Abstract: An inflatable bag is provided to protect an occupant of a motor vehicle. The bag is mounted within the structure of a seat of a vehicle and, when inflated, the bag is located between the occupant of the vehicle sitting on that seat and the side of the vehicle, with the center of that part of the bag which contacts the occupant of the vehicle being substantially aligned with the center of gravity of the torso of that occupant.

Abstract: A pre-tensioner arrangement applies tension to a safety belt in response to deceleration of a vehicle. A spring stores a force which is to be applied to the safety belt. A trigger mechanism comprises a lever which exhibits a mechanical advantage, one end of the lever engaging the spring, or an element associated with the spring, to retain the spring in a compressed state, and the other end of the lever engaging an over-dead-center linkage. An inertia mass is provided to engage the over-dead-center linkage to move it through the dead-center condition to release the lever and cause the spring to be released when severe deceleration is experienced.

Abstract: A safety belt for use in an automobile has a retractor reel incorporating a spindle onto which the belt is wound. The spindle can be locked, to prevent rotation of the spindle, in response to predetermined conditions, such as rapid deceleration of the automobile. The retractor reel is mounted on the chassis so that the reel can move relative to the chassis if a large force is applied thereto, by the safety belt, in excess of a predetermined limit. A clamp is also provided, which can clamp the safety belt leaving the reel, the clamp operating in response to movement of the reel as a consequence of the large force. A force limiter is provided to relieve any force exerted by the safety belt in excess of a predetermined limit.