Abstract: A device for supporting a camera to facilitate capturing stable images from a moving and vibrating platform, such as a helicopter includes a base plate and a vertical post attached to the base plate and extending upwardly from the base plate. A swing arm is fixed to the top of the vertical post in a manner that allows the swing arm to pivot around a vertical axis of the vertical post. A handle is attached to the swing arm and extends upwardly from the swing arm Suspended from the handle below the swing arm is a fixture for supporting the camera. The fixture supporting the camera includes that reduce the transmission of vibrations and shocks to the camera. The device for supporting a camera can be secured in place inside a helicopter without altering the structural integrity of the helicopter.

Abstract: A frame member has two spaced apart parallel rings that are fixed to one another only at a first location. At a second location diametrically opposed to the first location each of the spaced apart parallel rings has a pedestal with a notch therein at an edge of the pedestal adjacent a space separating the parallel rings. The pedestals and notches are circumferentially aligned to cooperate with one another to provide a seat for seating an ornamental article therein. The securing member secures the ornamental article to the frame member. The securing member is a ring inserted in the space between the parallel rings of the frame member in a movable manner and is provided with a means for securing the ornamental article seated in the pedestals and notches of the frame member when the means for securing is aligned with the pedestals and notches of the frame member.

Abstract: A one piece elastomeric pour spout is adapted to couple within the neck of a bottle, and has a substantially flat pouring end, whereby when the pour spout is coupled within the neck of a bottle, the pouring end is substantially flush with an annular lip of the neck of the bottle. The bottle may be recapped with original cap without removing the pour spout. The pour spout is further provided with a feature that suppresses dripping from the pour spout at the end of a pour.

Abstract: A device for repairing a stall cleaning tool that has a broken tine is a tine having a first clamping member integral therewith located at an end of the tine. The first clamping member has a clamping surface with at least one channel therein for receiving at least one structural member of the stall cleaning tool. A second clamping member has a clamping surface with at least one channel therein for receiving at least one structural member of the stall cleaning tool. The first and second clamping members are secured to one another with the clamping surfaces of the clamping members adjacent to one another and the channels in the clamping surfaces aligned with one another.

Abstract: A steering wheel has a ring portion, spoke portions and a hub portion. The steering wheel is provided with a thermoelectric reversible heat pump to heat or cool a fluid. A closed hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic pump and at least one duct extending along the ring portion of the steering wheel. The fluid is heated or cooled by the thermoelectric heat pump and is circulated by the hydraulic pump within the ring portion of the steering wheel to heat or cool the ring portion.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system has seat belt webbing that is attached to a tongue adapted to be located in a buckle mechanism fixed to a load-bearing part of the vehicle. A generally vertically extending strap is adapted to be located in a position against a seat back. An adjustable webbing guide connects the generally vertically extending strap to the seat belt webbing; and there is a device for positively locking the webbing guide to the generally vertically extending strap at any one of a plurality of selectable locations on the generally vertically extending strap. A load limiter is operative for a child seat occupant but not operative for an adult seat occupant.

Abstract: A pretensioning apparatus for seat belt webbing is located in the vicinity of a belt anchor end of a three-point vehicle safety restraint seat belt. The pretensioning apparatus has a fixed member in the form of a tubular member that may be anchored to a vehicle seat at the belt anchor side of the vehicle. A movable member in the form of a piston is connected to the webbing in the region of the belt anchor end. A means is provided for moving the movable member relative to the fixed member in a generally horizontal direction, to move the seat belt webbing in a pretensioning direction in response to a signal from a crash sensor. A webbing guide is fixed to the seat to provide an effective anchorage point spaced from the belt anchor end of the webbing under pretensioning conditions.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a three point vehicle safety restraint seat belt has a mounting for one end of the seat belt. The mounting has a first member fixed to a load bearing part of the vehicle and a second member attached to the end of the seat belt. A force reservoir, such as a pyrotechnic unit, moves the second member relative to the first member in a pretensioning direction in response to activation by a crash sensor.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a three point seat belt has a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of the vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder. The piston can move translationally relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction. A flexible member is arranged in a curved profile with a seat belt webbing being attached to the flexible member. The flexible member has a first end that can be pulled by the piston and a second end releasably connected to an exterior of the cylinder such that when the piston moves translationally relative to the cylinder the second end of the flexible member moves translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a three point vehicle safety restraint seat belt, has a mounting for one end of the seat belt. The mounting is a first member fixed to a load bearing part of the vehicle. A second member is attached to the end of the seat belt. A means is provided for moving the second member relative to the first member in a pretensioning direction in response to activation of a crash sensor. The mounting may be a flexible cable that functions as a slider bar. A piston-cylinder force reservoir may be used either to pull the slider bar via a carriage mounted on a rail, or to pull the cable directly. Return motion is preferably inhibited. The arrangement provides a space saving pretensioner suitable for two-door vehicles while allowing access to the vehicle rear.

Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint adjuster has a vehicle safety restraint support and a guide for the support. The support is moveable along the guide. The adjuster further has a lock which secures the safety restraint support at a position on the guide in the locked state and allows the support to move in the unlocked state. A magnetic actuator selectively places the lock in the locked state and the unlocked state.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a rotatable spool for retraction or payout of seat belt webbing wound thereon, depending upon the rotation direction of the spool. A locking wheel is attached to one end of the spool. The spool to is locked to the locking wheel when a crash is sensed. A force limiter allows further payout of the seat belt webbing after the spool has locked to the locking wheel, under the influence of a vehicle occupant's forward momentum. The force limiter includes a torsion bar attached at one end to the locking wheel and at the other end to the spool, and a secondary force limiter mechanism releasably coupled in the force path between the spool and the locking wheel, and a mechanism for de-coupling the secondary mechanism after a predetermined number of turns of the torsion bar. The locking mechanism has a locking element that is resiliently biased to a position wherein it locks the spool to the locking wheel and is held out of locking engagement by the secondary force limiting mechanism.

Abstract: A U-shaped frame for a seat belt retractor has two spaced arms made from a material of a predetermined thickness and having a cutout in the material of each arm for receiving a lockbar. Each cutout has an edge comprising a land portion for supporting the lockbar, which land portion is of a reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the material of the arms, to present a reduced surface area to the lockbar. The frame may be of pressed steel and the lockbar of die-cast non-ferrous material.

Abstract: An adjustable turning loop for a vehicle comprises a rail and a slide for a web guide. The slide is slideably received on the rail. A lock maintains a slide at a position on the rail. The lock has a locked condition limiting movement of the slide on the rail and an unlocked condition allowing movement of the slide on the rail. The lock comprises a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member pivot relative to the rail. The first member and the second member engage the rail in the locked condition and disengage from the rail in the unlocked condition.

Abstract: A seat belt load limiter employs a magnetostrictive sensor to detect the elastic loading and plastic deformation of a torsion rod forming part of a seat belt retractor. A magnet and a coil are placed about or adjacent to the torsion rod. When the torsion rod undergoes elastic or plastic strain, an electrical voltage is induced in the coil which is used to detect elastic or plastic strain of the torsion rod. A vehicle safety system uses the output of the magnetostrictive sensor to inform the vehicle operator when the seat belt load limiter is in need of replacement. The output of the magnetostrictive sensor as processed by the vehicle safety system can also be used to detect a situation where the seat occupant is not restrained by the seat belt and to make an airbag deployment decision.

Abstract: A load-limiting device has a mechanical structure designed to dissipate forces applied by a vehicle occupant to a safety belt during a crash. The load limiting device comprises a housing and a deformable member, at least one of which is configured for connection to a vehicle safety belt and the other of which is configured for connection to a structural part of a vehicle. The housing and the deformable member are moveable relative to each other when force is applied to the one of those members. The housing supports a hardened member formed of a material which is harder than the deformable member and which is positioned to engage and deform the deformable member as the deformable member is being moved relative to the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag module engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding armature engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multiple of switch assemblies while the engagement members are separated by a clearance. The engagement members are only in contact if the airbag is fired. A clearance between each armature engagement member and each corresponding airbag module engagement member assures that there is no interference that may result in undesirable noise or vibration.

Abstract: A calibration spring tension adjuster for a seat belt tension sensor has a calibration spring, and a holder. The fixed part and the movable part are adjacent to each other and comprise mutually facing stepped helical faces arranged so that the movable part can be rotated relative to the fixed part causing the steps to slide over each other causing a gap between the stepped faces to increase and compressing the spring. The steps can be arranged so that movement of the movable part in one direction is resisted. The holder is arranged to attach to the fixed part and the spring is held between an abutment face of the holder and a non-stepped face of the movable part.