Abstract: A safety belt retractor mechanism has a housing and a spool rotatably mounted in the housing. A safety belt is wound onto the spool in a retracted position. A locking mechanism locks the spool in order to prevent further rotation of the spool when an accident occurs. A load-limiting device enables belt pull-out from the spool to a limited extent after activation of the locking mechanism. The load limiting device has a torsion bar having a first and a second end. The torsion bar is connected with the first end to the spool and with the second end to the locking mechanism. A rotation-limiting device for limiting an angle of rotation of the spool relative to the locking mechanism is provided. The locking mechanism has a locking head having a locking element. The locking head is connected to the torsion bar and thereby connects the spool to the locking mechanism. The rotation-limiting device is located between the locking head and an end face of the spool facing the locking head.

Abstract: A head-rest for a motor vehicle seat defines a front face and two side faces. The headrest has two extendable elements which are initially totally retained in the head-rest, but which are adapted to move, with a sliding motion, to an extended position. The elements then extend laterally relative to the head-rest and forwardly relative to the head-rest providing additional support for the head of an occupant of the seat.

Abstract: A seat includes a squab and a back connected to the squab. At least a substantial part of the back of the seat is arranged to undergo a rearward movement relative to an initial position of the squab of the seat. The movement comprises at least one of a pivoting movement, a sliding movement, and a bending movement. A force limiter presents a first, relatively low level resisting force to the rearward movement, at a first predetermined amount of the movement, and a second, relatively high level resisting force at a second predetermined amount of the movement.

Abstract: In a method for folding an airbag of an airbag system connected to a gas generator a tailored fabric consisting of two fabric layers defining the airbag volume is laid out flat and then engaged by a tool at the center of the length of the tailored fabric. At least a portion of the tailored fabric laid out flat is rolled in the direction toward the gas generator by rotating the tool so that the portion of the tailored fabric positioned at a side of the tool facing away from the gas generator is rolled into a double-layer roll. The tool is removed upon completion of the rolling process.

Abstract: A self-locking belt roller has a housing and a belt winding shaft rotatably mounted in housing. A torsion rod has a first end connected in the belt winding shaft. A profile head is connected to a second end of the torsion rod. A blocking member, that is vehicle-sensitive and/or belt-sensitive, is mounted on the profile head and moveable into a locking position at the housing in which rotation of the belt winding shaft is blocked. An energy-dissipating structure is positioned within a force transmission path, including the profile head, the torsion rod, and the belt winding shaft, for increasing a restraining force before the torsion rod becomes effective and for obtaining a degressive force characteristic curve.

Abstract: An air-bag unit comprises a support plate (2) having an aperture (4) in it, and an air-bag (14) which also has an aperture (16) formed in it. A gas generator (7) has a radially outwardly extending flange (8) which is located so that a region (15) of the air-bag (14) surrounding the aperture (16) formed therein is trapped between the flange (8) and the support plate (2). A gas diffuser (10) is provided which, together with the flange (8) defines a diffusion chamber (18), the arrangement being such that in use of the device, gas from the gas generator (8) is injected into the diffusion chamber (18). A plurality of elongate connector elements (17) extend from a part of the gas diffuser (10) through the flange (8) and through the region (15) of the air-bag surrounding the aperture, also passing through apertures formed in the plate (2) so that the distance between the said portion of the diffuser (10) and the support plate is variable.

Abstract: A safety belt reeling device has a belt reeling shaft lockable by a vehicle-sensitive and/or belt-sensitive locking device. A tightening device is provided and a tightening coupling connects the tightening device to the belt reeling shaft when the tightening device is actuated. The tightening device has a drive disc and a drive device for driving the drive disc. A force limiting device having a torsion bar is connected to the belt reeling shaft and to a stationary abutment. A pawl coupling is activated by a tightening movement of the tightening device and the pawl coupling has at least one force limiting pawl for switching on or off the force limiting device as a function of functional states of the safety belt reeling device.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame. The safety device includes: a gas generator; a sensor for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over for activating the gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to the gas generator for being inflated with gas from the gas generator upon activation of the gas generator. The inflatable element can thus assume a non-inflated mode and an inflated mode and can further be positioned adjacent the door in an inflated-mode thereof. The inflatable element is further made of fabric and includes: a first fabric layer defining a front part thereof; a second fabric layer defining a back part thereof, selected parts of the first fabric layer and second fabric layer being interconnected for defining one of linear and point shaped links where the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are directly secured together.

Abstract: An ignition enhanced gas generant material and method of making the same utilizing a solvent effective to partially solubilize at least one component of each of a selected ignition composition and, upon application to the gas generant material, at least one component of an associated gas generant material.

Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) comprises a squab (2) and a back (3). The seat is associated with a roll-over sensor (11) which activates a pyrotechnic charge within a cylinder (12) to cause the seat (1) to move to an alternative configuration in which the head of the occupant of the seat is moved so that the clearance between the head of the occupant and the roof is increased. The head of the occupant is thus spaced further from the roof of the vehicle, since the roof of the vehicle may be depressed during a roll-over accident.

Abstract: A safety device has a grease reservoir for supplying grease to a functional part of the safety device. The grease reservoir includes a capsule containing the grease. The capsule consists of grease-resistant material. The capsule is arranged relative to the functional part such that a designated movement of the functional part during operation of the safety device destroys the capsule and releases the grease.

Abstract: A tightening device for a safety belt includes a cable having a first end and a second end. A drive is connected to the first end of the cable. The drive, when activated, moves the cable in a tightening direction. The second end of the cable is connected to a safety belt. A deflection device about which the cable is guided is provided. The deflection device has a rotatable eccentric pawl and a stop. The stop limits rotation of the eccentric pawl when rotated upon movement of the cable in the tightening direction and thus defines a deflection position of the eccentric pawl. The eccentric pawl has an elongate extension extending in a direction of the cable portion extending between the drive and a deflection location at the deflection device. The eccentric pawl has a deflection end guiding the cable at the deflection location. The eccentric pawl has an eccentric arc opposite the deflection end.

Abstract: An airbag includes two super-imposed layers of fabric which are inter-connected by a peripheral seam. One of the layers of fabric includes a central aperture to receive a gas generator. The two layers of fabric are inter-connected by a breakable seam which defines a rectangular or square region. The bag may be turned inside out. The rectangular seam thus effectively defines the exterior of the inverted bag, facilitating subsequent folding of the bag.

Abstract: A self-locking safety belt device has a housing and a reeling shaft rotatably mounted therein. A vehicle-sensitive control system including a control disc acts on a locking member for locking rotation of the reeling shaft when the vehicle sensitive control system is activated. A control device including a switching lever acts on the control disc such that in a release position the switching lever is disengaged from the control disc so that the control disc rotates freely with the reeling shaft. In a locking position the switching lever secures the control disc against rotation and initiates locking of the reeling shaft. The control device has first and second gear wheels with a switching cam. The first gear wheel is connected to the reeling shaft. The second gear wheel is spaced at a distance from the first gear wheel and is rotatably mounted at the housing. The control device also has a crown gear enclosing and meshing with the first and second gear wheels. The crown gear is slidably mounted at the housing.

Abstract: An airbag safety system has at least one airbag with inlets and a gas generator for generating a gas with which the at least one airbag is to be filled. An intermediate housing is connected between the gas generator and the at least one airbag. The gas is guided as a gas stream from the gas generator to the at least one airbag through the intermediate housing. The intermediate housing has outflow openings communicating with the inlets of the at least one airbag. A slide, positioned in the intermediate housing, is provided for controlling flow of the gas generated by the gas generator into the at least one airbag. The slide is displaceable relative to the inlets of the at least one airbag. An actuating member, mounted in the intermediate housing and positioned in the gas stream, is provided for generating a gas pressure force for displacing the slide. Controllably releasable securing elements for securing the slide at the intermediate housing in a rest position are provided.

Abstract: A safety seat for a motor vehicle has a squab (1) and a back (4). A support (6) is connected to the squab and the back is pivotally connected (13) to the support (6). A motion-restricting device (22) is provided in the form of a hydraulic damper which permits relative free movement of the back of the seat rearwardly until part (12) of the back of the seat engages a stop (11), but which resists any subsequent tendency for the back of the seat to move forwardly with a pivot movement about the pivot (13) away from the stop (11).

Abstract: A seat for use in a vehicle has a squab and a seat-back element, the seat-back element is mounted so that when the vehicle is subjected to a rear impact, initially the lower part of the seat-back element moves rearwardly relative to the squab and relative to the upper part or head-rest provided on the seat, so that the head of the occupant of the vehicle is brought into contact with the head-rest. Subsequently, the entire seat-back may move rearwardly, for example by pivoting about an axis defined by the recliner mechanism.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement for a motor vehicle, the air-bag arrangement including an air-bag adapted to be inflated, in the event that an accident should arise, to form a curtain, the air-bag having a fixation strap extending between the curtain and an anchor point, the fixation strap including inflatable means to shorten the effective length of the fixation strap upon inflation.

Abstract: A buckle for receiving and locking a tongue connected to a vehicle safety belt, the buckle comprising: a locking element for locking a tongue to the buckle; a sensor to sense locking of the tongue to the buckle; and an indicator arrangement actuable by an output of the sensor to indicate whether the buckle is in a locked or an unlocked condition.

Abstract: A steering wheel for motor vehicles is provided and has a horn switch that is disposed thereon as well as an air bag device that has a receiving chamber for receiving a gas generator as well as an air bag that is folded therein. The opening of the receiving chamber is closed off by a protective cover that has a predetermined breaking point and that can be opened when the device is activated by the inflating air bag. To carry out a honking function, the protective cover is disposed so as to be relatively movable. The receiving chamber for the air bag is closed off by a hold-down part that absorbs the packing pressure, is held in place on the receiving chamber, and opens as a consequence of the inflating air bag. To be able to open, the hold-down part is provided with a predetermined breaking point.