Abstract: A force-sensing mechanism (20) comprising: a housing having first (22) and second (24) housing members; a slidable plate positioned between plate portions of the first and second housing members and moveable thereto; various spacers located between the first housing member and the sliding plate to space and stabilize the plate relative to the first and second housing members; a magnetic sensor stationarily mounted between the first and second housing members, a magnet moveable with the sliding member in response to forces applied to the first and second housing members and to the sliding plate; a spring assembly (250) having one end in operative engagement with the sliding plate and another end in operative engagement with the housing while biasing the sliding plate within the housing. An adjustment mechanism (350) is used to assist in the calibration of the bias force acting between the housing members and the sliding plate.

Abstract: An energy absorbing seat belt retractor (20) comprising: a frame (22); a torsion bar (70,70') having a first and a second side, rotationally supported relative to the frame. The torsion bar of the type which is pre-torqued to create a permanent deformation therein or having an annular cross section to reduce a transition zone between the torsion bar's elastic and plastic deformation regions. The retractor also includes a locking device (200) adapted to be activated during a vehicle accident and operative on the first side (76) of the torsion bar to stop the torsion bar from rotating.

Abstract: An airbag (1) for a vehicle safety restraint and particularly a method of folding an airbag comprising laying the airbag (1) generally flat, making folds in the flat airbag to form a polygon (such as a square) in plan view, folding all of the sides of the polygon upwardly and inwardly of the polygon considered in plan view so that at least one point on each side meets a point on at least one other side at a position generally above the centre of the polygon so that the corners of the polygon form upstanding ears (7), and subsequently rolling (E) the upstanding corner ears of the polygon to form the airbag into a cylindrical shape. An airbag folded in this way is very compact and will fit into a housing of smaller diameter than was hitherto possible. The invention applies particularly to a driver's side airbag.