Abstract: An improved safety belt buckle for use with a buckle end pretensioner. The buckle for a vehicle safety restraint belt comprises a latch (5) moveable between a tongue engaging position in which the buckle is fastened and a tongue disengaged position in which the buckle is open, a button (7) moveable in the direction of tongue insertion to lift the latch against the action of a biasing spring (9), into the disengaging position. A securing means (10) in the form of a slidable plate is mounted in the buckle frame and is moveable between a position in which it restrains a movement of the latch into the disengaging position and a position in which it does not restrain movement of the latch.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching as well as removing a steering wheel to and from a steering shaft. The steering wheel includes a pair of threadably mated, first and second securement members which are movable relative to one another. One of the securement members is received within a preformed, keyed slot on the top of the steering shaft. When the securement members are tighten the second securement member is moved into the slot thereby securing the steering, wheel to the steering shaft. The apparatus further includes a movable wedge which is positionable between the top of the steering shaft and a part of the steering wheel. Inward movement of the wedge urges the steering wheel and the steering shaft apart facilitating separation and removal.

Abstract: A webbing sensor for a vehicle safety restraint retractor. The sensor comprises an inertial member, mounted for rotation coaxially with a retractor spool, a pawl for engaging the spool and locking it against rotation under emergency conditions, and a calibration spring biasing the inertial disc so that it tends to rotate with the spool unless there is a sudden acceleration or deceleration of a value such as to overcome the resilience of the spring. The spring is connected to the spool via the pawl so that relative rotation between the disc and the spool results in movement of both ends of the spring, preferably by approximately the same distance. Throughout the locking procedure, the spring force remains substantially constant and thus the bias torque on the inertia disc remains substantially constant, and the locking performance of the sensor is improved.

Abstract: A three-point seat belt comprising an inflatable chest/shoulder belt part and pelvic restraint part. In a transitional area between these two parts, a continuously open gas channel is embodied inside the belt, which channel communicates with the belt interior of both the pelvic restraint part and the chest/shoulder belt part in such a way that a gas is able to circulate.

Abstract: An attachment arrangement includes an air bag module (12) having an engagement member (14), a receiver (16), and a fastener (18). The receiver is located within a vehicle component such as a steering wheel in which the mounting of an air bag is desired. The engagement member (14) extends from the module (12) and fits within the receiver (16) such that a groove (38) in the engagement member is engageable by the fastener (18). The fastener (18) preferably includes a pair of substantially parallel wires (38) which form a first substantially annular segment (40) and a locking segment (44). The first annular segment (40) is proportioned to receive the engagement member (14). The locking segment (44) is sized to engage the groove (38). The fastener (18) slidably engages and disengages the engagement member (14) to lock and unlock the module (12) in response to sliding the fastener (18) relative to the retainer (16).

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: A retractor for a vehicle safety restraint which comprises web locking wedges (49a, 49b) which grip the seat belt webbing (19), under certain predetermined load conditions, so as to more securely restrain the vehicle occupant at the beginning of a crash pulse and which includes a load limiting arrangement so as to allow a limited and controlled pay out of webbing at the beginning of the crash pulse. The web locking retractor thus comprises a wedge (49a, 49b) which has an inner gripping surface with a predetermined coefficient of friction relative to the seat belt webbing so that, at a predetermined loading, the webbing slips past the friction surface of the wedge. This may be achieved by using double thickness webbing along a predetermined portion of the seat belt, for example two layers of webbing, or coating the wedge or a part of the webbing with a material (322) which is erodible or deformable and which may be cut into or eroded by the friction surface of the wedge, or by teeth (320) on that surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat belt retractor comprising a seat belt spool (2) rotationally mounted on a frame (1) for winding and unwinding the seat belt, a blocking means (5) for blocking the rotation of the seat belt spool, a control element (6) by means of which the blocking means (5) can be actuated, a seat belt sensor mass (4) movably mounted on a support element (3) which rotates with the seat belt spool (2), a vehicle sensor mass (35) and a coupling device (14, 34) by means of which a moving connection can be established between the support element (3) and the control element (6) via the seat belt sensor mass (4) and/or the vehicle sensor mass (35). Said connection assures the transmission of a rotation of the seat belt spool in the direction of unwinding for actuating the blocking means. The support element (3) together with the seat belt sensor mass (4) positioned thereon and the control element (6) constitute a pre-assembled component unit (7).

Abstract: An air bag for side impact protection system comprising: an air bag (50) having an inflatable first chamber (50a) formed of two joined-together first (52a) and second (52b) panels of material, the first chamber including a forward part (26) and an opposite rear part (60); an inflator (26) for generating inflation gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator including exit ports (26a) which channel the inflation gas into the first chamber in a determinable direction; the air bag further including a flow diverter (70, 90) positioned to receive inflation gas and to divert at least a component of the inflation gas to flow generally perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment the flow diverter is formed as an open topped tube; in another embodiment; the flow diverter includes a plurality of vent openings in the side of the tube. In a third embodiment of the invention the diverter is formed by a permeable sack of material.

Abstract: An air bag module for a steering wheel includes an inflator, cushion, retainer ring, cover and a mounting plate with snap-in attachment studs. A wire spring fastening system is used to secure the module to the steering wheel. The system includes a retainer mechanism and a serpentine engagement wire which engages notches in the snap-in attachment studs. The retention mechanism also includes an alignment guide that is used with a disassembly tool to remove the air bag module from the steering wheel.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover air bag for protecting a vehicle occupant during an accident, comprising: an inflatable cushion which upon inflation is positioned between the occupant and an adjacent portion of a vehicle to protect the occupant, the cushion including first and second sides, a top and bottom; inflatable tube, positioned adjacent the cushion, for extending the cushion to its full vertical length prior to the full forward inflation of the cushion by inflation gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining and tracking the position of a main target (an occupant) and secondary targets, comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal T1, of determinable period toward the location of the occupant, generating and storing a first index of data indicative of the time any received signal exceeds a determinable threshold; separating the data within the first index into definable data groups indicative of individual received signals representing potential targets; determining, in relation to each transmitted signal T1, a common group time of receipt Tc for each data group; correlating the group time of receipt to the position of the main target and secondary targets occupant.

Abstract: Force limitation in retractors is needed to avoid injury to an occupant from the seat belt itself particularly at high crash impact loads. The invention provides a seat belt retractor comprising a spool including force limiting means for allowing further payout of the seat belt webbing after the spool has locked, under the influence of an occupant's forward momentum in the crash condition.

Abstract: A multi-chambered driver side air bag (22) including: a toroidal first chamber (22) facing an occupant to be protected; a second chamber (24) located at least partially within the first chamber; an inflator (28) for first inflating one of the first and second chambers or for inflating both first and second chambers relatively simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) to simulate the behavior of vehicle occupant and safety systems in a rollover accident, comprising: a frame (30) adapted to receive a portion of a vehicle to be tested or test buck (40), the frame being articulated, about a pivot (36), to enable it to rotate a predetermined amount; forcing device (24;72) for causing the frame, and test buck, to rotate.

Abstract: A device for firing a pyrotechnic propellent composition having a sensor mass (3) which for firing purposes releases a locking lever (4) which in the rest position bears lockingly against a ring (9) of the firing pin (1).

Abstract: A multi-point seat belt system (20′) for protecting an occupant seated upon a vehicle seat, the system comprising: a shoulder belt (42) and a lap belt (44) securable, with some amount of slack, about the occupant, a seat belt buckle (48) attached to one end of the lap belt (44) at an inboard location and a belt tightener secured to an opposite end (44b) of the lap belt for eliminating any slack in the lap belt, the belt tightener located at an outboard location.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend between two pillars of a vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the upper torso of a seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the system (20) further including a flexible tube (70) having a plurality of distributed openings (72) thereacross to distribute inflation gas to the air bag means (60) for inflating the air bag.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle (100) operable with a pretensioner (330) comprising: a frame (102) having a first latch opening (126a) therein, and opposing frame sides (108a,b), each side including a latch plate slot (110) arranged generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of a tongue into the buckle and pivoted weight mechanism (112, 200, 220). The buckle additionally includes a latch plate (180), having portions (186) movable within the latch plate slots between a locked position in engagement with an opening within the tongue and with the first latch opening (126a), the latch plate moveable between a latched position within the latch opening (126a) in the frame and within the latch opening (173) of the tongue to an unlatched position out of the latch openings.

Abstract: A housing (1) for a gas generator (9) for a vehicle occupant side airbag inflator, the housing (1) comprising an elongate back plate (2) for supporting the gas generator (9) having side flanges (3) extending laterally of the gas generator (9) at one end of the back plate (2) and having a retaining ring fixed to the back plate (2) at its other end, and arranged to circumscribe the gas generator (9), to hold the gas generator (9) securely. Preferably the housing (1) has an integral manifold and the retaining ring end is open to accommodate different widths and lengths of gas generator (9). The invention allows mounting of a gas generator with much reduced rattle.