Abstract: A retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a housing, a spindle rotatably mounted within the housing and to which one end of a safety belt is attached, the spindle being spring-biased for retracting the safety belt so that the belt is wound around the spindle. The retractor has a sensor adapted to provide a signal indicative of whether the safety belt is retracted and not in use or is withdrawn from the spindle and in use. The sensor provides said signal in dependence upon the length of safety belt withdrawn from the spindle, with means transmitting movement of the spindle to an element which activates the sensor, said means comprising a gear train, one component of which is coupled directly to the spindle. The means which transmit movement of the spindle to the element which activates the sensor cause the element to adopt a unique position upon withdrawal of any one particular length of safety belt.

Abstract: A height-adjustable guide fitting for a seat belt of a motor vehicle has a rail member with a guide groove connected to the motor vehicle. The rail member has catch openings spaced at a distance from one another. A longitudinally slidable slide is positioned within the guide groove. A locking member is connected to the slide and in pivotable between a locked position and a release position. The locking member has a spring for biasing the locking member into the locked position and has a locking projection for engaging in the locked position a catch opening to thereby block the locking member relative to the rail member. A device for releasing the locking member is provided. The locking member has a lock lever pivotable between a position within the contour of the locking member and an outwardly pivoted engaging position for engaging one of the catch openings.

Abstract: A gas generator apparatus for generating gas for inflating a motor vehicle airbag comprises an ignition device including a first housing and a first pyrotechnic charge disposed in the first housing; a gas generator including a second housing having an opening, a sealing membrane covering the opening for hermetically sealing the second housing and being located adjacent to the first pyrotechnic charge in the first housing, a second pyrotechnic charge located in the second housing adjacent to the membrane, and a gas generating pyrotechnic material arranged in the second housing to be responsive to a combustion of the second pyrotechnic charge, wherein a combustion of the first pyrotechnic charge initiates a combustion of the second pyrotechnic charge through the membrane which in turn initiates combustion of the gas generating pyrotechnic material.

Abstract: A tongue forming part of a safety belt is provided with two apertures adapted to receive the safety belt. The tongue has a portion adapted to be received and retained by a buckle forming part of a safety belt system. The tongue carries a clamping element adapted to be moved, by pressure applied to the clamping by the safety belt, to a clamping position in which the clamping element clamps part of a safety belt locking means are provided movable between a locking position and a release position. When the locking means are in the locking position the clamping element is prevented from moving to the clamping position. However, when the locking means are in the release position the clamping element may move to the clamping position.

Abstract: A cover for an air-bag installation includes two superimposed layers of polymer material, each layer carrying complementary flanges or fingers, the flanges or fingers of the layers being inter-digitated, leaving no air space between the flanges or fingers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a triggering system for airbags with an acceleration switch, which is adapted to be activated at a predetermined acceleration level. The system comprises a shunt switch arranged in parallel to the acceleration switch and which is adapted to be closed owing to activation of the acceleration switch.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for sensing an impact on a motor vehicle which has an outer skin and for activating a safety device within the vehicle. A sensor is located between the outer skin of the vehicle and an inner part of the vehicle which is relatively fixed in position, and is adapted to initiate activation of the safety device only when the outer skin of the vehicle moves at a speed greater than a predetermined speed relative to said fixed part of the vehicle. The sensor has a first part in the form of a housing containing a pyrotechnic material, and a second part in the form of a stab. One of the parts is supported by an inner part of the vehicle which is relatively fixed in position, while the other of the parts is adapted to be moved in response to movement of the outer skin of the vehicle during an impact.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle comprising a main or "adult" seat incorporating an integrated child seat, the main or "adult" seat comprising a back and a squab, and the child seat having a squab which, in an initial condition, is present in a recess formed in the back of the adult seat in a substantially upright position, the squab of the child seat being movable to a second position in which the squab of the child seat is substantially horizontal, the position of the squab of the child seat, when in the said substantially horizontal position, being adjustable relative to the squab of the "adult" seat, the "adult" seat being provided with a safety belt which includes at least a shoulder strap to be used both for an occupant of the adult seat and for an occupant of the child seat.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement to determine the lowest speed at which an activating pin activates a detonator, this being achieved by a hydraulic medium, the viscous property of which is used to control the transfer of energy from the activating pin to the detonator.

Abstract: A self-sensing belt clamping device (10), for a safetybelt system is characterized especially by the fact that a car-sensitive locking body (48) and a belt-sensitive inertial system (90) are associated via a precontrol lever (44) directly with a rocking lever (38) and clamping member (26) and therefore can take effect without any substantial delay on the desired clamping of the belt, without having to apply a large initiating force by means of the sensor. Such a clamping device according to the invention can be independently arranged at any desired point between the door threshold and the deflector fitting in the B column. It can therefore be combined advantageously with a winder to form a winding clamp or with a deflector to form a deflection clamp.

Abstract: A device for transferring a signal between two end points between which a coiled conductor, contained in a substantially circular cassette, is arranged. At least one of the two end points is movable relative to the other. The cassette consists of two parts, a stationary stator (11) and a turnable rotor (12). On the stator (11) there is arranged a holding element which is under spring force and has a free end which is fixed in the assembled position of the cassette in tensioned state on the rotor (12). The holding element is detachable from the rotor (12) by rotation of the latter, so that, in the operating position of the cassette, it protrudes, in released position, through a space of the cassette, separated from the latter.

Abstract: In a safety belt arrangement a pre-tensioner assembly is provided adapted to apply tension to a cable. The cable is wound directly round the outer periphery of a plurality of pivotally mounted shoes which, in response to tension being applied to the cable, move to a position in which they engage an extension of the shaft of a retractor reel. Continuing tension applied to the cable causes the shoes and the shaft to rotate about the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly for retracting a seat belt having a support and an elongate shaft mounted substantially vertically thereon. The seat belt is windable about the shaft, the arrangement being such that the seat belt forms a reel about the shaft. A selectively operable device is provided to prevent withdrawal of the seat belt from the assembly. The shaft has an exposed region about which the reel may be formed, the length of this exposed region being significantly greater than the width of the seat belt so that the part of the belt emerging from the reel may be positioned vertically at any selected position along the exposed region of the shaft.

Abstract: A contact device for delivering electrical signals corresponding to the movement of a movable body having two opposing layers including a base layer and a flexible layer spaced from the base layer. An electrical input conductor attached to one of the two layers and is electrically connected to a power source. The device also includes an electrical output conductor attached to one of the layers for transmitting an electrical signal when the output conductor is electrically connected to the input conductor. A plurality of contact elements are attached to one of the layers for electrically connecting the input conductor to the first output conductor. A pressure device attached to the movable body moves along a path defined by at least one of the conductors, abuts the flexible layer and displaces the flexible layer toward the base layer.

Abstract: A passive safety belt arrangement for a motor vehicle which comprises a guide located at the center of the motor vehicle to guide a belt from a retractor reel over the shoulder of a person sitting on a seat of the motor vehicle, the belt passing to a carriage which is movable along a horizontal rail located between the seat and the side of the car. A motor drives the carriage along the rail. A locking station receives the carriage at a terminal position. When an accident occurs the carriage moves from a normal position within a locking station to bring part of the carriage into engagement with a detent provided in the locking station.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt is provided with a device to pre-tension the seat belt should an accident situation arise. Thus, in an accident situation, the person wearing the seat belt is restrained tightly in his seat. The pre-tensioning device includes a force applying means adapted to apply a tension to the seat belt and an over-dead-center linkage which normally prevents the force applying means from applying the force, there being means responsive to a predetermined deceleration to alter the condition of the over-dead-center linkage to permit the force applying means to move the seat belt.

Abstract: A retractor reel for a vehicle safety belt has a sensor responsive to the speed or acceleration of belt withdrawal to actuate a reel locking mechanism and also has a sensor responsive to vehicle acceleration or deceleration to actuate the locking mechanism. A solenoid actuated device is provided to retain both the sensors in the inoperative position. The reel can thus safely be used in an automatic seat belt arrangement of the type in which a carriage moves withdrawing belt from the reel to locate the belt in the operative position.

Abstract: A safety device is disclosed which is incorporated in a seat for a motor vehicle. The seat includes a seat frame and is slidably mounted for forward and backward movement. The seat is retained in a predetermined position by retaining means which are adapted to be released when the seat is subjected to predetermined deceleration forces is that the seat may then slide forward. The safety device has actuating means which are adapted to actuate the safety device as the car seat slides forward subsequent to the release of the retaining means.

Abstract: In a passive vehicle safety belt in which one end of the belt is guided along a track by means of fastening means, slidable along the track and connected to one end of the safety belt, a retractor mechanism is provided which can be selectively locked in order to prevent safety belt being drawn into a retractor mechanism while the fastening means is in motion. Thus a loop of safety belt can be generated which does not strike the face of the person wearing the safety belt.

Abstract: A seat belt fitting is provided which comprises a guide element mounted on a carriage that is movable along a rail or the like. The rail may be mounted on the "B" post of an automobile so that the position of the guide element can be adjusted up-and-down relative to the shoulder of a person sitting in the automobile. The carriage can be selectively retained in a plurality of different positions along the rail. In the invention a spring strip has one end connected to the carriage, and the other end wound into a spiral. The spiral portion of the spring is retained in a predetermined position and the spring imparts a bias to the carriage tending to cancel out a bias supplied to the carriage by the seat belt.