Abstract: An improved tip assembly which includes a tongue plate insertable into a buckle is provided for a safety belt apparatus in which a continuous retractable belt length provides both a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The tip assembly through which the belt passes has a snubber slide engaged with the tongue plate and slidable relative thereto. When the belt is drawn by the passenger over his body, the belt shifts the snubber slide rearward on the tongue plate to where the belt is firmly gripped between a surface of the tongue plate and a surface of the snubber slide, whereby that portion of the belt which extends across the passenger's lap cannot expand. When the belt is retracted so that a run of the belt is substantially vertical, the weight of the tip assembly causes its front end to tip downward causing the slide to fall forward along the tongue plate releasing its grip on the belt, whereby the tip assembly freely falls to a lower position along the vertical belt run.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor having a tension relieving mechanism has a new and improved control and release means for operating the mechanism to release the tension relieving mechanism from its tensionless mode and allow seat belt retraction. Preferably, the control means includes a circuit means with a bimetallic member which is electrically energized by the electrical system of the vehicle when a door and/or user actuated switch is closed. The device eliminates the need for a heavy, bulky mechanical release linkage between the door and a tension relieving mechanism of a type currently used. The electrical switches can be closed with a minimal amount of force, and the door actuated switch does not add to the force needed to close the door of the vehicle.The device is used to release a tension relieving mechanism of the type having a clutch spring which frictionally grips a rotatable member connected to the retractor reel shaft.

Abstract: A new and improved tension relieving mechanism is provided which may be easily controlled and which has few operating parts. The tension relieving mechanism utilizes a coiled spring for clutching a turnable member connected to the seat belt reel shaft. Members associated with the seat belt retractor provide camming and stopping surfaces to engage end portions of the clutch spring to alternately expand and allow contraction of the spring coil to release or grip a frictional surface of the turnable member. With the clutch spring abutting a stopping surface and urged by the reel spring in a belt retraction direction so that the natural contraction of the clutch spring on the frictional surface is encouraged, the reel shaft is locked against rotation in the belt retraction direction providing a release of tension on the belt.

Abstract: In a seat belt retractor having a rewind spring and a tension relieving mechanism for removing spring tension from the belt worn by the user, a device for releasing the tension relieving mechanism to allow for belt retraction exerting a resistance to door closing which decreases from initial door-release device contact through full door closure. The release device includes a door-actuated lever, which pivots between a release position engaging the tension relieving mechanism and a non-release position, and a spring that biases the lever to its release position when the door is opened. The spring, having tension directed through its longitudinal axis is connected at one end to the lever outward of its pivotal axis and pivotably connected at the other end to the retractor frame at a location eccentric to the pivotal axis of the lever.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle for a child's seat is formed of an inexpensive construction having a latching member with an integral push-button, latch dog, and return spring formed from a single piece of spring steel. The buckle body may be molded in one piece of plastic with a central cavity to receive the latching member and grooves or tracks in the plastic body guiding and holding the tongue plate for latching engagement with the latch dog. Interlocking portions of the latching member and the buckle body hold the assembled buckle components together. For heavier load conditions, a metal insert may be added to the buckle body to assist in transferring tensile loads from the tongue plate and through the latching member to an anchor member for the buckle.

Abstract: A seat belt retraction apparatus has a single retractor frame carrying reels each having a webbing attached at one end. The reels each have a pawl and ratchet means for locking each reel to prevent rotation of the reel in the belt extending direction. Upon application of predetermined force, an inertia type sensing means displaces a common actuating means to simultaneously actuate each pawl into locking engagement with its associated ratchet means to prevent rotation of each reel in a web extending direction. The preferred actuating means comprises a rotary lifter having a flexible portion for storing energy in the event that its associated pawl bounces on a tip of a ratchet tooth of a ratchet wheel. The actuating means and inertia means may be located outwardly of the sidewalls of the retractor frame.

Abstract: A tension relieving mechanism for relieving the force exerted by a seat belt on a passenger employs a spring coil for frictionally gripping and holding a turntable with a belt reel shaft. A controllable actuating means having cams and stops controls the position of the spring coil and the diameter of the spring coil to either grip or release the grip on the turntable member in response to manipulation of the seat belt by the passenger. A remote control actuator also may change the spring coil diameter of release the tension relieving mechanism allowing automatic rewind of the belt with the opening of the vehicle door.

Abstract: A pressure indicating system for continually monitoring tire pressure in a moving vehicle in which a pressure sensing means attached to the wheel activates an alarm to alert a driver that the pressure in one of his tires is abnormally low. A magnet is shifted by the pressure sensing means to activate a Hall effect switch located on a non-rotating portion of the vehicle to trigger the alarm.The pressure sensing means also acts to relieve high pressure above a predetermined pressure from the tire to prevent over pressurizing of the tire. The alarm indicates which of the tires is at low pressure and preferably comprises an inexpensive electronic system having a flashing light for indicating which tire is at low pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically substituting a fully threaded bobbin assembly for a used bobbin assembly in a thread shuttle of a sewing machine having the bobbin assembly latched to the thread shuttle. A pivoted hook unlatches the spent bobbin assembly from the thread shuttle and then a plunger extracts the spent bobbin assembly and places it in a magazine. The magazine carries a new and full thread bobbin assembly and the plunger transfers the full thread bobbin assembly into latched engagement with the thread shuttle. An electric control system including an automatic counter counts the number of sewing operations and after a predetermined number of sewing operations causes the automatic exchange of bobbin assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employing the method are disclosed for attaching a plastic cover to a safety belt retractor frame. A plastic cover having a pair of spaced legs is attached to a seat belt retractor frame by inserting the legs through an opening in the retractor frame and wedging a plastic plug between the legs to hold them tightly in the opening and restrict withdrawal from the opening.

Abstract: The system denies unauthorized access to a locked facility by a person having a weight characteristic differing from that of the weight characteristic of the person locking a facility such as an automotive ignition system. The system comprises a method and apparatus which may be selectively activated to measure a deflection caused by a person seated in the vehicle's driver seat. The deflection is a weight information which is stored. A person subsequently seated in the vehicle seat and attempting to operate the igniton causes a second measuring operation and a comparison of the newly measured weight information with the stored information to test for a substantial parity therebetween. A substantial parity of these weights allows operation of the starting motor of a vehicle. A disparity between the weights operates a timer and/or alarm means while disabling the vehicle starter motor. The system may be used to control access to various other kinds of locked facilities such as locked rooms or buildings.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety belt buckle having an electrical switch means located beneath the buckle base of the buckle and operable by insertion of a tongue plate into latching engagement with a latching mechanism within the buckle. The switch is constructed of inexpensive elongated contact strips or arms which are formed with integral locating means for press fit engagement into molded portions of a plastic cover housing thereby aligning and holding the contacts in the desired position relative to one another. An actuator for actuating the contact arms is preferably in the form of a lever pivotally mounted in the cover housing and having the first cam surface for positively camming one contact arm from the other contact and a second cam surface for engaging the other contact and driving it away from the first contact arm. A bolster spring means returns the actuating lever to its tongue plate sensing position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a loop in a seat belt and stitching the looped belt plies together. One sewing machine performs the strength forming stitch pattern such as the butterfly stitch and it is used as a master sewing machine whose sewing time of operation is maximized. During the stitching of butterfly pattern, another seat belt will have been fed into a loop forming means at which a loop is formed and its looped belt plies will have been tacked together by another sewing machine sewing a zigzag stitch. An automatic transfer means transfers looped belts from the first sewing station to the butterfly stitching machine. An automatic bobbin changing apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a crash comprising reorienting the occupant quickly during the first half of a crash cycle period into an energy absorbing position with occupant's buttocks and femurs being repositioned for causing energy absorption during the second half of the crash cycle. In the preferred apparatus, the occupant's hips are lowered and his knees are raised to place him in an energy absorbing position within about 50 milliseconds and the occupant is married to the vehicle as it crushes during the last half of the crash cycle. The buildup of "g" forces is delayed; the maximum "g" forces imparted to the occupant is reduced; and the occupant's displacement is shortened with the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the sizes of the kerfs of safety belts made from severed webs of woven synthetic filaments such as polyamide or polyester filaments. In the preferred method, a laser beam sweeps across the belt to vaporize some of the belt material and severs the same. Preferably, all four sides of the belt are confined as by means of a clamping pressure to restrict the growth or expansion of the filaments in the direction outwardly of the sides of the belt. The preferred apparatus has means for feeding the webs to the severing station and means for actuating the clamp into clamping engagement to confine the belts as well as a discharge feed means for discharging the severed belts from the severing station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employing the method are disclosed for attaching a plastic cover to a safety belt retractor frame. A plastic cover having a pair of spaced legs is attached to a seat belt retractor frame by inserting the legs through an opening in the retractor frame and wedging a plastic plug between the legs to hold them tightly in the opening and restrict withdrawal from the opening.

Abstract: A retractor is provided with a tension relieving mechanism which is operated by a belt sensor for sensing a taut or slack condition of the belt. The belt sensor operates a blocking means between a blocking position in which the tension of the winding spring is relieved from the protracted belt on the passenger's shoulder and a release position in which the spring winding force is applied to the belt to rewind the belt. Preferably, a cam means is provided to hold the blocking means in its release position to rewind slack occasioned during slight forward protraction movements of the passenger when the belt has been initially set in the tension relieving state. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tension relieving mechanism is set into the tensionless condition immediately upon buckling of the belt tongue plate to a buckle. The amount of slack in the protracted belt cannot be increased by ratcheting past the teeth as with prior art tension relieving mechanisms.

Abstract: An inexpensive safety belt buckle of relatively small size and lightweight, yet capable of meeting the legal requirements of safety, is disclosed. The buckle includes a latch plate attached to one portion of the safety belt or structural member for insertion with reduced effort into a buckle body attached to another portion of the safety belt or structural member. The length of the buckle is foreshortened by a bent latch lever pivotally mounted on the buckle body and biased for engagement with the latch plate to prevent withdrawal of the latch plate from the buckle body. The height of the buckle is reduced by pivoting the latch lever downward to a release position which is below the plane generally defined by an upper surface of the base plate. The buckle is readily assembled without expanding the side flanges of the base member.

Abstract: A push-button safety buckle, which is used to fasten together ends of safety belts about passengers, is constructed with an inverted channel-shaped, metallic, load-bearing buckle body encapsulated in a surrounding, nonload bearing plastic housing. Because the buckle body is encapsulated, the conventional and expensive chrome plating of the buckle body is eliminated. An overhead plate on the inverted channel-shaped body provides crush resistance to the buckle. An aperture formed in the overhead plates allows access to and operation of a unitary latch lever pivotally mounted within the buckle body.