Abstract: An improvement in automated passive vehicle restraint systems of the type having a power-driven upper torso restraining belt moving between stowed and wearing positions is disclosed. The upper end of the belt is attached to the driven cable by a fastener having a stiffener attached. The fastener is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cable as the fastener moves between the stowed and wearing positions. As the fastener is rotated, the stiffener maneuvers the belt away from the head and face of an occupant in the seat with which the belt is associated and correctly positions the belt on the occupant's shoulder at the wearing position.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor has a belt storage spool and a spool rewind spring for biasing the spool in a belt rewind direction, means for reducing the tension applied to the belt when in use due to the bias of the rewind spring, means for activating such means for reducing in response to spool rotation in a predetermined manner and means for deactivating such means for reducing in response to spool rotation in a belt rewind direction of more than one full revolution of the spool under the influence of said reduced tension. The means for reducing the resultant effect of the rewind bias of the spring in an exemplary embodiment includes means for selectively applying a portion of the rewind torque of the spool rewind spring back on to the spool through a gearing arrangement in one version, and through a pulley means in another arrangement, in a belt unwinding direction to produce a reduced torque or "comfort zone" effect upon the spool.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor having a belt storage spool biased toward a belt storage position is provided with means for selectively applying a portion of the rewind torque of the spool rewind spring back on to the spool in a belt unwinding direction to produce a reduced torque effect upon the spool.

Abstract: Tension relieving means for safety belt retractors having biasing means for normally biasing an associated safety belt storage means toward a belt retracted condition when the associated safety belt is protracted are provided for restricting the retractive movement of the storage means when the belt is in use to provide a limited low tension travel for the belt which is automatically established on a slight retractive movement of the protracted belt and is maintained within the limits of a predetermined extent of low tension travel for the belt.

Abstract: A seat belt webbing retractor for a vehicle prevents protraction of the webbing when the vehicle undergoes changes in momentum above a predetermined level. The retractor includes a retractor frame, a lockable belt storage reel and associated reel lock actuating means including a lever movable in response to movement of an associated inertia sensing pendulum. The invention includes the improvement of providing a pendulum body which includes a light weight base of cup-like configuration which has two interiorly formed actuator camming surfaces, a hollow cylindrical inertia sensing mass of a material relatively heavier than the base and means for securely attaching the mass to the base with the hollow mass and the apertured base providing a vertical axial bore through the pendulum body.

Abstract: A single continuous loop safety belt harness assembly for a vehicle has a retractor which is attached to a first end of a safety belt harness for retractably storing and adjustably anchoring the safety belt, and which is mounted in a rearward position upon the vehicle door. A belt guide is provided for receiving the belt extending upward from the retractor, and for directing the belt in a downward direction diagonally across the torso of the occupant seated in the vehicle. A second end of the belt is attached to a lower portion of the door by means of an anchor.

Abstract: A safety belt system includes a continuous loop of webbing which is anchored at one end to the vehicle floor and anchored at the other end to the roof or upper part of the vehicle. A buckle is mounted on the other side of the seat from the first-mentioned floor anchor, and a connector which is positionable along the webbing includes a tongue plate which mates with the buckle. The system has been improved by the provision of the combination of including limiting means on the connector for allowing the webbing to pass only in a direction to shorten the portion between the floor anchor and the buckle over the lower torso of the user and to lengthen the portion of the webbing between the retractor and the connector over the upper torso. The retractor is more powerful than a normal retractor to pull the webbing through the limiting means. The retractor may further include a tensionless feature to relieve the force from the retractor on the webbing.

Abstract: A reel on which seat belts are stored about a rotatable shaft. The reel includes spring means for retracting the belt and a ratchet tooth gear fixed for rotation with the shaft. Upon rapid unreeling of the belt off of the shaft, means which may be inertia responsive activates a pair of lockbars to engage the ratchet tooth gear and stop its rotation. Each lockbar includes a pawl tip and when one of the pawl tips is radially aligned with one of the tooth tips on the gear, the other of the pawl tips is aligned midway between a pair of adjacent gear teeth. When the lockbars are moved into engagement with the ratchet tooth gear, the combination of the two pawl tips and their orientation with respect to the teeth of the gear assures that at least one of the tips will be in proper position to engage the tooth gear should the other tip break off or not engage upon contact with the gear. Differential lever means may be provided for moving the pawl tips into engagement with the gear.

Abstract: A child safety seat for use in vehicles is provided with a safety harness mounted to the seat with releasable buckling parts positioned and maintained in a buckle-receiving cavity formed in the child safety seat base beneath the portion thereof a child passenger is seated upon to place and maintain such buckling parts in a generally inaccessible location relative to a child seated in the child safety seat. The buckle-receiving cavity is formed integrally of a pedestal-type base with a forwardly opening aperture having a guide fitting for guiding a crotch strap to the cavity and maintaining one of the buckling parts thereunder and a rear webbing slot for introduction of a strap associated with harness shoulder straps which is connected to a mating buckling part also positioned and maintained within the cavity.

Abstract: A reel on which seat belts are stored about a rotatable shaft. The reel includes spring means for retracting the belt and a ratchet tooth gear fixed for rotation with the shaft. Upon rapid unreeling of the belt off of the shaft, means which may be inertia responsive activates a pair of lockbars to engage the ratchet tooth gear and stop its rotation. Each lockbar includes a pawl tip and when one of the pawl tips is radially aligned with one of the tooth tips on the gear, the other of the pawl tips is aligned midway between a pair of adjacent gear teeth. When the lockbars are moved into engagement with the ratchet tooth gear, the combination of the two pawl tips and their orientation with respect to the teeth of the gear assures that at least one of the tips will be in proper position to engage the tooth gear should the other tip break off or not engage upon contact with the gear. Differential lever means may be provided for moving the pawl tips into engagement with the gear.