Abstract: Various aspects include audio amplifiers for driving at least one speaker. In some cases, the amplifier includes: a controller for amplifying at least one input signal to provide an amplified audio output signal, the controller configured to operate the amplifier in at least two modes, including: a first mode including a dedicated connection to the at least one speaker; and a second mode including a direct physical connection with an additional audio amplifier and the dedicated connection to the at least one speaker, where in the first mode and the second mode the amplifier is configured to provide the amplified audio output signal to drive the at least one speaker, and in the second mode the amplifier is configured to forward the at least one input signal to enable the additional audio amplifier to control audio output at an additional speaker.

Abstract: In an adjustable seating system, allowing variation in the spacing between adjacent rows of passenger seats, e.g. in an aircraft, for use in a passenger vehicle, each row (14, 16, 18) is mounted on a longitudinal seat rail (30) secured to the floor. The seat rail (30) has a series of equally spaced openings (34) along its length for retaining the seating units (14, 16, 18) at any selected lengthwise location.

Abstract: Clamping member for a strap of the kind adapted to be located between a strap storage location and a strap utilization location, comprises a reaction member pivotally mounted on a base member for angular movement about a reaction member pivot axis, a guide member mounted for movement relative to the base member, and retention member for retaining the guide member and the reaction member in respective rest positions in which the strap is freely movable between the guide member and reaction member until the tension applied to the strap exceeds a predetermined level. Coupling member interconnects the reaction member and the guide member so that, when the tension in the belt exceeds the predetermined level, movement of the guide member causes corresponding movement of the reaction member, thereby wrapping the strap round both the reaction member and the guide member so that one layer of the strap is clamped against the reaction member by another layer of the strap.

Abstract: Clamping means for a strap, adapted to be located between a strap storage location and a strap utilization location, comprises reaction member pivotally mounted on a base member for angular movement about a first axis, a guide member pivotally mounted on a support member fast with the reaction member for angular movement about a second axis positioned between the reaction member and the first pivot axis. Resilient means retains the guide member and the reaction member in respective rest positions in which the strap is freely movable between the guide member and reaction member until the tension applied to the strap exceeds a predetermined level. When the tension in the strap exceeds said predetermined level, angular movement of the guide member causes corresponding angular movement of the reaction member, thereby wrapping the strap round both the reaction member and the guide member so that one layer of the strap is clamped against the reaction member by another layer of the strap.

Abstract: An opening roof assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a rigid panel adapted to close an opening in a vehicle roof, respective guide tracks arranged to be secured to the vehicle roof on each side of the opening below the level of the vehicle roof, and respective support assembly for each side of the panel. Each support assembly comprises a first support member having thereon a cam surface of arcuate shape with its concave side upwards and its front end lower than its rear end, a second support member having a cam follower retained in engagement with the cam surface, one of the support members being slidably mounted on the corresponding guide track and the other support member being secured to the underside of the panel. Relative movement between the two support members thus causes the first support member to pivot relative to the second support member to raise the rear edge of the panel.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the amount of water spray produced by a wheel of a motor vehicle comprises a mudguard extending round an upper part of the wheel and a water collection chamber abutting the rear bottom edge of the mudguard and having an open front wider than the edge of the wheel, a rear wall having its outboard edge nearer to the front of the vehicle than its inboard edge and an outlet inboard of the inboard edge of the wheel.

Abstract: The seat portion of a vehicle seat comprises upper and lower rigid frames which are held spaced from each other by compression springs. The upper frame is rigidly mounted on supports. A fabric cover (not shown) encloses the two frames and is put under tension by the springs.

Abstract: An adjustable shoulder anchorage assembly comprises a vertically extending track mounted on the interior of a vehicle body above the level of the shoulders of an occupant of an adjacent seat and a traveller mounted on the track and carrying a guide member having a slot for receiving the strap of a safety belt. An L-shaped latch member has an opening in one limb surrounding the pivotal mounting means and engaging with a shoulder thereon, the other limb projecting beyond the track and carrying a latching formation. Resilient means biases the first limb away from the track so as to move the latching formation into engagement with one of a series of complementary formations on the track so as to inhibit movement of the traveller along the track. Blocking means prevents movement of the latching formation out of engagement with the complementary formations. Manual release means operates first to inhibit the blocking means and then to disengage the latching formation from the complementary formations.

Abstract: Clamping means for a strap, comprises a guide member pivotally mounted on a base member for angular movement about a first axis, and a clamping member pivotally mounted on the base member for angular movement about a second axis parallel to the first axis and located at a greater radius from the second axis than the radius of the guide member from the first axis. Resilient means biases the guide member and the clamping member into a rest position in which the strap is freely movable between the guide member and clamping member. Coupling means are arranged so that angular movement of the guide member against the bias of the resilient means towards the plane containing the two pivot axes causes corresponding angular movement of the clamping member, thereby wrapping the strap round both the clamping member and the guide member.

Abstract: A buckle for a safety belt has a body in which a passageway is provided for receiving a tongue and a latch member movable transversely of the passageway between a latching position in which it engages with the latching formation to retain the tongue in the passageway, and a release position in which the tongue is displaceable by an ejector outwardly from the passageway from its retained position, the latch member being biased into its released position by a spring. A first toggle member pivots about a fulcrum on the latch and abuts a second toggle member which pivots about a fulcrum on the body. The toggle members have a first stable position in which the latch member is held in its latching position against the action of its biasing spring.

Abstract: A safety device for enabling a child to use an adult vehicle safety belt of the type having a shoulder strap and a lap strap consists of a cushion (50) having a respective belt retainer (54, 56) on each side thereof, under which the lap strap of the adult safety belt engages. An auxiliary strap (14) is attached to the cushion so as to extend from the back thereof and has a belt guide connector (18) secured to its free end. In use, the belt guide connector slidably receives the shoulder strap of the adult belt so that the shoulder strap extends in front of, and the auxiliary strap extends behind the child's torso with the belt guide connector located above the child's shoulder.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a front-hinged door 26 and an adjacent seat 10, a safety belt system, the safety belt comprises a lap strap 14, a shoulder strap 16 and a common strap 20 interconnected to form a three point safety belt. The free ends of the lap and shoulder straps 14 and 16 are connected to the rear edge of the door 26. The common strap 20 is connected to an inertia reel 28 mounted inboard of and adjacent to the bottom of the back of the seat 26. A puller strap 30 interconnects a point 18 on the safety belt with a point 32 on the vehicle so that, when the door 26 is opened the puller strap 30 applies a force to the shoulder strap 16, thereby displacing the junction 18 between the lap, shoulder and common straps 14, 16 and 20 out of the plane containing their anchorages 22 and 24 and the inertia reel 28.

Abstract: A three point safety belt system has its lap and diagonal elements 14 and 16 fastened to anchorage points 22 and 24 at the bottom and top rear corners of an adjacent vehicle door 26. The common element 20 is lead through a loop 37 in the end of an arm 30 which is pivotally mounted at 34. As the car door opens the resulting tension in the belt causes the arm 30 to pivot upwardly and forwardly, lifting the belt away from the body of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A sliding roof assembly for a vehicle has a glass sliding panel 10 mounted in a pair of mutually parallel side members 20 each having an integral drain channel 26. An inwardly facing guide channel 24 is disposed on the outer wall of the drain channel 26 and engages with a respective edge of the panel 10. The side members 20 extend below the vehicle roof so that the panel 10 extends below the vehicle roof when in its open position. A second guide channel 54 is formed on the inner side wall of the drain channel 26 and has a sun blind 34 slidably mounted therein.

Abstract: A child restraint, of the type comprising a pad adapted to fit between an adult lap safety belt and the abdomen of a child, can alternatively be used as an adult head restraint. When used as a child restraint, the pad is held in place by an adult lap safety belt. When used as an adult head restraint, the pad is secured to fixtures at the top of the seat back, the front surfaces of the device being suitably shaped. When used as a child restraint, webs of webbing extend from the top of the seat back to respective sides of the pad, so as to provide lateral restraint.

Abstract: In a safety seat installation in a vehicle such as a bus or coach, where the seat is one of a longitudinal row of similar forward facing seats, the back is constructed in two portions 4 and 5 which are pivotally mounted at 3 and 6 respectively. In the event of sudden deceleration, for example in an accident, the rearwardly seated occupant's knees push the bottom of the lower seat back portion 4 forwards so that the top of this portion pushes the upper seat back portion 5 backwards into a position to restrain the rearwardly seated occupant's torso.

Abstract: A tongue and buckle fastener for a safety belt harness has a tongue 1 with a radiused head portion 3 shaped to mate with a recess 8 in an ejector 17. A latch plate 20 moves at right angles to the direction of insertion of the tongue 1 to engage behind the head portion 3 of the tongue 1. When the tongue 1 has been ejected, the latch plate 20 engages in a groove 28 in one side face of the ejector 17 and overhangs the recess 18 in the ejector 17. When the tongue 1 is inserted, it engages corners 29a and 29b on the latch plate 20 which overhang the recess 18 so as to lift the latch plate 20 out of the groove 28. If a member of any other shape than the tongue 1 is inserted, it cannot engage with both corners 29a and 29 b simultaneously. Consequently only one side of the latch plate 20 is lifted and the ejector continues to block further insertion of such a member.

Abstract: A system for restraining forward movement of an occupant of a motor vehicle seat comprises a chest pad 18 on an arm 16 which is pivotable about a transverse axis 20 behind and below the seat, together with a lap restraint in the form of an arm 10 having a padded portion 12 which extends across the user's lap. The arm 10 is pivotally mounted on a transverse axis 24 located near the front of the seat. A lever 26 is fast with the arm 16 and a lever 28 is fast with the arm 10. A roller 32 engages confronting surfaces 34 and 36 on the arms 26 and 28. When the roller 32 is in the position shown, forward movement of the arm 16 causes relatively little backward movement of the arm 10 so that the occupant can lean forward in his seat without forcing the bar on the arm 10 into his lap. If, due to sudden decceleration of the vehicle, the occupant moves forward in his seat, lifting the padded portion 12, the roller 32 shoots forwards into engagement with stop surface 38.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor of a type including a pair of springs and a spring lock out mechanism enabling only one of the springs to operate when the belt is worn, in order to reduce belt tension, and to enable both of the springs to operate when the belt is released, to ensure reliable belt retraction. The retractor includes a sun and planet gear assembly including a gear ring, a planet gear and a sun gear. A shaft which rotates when the safety belt is retracted is coupled to a main spring by the sun and planet gear assembly. A stop limits orbital motion of the planet gear when the shaft is rotated, whereby the shaft is drivably coupled to the main spring through the gear assembly. A spring lock out mechanism secures the gearing against rotation, after the belt has been extracted, whereby the main springs stores its wound energy and its drive is disconnected from the shaft. An auxiliary spring, which is also coupled to the shaft, then applies a light bias to the belt.