of stanchion  10 , belt  14  is drawn outwardly from belt reel  13  a sufficient distance to bring belt connector  15  into engagement with the corresponding belt reel portion of an adjacent safety stanchion (not shown). It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that belt connector  15  then engages the belt reel of the adjacent safety stanchion. For purposes of illustration, a pair of belts  17  and  19  having respective belt connectors  18  and  20  are shown extending to belt reel  13  and engaging belt reel  13 . Thus as connectors  18  and  20  engage belt reel  13 , belts  17  and  19  of adjacent safety stanchions which are identical to stanchion  10 , but not shown in  FIG. 1 , are able to make connections forming elements of a pathway or restricted guide way for event attendees. It will be noted that connector  15  engages the belt reel of an adjacent safety stanchion in a removable engagement in substantially the same manner as belt connectors  18  and  20  engage belt reel  13 . 
       FIG. 2  sets forth an assembly view of safety stanchion  10  showing post  12  assembled to base  11  while message sleeve  21  and support tube  24  are inserted into the interior of post  12 . Finally, belt reel  13  is secured upon the upper portion of post  12  using a pair of fasteners  22  and  23 . 
     More specifically, stanchion  10  includes a support base  11  together with a vertically extending generally cylindrical post  12 . In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, post  12  is formed of a clear transparent material such as clear plastic or the like. In further accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, post  12  further supports a message sleeve  21  within its interior. Message sleeve  21  further supports a visible message  25 . Stanchion  10  further includes a belt reel  13  having a quantity of a belt  14  wound therein. Belt  14  defines an outer end secured to a belt connector  15 . 
     With the lower end of post  12  secured within base  11  by conventional fabrication, post  12  extends upwardly from base  11  in a generally perpendicular direction. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, post  12  is formed as a hollow cylindrical post fabricated of a clear or transparent plastic material or the like. Post  12  defines an upper end which in turn defines a vertical slot  26 . In further accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, post  10  further includes a generally cylindrical message support tube  24  formed of a convenient material such as flake board, cardboard or plastic upon which a message sleeve  21  is supported. Message sleeve  21  supports one or more visible message elements such as printed lettering or the like. The combination of support tube  24  and message sleeve  21  is inserted into the interior of post  12 . When so inserted, the visible elements of message  25  are viewable the clear or transparent walls of post  12 . The assembly of safety stanchion  10  is completed by assembling belt reel  13  upon the upper end of post  12 . As is better seen in  FIG. 5 , belt reel  13  supports a quantity of flexible belt  14  having an outer end which is joined to a connector  15 . Accordingly, the assembly of belt reel  13  to be the upper end of post  12  includes aligning slot  26  with the portion of belt  14  (seen in  FIG. 5 ) extending from belt reel  13  such that belt  14  passes through slot  26 . With the upper end of post  12  seated within the interior of belt reel  13 , in the manner shown below in  FIG. 10 , belt  14  is able to move inwardly and outwardly from belt reel  13  through slot  26 . In addition, slot  26  cooperates with an indexing post  35  (seen in  FIG. 8 ) which extends downwardly and serves to provide appropriate alignment of post  12  as index post  35  is inserted into the upper end of slot  26 . The cooperation of slot  26  of post  12  and index post  35  of belt reel  13  provides an exact rotational alignment between belt reel  13  and post  12 . A pair of conventional fasteners  22  and  23  are passed through apertures formed in the housing of belt reel  13  and engage corresponding apertures formed in the upper end of post  12 . Alternatively, fasteners  22  and  23  may be conventional self-tapping type fasteners which simply thread into the material of post  12 . Thus, the complete assembly of stanchion  10  is carried forward by simply inserting post  12  into base  11  and thereafter inserting the combination of message sleeve  21  and support tube  24  into post  12  after which belt reel  13  is rotated upon post  12  to align slot  26  with indexing post  35 . The assembly is completed by inserting and threading fasteners  22  and  23 . In this manner, the entire safety stanchion is easily assembled and disassembled to facilitate operations such as removal and replacement of message sleeve  21  without substantial difficulty or without the need of substantial tools. 
       FIG. 3A  sets forth a section view of post  12  taken along section lines  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 . As mentioned above, post  12  is preferably formed as a hollow, generally cylindrical post fabricated of a clear or transparent material. It will be noted that while the preferred fabrication of post  12  provides a generally cylindrical post, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that post  12  may be fabricated using alternative shapes such as square cross section, triangular cross section, rectangular cross section or the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Post  12  thus in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  provides a cylindrical post having a cylindrical interior surface  30 . The interior of post  12  supports a message support tube  24  defining a shape generally corresponding to the shape of support post  12 . Thus, with support post  12  being fabricated in a generally cylindrical shape, support tube  24  is preferably formed in a similar or corresponding cylindrical shape. Support tube  24  receives a message sleeve  21  upon its outer surface. Alternatively, message sleeve  21  may comprise a sheet of flexible material such as paper or the like upon which the desired message information elements have been printed. In such case, message sleeve  21  is simply wrapped upon the cylindrical outer surface of support tube  24 . In either event, the combined structure of support tube  24  and message sleeve  21  are simply inserted into the interior of post  12 . Preferably the size of support tube  24  and the thickness of message sleeve  21  are selected to position message sleeve  21  generally in contact with interior surface  30  of post  12 . 
       FIG. 3B  sets forth a section view taken along section lines  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2  which illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. As described above, post  12  defines a generally cylindrical post having an interior surface  30 . The embodiment of  FIG. 3B  differs from the embodiment of  FIG. 3A  in that the use of support tube  24  is avoided in the embodiment of  FIG. 3B . In such case, message sleeve  21  is preferably formed of a resilient sheet material having a memory or tendency to flex to a planar configuration when unconfined. Accordingly, with the outer surface of message sleeve  21  baring the desired visible message, sleeve  21  is simply rolled into a generally cylindrical shape and inserted into post  12 . Once released, the resilient character of sleeve  21  causes it to flex outwardly against interior surface  30  and thud maintain the desired liner configuration within post  12 . 
       FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective view of belt reel  13  showing the connection of the belt and connector portion of an adjacent safety stanchion (not shown). As described above, belt reel  13  will be understood to support a quantity of belt  14  and connector  15  in the manner shown above in  FIG. 1 . Belt  14  and connector  15  are omitted from  FIG. 4  to avoid obscuring important elements of the structure of belt reel  13 . 
     More specifically, belt reel  13  includes a generally cylindrical spool housing  40  defining a generally cylindrical shape having a closed top  45  and an open bottom  46 . Housing  40  defines four equally spaced elongated vertical slots  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44 . As is better seen in  FIG. 6 , slots  41  through  44  each define inwardly and outwardly angle surfaces on each side thereof. As is also better seen in  FIG. 6 , housing  40  defines a plurality of lower wall portions  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  at the bottom ends of slots  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  respectively. Housing  40  further defines a downwardly extending index post  35  supported at the upper end of slot  41 . The function of index post  35  is described below in conjunction with  FIG. 10  in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that index post  35  is received within slot  26  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) formed in the upper end of post  12  (also shown in  FIG. 2 ). A belt spool  47  is rotatably supported within housing  40  and is captivated in the manner described below by a spool base  48 . Wall  54  defines an aperture  55  which receives fastener  23  (seen in  FIG. 2 ). While not visible due to the perspective view of housing  40 , it will be understood that slot  42  having wall  52  at the lower end thereof defines a similarly positioned aperture. 
     In the perspective view of  FIG. 4 , a belt connector  61  supporting a belt  60  is received within slot  44  of housing  40 . Connector  44  is better seen in  FIG. 6 . However, suffice it to note here that connector  44  defines angled outer edges which are received within slot  44  and which facilitate a sliding engagement of connector  61 . Thus,  FIG. 4  shows the attachment of an adjacent belt connector from an adjacent safety stanchion to secure belt  60  in attachment to belt reel  13 . In this manner, belt  60  is joined to belt reel  13 . While not illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it will be understood that corresponding attachments of additional belt connectors may be slidably received within slots  42  and  43 . 
     Belt spool  47  is rotatably supported within housing  40  of belt reel  13  and normally receives and supports a length of belt  14  (not shown). The rotational support of belt spool  47  is provided at the lower end by a spool base  48 . The cooperation of spool base  48  and housing  40  to rotatably support belt spool  47  is shown and described below in  FIGS. 8 and 11 . However, suffice it to note here that spool base  48  is secured to housing  40  such that belt spool  47  is captivated within housing  40  and rotatably supported therein. To facilitate the smooth withdraw of belt  14  and the smooth rewinding thereof into housing  40 , wall  51  within slot  41  is raised into general alignment with the lower end of belt spool  47 . Thus, wall  51  extends upwardly within slot  41  a greater distance than walls  52  through  54  extend upwardly into respective slots  42  through  44 . 
     Also seen in  FIG. 4  is the connection of an additional belt  60  from a neighboring safety stanchion (not shown) which is accomplished by a connector  61 . Connector  61  is fabricated in the manner set forth below in  FIG. 6  in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that connector  61  is secured to the end of belt  60  and is slidably received within a selected one of slots  42 ,  43  or  44  in spool housing  40 . In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , connector  61  supporting one end of belt  60  is slidably received within slot  44 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that similar connectors shaped in the manner shown for connector  61  may be slidably received within slots  42  or  43  as desired. Alternatively, a plurality of connectors supporting respective belts may be simultaneously inserted into slots  42 ,  43  and  44  to provide the desired belt network. 
       FIG. 5  sets forth a perspective view of belt reel  13  showing belt  14  extending outwardly therefrom.  FIG. 5  also shows connector  15  in perspective assembly view and further shows the attachment of the end portion of belt  14  within connector  15 . 
     More specifically, belt reel  13  includes a generally cylindrical spool housing  40  defining a generally cylindrical shape having a closed top  45  and an open bottom  46 . Housing  40  defines four equally spaced elongated vertical slots  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44 . As is better seen in  FIG. 6 , slots  41  through  44  each define inwardly and outwardly angle surfaces on each side thereof. As is also better seen in  FIG. 6 , housing  40  defines a plurality of lower wall portions  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  at the bottom ends of slots  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  respectively. Housing  40  further defines a downwardly extending index post  35  supported at the upper end of slot  41 . The function of index post  35  is described below in conjunction with  FIG. 10  in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that index post  35  is received within slot  26  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) formed in the upper end of post  12  (also shown in  FIG. 2 ). A belt spool  47  is rotatably supported within housing  40  and is captivated in the manner described below by a spool base  48 . Wall  54  defines an aperture  55  which receives fastener  23  (seen in  FIG. 2 ). While not visible due to the perspective view of housing  40 , it will be understood that slot  42  having wall  52  at the lower end thereof defines a similarly positioned aperture. 
     More specifically, belt  14  is shown partially drawn from belt reel  13  by pulling belt  14  in the direction indicated by arrow  80 . Connector  15  is shown comprised of a connector portion  70  and a cooperating connector portion  71 . Connector portion  70  defines a slot  72  extending through connector portion  70  through which belt  14  extends. The outer end of belt  14  is folded and sewn to form a sleeve  76  which receives an elongated generally cylindrical pin  77 . Sleeve  76  and pin  77  cooperate to enlarge the outer end of belt  14  such that sleeve  76  passes into slot  72  but is unable to pass entirely through connector portion  70  and is thus captivated within slot  72 . Connector portion  71  is received against connector portion  70  and captivates sleeve  76  within slot  72 . Connector portion  70  further defines a pair of apertures  73  and  74  which receive conventional fasteners  78  and  79  respectively. Connectors  78  and  79  engage connector portion  71  securing connector portions  70  and  71  together captivating end sleeve  76  of belt  14 . 
       FIG. 6  sets forth a top view of belt reel  13  having a connector  61  coupling a belt coupling thereto. It will be noted that belt  14  and connector  15  (seen in  FIG. 5 ) are omitted from  FIG. 6 . As described above, belt reel  13  includes a molded plastic housing  40  defining a plurality of vertical slots  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  equally spaced about the outer surface of housing  40 . As is also described above, the lower edge of slots  41  through  44  include a corresponding plurality of wall portions  51  through  54  respectively. As is also mentioned above, it will be noted that slots  41  through  44  define generally parallel side edges which angle outwardly as they extend into housing  40 . The outwardly angled edge surfaces of each of slots  41  through  44  facilitate the sliding engagement of a connector such as connector  61  shown slidably engaged within slot  44 . Thus, it will be apparent from  FIG. 6  that connector  61  which illustrates a connector from an adjacent stanchion (not shown) defines cooperating angled edges which are received within slot  44  and which engage the angled side edges thereof. Thus, connector  61  coupling belt  60  to belt reel  13  is shown having outwardly angled edges  62  and  63 . What is important to note in  FIG. 6  is the cooperation of angled edges  62  and  63  of connector  61  secure connector  61  within slot  44 . Accordingly, connector  61  is inserted into its connected position as shown in  FIG. 6  by aligning connector  61  with the upper opening of slot  44  and thereafter sliding connector  61  downwardly to engage slot  44  in the manner shown above in  FIG. 4 . It will be equally apparent to those skilled in the art that slot  41  accommodates belt  14  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  leaving the remaining slots (slots  42  and  43 ) to receive connectors in a similar manner to connector  61  within slot  44 . Thus, as is seen in  FIG. 6 , belt reel  13  is able to extend a belt  14  wound within belt reel  13  in the manner set forth below while concurrently being capable of receiving connector attachments from up to three adjacent stanchions within the pathway of which stanchion  10  (seen in  FIG. 1 ) forms a portion. Thus, a total of four belts may extend outwardly from belt reel  13 . 
       FIG. 7  sets forth a bottom view of belt reel  13  having connector  61  engaged therein. As described above, belt reel  13  includes a molded plastic housing  40  defining a generally cylindrical shape having a closed upper surface  45  and an open end bottom  46 . As is set forth below in greater detail, belt reel  13  includes a spool base  48  supported within the interior of housing  40  by a conventional fastener  50 . Of importance to note, and as is set forth below in greater detail, fastener  50  is the only fastener utilized in securing the complete assembly of belt reel  13 . Correspondingly, the disassembly of belt reel  13  is carried forward by simply removing a single fastener (fastener  50 ). This greatly facilitates repair and assembly of the present invention belt reel. 
       FIG. 8  sets forth a perspective assembly view of belt reel  13 . It will be noted that belt reel  13  is fabricated utilizing a minimum number of components. Thus, belt reel  13  is formed of a housing  40 , a spring  56 , a belt spool  47  and a spool base  48 . 
     As described above, housing  40  is preferably formed of a molded plastic housing having a generally cylindrical shape and a closed upper surface  45 . As is also described above, housing  40  is generally cylindrical and generally hollow defining an open bottom end  46 . Housing  40  further defines a plurality of vertical slots  41  through  44 . Slots  41  through  44  terminate at their lower ends in wall portions  51  through  54  respectively. Wall  52  of slot  42  further defines an aperture  59  which functions in a similar manner to aperture  55  in wall  54  (seen in  FIG. 4 ) to receive fasteners utilized in the manner set forth above in  FIG. 2  to secure housing  40  of belt reel  13  to generally cylindrical post  12 . Slot  41  is the slot which facilitates the passing of belt  14  (seen in  FIG. 5 ) from within housing  40  to the exterior thereof. Thus, slot  41  differs from slots  42  through  44  in that wall portion extends upwardly a greater distance and a downwardly extending index post  35  is formed at the upper end of slot  41 . It will be recalled that increased wall  51  provides for better control of the belt within belt reel  13  as it is drawn from and wound within housing  40 . It will be further recalled that indexing post  35  is received within a slot  26  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) formed in the upper end of post  12 . Indexing post  35  and slot  26  cooperate to maintain a fixed rotational position and to provide a referencing index position as post  12  is assembled to belt reel  13  in the manner described above in  FIG. 2 . 
     Belt reel  13  further includes a spring  56  having an outer end hook  57  and an inner end hook  58 . Belt spool  47  receives and supports belt  14  (seen in  FIG. 5 ). Belt  14  is omitted from  FIG. 8  to avoid obscuring other structural details of spool  47 . Thus, spool  47  includes a center axle  48  supporting a pair spaced apart generally circular flanges  66  and  67 . An elongated pin  69  extends between flanges  66  and  67  and is operative to secure the inner end of belt  14  when belt  14  is wound upon spool  47  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 . Spool  47  further defines an upwardly extending bearing  65  which, as is better seen in  FIG. 9 , engages inner hook  58  of spring  56  when spring  56  is assembled to belt spool  47 . Spool base  48  provides a generally circular base supporting an upwardly extending lower spool guide  49 . Spool guide  49  is generally cylindrical and, as is better seen in  FIG. 11 , is received within the lower portion of axle  68  of belt spool  47 . 
     Thus, belt reel  13  is assembled by initially winding belt  14  (seen in  FIG. 5 ) upon axle  68  of belt spool  47 . Thereafter, spring  56  is positioned within housing  40  beneath upper surface  45  in the manner shown in  FIG. 9 . When so positioned, and as is seen in  FIG. 9 , outer hook  57  engages a corresponding engagement within the upper end of housing  40 . Thereafter, belt spool  47  is positioned within housing  40  such that bearing  65  is received within the inner coil of spring  56 . Finally, spool base  48  is assembled to belt spool  47  by inserting lower spool guide  49  therein in the manner shown in  FIG. 11 . Thereafter, fastener  50  (seen in  FIG. 11 ) is passed upwardly through spool base  48  to engage upper spool guide  85  (seen in  FIG. 11 ). At this point, belt spool  47  is rotatably supported within housing  40  and is rotated to facilitate engagement of bearing  65  with inner hook  58  of spring  56  in the manner shown in  FIG. 9 . As a final assembly step, the outer end of belt  14  (seen in  FIG. 5 ) is drawn outwardly through slot  41  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  and connector  15  (also shown in  FIG. 5 ) is assembled to the outer end of belt  14 . The ease and simplicity of the present invention structure provides assembly and disassembly utilizing a single fastener together with the attachable connectors for the outer belt end. 
       FIG. 9  sets forth a section view of stanchion  10  taken along section lines  9 - 9  in  FIG. 4 . Returning to  FIG. 4  temporarily, it is intended that section line  9 - 9  is taken above flange  66  of belt spool  47 . The purpose of  FIG. 9  is to show the attachment of spring  56  between spool  47  and housing  40 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 9 , belt reel  13  includes a generally cylindrical housing  40  defining a closed upper surface  45 . As is better seen in  FIG. 11 , housing  40  further includes a downwardly extending generally cylindrical upper spool guide  85 . As is also better seen in  FIG. 11 , belt spool  47  is received within the interior of housing  40  such that the upper portion of belt spool  47  is received upon upper guide  85 . In the section view of  FIG. 9 , bearing  65  which extends upwardly from flange  66  of belt spool  47  (seen in  FIG. 8 ) is received upon upper guide  85 . Bearing  65  is generally cylindrical in structure and also defines a gap  81  and an outwardly extending spring engage  82 . In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, spring engagement  82  is formed to define an engagement tooth which receives and engage spring hook  58  of spring  56 . Housing  40  also defines a downwardly extending generally cylindrical wall  83  defining a gap forming an edge  84  therein. Spring  56  is positioned against surface  45  of housing  40  such that spring hook  57  is received upon edge  84  in the engagement shown. Thereafter, belt spool  47  is inserted into housing  40  such that upper spring guide  85  is received within spool  40  in the manner shown in  FIG. 11 . When so assembled, upper guide  85  passes through bearing  65  of belt spool  47 . As belt spool  47  is rotated, spring hook  58  of spring  56  engages spring engagement  82 . As described above in conjunction with  FIG. 8 , the captivation of belt spool  47  is completed by assembling spool base  48  thereto and securing spool base  48  using a fastener  50  as shown in  FIG. 11 . As belt spool  47  is rotated upon upper guide  85  in the direction indicated by arrow  90 , spring  56  is wound ever more tightly. As a result, spring  56  provides a restoring force in the direction indicated by arrow  91 . Once the desired degree of preloading upon spring  56  is obtained by rotation in the direction indicated by arrow  90 , the end portion of belt  14  is drawn outwardly through slot  41  of housing  40  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 . Once connector  15  if assembled to the out end of belt  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 , connector  15  is released and the restoring force of spring  56  in the direction indicated by arrow  91  draws connector  15  toward housing  40 . Thereafter, withdrawing belt  14  winds spring  56  in the direction indicated by arrow  90  and releasing belt  14  allows the restoring force of spring  56  operative in the direction indicated by arrow  91  to wind belt  14  upon spool  47 . 
       FIG. 10  sets forth a partial section view of the upper portion of safety stanchion  10  showing the attachment of belt reel  13  to the upper end of post  12 . As described above, post  12  defines a generally cylindrical post formed of a clear transparent material such as clear or transparent plastic or the like. As is also described above, post  12  may be shaped in alternative shapes rather than the cylindrical shaped example shown for purposes of illustration herein. Post  12  defines a hollow cylindrical body having an inner surface  30  and an elongated slot  26 . Slot  26  extends downwardly from the upper end of post  12 . 
     Belt reel  13  includes a housing  40  which receives the upper end of post  12  such that the upper end of post  12  contacts the interior of closed end  45  of housing  40 . Housing  40  further includes a downwardly extending wall  83  which is received within the interior of post  12 . Housing  40  further includes a downwardly extending index post  35  which is received within the upper portion of slot  26 . In the manner described below, spool  47  supporting belt  14  is received within housing  40  such that the outer end of belt  14  extends through slot  26  of post  12 . Housing  40  further defines a slot  41  positioned in alignment with slot  26  of post  12 . A wall portion  51  forms the bottom of slot  41 . As is also described above, spool base  48  is received within housing  40  and secures spool  47  in a freely rotatable captivation. Housing  40  further defines wall portions  52  and  54  which define respective apertures  59  and  55 . A pair of threaded fasteners  22  and  23  are passed through apertures  59  and  55  and threadably engage apertures in post  12 . In this manner, belt reel  13  is secured to the upper end of post  12 . Once again, it will be noted that the cooperation of slot  26  of post  12  and index post  35  maintains the rotational position of belt reel  13  upon post  12 . 
       FIG. 11  sets forth a partial section view of belt reel  13  showing the attachment of spool base  48  to housing  40  and the captivation of spring  56  and belt spool  47  within housing  40 . More specifically, housing  40  defines an upper closed end  45  having a downwardly extending generally cylindrical upper spool guide  85  formed therein. Belt spool  47  defines a pair of spaced apart flanges  66  and  67  joined to respective ends of a cylindrical axle  68 . Axle  68  defines a reduced diameter bore  92  and an expanded diameter bore  93  which are generally coaxial in alignment. The size difference between bores  93  and  92  results in the creation of an edge  94  therebetween. Bore  92  is sized to receive upper spool guide  85  in a relatively close fit while allowing rotation of spool  47  upon upper spool guide  85 . Similarly, spool base  48  having a generally cylindrical lower spool guide  49  is assembled to housing  40  such that spool guide  49  passes upwardly through bore  93  and abuts edge  94 . A fastener  50  is passed upwardly through spool base  48  and spool guide  49  thereof to engage the lower portion of spool guide  85 . Fastener  50  secures the upper surface of spool guide  49  against the lower end of spool guide  85 . Thus, spool base  48  is secured to spool guide  85  and housing  40  by fastener  50 . The sizes of bores  92  and  93  with respect to spool guides  85  and  49  allows spool  47  to be freely rotatable thereon. Additionally, edge  94  allows spool  47  to rest upon the upper end of spool guide  49 . As a result, spool  47  is freely rotatable upon edge  94  and bearing  65  within housing  40  and spool base  48 . 
       FIG. 12  sets forth a partial section view of an alternate embodiment of belt reel  13  showing the attachment of a washer  86  and fastener  87  to housing  40  and the captivation of spring  56  and belt spool  47  within housing  40 . More specifically and as is set forth above in  FIG. 11 , housing  40  defines an upper closed end  45  having a downwardly extending generally cylindrical upper spool guide  85  formed therein. Belt spool  47  defines a pair of spaced apart flanges  66  and  67  joined to respective ends of a cylindrical axle  68 . Axle  68  defines a reduced diameter bore  92  and an expanded diameter bore  93  which are generally coaxial in alignment. The size difference between bores  93  and  92  results in the creation of an edge  94  therebetween. Bore  92  is sized to receive upper spool guide  85  in a relatively close fit while allowing rotation of spool  47  upon upper spool guide  85 . The embodiment of  FIG. 12  differs from the embodiment of  FIG. 11  in that a washer  86  and fastener  87  replace spool base  48  and fastener  50 . Washer  86  is inserted into bore  93  against edge  94  and is held by fastener  87 . Fastener  87  also secures washer  86  against the lower end of spool guide  85 . The size of bore  92  and spool guides  85  allows spool  47  to be freely rotatable thereon. As a result, spool  47  is freely rotatable upon edge  94  and bearing  65  within housing  40  without the need for spool base  48  (shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     What has been shown is a safety stanchion and belt reel used therein which cooperate to provide an improved safety stanchion for use in various venues in which a flexible pathway or network arrangement of pathways is to be provided by a plurality of stanchions and interconnecting belts. The inventive safety stanchion set forth herein is readily fabricated of relatively inexpensive molded plastic parts and provides for the advantageous display of various visible messages such as informational directions or advertising materials. The safety stanchion described herein is assembled or disassembled using a single fastener and a minimum of component parts. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.