Abstract: An apparatus is provided for mounting at least one wheelchair securement devices to a pair of spaced-apart vehicle seat mounting structures each secured to and within an occupant transport vehicle and extending in a direction parallel to a direction of travel of the occupant transport vehicle. The apparatus includes an elongated support member extending transversely along a floor of the occupant transport vehicle between the vehicle seat mounting tracks, anchors coupled to opposite ends of the elongated support member and each releasably attachable to a different one of the vehicle seat mounting structures, and at least one wheelchair securement device secured to the elongated support member between the two anchors. In some embodiments, the at least one wheelchair securement device is slidably mounted to the elongated support member and selectively securable to and along the elongated support member between the two anchors.

Abstract: A locking retractor includes a frame, a spool shaft rotatably mounted thereto, an outer surface of a base of a housing mounted to the frame with one end of the spool shaft extending into an opening defined through the base, one or more locking components arranged on an inner surface of the housing and configured to cooperate with the spool shaft to selectively block rotation of the spool relative to the frame, a sealing member configured to extend about and engage a periphery of the first opening and to extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft to form a seal between the base of the housing and the spool shaft to block ingress of moisture and particles, and a cover hermetically attached to the housing with the locking components sealed between the cover and the base of the housing.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for pre-tensioning an occupant restraint harness coupled to a seat portion of a motor vehicle seat and/or for pulling down the seat portion of the vehicle seat toward a seat base in embodiments in which the seat portion is suspended above the seat base. An elongated housing is secured to the seat portion, a web is coupled between the restraint harness or seat portion and the seat base or a support structure to which the seat base is mounted, and a piston carried by the housing defines a web guide in contact with the web between its two ends. As the piston moves along and relative to the housing in response to actuation thereof, the web guide displaces the web within the housing to pre-tension the occupant restraint harness and/or to pull the seat portion toward the seat base.

Abstract: A web tightening apparatus is disclosed for a multi-point restraint harness having a web extendable about an occupant of a motor vehicle seat. A base frame is mounted between the seat and a floor of a motor vehicle, a web turning guide is mounted to and within the base frame with the web extending into the base frame and through the web turning guide, a ratcheting device is mounted to the base frame and has a handle, and a ratcheting web is coupled at one end to the web extending from the web turning guide and coupled at an opposite end to the ratcheting device. The ratcheting device is responsive to ratcheting actuation of the handle to draw the ratcheting web therein, wherein movement of the ratcheting web into the ratcheting device draws the web further into the base frame and thereby tightens the web about the occupant.

Abstract: A passenger seat is described for use with a vehicle seat and includes, a base, an attachment assembly, a restraint assembly, and a non-rigid back. The base includes a central front opening. The attachment assembly includes a plurality of straps, which are configured to adjustably secure the base to the vehicle seat. The restraint assembly includes a shoulder strap assembly, a crotch strap assembly, and an adjustment strap. The adjustment strap is in communication with the shoulder strap assembly, extending from the shoulder strap assembly through the base and out of the central front opening of the base. The adjustment strap assembly is configured to adjust the shoulder strap assembly in response to translation of the adjustment strap through the central front opening of the base. The back encompasses at least a portion of the restraint assembly and the attachment assembly.

Abstract: A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elastically deformable body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, one of the first and second ends configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member received on the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member movable relative to, and positionable along, the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member defining a web slot, and a flexible web extending through the web slot, the flexible web part of a restraint system to restrain an occupant of a vehicle seat mounted within the vehicle. The elastically deformable body is responsive to dynamic loads applied by the occupant through the flexible web to the web coupling member to absorb energy and attenuate tension in the flexible web via elastic deformation of the elastically deformable body.

Abstract: A switchable retractor system includes a retractor with a spool. The spool is rotatable in an extension direction for extending a web and in a retraction direction for retracting the web. A first clutch has an engaged state where the first clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the extension direction and a disengaged state where the first clutch allows rotation of the spool in the extension direction. A release actuator actuates the first clutch into the disengaged state when actuated by a user to allow extension of the web. A second clutch has a locked state where the second clutch inhibits rotation of the spool in the retraction direction and an unlocked state where the second clutch allows rotation of the spool in the retraction direction. A tension actuator actuates the second clutch into the unlocked state when actuated to allow retraction of the web into the retractor.

Abstract: A web management system includes a base that is configured to be secured to the seat of a vehicle. A retraction member has a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly secured to an anchor attached to the base. The retraction member is configured to expand and retract in length between a first length and a shorter second length. The expansion and retraction are biased in favor of retraction to the second length. A web having at least a portion is fixedly secured to the base. A roller is attached to the second end of the retraction member. The roller is configured to slidably couple the web to the retraction member. Retraction of the retraction member takes up slack in the web.

Abstract: An anchor detachably connects a wheelchair securement apparatus to a support surface within a motor vehicle and includes a plate having a top surface defining an opening therein, a receiving member secured to the plate and defining an elongated bore to receive and engage a pin coupled to the wheelchair securement apparatus, a plunger within and axially movable along the bore, and a first biasing member between a bottom surface of the plunger and a wall of the bore. The plate and the receiving member are together mountable to the support surface. The first biasing member acts against the bottom surface of the plunger to bias the plunger away from the wall of the bore toward the opening defined through the plate, and the plunger movable toward the wall of the bore against a biasing force of the first biasing member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the retractor has a spool shaft extending therefrom. A base of a housing defines an opening therethrough, and an outer surface of the base is mounted to the retractor with the spool shaft extending into the opening. The locking components are arranged on an inner surface of the base of the housing. A sealing member engages the base of the housing and extends about a periphery of about the opening, and also extends about and engages a periphery of the spool shaft, to form a seal between the spool shaft and the base of the housing to block ingress of moisture and particles to the locking components. A cover is hermetically attached to the housing about a periphery thereof with the locking components sealed between the cover and the base of the housing.

Abstract: A method is provided for sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the locking components cooperate with a spool shaft extending from, and rotatable with, a rotatable spool of the retractor to selectively lock rotation of the spool. The method includes mounting a base of an open-ended housing to the retractor with the spool shaft accessible via an opening in the base when so mounted, positioning a sealing member to extend about and engage a periphery of the opening and to also extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft, operatively arranging the locking components within the interior of the housing, and hermetically sealing a cover to the open end of the housing after the housing is mounted to the retractor. The sealing member engages the peripheries of the first opening and the spool shaft and blocks ingress of moisture and particles to the locking components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for hermetically sealing locking components of a retractor wherein the retractor has a spool shaft extending therefrom. An open-ended housing has a base and defines an opening through the base into an interior of the housing. The base of the housing is mounted to the retractor with the spool shaft accessible via the opening. The locking components are arranged within the housing. A sealing member is positioned about the opening to form a hermetic seal between the spool shaft and the opening. A cover is hermetically attached to the open end of the housing.

Abstract: A device is provided for lifting, hanging, or securing an object. The device includes a hanger, a plate, and a ratcheting assembly. The hanger includes a pair of arms with hook members extending from the arms and a strut secured between the pair of arms. The plate is secured to the hanger and the ratcheting assembly. The ratcheting assembly includes a buckle with a lever pivotable relative to a body portion. The buckle also includes a pawl member that selectively engages a ratcheting gear. A strap is secured to the buckle and is selectively extendable and retractable relative to the buckle. A hook is provided at the free end of the strap.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively moving a seat back of a motor vehicle seat relative to a seat bottom includes an armrest movably mounted to the vehicle seat, a seat back actuator and mechanical linkage engaged with and between the armrest and the seat back actuator. The armrest has a first position that supports an arm of an occupant of the motor vehicle seat, and is movable from the first position to a second position. The seat back actuator is responsive to actuation to allow the seat back of the vehicle seat to be moved relative to the seat bottom, and is responsive to release thereof to block movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. The mechanical linkage is responsive to movement of the armrest from the first position to the second position to actuate the seat back actuator and to otherwise release the seat back actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have an elongated frame, a clamp member mounted to the frame at or near one end thereof, and an elongated base member movably mounted to the frame between the clamp member and an opposite end of the frame. The base member may include a curved portion having a support surface defining a curvature and a linear portion between the curved portion and the clamp member. The base member may be movable relative to the frame to an object transition position in which a free end of the linear portion extends outwardly away from the frame and the curved portion retracts upwardly toward the clamp member along a path defined by the curvature to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the support surface of the base member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for hermetically sealing locking components of a retractor wherein the retractor has a spool shaft extending therefrom. An open-ended housing has a base and defines an opening through the base into an interior of the housing. The base of the housing is mounted to the retractor with the spool shaft accessible via the opening. The locking components are arranged within the housing. A sealing member is positioned about the opening to form a hermetic seal between the spool shaft and the opening. A cover is hermetically attached to the open end of the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a frame, a primary seat support secured to the frame, a seat back secured to the frame, and a child seat assembly secured to the frame. The child seat assembly comprises at least one panel, a harness, an adjustment assembly, and at least one guard member. The at least one panel is pivotable relative to the frame. The harness is configured to removably secure an occupant of the child seat assembly relative to the frame and includes. The adjustment assembly is configured to provide adjustment of the harness and is positioned above a shoulder portion of the harness. The adjustment assembly comprises a pivoting member operable to selectively restrain movement of at least a portion of the harness. The at least one guard member is configured to deflect hair away from the adjustment assembly during sliding movement of the harness relative to the adjustment assembly.

Abstract: A blast mitigation seat for a land vehicle may include an occupant seat, at least one retraction device mounted to the seat, a first set of webs connected between the seat and a ceiling and/or a wall of the land vehicle, a second set of webs connected between the at least one retraction device and the ceiling and/or the wall of the land vehicle, and a third set of webs connected between the seat and the vehicle floor. The seat is suspended in the land vehicle by the first and third sets of webs. The first set of webs absorbs energy resulting from detonation of an explosive device beneath the floor of the land vehicle that forces the land vehicle from the ground into the air, and the second set of webs absorbs energy resulting from subsequent impact of the land vehicle with the ground.

Abstract: A web buckle 30 with a pivot pawl 40 to receive non-interlocking tongues insertable into the buckle. Push button 41 is biased upwardly by spring 39 within housing 44. Button 41 may be moved downward forcing pawl 40 to disengage the tongues. Pawl 40 is rockable to disengage the tongues one at a time.

Abstract: A web extension and retraction device on a child seat. A pair of retractors are mounted to the device and have webs extendable therefrom with connectors releasable with vehicle anchors both when the child seat faces forward and rearward in the vehicle. In one embodiment the retractors slide in cavities provided on opposite sides of the child seat.