Abstract: A seat belt retractor for a seat belt system in a motor vehicle has a belt reel for the winding and unwinding of seat belt webbing. At least one locking element can lock the belt reel against further rotation. Forces exerted by the seat belt webbing can be introduced into a frame connected to the vehicle. The locking device has at least one gear that can be locked by at least one lock operating device and also has at least one energy absorbing device.

Abstract: An airbag module has at least two housing parts securely connected to each other by a mechanical catch connection. At least one catch hook is arranged on the first housing part and at least one tab with a corresponding catch opening is arranged in the second housing part. During the latching together of the two housing parts, the catch hook engages the corresponding catch opening. At least one ramp is arranged on the first housing part, opposite the catch hook, which ramp rises in the insertion direction of the second housing. The ramp rises in the direction in which the second housing part is moved toward the first housing part during assembly. During the assembly of the first housing part with the second housing part, the tab of the second housing part comes into contact with the ramp during the latching and is deflected by the ramp in the direction of the catch hook. The deflection of the tab results in the catch opening being deflected or pushed in the direction of the catch hook.

Abstract: A seat belt system for securing a seated occupant to a seat, the system comprising: a single continuous length of seat belt webbing, the seat belt including first and second ends; a first anchor located near the juncture of the seat belt and seat cushion with a buckle positioned on the other side of the cushion, a movable anchor guide or second web guide for orientating portions of the seat belt relative to the seat; second means for moving the seat belt away from the seat to encourage the occupant's entry onto the seat and for thereafter manipulating the seat belt about the seated occupant so that a portion of the seat belt forms a lap belt about the seated occupant and wherein other portions of the seat belt form two relatively criss-crossed shoulder belt segments of seat belt in front of the seated occupant.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing motor car steering wheels with an external shell made of composite materials, which comprises preparing a pile of sheets of composite materials, hot molding thereof for obtaining respective half-shells with a shape corresponding to that of respective halves of the steering wheel being manufactured, mechanical flattening of the front surfaces of the two half-shells, applying the two half-shells to opposite parts of a steering wheel body formed by a metallic core covered by resin, and mutual fixing of the two half-shells along said front surfaces. After flattening, the front surfaces of the two half-shells are mechanically worked to form respective complementary teeth which can be male-female coupled when the two half-shells are applied around the steering wheel body.

Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle is constructed to be arranged in the region of the vehicle roof and has at least one inflatable chamber. The arrangement of the airbag is above securing portions which extend from the inflatable chamber upwards in the direction of the vehicle roof, with the securing portions having inflatable regions.

Abstract: The implementation of dual-stage inflators in some production vehicles is quickly becoming a common reality. A dual-stage inflator has two firing squibs that can fire independently, simultaneously or in a delayed mode. This tailorability provides the ability to fire a low level, high level or staged delay level depending on the impact velocity or other means. For each restraint condition, the inflator output threshold speeds are identified. A biomechanical gray zone, for each injury assessment reference value, is defined based on occupant performance. The upper and lower bound of each biomechanical gray zone is associated with a type of occupant, inflator output, belt restraint and injury parameter.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a belt reel rotatably mounted in a frame. A blocking means blocks rotation of a blockable part of the belt reel and a belt webbing carrier on the belt reel that is substantially drum-shaped. The belt webbing carrier is associated with a rotor that is in rotary drive connection with the belt webbing carrier. Upon rotation of the rotor the volumes of at least two chambers filled with a free-flowing medium are varied, and the chambers rotate about the axis of rotation of the belt reels. The free-flowing medium flows in each case from a chamber diminishing in volume into a chamber increasing in volume.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a web sensor with an inertia member, a locking pawl and a lock cup. The inertia member is eccentrically pivotally mounted to the lock cup. The locking pawl is integrally formed with the inertia member. The lock cup has a set of radially inwardly pointing teeth for engaging with the locking pawl. The shape and profile of the locking pawl complements the shape of the teeth. The web sensor aids in resisting jamming of the seat belt retractor.

Abstract: The inertia sensor is a sensor for a seatbelt retractor used for sensing deceleration. The inertia sensor is composed of a primary mass, a secondary mass, and a lifter. The primary mass provides the inertia for the self compensating function. The secondary mass provides the inertia for sensing deceleration. The inertia sensor is not triggered when subjected to tilting angles of 30 degrees or less in any direction. Upon experiencing decelerating motion, the secondary mass tilts relative to the primary mass whereby this relative angular displacement causes the lifter to raise. The lifter rotates a locking pawl into an engagement position, which initiates the locking mechanism of the seatbelt retractor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system, in particular a three-point seat belt system, has belt webbing and an end fitting by which an end of the belt webbing is secured to a vehicle. A belt tensioner acts with a pulling eyebolt through which the belt webbing is guided by a webbing guide in the vicinity of the end fitting to transmit a tensioning movement to the belt webbing. The pulling eyebolt has a substantially straight pulling rod by which a pulling movement generated by the tensioning drive is transmitted to the belt webbing during tensioning and during tensioning the pulling rod acts as a webbing deflection rod for the belt webbing guided through the webbing guide. The webbing guide has two deflection points about which the belt webbing is guided during tensioning and the pulling rod acts on a section of the belt webbing guided between these two deflection points.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) characterized by low mass and low operating noise, resistant to dust, moisture, and corrosion comprising: an integrally formed, quadrilaterally shaped main body portion (24). In the preferred embodiment of the invention the frame is injection molded using 50% or greater long glass fiber plastic or die cast or injection molded metal. A spring housing wall and wall of a mechanism cover are also integrally formed in the sides of the retractor. Positioned within the spring housing wall is a spring coil guide, as well as an integrally formed anchor, which is used to hold the outer end of a rewind spring. The mechanism side of the frame further includes an integrally formed post or pin to pivotally support a locking pawl.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly having a fastenerless air bag module assembly is disclosed. This assembly employs a housing with a projection and a steering wheel armature configured to receive the projection. The cover is retained between the housing and the steering wheel armature. Furthermore, the present invention provides a steering wheel cover with a tear seam that permits the air bag to deploy more efficiently with less damage to the occupants.

Abstract: An air bag and a method of forming the air bag, the invention comprising the steps of: a) partially constructing the air bag and leaving an opening at a determinable location at or near the periphery of the air bag to provide access to the interior thereof; b) inserting a tether into the interior of the bag through the opening; and c) securing one side of the tether to a first panel of the air bag and securing a second side of the tether to a second panel of the air bag; and closing the access opening.

Abstract: The load acting on the body of a belted-in vehicle occupant restrained by a seat belt is determined by providing electrical signals from occupant restraint device sensors. The electrical signals are then evaluated with an evaluating device, wherein the movement of a seat belt webbing influenced by the body of the belted-in vehicle occupant is scanned and a corresponding signal is fed to the evaluating device.

Abstract: Energy is conserved utilizing information collected by a vehicle safety system. Information concerning whether seats other than the driver's seat are occupied and information concerning the size and weight of any occupants present, is transferred to a power load logic via a vehicle information data bus, or by a hard wired communication link. Power is conserved by turning off energy consuming functions which are specific to an unoccupied seat, or by modulating power consuming functions in proportion to the size and weight of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A device for the lateral outward guiding of an electric cable installed in a tube has a deflector is arranged inside the tube obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the tube. The electric cable is deflected by the deflector through a lateral opening in the casing of the tube.

Abstract: A steering wheel comprising: a rim (24) and a hub member (22) and a plurality of spokes (26a-d) interconnecting the rim and hub member configured to have a first polar moment of inertia; the rim including a hollow space (43) and an insert (50) received within the hollow space, the rim and the insert configured to raise the effective polar moment of inertia of the steering wheel from the first polar moment to a level to reduce any shimmy of the steering wheel.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a housing and a spool in the housing. A toothed ratchet wheel is coupled to the spool. A locking assembly has a lock bar pivotally mounted to the housing and moveable by means of a camming arrangement from an initial position clear of the ratchet wheel to a position whereby the lock bar locks the ratchet wheel to the housing. An adjustment mechanism enables adjustment of the initial position of the lock bar.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner has a piston; a tube housing the piston; a force reservoir, activatable when a crash is sensed, to drive the piston along the tube; a resilient steel band connected to the piston; and means for selectively connecting the steel band to a retractor spool. Preferably the force reservoir is a gas generator which may be pyrotechnically activated and has an output in the tube on one side of the piston to drive the piston along the tube pulling the steel band and engaging the connecting means to turn the retractor spool and shorten the belt webbing. The steel band has indexing features, such as indexing holes or slots to engage teeth on the outer periphery of a drive wheel attached to the retractor spool. As the steel band is pulled by the piston it tightens around the drive wheel and the indexing holes engage the teeth, turning the drive wheel and thus the spool and pulling in the webbing to secure the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An airbag module has at least one airbag housing, which can be locked with a receiving device in a motor vehicle and in which at least one inflator and a folded airbag are arranged. Springs are provided on the airbag housing, which bias the airbag housing in the installed state in relation to the receiving device. The springs are arranged in the region of the outer periphery of the airbag housing.