Abstract: For the protection of the occupants of a vehicle in case of a lateral impact, restraints (3) are integrated in the side structure of the vehicle and are adapted to be automatically stretched to extend tautly on the inside across the window opening and are connected to an airbag unit (25) for protection in case of an impact, which unit is accommodated adjacent to the side structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for releasing a mechanical energy storage device from an initial locked position in a release situation is comprised of a housing having a bearing connected thereto, a locking device for securing the energy storage device in the initial locked position and a supporting device deflectable in the release situation and connected to the bearing. The locking means is connected to the housing and rests on the supporting device in a prestressed manner in the initial locked position, whereby the supporting device is deflected in the release situation by forces created by its own inertia. The supporting device may be in the form of a spring, two springs with an inertia member therebetween, two bodies with inertia member therebetween, or a ball in a ball socket. Another embodiment uses rollers and roller bearings.

Abstract: A self-locking safety belt reeling device comprising a reeling arbor disposed in a belt housing is further provided with a spring housing attached to the belt housing. A return spring and a shock-absorbing spring are arranged inside the spring housing whereby the return spring has a greater spring force than he shock-absorbing spring. A coupling wheel with a wheel shaft is rotatable supported inside the spring housing for coupling the return spring to the shock-absorbing spring such that, in a first operational state, the return spring and the shock-absorbing spring together function as a reeling spring, and, in a second operational state, only the shock-absorbing spring functions as the reeling spring. The coupling wheel is actuatable as a function of a reeling state of the safety belt. A rotational oil damper with a spindle is connected to the spring housing and the spindle is fixedly connected to the wheel shaft of the coupling wheel to prevent sudden shock during the reeling process.