Abstract: A coupling between the rotor (16) of a belt tensioner rotary drive and a drive shaft (22) comprises an externally toothed coupling wheel (24) connected to the drive shaft (22) and at least one coupling pawl (32) arranged on the rotor (16). The coupling pawl (32) is movable between a resting position in which it is spaced away from the periphery of the coupling wheel and an engaging position in which it engages the coupling wheel. The coupling pawl (32) is toggle-mounted on a knife-edge bearing on the rotor (16).

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a backrest with a separate backrest part, a headrest integrated in the backrest and a pivot pin horizontally arranged in the backrest. The separate backrest part and the headrest constitute two arms of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted about an axis defined by said pivot pin. The two-armed lever is pivoted about the axis in case of a rear end crash due to an inertia force of a vehicle occupant which is partly taken up by said separate backrest part, in order to move the headrest toward the head of said occupant and to reduce forces acting on the head.

Abstract: A vehicle seat with a back rest comprises a gas bag, which is located in the back rest in a folded state, and a gas source to inflate the gas bag. It further comprises an accomodation at the upper side of the back rest and a supporting casing, which is inserted in the accomodation.To provide a vehicle seat with a restraint system, which largely prevents relative movements between the head of the vehicle occupant and his upper body in the event of a rear end impact, the gas bag emerges on activation of the gas source at about the height of the head of the vehicle occupant, with the supporting force being provided by the supporting casing.

Abstract: In an energy converter in a restraining system for vehicle occupants a particularly smooth profile of the force as a function of the travel is achieved in that a plastic deformation of a tubular converter body (10) is effected which has a circular cross-sectional form in the undeformed state. Two symmetrically oppositely disposed rollers (18) are provided which each bear on a ramp face of a piston element (14).

Abstract: In a driving arrangement for belt tensioners, a working chamber (32) is formed in a housing being assembled of several parts (10, 16), as well as an accommodation space (20) for a gas generator capsule (22), said space being in fluid connection with said chamber. The gas generator capsule (22) is encased by a sleeve (24) which is inserted in sealing contact between said parts (10, 16) of the housing in its accommodation space (20). A pre-chamber (26) is formed in the sleeve (24) opposite the bottom of said gas generator capsule (22).

Abstract: A device for attaching a steering wheel on a steering shaft by a connecting sleeve, which is attached to the hub of the steering wheel. At its end, the steering shaft has a section with exterior splines, which are complementary to interior splines in the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has an axial slot and is clamped by a clamping screw against the section of the steering shaft which has the splines. The steering wheel constitutes a sub-assembly with an integrated air bag module and may be supplied for the final assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: In the event of a rear end collision the headrest of a vehicle seat is moved from a normal initial position to a position approximate to the vehicle occupant's head under the effect of inertial forces occurring at a mass coupled to the headrest, thereby reducing the distance between the vehicle occupant's head and the headrest.

Abstract: A rotary drive apparatus for a belt tensioner comprises a casing (10) in which a cylinder space (18) is formed, a generally circular disk-shaped rotor (14) mounted eccentrically therein having vanes (26) accommodated in radial slots (24) and a compressed gas source for pressurizing the chambers formed between the vanes, the rotor and the wall of the casing. The chambers are sealed off both with respect to each other and to the casing (10, 12) by a sealing system (30) on the rotor (14). The rotor (14) is mounted on said casing (10, 12) and is rotatable with respect to a shaft (16) and carries at least one pivotally mounted clutch pawl (32) which is engagingly positionable in a clutch toothing (34) on the circumference of said shaft (16).

Abstract: A vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant has a backrest, a headrest arranged adjustable on the backrest and being movable from a normal starting position into a restraint position approximating the head of the vehicle occupant, a vehicle-sensitive activatable positioner and a flexible traction transmitting means connecting the headrest and the positioner. The positioner moves the headrest in the case of a rear end collision of the vehicle from the normal starting position into the restraint position by transmitting force via the traction transmitting means. The traction transmitting means extends through the backrest.

Abstract: A device for attaching a steering wheel on a steering shaft by a connecting sleeve, which is attached to the hub of the steering wheel. At its end, the steering shaft has a section with exterior splines, which are complementary to interior splines in the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has an axial slot and is clamped by a clamping screw against the section of the steering shaft which has the splines. The steering wheel constitutes a sub-assembly with an integrated air bag module and may be supplied for the final assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, and a rotary pretensioner drive adapted to be drivingly coupled to the belt drum. A force limiting torsion rod is connected to the belt drum for joint rotation. Blocking pawls are pivotally mounted on the torsion rod for cooperation with an internally toothed ring rigidly connected to the frame and surrounding the blocking pawls. The blocking pawls are spring biased to neutral positions out of engagement with the toothed ring. Retarding mechanism act on the blocking pawls to retard their movement out of a belt drum blocking position in engagement with said toothed ring to the neutral position.

Abstract: The coupling between the belt drum of a belt retractor and a belt pretensioner rotary drive renders possible the manufacture of the functional parts of a metallic light constructional material such as a light alloy. The belt drum (12) possesses a molded externally toothed coupling wheel (16). With the output shaft (20) of the belt pretensioner rotary drive (18) a drive disk (22) is connected, which bears two pivotally mounted coupling pawls (28). In a neutral or rest position thereof these coupling pawls are held by a return spring clear of the periphery of the coupling wheel (16) and may be pivoted inward into an engagement position in engagement with such coupling wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel with an integrated gas bag restraining system comprises a plastic foam encased steering wheel body, whose hub part (18) is designed to receive a folded up gas bag (24). A cover (30) for the gas bag (24) is an integral component of the plastic foam case, in whose opening a housing body (40) is able to be inserted, wherein a pyrotechnic propellant charge and a fuse are arranged. The housing body (40) is secured on the one hand to the hub part (18) and on the other hand to the steering shaft.

Abstract: A drive device for a belt pretensioner is of the lamella motor type and its rotor (16) can be directly joined to the belt drum of a belt retractor. In the resting state the lamellas (20) are retracted into radial slots (18) of the rotor (16) so that they do not come into contact with the housing wall. At the radially inner end thereof the lamellas possess a larger pressurized area than at the outer end and on activation of the gas generator by the pressure built up by a blowout patch (54) at the outlet (30) they are thrust radially outward into sealing engagement with the wall of the housing (12).

Abstract: The belt retractor comprises an integrated belt pretensioner and an energy converter for limiting the belt force occurring after the tensioning of the belt. Once the belt has tensioned a torsion bar (14) arranged coaxially in the belt reel (12) is in the force flow path. The locking mechanism of the belt retractor comprises two locking pawls (22, 24) rotatably mounted on one face of the belt reel (12), said pawls being insertable into a locking toothing (30, 32) surrounding them on the frame (10). The first end of the torsion bar (14) is connected to the belt reel (12) in a non-rotational arrangement while its second end (14b) comprises a control disc (42) mounted for limited rotation, with the control disc acting on the locking pawls (22, 24) at least during the phase of energy conversion, thus preventing them from engaging into the locking toothing (30, 32). This second end (14b) of the torsion bar (14) is couplable to the frame (10) in a non-rotational load-bearing arrangement.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism for a belt pretensioner comprises a sensor mass which responds both on a head-on collision and on ramming of the vehicle from the rear. The sensor mass may be pivotally mounted and formed by functional parts of the pretensioner drive. In a belt pretensioner which is combined with a belt retractor (10) to an assembly and which has a pyrotechnical piston/cylinder drive, the sensor mass consists of a carrier block (40) pivotally mounted on a base (12) and having a guide cylinder (42) mounted therein and a piston accommodated therein. A striker lever (50) pivotally mounted in the base (12) is released for activating an impact igniter on a gas generator cartridge (44) when the carrier block (40) is pivoted in vehicle-sensitive manner in the one or other direction.

Abstract: In an energy converter in a restraining system for vehicle occupants a particularly smooth profile of the force as a function of the travel is achieved in that only a few deformation members are provided which effect a plastic deformation of a tubular converter body (10). A plate (30) is pivotal between a rest position inclined to the axis of the converter body (10) and an erected operating position in which it brings the deformation members (30a) formed at its radially outer ends into engagement with the inner side of the converter body (10).

Abstract: A belt pretensioner for vehicle safety belt systems is provided with a drive unit which comprises a pyrotechnic gas generator (12) and a piston and cylinder unit (16, 20). The piston (20) is arranged at a first end (161) of the cylinder (16) and is connected with a cable (22). By means of the gas pressure produced by the gas generator (12) the piston is accelerated towards the second, tapered end (162) of the cylinder (16). A sleeve-like insert (18) is arranged in the tapered cylinder end. The insert (18) has ribs and grooves alternating in the peripheral direction to offer sufficient room for plastic deformation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt pretensioner for vehicle safety belt systems comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator (12) and a piston and cylinder unit (16, 20) mounted in a housing block (14). The piston (20) of the piston and cylinder unit (16, 20) is arranged on a first end (161) of the cylinder (16) as well as being connected with a cable (22) and it is accelerated towards the second end (162), which has a constriction, of the cylinder (16) by the gas pressure produced by the gas generator (12). The piston and cylinder unit (16, 20) with the housing block (14) and the gas generator (12) mounted therein constitute a pivotally bearinged vehicle-sensitive inertial mass. In accordance with the invention a deformable member (46) is arranged on the piston (20) and on acceleration of the piston (20) is entrained towards the second end (162) of the cylinder (16) by the piston (20) and on impingement on the wall parts of the cylinder (16) constituting the constriction is plastically deformed.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism for a belt pretensioner comprises a sensor mass which responds both on a head-on collision and on ramming of the vehicle from the rear. The sensor mass may be pivotally mounted and formed by functional parts of the pretensioner drive. In a belt pretensioner which is combined with a belt retractor (10) to an assembly and which has a pyrotechnical piston/cylinder drive, the sensor mass consists of a carrier block (40) pivotally mounted on a base (12) and having a guide cylinder (42) mounted therein and a piston accommodated therein. A striker lever (50) pivotally mounted in the base (12) is released for activating an impact igniter on a gas generator cartridge (44) when the carrier block (40) is pivoted in vehicle-sensitive manner in the one or other direction.