Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a protective device that can be used to protect the clothing of a user and the interior of a vehicle due to inadvertent food and beverage spills. The device includes an upper section that covers at least a portion of the torso of a user, while leaving the user's hands and arms free for controlling a vehicle. The device further includes a lower section for covering at least a portion of the user's lap and thighs. Advantageously, the device includes a fold that extends from the upper section. The fold has the dual purpose of protecting the vehicle seat belt when in use and adhering the device in place. The device includes a top absorbent layer for containing liquid and food spills, and a lower impermeable layer for prevent liquid spills from contacting the user's clothing or the vehicle.

Abstract: A water shield member includes a cup-shaped concaved portion that has an opening, a hinge portion and a flange portion. The hinge portion extends from the concaved portion and extends around the opening of the concave portion, the hinge portion having a first thickness. The flange portion extends around the hinge portion and the concaved portion. The flange portion is spaced apart from the concaved portion and defines a first plane. The flange portion has a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The concaved portion, the hinge portion and the flange portion are all made of a common material.

Abstract: A vehicle body includes a pillar member disposed on an outer side of a cabin in a vehicle width direction and a side wall member located closer to inside in the vehicle width direction than the pillar member and coupled to the pillar member. The guide member for guiding drawing of a webbing includes a front edge fixing portion coupled to the pillar member, a rear edge fixing portion coupled to the side wall member, and a guide body whose two ends are coupled to the front and rear edge fixing portions and which forms a webbing drawing opening together with the pillar member and the side wall member. The front and rear edge fixing portions are separated from each other with an interval greater than or equal to a width of the webbing and coupled to the pillar member and the side wall member.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle including a vehicle body. The vehicle includes an operating member to be pressed so that the operating member performs an operation, and a wire having a first end and a second end. The first end is closer than the second end to the operating member. The vehicle includes a wire cover slidably covering the wire and slidable relative to the wire. The vehicle includes an actuating section that supports a first portion of the wire cover and that moves the wire cover in a direction away from the first end of the wire in accordance with the operation. The vehicle includes a non-actuating section supporting the first end so that an operation amount of the first end with respect to the vehicle body is smaller than an operation amount of the actuating section with respect to the vehicle body when the operating member performs the operation.

Abstract: A belt anchor comprises an anchor portion which changes the extending direction of a belt body toward a vehicle front, a bolt which supports the anchor portion, and a nut which fastens the bolt. The belt anchor is fixed to a lift gate inner and a second reinforcement at a position which is located near a pivotal axis of a hinge. Accordingly, a seatbelt device of a vehicle which can ensure both the properly-large slant angle of the belt body and the support strength of the belt anchor, keeping appropriate flexibility of the vehicle layout, can be provided.

Abstract: A retractor including a rotatable spool configured to be connected to a webbing, a locking member configured to selectively lock the spool and prevent the spool from rotating in the webbing extraction direction, a sensor, and a cover for the sensor and locking member. When the locking member is in a locked position, the spool is prohibited from rotating in the webbing extraction direction. The sensor is configured to move in a first direction in response to the vehicle having a threshold acceleration. Movement of the sensor in the first direction causes a corresponding movement of the locking member to a locked position. The sensor is located in a cavity in the cover and an insert member is disposed between the cover and the sensor to limit the travel of the sensor in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

Abstract: A seatbelt assembly for motor vehicle occupant restraint applications of the three point type in which a lap belt section is formed of two layers of seatbelt webbing. The system may be implemented in connection with single or dual seatbelt retractors. A loop tongue is provided which is releasably affixed to a seatbelt buckle and has at least one slot which allows the free movement of webbing through the tongue between the use and storage conditions of the seatbelt system. An end of the webbing is also attached to the tongue. The system is operated by an occupant in a manner like a conventional three point restraint system using a single releasable attachment. Through the use of a pair of thicknesses of webbing in the lap belt section of the restraint system, control of reduced chest deflection and pelvic excursion may be provided.

Abstract: A tensioner mechanism that winds a webbing to restrain a passenger seated in a seat when a vehicle crash is detected is provided near the seat. A headrest body is provided to protect the passenger at the vehicle rear crash. A drive mechanism is coupled to the tensioner mechanism via a connection member, and configured to drive the headrest body in accordance with a webbing-winding operation of the tensioner mechanism. Accordingly, the seat structure can be simple.

Abstract: Part of a seat belt, anchored at the top of the seat, adopts a conventional sash/belt arrangement (2a, 2c). The other end of the belt, however, passes under the seat base and protrudes up on the opposite side of the seat base to the above anchorage point. This other end carries a buckle to receive a conventional tongue which slides along the belt. Thus, in use, the belt encircles user's thighs (22) and the seat squab. In an accident a pretensioner activates which tightens the belt, somewhat raising and curling seat squab and user's legs (22), so preventing “submarining” (ie sliding of the user out from under the belt). Alternatively an existing lap/sash belt may be augmented by an extra belt passing from the seat top, across the chest, and around one thigh of the wearer.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a frame having a back plate and a side wall protruding from each of a plurality of side edges of the back plate. The seat belt retractor also includes a spool supported by the frame and rotating to wind a seat belt, a motor for rotating the spool, and an electronic control unit for controlling the drive to the motor. The electronic control unit is attached to a surface of the frame in a direction of a vehicle interior.

Abstract: A mounting structure of a seatbelt retractor is provided. In the mounting structure, the seatbelt retractor for winding up a seatbelt is mounted one end of a roof end member on the lateral side of a vehicle, on which a hinge reinforcement for reinforcing a hinge mounting portion for a backdoor is superimposed. The hinge reinforcement and the one end of the roof end member are formed with an opening. The seatbelt retractor is accommodated in the opening. The seatbelt retractor has a pair of mounting portions. The mounting portions of the seatbelt retractor are fastened on both sides of the opening by first fastening members, respectively, such that the seatbelt retractor is fixed to the roof end member and the hinge reinforcement.

Abstract: To improve wear resistance of a woven belt and a seatbelt device including the woven belt A woven belt 101 has a structure formed by weaving a plurality of warp yarns 102 extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of the belt and a plurality of weft yarns 103 extending in a substantially transverse direction of the belt. At least one of the warp yarns 102 and the weft yarns 103 is a fiber bundle containing highly contractible synthetic fiber yarns (e.g., yarns containing a low-melting-point filament component 306 having a relatively low melting point and a high-melting-point filament component 307 having a relatively high melting point) so that the strength of the fiber bundle can be increased, and the wear resistance of the woven belt 101 as a whole can be improved.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor, which is capable of winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint by mechanism of an electric motor, removes slack of the seat belt and controls the restraining feeling on a vehicle occupant to be as little as possible. A seat belt retractor of a seat belt apparatus to be installed in a vehicle is adapted to control a motor to perform an action of increasing seat belt tension to wind up a seat belt which is excessively unwound from the spool when a vehicle occupant wears the seat belt and to be driven according to such a setting that, at the initial stage of the action of increasing the seat belt tension, the tension increasing rate until the seat belt tension reaches a target tension is lower than a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A seatbelt apparatus including a seatbelt, a spool for retracting the seatbelt, a motor for rotatably driving the spool, and urging mechanism for urging the seatbelt toward a retracting direction. The seat belt apparatus further includes belt attaching/detaching mechanism, a belt releasing detecting mechanism and, and a motor controller. The belt attaching/detaching mechanism fastens or releases the seatbelt. The belt releasing detecting mechanism detects that the seatbelt is released from the belt attaching/detaching mechanism. The motor controller causes the motor to start to take up the seatbelt on the condition that a predetermined amount of time passes since the belt releasing detecting mechanism detects that the seatbelt is released.

Abstract: In a woven belt and a seat belt apparatus using the same, it is an object to improve the abrasion resistance thereof. A woven belt 101 is made by weaving warp thread 102 extending in substantially the longitudinal direction of webbing and weft thread 103 extending in substantially the width direction of the webbing. Employed as at least either of the warp thread 102 and the weft thread 103 is fiber bundle containing thermal adhesion yarns (for example, each comprising a low melting point filament component 206 having a relatively low melting point and a high melting point filament component 207 having a relatively high melting point), thereby improving the strength of the fiber bundle and thus improving the entire abrasion resistance of the woven belt 101.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the operation of a reversible belt retractor to release a belt extraction lock of a restraint belt in a motor vehicle, the lock can be activated by an acceleration sensor. After the belt retractor has been triggered as a consequence of a hazardous situation having been detected and after the hazardous situation has been recognized as being over, the operation of the belt retractor is controlled by a release signal at a release time in order to bring about the release of the belt extraction lock to shift it from a blocking state into a comfort-providing state. The release time is determined by a sensor model algorithm based on a model of the acceleration sensor from at least one variable characterizing the running dynamics.

Abstract: Occupant restraint systems for use in land vehicles and other vehicles are disclosed herein. A restraint system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes an elongate belt or web configured to extend across an occupant seated in a vehicle, such as a military land vehicle. A proximal end portion of the elongate web is operably coupled to a web retractor. The web retractor carries an electrically actuated web locking device operably coupled to an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor sends an electrical signal to the web locking device in response to vehicle acceleration in, for example, a vertical direction above a preset magnitude. The web locking device responds to the electrical signal by at least temporarily preventing the retractor from paying out web.

Abstract: A dual spool retractor for a motor vehicle seat belt system. The dual spool retractor includes shoulder belt and lap belt spool assemblies engaging with the shoulder belt and lap belt portions of the seat belt webbing. The dual spool retractor incorporates a gas driven pretensioner system incorporating a common gas generator connection for both the shoulder belt spool assembly and the lap belt spool assembly. Both spool assemblies are caused to undergo pretensioning retraction energized by a single gas generator.

Abstract: A buckle support assembly is provided including an anchor member and a buckle with a support member extending therebetween. A sleeve member is supported in position to extend between the anchor member and buckle and about the support member via interfering portions of the anchor member and sleeve member. Preferably, the interfering portions include small tabs of the anchor member and internal ribs of the sleeve member.

Abstract: A retractor of a three-point rear seatbelt system is affixed to a rear roof rail without excessively protruding out at the bottom of the rear roof rail. Such an arrangement provides sufficient rear vision of the vehicle and strengthens the rigidity of the rear roof rail where the retractor is fixed in order to withstand heavy loads associated with seat belt systems.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle having an interior portion and a rear portion comprising a first position substantially within a vehicle and a second position substantially outside the vehicle. A transfer coupling element is operatively coupled to a structure in the interior portion of the vehicle, wherein said seat has a substantially constant orientation during a motion between first and second positions.

Abstract: A seat belt device for a central portion of a rearmost row seat includes a retractor. The retractor is attached at a vehicle roof above a central passenger on the central seat portion of the rear row seat. More specifically, a pair of left and right roof rails are interconnected by a first reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction before the central passenger, and the first reinforcement and a rear header are interconnected by a second reinforcement extending in a longitudinal direction. A retractor is attached at the first reinforcement. A seat belt withdrawn from the retractor is disposed so as to extend via a seat belt anchor disposed in the rear header.

Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool formed into a hollow cylindrical shape and capable of winding a seatbelt onto a spool outer periphery or unwinding the seatbelt from the spool outer periphery. The retractor includes a motor accommodated in a cylindrical space of the spool and a motor speed-reduction mechanism configured to reduce the rotational speed of the motor via a plurality of gears. A controller is provided to control the operation of the motor.

Abstract: A seatbelt system for a front seat of a vehicle having such a double door that a front door (2) and a rear door (3) open outwardly forward and rearward, respectively, to form an uninterrupted doorway (14) to a passenger compartment (A) and the front door (2) overlaps the rear door from the outside so as to allow the rear door (3) to open and close while the front door is open comprises a retractor (28) installed in the rear door (3) and retracting a seatbelt (27) therein, a seatbelt lock mechanism (37) operative to lock the seatbelt (27) when the seatbelt (27) attains a predetermined acceleration, and a lock canceling mechanism (38) operative to put the seatbelt lock mechanism (37) inoperative when activated, The seatbelt system activates the lock canceling mechanism (38) to put the seatbelt lock mechanism (37) inoperative when the seatbelt (27) is unbuckled while the front door and/or the rear door is open or not properly closed and deactivates the lock canceling mechanism (38) to put the seatbelt lock mecha

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt, arranged in a vehicle with a vehicle seat which is spring-mounted in the vertical direction, where the upper attachment point is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction on the body of the vehicle. Said height adjustment takes place as a function of the springing movement of the vehicle seat, which results in the upper attachment point always remaining correctly positioned in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An adaptive seat belt system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12). The system (10) includes a seat belt (16) extensible about an occupant (42) of a seat system (14). A seat belt tension sensor (18) is coupled to the seat belt (16) and generates a seat belt tension signal. A seat belt actuator (20) is mechanically coupled to the seat belt (16) and adjusts tension of the seat belt (16). A controller (26) is electrically coupled to the tensioner sensor (18) and the actuator (20). The controller (26) generates a seat belt tension adjustment signal in response to the seat belt tension signal and adjusts tension of the seat belt (16) in response to the seat belt tension adjustment signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle for restraining an occupant in a first seat mounted in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the vehicle including an opening formed on at least one side of a vehicular body. The seat belt system includes a belt webbing having a first and second end. A retractor is disposed at a door of the vehicle for retracting the first end of the belt webbing. A lap-anchor device is disposed at the door of the vehicle for fixedly supporting the belt webbing below and outward of the first seat. The lap-anchor device includes an anchor bracket and a moving device. The anchor bracket is connected with the second end of the belt webbing. The anchor bracket includes an engaging portion which communicates with an engageable portion provided at the vehicular body below the opening.

Abstract: An airbelt is provided that passes smoothly through an anchor and winds around a retractor. The airbelt includes a non-inflating section and a flat hollow-cylindrical inflating section. A bag is arranged only within the inflating section. An end of the bag as well as an end of the belt is connected to a tongue. The non-inflating section is inserted into a through-anchor and is connected to a retractor so as to enable to be wound up around and pulled out of the retractor. The belt is consecutively and integrally made by knitting or weaving all the parts extending from the non-inflating section toward the inflating section. A weft thread, which is lined up with a fusion thread such as a thread having a core-sheath structure, is inserted into the non-inflating section so as to be processed with heat.

Abstract: A concealable buckle apparatus includes a supporting element, a buckle, a locking device and a panel. The buckle is pivotally mounted on the supporting element between an extended position and a concealed position. The locking device is movably mounted on the supporting element between a locking position for locking the buckle in the concealed position and a releasing position. The panel is mounted on the supporting element and defining an opening through which the buckle extends in the extended position and a slot through which the locking device is accessible.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (12) comprises a frame (40), a seat belt webbing spool (42) rotatably mounted in the frame (40), and an actuator (70) for locking the seat belt webbing spool (42) against rotation in at least one direction (B) in the frame (40). The actuator (70) is mounted to the frame (40). An accelerometer (82) provides an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration. The accelerometer (82) is mounted on the frame (40). A controller (84) monitors the electrical output signal and causes the actuator (70) to lock the seat belt webbing spool (42) against rotation in the at least one direction (B) upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration. The controller (84) is mounted on the frame (40).

Abstract: An inertia sensor for vehicle-sensitive activation of a belt retractor blocking mechanism, has a mass body, a support for the mass body, and a sensor lever having a control pawl and being mounted on the support for swivelling motion about a swivel axis and resting on the mass body. The support is provided with a first circular cylindrical surface area with a axis which is parallel to the swivel axis and runs through the center of gravity of the mass body. An appendix is formed on the first circular cylindrical surface area of the support for mounting the support to the belt retractor. Further, a belt retractor with the inertia sensor and injection molds for molding the support and the sensor lever are provided.

Abstract: A belt tensioner with a piston/cylinder unit and with a device for fastening the belt tensioner to the vehicle is characterized in that on the exterior of the shell surface of the cylinder (3) a thread (13) is formed, by which the cylinder (3) can be screwed into a counter-thread (15) in the vehicle.

Abstract: A part 8 of the shoulder anchor tower upwardly protruding from the side body 2 of an open-body type vehicle 1 is formed to have a closed sectional shape by combining the tower inner and outer panels 8a and 8b each other so that a closed sectional shape can be formed. The rear seat belt device is thus obtained, which allows the shoulder anchor tower to have a simpler configuration and a lighter weight, improves the degree of accuracy of assembly, and has reduced cost. The present invention also allows both the passenger room and the rear luggage room to be widened.

Abstract: A seat belt construction is provided in which a first end of the seat belt is connected to the vehicle frame and a second opposite end is connected to the passenger seat so that it extends across and behind the back rest of the passenger seat to form a back restraint to prevent the passenger from being thrown rearwardly upon failure of the back rest.

Abstract: The invention provides an automatically put-on automobile safety belt. Conventionally, it is very troublesome to put on the safety belt, because it has to be manipulated manually. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages. That is, the automatically put-on safety belt includes: a winder for winding a belt 1; a fixed member for securing the other end of the belt; a buckle for being coupled with a hook; and the above three elements constituting the three securing points for the belt. Here, the winder is installed on the automobile floor at the rear of a seat; the fixed member is installed on the automobile floor at a side of the seat; the buckle is installed on the lower edge of a door; a guide ring 8 supported by an elastic rod is installed over the top of the seat; and the hook is provided with guide rings supported by arcuate elastic rods and.

Abstract: An electric activating circuit for an occupant safety device in an automotive vehicle contains an acceleration sensor arranged in a vehicle door and a door switch for interrupting the electric circuit if the door is open.

Abstract: An automatic seat belt device for motor vehicles, includes a retracting member installed on a vehicle door, and upper and lower webbings wherein each lower end thereof is unified into a composite structure for slidably locking with a seat belt lock and each upper end thereof is movably connected to the retracting member, whereby the upper and lower webbings can be fitted to or released from the seated occupant as the vehicle door is closed or opened.

Abstract: A through anchor suitable for use in a seat belt system is disclosed. In use, the through anchor is mounted by way of a through bore formed in a fixing member arranged on a side of a vehicle body. The through anchor comprises a metal plate, a fixing bolt, a resin covering and an internally-threaded member. The metal plate defines therein a through hole and a webbing slot. The fixing bolt has a head portion, a threaded portion and a base portion. The resin covering is molded as an integral member on a surface of the head portion of the fixing bolt and a surface of the metal plate. The internally-threaded member has a cylindrical portion and a flange portion extending radially and outwardly from the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A passive seat belt control apparatus includes a retractor for housing part of a seat belt. The retractor includes an arrangement for sensing acceleration and deceleration of a vehicle door and the speed at which the seat belt is pulled out from the retractor, and a mechanism for locking the seat belt. A solenoid operates to cancel the function of the retractor, and a door switch detects opening and closing of the vehicle door. A main control unit actuates the solenoid when the door switch detects that the door is open, and the main control unit includes an arrangement for continuously maintaining the solenoid operative for a predetermined time whenever the door switch detects that the door is closed after it has previously detected that the door is open.

Abstract: Lap seat belt and shoulder seat belt are automatically set to restrain a seated person. A first end of each belt is slidable in a guide rail diagonally disposed on the inner surface of the door. Second ends of the belts are fixed on the inner side of the bottom seat and on the inner portion of the seat back respectively. When the first ends of the seat belts are in the highest position of the guide rail, the seated person is in a free state. When the first ends are slided and set in the lowest position, the seat belts restrain the person.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a useful improvement in a seat belt mount mechanism of a seat belt for use in an automotive vehicle of the type that an anchor plate adapted to support the seat belt at the middle portion thereof is fixed securely to a door sash element of a vehicle body by way of a fixing bracket, and in which one end of the anchor plate is operatively introduced into an opening formed in a center pillar of a vehicle body in a state that a door is closed, wherein there is provided a latch engagement of a substantially T-shaped cross section at the leading of one end of the anchor plate. With this arrangement, the latch engagement of the anchor plate may positively be held from disengagement with the opening in the center pillar, when the door sash element of the vehicle body is deformed from a shock load, and also this possible deformation of the door sash element of the vehicle body from such a shock load may be prevented to a minimum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a passive type seat belt mounting structure wherein the seat belt is forcibly loaded around the body of the occupant upon he/she sitting down in a vehicle seat and closing a door, wherein a shoulder retractor and a lap retractor around which a seat belt is wound is attached to a common bracket which is in turn attached to the interior of the door panel.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a useful improvement in a seat belt mount mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle of the type that an anchor plate adapted to support a shoulder anchor for holding the seat belt extending through an opening defined therein is mounted operatively to a door sash element of the vehicle body by way of a fixing bracket, wherein there is provided an elongated portion extending outwardly from the lower end of the anchor plate, upon which the elongated portion the shoulder anchor is held operatively, whereby it is feasible in practice to bring the mount for the shoulder anchor as far behind as possible of the door sash element, and consequently, the seat belt may serve more effectively in function to forcibly catch a driver or passengers therein. With this arrangement, it is possible in practice to make the anchor plate and the fixing bracket small and compact in construction, accordingly.

Abstract: A seat belt apparatus is provided for restraining the occupant of a seat assembly within a vehicle body structure having a plurality of closure members each hingedly supported for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close a respective utility opening. The closure members may be front and rear side doors, a hood or a trunk lid.

Abstract: An automotive safety belt retractor comprising a remotely-operable, electromechanical tension-relieving system. The tension-relieving system is shifted into a tension-relieving mode by a conveniently located manual switch. Movement of the user to extract more than a predetermined length of belt while in the tensionless mode shifts the electromechanical actuator from an active to a released position. The electromechanical actuator is normally de-energized and is only energized momentarily when shifting between the tension-relieving and nontension-relieving modes. A second, automatic switch shifts the retractor out of tensionless mode upon opening of the vehicle door.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor system for restraining a passenger in a vehicle is provided with a tension-relieving means engageable by a manual overt actuator, which system includes the following: initiation of the tensionless mode requires conscious actuation by the passenger; incorporation of an activated position, which allows retraction of any belt slack prior to engagement of the tensionless mode; subsequent slight belt protraction beyond the activated position engages the tensionless mode; a "memory" allowing belt protraction, less than a predetermined length, from the tensionless mode and return thereto; a means whereby belt protraction greater than the predetermined distance automatically returns the retractor and belt to the tensioned mode; and, an automatically operable actuator, which may be activated by the opening of the vehicle door for automatic return of the retractor to the belt-tensioned mode.

Abstract: A cable operated assembly for actuating a device comprises a housing assembly and a plunger movably mounted within the assembly for movement between return and actuating positions. A coil spring is mounted within the housing and biases the plunger toward the return position. A cable is movable in return and actuating directions relative to the housing and has one end engageable with the device to be actuated. The other end of the cable is connected to the plunger so as to permit movement of the cable relative to the plunger when the same moves toward the actuating position, and limiting relative movement of the cable when the plunger is moved toward the return position thereby to move the cable in the return direction. A second coil spring has a biasing force less than that of the first coil spring and urges the cable in the actuating direction, but is normally compressed.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor assembly particularly adapted for mounting in a motor vehicle door as part of a passive belt system. The retractor includes both an inertia sensitive actuator and a tension relief or "comfort" features. The retractor further includes an operating system which renders the inertia sensitive actuator and comfort mechanism inoperative while the vehicle door is being opened or closed to allow the belt webbing to be freely withdrawn and retracted onto the retractor spool during such door movement. The operating system is actuated by an electrical solenoid. The force output and size of the electrical solenoid are minimized by employing a system which uses rotation of the retractor spool which "cocks" a latch plate member against spring tension and using the solenoid only to release the release plate when necessary.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle has a seat belt which is adapted to be supported by a belt guide and a buckle respectively provided on the outer side of the passenger seated on the seat adjacent to the doors and on the inner side of the passenger remote from the doors, and a retractor fixed to the rear door. The retractor has a casing for retractably accommodating one end portion of the seat belt and a lock mechanism which prevents the seat belt from being drawn out from the casing when horizontal acceleration acting on the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: Each vehicle door in which a retractor is mounted includes a jamb switch mounted in the door jamb for sensing actual opening of the door, and a lock switch mounted in the door lock assembly for sensing actuation of the interior or exterior door handles. When door opening or closure is indicated, locking of the retractors is inhibited for a predetermined interval. Logical agreement between the lock and jamb switches is required to maintain the inhibit beyond the predetermined interval while the door is open. If agreement is not achieved within the interval, a switch failure is presumed, and the inhibit is removed to permit normal locking of the retractors. If such agreement is achieved, the inhibit is maintained until closure of the door, and thereafter for another predetermined interval. If the switches fail to remain in agreement after closure of the door, further operation of the inhibit on subsequent opening of the door is disabled.