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 vehicle safety restraint retractor comprising a spool (2) for storage of belt webbing (1), the spool being mounted for rotation about its axis (3) within the spool housing (4) the retractor comprising a resilient biasing member (10) urging one end of the spool towards a corresponding cover for the side of the retractor, for taking up axial tolerances in the spool mounting. The resilient biasing member (10) is preferably a wave washer spring positioned at the spring side of the spool, between the spool and the spool arbour cap (9) and covered with a spring cover (7). Such a wave washer reduces axial and radial float of the spool and thus substantially reduces levels of noise in normal operation of the retractor.

Abstract: An optical weight sensor (16) for use in the crash management system of a motor vehicle's safety restraint system (10). The optical weight sensor (16) functions to determine the weight of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (12) and is mounted between the seat frame (42) and mounting structure (46) of the vehicle seat (12). The optical weight sensor (16) includes an imaging assembly (52) retained in an enclosed housing assembly (50). The weight of a seat occupant causes a portion (56) of the housing assembly (50) to deflect the imaging assembly (52) generating a change in a reflection angle caused by such deflection. The imaging assembly (52) includes a light emitting unit (70) which emits a light beam onto a target area (78) on housing portion (56) which is subsequently reflected onto a position sensing unit (76).

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system with a housing for a seat belt retractor, the housing having a rotatable escutcheon with an exit slot for the seat belt webbing. The escutcheon is preferably mounted to a bearing attached to the housing.

Abstract: A tongue (30) having multiple modes of operation comprising: a frame (60), a slide, or clamp (15) and manually adjustable knob (200). The tongue frame includes a locking feature (74) for locking engagement with a seat belt buckle (24), a seat belt receiving first aperture (66) positioned apart from the locking feature; the first aperture including a first belt clamping surface (72). The slide or clamp includes a second belt clamping surface (174) generally opposite the first belt engaging surface, the slide being arranged to slide upon the frame in the vicinity of the first aperture from a belt release position in which the seat belt is freely sliding to a belt clamping or cinching position in which the seat belt (32) is clamped or cinched between the first and second belt clamping surfaces, the slide further includes a first belt engaging surface (160) arranged to urge the slide toward its clamped position.

Abstract: A web locking retractor (20) for a vehicle safety restraint system is described comprising a spool assembly (60) mounted for linear movement with respect to a wedge housing frame (22) such that linear movement of the spool assembly (60), e.g. vertically, pushes against one or more clamping wedges (46a,b) to clamp a seat belt therebetween, characterized in that the spool assembly (60) is operatively coupled to the at least one clamping wedge (46a,b) via a resilient member, such as a coil spring (36a,b). The spool assembly (60) is operatively coupled to the at least one clamping wedge (46a,b) and this coupling is advantageously via a resilient member such as a coil spring (36a,b). Such a direct link between the clamping wedge (46a,b) and the spool assembly (60) provides for faster, more effective release of the clamping wedge (46a,b) from the belt when the loading on the belt diminishes below the spring bias force.

Abstract: An inflatable air bag (20') having an inlet (24) adapted to be attached to a source of inflation gas (70), initially maintained in a folded configuration prior to being inflated, the air bag being rapidly inflated by the inflation gas creating certain stresses within the material, the air bag including a plurality of seams (90) formed along joined arcuate edges of a single piece of material (50), wherein the seams are arranged about the air bag at locations remote from the location of maximum stress.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) comprising: a frame (22); a hollow spool (30) for carrying a length of a seat belt (32), the spool rotationally supported upon the frame (22); a torsion bar (70), which when stressed can twist or rotate, having a first end (74) secured to a first end (48) of the spool (30) and a second end (76); a locking mechanism (200, 202, 210, 220, 222) for preventing the second end of the torsion bar (70) from rotating during an emergency; and a stopping mechanism (90, 110) located interior to the spool (30) for limiting the twisting of the torsion bar to a predetermined number of revolutions.

Abstract: A pretensioner for use with a retractor for a vehicle safety restraint to rapidly take up slack in a safety belt system at the onset of a crash situation so as to more correctly and securely restrain the vehicle occupant and to more correctly position him for maximum effect of an inflatable safety device such as an air bag. The pretensioner comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement in which a piston is driven along the inside of a cylinder under force provided, for example, by a spring or by a gas generator. The pretensioner has a resilient seal around the piston and the cylinder to provide load limiting at the start of the pretensioner stroke. Safety arrangements are provided for ensuring that the pretensioner is not activatable before installation in the vehicle, and the gas generator is constructed to ensure that there are no loose parts after detonation, which could cause damage. A bearing for the cylinder is provided for use when the piston-cylinder forms the crash sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt (1) is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind said belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member (8) and a second resilient member (13) arranged to exert a return force on said spool which is less than the return force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member (8) means (12, 15, 17, 19, 21) inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member (8) during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member (13) provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first (8) and second (13) resilient members are operatively connected to said spool by gear train means (3, 4, 6, 7). The invention proves particularly advantageous in providing for resilient means which can exert a reduced return force during the rewinding of the belt for, preferably, a substantial portion of the rewinding thereof.

Abstract: A driver's air bag arrangement comprises an inflatable bag (2), a housing (6) and an inflator module and includes a generally cylindrically shaped gas container (3) shaped and dimensioned so that a substantial part of the container is locatable within a coaxial with a steering column shaft (4) of an automobile, or so that it forms an integral part of the steering column shaft, there being additionally a manifold (8) for directing the gas into the bag in the housing to inflate the bag in an evenly distributed manner and to direct the gas flow radially of the steering column shaft. The manifold may comprise a member such as an internally threaded cap nut (5) which is used for securing the air bag housing and/or a steering column to the steering column shaft or inflator.

Abstract: A system comprising: a fastener and a housing (70), the fastener including a rivet portion having a first head (304) and a shaft (302) extending therefrom, a spring cup (210) received upon the shaft having a top portion (211) adjacent the head (304) and a plurality of spring fingers (212) extending from the top (211) and a hollow collar (214) having a first portion (216) received within the spring cup (210) and a second portion (218) extending beyond the fingers (212), an end portion (308) of the shaft opposite the head (304) being malleable and formable into a rivet head (308') to mate with the housing.

Abstract: An air bag module (20) comprising: an air bag (42) including a neck (44) through which inflation gas is received, the neck having a plurality of ends or flaps (46a-d). The module further includes a housing (22) having upper (24) and lower (26) housing members each with a respective flange (28, 50), a respective one of the flaps (46a-d) is sandwiched between the flanges. The lower housing member (26) includes an inflator-receiving portion (60), comprising a side wall (62) and opposing first and second end walls (64a, 64b), wherein each end wall includes a respective opening (66, 68).

Abstract: An adaptively controlled safety restraint system (20) is disclosed which includes a safety restraint device (22, 24) operative in response to a flow of pressurized gas, and fluid means (28) having a stored energy device (30) which can be activated to produce pressurized gas which is discharged through a conduit network (34, 36) for driving the safety restraint device (22, 24). The system further includes a throttling valve assembly (32, 58) disposed between the fluid means (28) and the safety restraint device (22, 24) for controllably varying the output of the fluid means (28). The throttling valve assembly (32, 58) is controlled by an electrical signal received from a crash management controller (38).

Abstract: A force-directing air bag deployment system comprising:a seat (20) having at least one forwardly extending wing (27), the seat (20) covered by a covering material (50), the covering material (50) defining at least one seam which runs vertically along a forward edge of the wing (27), the covering material (50) comprising an outboard side panel (50a) and an inboard side panel (50b) joined at the seam (26);a first reinforcement panel (60) positioned adjacent the outboard side panel 50a and joined to the panels (50a, 50b) at the seam (26);a second reinforcement panel (61) adjacent the inboard side panel (50d) and joined to the outboard panel (50a), the inboard panel (50b) and the first reinforcement panel (60) at the seam (26);the first and second reinforcement panels having respective end portions, each of the end portions are joined together by connectors (94,95) thereby forming the first and second reinforcement panels into a general loop configuration which when subjected to tensile forces, focuses reaction f

Abstract: A safety belt retractor (10) comprised of a spool (28), a belt (40) wound on the spool (28), a ratchet wheel (48), and a torsion bar (44) interconnecting the spool (28) to the ratchet wheel (48) and capable of yielding in response to loading exerted on the belt (40) when the ratchet wheel (48) is locked against rotation. The safety belt retractor (10) also includes a holdout mechanism (18) which is normally operable in an ELR mode to permit operation of an emergency locking mechanism (16) and which can be selectively shifted into an ALR mode for locking the ratchet wheel (48) against rotation to prevent further payout of the belt (40) after a predetermined length of the belt (40) has been withdrawn from the spool (28). A timing assembly (124) functions to determine when the predetermined length of the belt (40) has been withdrawn or retracted for controlling engagement and disengagement of a latch mechanism (110).

Abstract: A seat belt retractor adapted to be secured about a seated occupant comprising: a spool (54) having a length of seat belt (36) wound thereon for securement of the occupant, a portion of the seat belt forming a shoulder belt portion, the spool rotationally supported upon a frame (52); a tension reducing mechanism for controlling the amount of spring force transmitted from a rewind spring to the spool and hence the force applied to the shoulder of the occupant via the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt, the mechanism comprising: a cylindrical first spool (80) having an ungrooved, smooth body (81) operatively connected to the spool to rotate with the spool; a second reel (100) positioned remote from the first reel (80) having a tapered peripheral surface having a continuous spiral groove of varying diameter thereon, a rewind spring (160) operatively connected to the second reel for providing a rewind force to rewind the seat belt upon the spool; a flexible link (88) joining the first and second reel and for

Abstract: A driver side air bag module (50, 50', 50") formed of an air bag cover (2), mounting plate (10), inflator (22), and cushion (12). The driver side air bag module cover (2) includes a relatively flexible horn actuation area (4) which is depressible from its upper surface (6) by a driver. A primarily airtight chamber (18) can be found inside the air bag module (50) being coupled to a sensor (14) for sensing changes in pressure and actuating a horn (32).

Abstract: A seat belt system (20) for use with a seat (22) movable fore and aft and including a frame member. The system includes: a retractor (42) fixedly mounted to a support member of a vehicle and lockable during an accident, and webbing (44) extending therefrom in dependence with the movement of the seat. A buckle (50) is secured to an end of the webbing for locking engaging with a tongue (52). A holder (54) is attached to the webbing at a predetermined distance from the buckle and also attaches the webbing to the frame member of the seat.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling actuation of a vehicle safety device in response to an impact to a first portion of the vehicle includes a ferromagnetic element mechanically coupled with the first portion of the vehicle so as to receive elastic strain waves generated as a result of plastic deformation of the first portion of the vehicle. A permanent magnet is mounted on the vehicle adjacent to the ferromagnetic element so that the ferromagnetic element itself influences the magnetic field. An induction coil is also mounted on the vehicle so as to fall within the magnetic field generated by the magnet. Upon plastic deformation of the first portion of the vehicle, the ensuing elastic strain waves elastically deform the ferromagnetic element to vary its ferromagnetic properties and, in turn, alter the magnetic field so as to induce an electromotive force voltage in the induction coil. A signal processor receives the electromotive force voltage induced in the induction coil by the varying magnetic field.