Abstract: A buckle has a buckle mechanism with a lock pawl and a latch pin. The latch pin is designed to travel only in a longitudinal or horizontal direction relative to the buckle mechanism. When a latch plate assembly is secured, the latch pin holds the lock pawl in a latched position and prevents accidental release of the latch plate assembly. A release button is coupled to the latch plate retention bar so that all of the effective actuation and other motions are in the longitudinal direction of the buckle mechanism. The buckle mechanism has an ejector mechanism with an ejection spring for ejecting the latch plate assembly.

Abstract: A switchable retractor system includes a retractor with a spool. The spool is rotatable in an extension direction for extending a web and in a retraction direction for retracting the web. A first clutch has an engaged state where the first clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the extension direction and a disengaged state where the first clutch allows rotation of the spool in the extension direction. A release actuator actuates the first clutch into the disengaged state when actuated by a user to allow extension of the web. A second clutch has a locked state where the second clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the retraction direction and an unlocked state where the second clutch allows rotation of the spool in the retraction direction. A tension actuator actuates the second clutch into the unlocked state when actuated to allow retraction of the web into the retractor.

Abstract: A buckle has a buckle mechanism with a lock pawl and a latch pin. The latch pin is designed to travel only in a longitudinal or horizontal direction relative to the buckle mechanism. When a latch plate assembly is secured, the latch pin holds the lock pawl in a latched position and prevents accidental release of the latch plate assembly. A release button is coupled to the latch plate retention bar so that all of the effective actuation and other motions are in the longitudinal direction of the buckle mechanism. The buckle mechanism has an ejector mechanism with an ejection spring for ejecting the latch plate assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically stiffening a vehicle seat back may include a vehicle seat including a seat bottom mountable within a vehicle, a seat back extending upwardly away from the seat bottom, and a bight defined at a forward-facing interface between the seat bottom and the seat back, an occupant restraint harness coupled to the vehicle seat and engaging a top end of the seat back, and a seat back stiffening apparatus having a seat back stiffening member and an actuator coupled to the occupant restraint harness adjacent to or near the bight of the vehicle seat. The actuator may be responsive to a first force applied thereto by the occupant restraint harness in excess of a first threshold force to deploy the seat back stiffening member to couple to and between the seat bottom and the seat back to add stiffness to the seat back frame.

Abstract: A switchable retractor system includes a retractor with a spool. The spool is rotatable in an extension direction for extending a web and in a retraction direction for retracting the web. A first clutch has an engaged state where the first clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the extension direction and a disengaged state where the first clutch allows rotation of the spool in the extension direction. A release actuator actuates the first clutch into the disengaged state when actuated by a user to allow extension of the web. A second clutch has a locked state where the second clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the retraction direction and an unlocked state where the second clutch allows rotation of the spool in the retraction direction. A tension actuator actuates the second clutch into the unlocked state when actuated to allow retraction of the web into the retractor.

Abstract: A switchable retractor system includes a retractor with a spool. The spool is rotatable in an extension direction for extending a web and in a retraction direction for retracting the web. A first clutch has an engaged state where the first clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the extension direction and a disengaged state where the first clutch allows rotation of the spool in the extension direction. A release actuator actuates the first clutch into the disengaged state when actuated by a user to allow extension of the web. A second clutch has a locked state where the second clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the retraction direction and an unlocked state where the second clutch allows rotation of the spool in the retraction direction. A tension actuator actuates the second clutch into the unlocked state when actuated to allow retraction of the web into the retractor.

Abstract: A passenger seat is described for use with a vehicle seat and includes, a base, an attachment assembly, a restraint assembly, and a non-rigid back. The base includes a central front opening. The attachment assembly includes a plurality of straps, which are configured to adjustably secure the base to the vehicle seat. The restraint assembly includes a shoulder strap assembly, a crotch strap assembly, and an adjustment strap. The adjustment strap is in communication with the shoulder strap assembly, extending from the shoulder strap assembly through the base and out of the central front opening of the base. The adjustment strap assembly is configured to adjust the shoulder strap assembly in response to translation of the adjustment strap through the central front opening of the base. The back encompasses at least a portion of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a motor vehicle having an open doorway includes an elongated gate having a pivoting end mounted to a first frame component at one side of the doorway and a latching end opposite the pivoting end, a latch striker pin mounted to a second frame component at the opposite side of the doorway, a latch cam at the latching end of the gate and having a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuator having an engaged position in which the latch cam is in its unlatched position and a disengaged position in which the latch cam is in its latched position. The gate is pivotable from a stowed position adjacent to the one side of the doorway to a deployed position across the doorway in which the latch cam in its latched position engages the striker pin to secure the gate in its deployed position.

Abstract: A locking retractor includes a frame, a spool shaft rotatably mounted thereto, an outer surface of a base of a housing mounted to the frame with one end of the spool shaft extending into an opening defined through the base, one or more locking components arranged on an inner surface of the housing and configured to cooperate with the spool shaft to selectively block rotation of the spool relative to the frame, a sealing member configured to extend about and engage a periphery of the first opening and to extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft to form a seal between the base of the housing and the spool shaft to block ingress of moisture and particles, and a cover hermetically attached to the housing with the locking components sealed between the cover and the base of the housing.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for pre-tensioning an occupant restraint harness coupled to a seat portion of a motor vehicle seat and/or for pulling down the seat portion of the vehicle seat toward a seat base in embodiments in which the seat portion is suspended above the seat base. An elongated housing is secured to the seat portion, a web is coupled between the restraint harness or seat portion and the seat base or a support structure to which the seat base is mounted, and a piston carried by the housing defines a web guide in contact with the web between its two ends. As the piston moves along and relative to the housing in response to actuation thereof, the web guide displaces the web within the housing to pre-tension the occupant restraint harness and/or to pull the seat portion toward the seat base.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for pre-tensioning an occupant restraint harness coupled to a seat portion of a motor vehicle seat and/or for pulling down the seat portion of the vehicle seat toward a seat base in embodiments in which the seat portion is suspended above the seat base. An elongated housing is secured to the seat portion, a web is coupled between the restraint harness or seat portion and the seat base or a support structure to which the seat base is mounted, and a piston carried by the housing defines a web guide in contact with the web between its two ends. As the piston moves along and relative to the housing in response to actuation thereof, the web guide displaces the web within the housing to pre-tension the occupant restraint harness and/or to pull the seat portion toward the seat base.

Abstract: A passenger seat is described for use with a vehicle seat and includes, a base, an attachment assembly, a restraint assembly, and a non-rigid back. The base includes a central front opening. The attachment assembly includes a plurality of straps, which are configured to adjustably secure the base to the vehicle seat. The restraint assembly includes a shoulder strap assembly, a crotch strap assembly, and an adjustment strap. The adjustment strap is in communication with the shoulder strap assembly, extending from the shoulder strap assembly through the base and out of the central front opening of the base. The adjustment strap assembly is configured to adjust the shoulder strap assembly in response to translation of the adjustment strap through the central front opening of the base. The back encompasses at least a portion of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly.

Abstract: A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elastically deformable body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, one of the first and second ends configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member received on the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member movable relative to, and positionable along, the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member defining a web slot, and a flexible web extending through the web slot, the flexible web part of a restraint system to restrain an occupant of a vehicle seat mounted within the vehicle. The elastically deformable body is responsive to dynamic loads applied by the occupant through the flexible web to the web coupling member to absorb energy and attenuate tension in the flexible web via elastic deformation of the elastically deformable body.

Abstract: A switchable retractor system includes a retractor with a spool. The spool is rotatable in an extension direction for extending a web and in a retraction direction for retracting the web. A first clutch has an engaged state where the first clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the extension direction and a disengaged state where the first clutch allows rotation of the spool in the extension direction. A release actuator actuates the first clutch into the disengaged state when actuated by a user to allow extension of the web. A second clutch has a locked state where the second clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the retraction direction and an unlocked state where the second clutch allows rotation of the spool in the retraction direction. A tension actuator actuates the second clutch into the unlocked state when actuated to allow retraction of the web into the retractor.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a motor vehicle having an open doorway includes an elongated gate having a pivoting end mounted to a first frame component at one side of the doorway and a latching end opposite the pivoting end, a latch striker pin mounted to a second frame component at the opposite side of the doorway, a latch cam at the latching end of the gate and having a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuator having an engaged position in which the latch cam is in its unlatched position and a disengaged position in which the latch cam is in its latched position. The gate is pivotable from a stowed position adjacent to the one side of the doorway to a deployed position across the doorway in which the latch cam in its latched position engages the striker pin to secure the gate in its deployed position.

Abstract: A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elastically deformable body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, one of the first and second ends configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member received on the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member movable relative to, and positionable along, the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member defining a web slot, and a flexible web extending through the web slot, the flexible web part of a restraint system to restrain an occupant of a vehicle seat mounted within the vehicle. The elastically deformable body is responsive to dynamic loads applied by the occupant through the flexible web to the web coupling member to absorb energy and attenuate tension in the flexible web via elastic deformation of the elastically deformable body.

Abstract: An apparatus for ratcheting multiple restraint webs includes first and second locking web retractors each coupled to one end of a different restraint web. When locked, the web retractors each prevent web movement in a web pay-out direction relative thereto. The apparatus further includes first and second ratcheting devices each coupled to a corresponding one of the web retractors, and each is movable in a direction that moves the corresponding web in a web take-up direction relative to its web retractor when the web retractors are locked. The apparatus further includes an actuator movable between two positions and coupled to each of the ratcheting devices. The ratcheting devices are each responsive to a moving force applied thereto by the actuator as the actuator moves between its two positions to move in the direction that moves its corresponding web in the web take-up direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically stiffening a vehicle seat back may include a vehicle seat including a seat bottom mountable within a vehicle, a seat back extending upwardly away from the seat bottom, and a bight defined at a forward-facing interface between the seat bottom and the seat back, an occupant restraint harness coupled to the vehicle seat and engaging a top end of the seat back, and a seat back stiffening apparatus having a seat back stiffening member and an actuator coupled to the occupant restraint harness adjacent to or near the bight of the vehicle seat. The actuator may be responsive to a first force applied thereto by the occupant restraint harness in excess of a first threshold force to deploy the seat back stiffening member to couple to and between the seat bottom and the seat back to add stiffness to the seat back frame.

Abstract: A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction between opposite ends thereof, a bracket mounted to one of the opposite ends of the elongated body and configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member slidably received on the elongated body and positionable along the elongated body. The web coupling member defines a first web slot, and a flexible web extends through the first web slot. The elongated body attenuates forces applied by the flexible web to the web coupling member in non-parallel directions relative to the longitudinal direction by elastically deforming in the non-parallel directions.

Abstract: A locking retractor includes a frame, a spool shaft rotatably mounted thereto, an outer surface of a base of a housing mounted to the frame with one end of the spool shaft extending into an opening defined through the base, one or more locking components arranged on an inner surface of the housing and configured to cooperate with the spool shaft to selectively block rotation of the spool relative to the frame, a sealing member configured to extend about and engage a periphery of the first opening and to extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft to form a seal between the base of the housing and the spool shaft to block ingress of moisture and particles, and a cover hermetically attached to the housing with the locking components sealed between the cover and the base of the housing.