Abstract: A vehicular seat includes at an upper part of a seat back an upper frame which extends in a widthwise direction of the seat back. An actuator unit which generates a drive force is attached along the upper frame. A headrest support frame is provided to the upper frame so as to be capable of moving in a front-and-back direction. When an acceleration equal to or above a predetermined value is applied to a vehicle by a collision from behind, a drive force generated by an operation of the actuator unit is transmitted to the headrest support frame. By moving the headrest support frame in a direction along which it approaches an occupant by using this drive force, a headrest supported to the headrest support frame moves frontward.

Abstract: A piston rod is formed in a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow cylinder. The piston rod is inserted in the cylinder so as to be relatively movable in an axial direction of the cylinder. A locking mechanism comprises a first surface provided on the inner surface of the cylinder, a plurality of second surfaces arranged in an axial direction of the piston rod and parallel to one another, and a locking member. The first surface is so inclined that the inside diameter of the cylinder gradually increases toward one end of the cylinder. Each second surface is so inclined that the diameter of the piston rod gradually increases to the one end of the piston rod. The locking member is held between the first surface and any one of the second surfaces to lock relative movement of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder.

Abstract: When a vehicle is rear-ended and a seated user moves rearward in reaction to the rear-end collision, a load movement of a lumbar part of the seated user is sufficiently transmitted from a pressure plate of operating force generating means to an operating force generating mechanism, regardless of an amount of rearward tilting of a seat back. Then, a pressure roller serving as a driven member of the operating force generating mechanism largely deflects and sufficiently pulls inner cables of respective pulling cable devices, thereby smoothly moving both end portions of a headrest frame upward. As a result, the headrest frame is moved upward smoothly and reliably, and a headrest is moved in an upward-forward direction, that is, toward the head of the seated user smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: When a vehicle is rear-ended and a seated user moves rearward in reaction to the rear-end collision, a load generated by a rearward movement of a lumbar portion of the seated user is transmitted from a pressure plate of operating force generating means to an operating force generating mechanism. Then, a pressure roller of the operating force generating mechanism deflects and pulls inner cables of pulling cable devices, thereby moving both end portions of a headrest frame upward. As a result, the headrest frame is moved upward along with headrest supporting brackets smoothly and reliably, whereby a headrest attached to the headrest supporting brackets with headrest stays arranged between the headrest and the respective headrest supporting brackets is moved in the upward-forward direction, that is, toward the head of the seated user smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: In a knee protection system according to the present invention, a knee protection panel is driven from a standby position surrounded by an interior member to the vehicle rear side to a knee-protecting position in front of the knees of an occupant by a drive mechanism when the vehicle is crashing, whereby the knees moving forward are protected by the knee protection panel thus driven. The drive mechanism includes a holding portion for holding the knee protection panel in such a manner that the knee protection panel is moved rearward. Engagement portions are provided, respectively, at locations where the holding portion and the knee protection panel connect with each other in such a manner as to be brought into engagement with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a compact power actuator which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and easy to install. The power actuator comprises a piston assembly which is received in a fixed cylinder for either directly or indirectly engaging a driven member, and a propellant for rapidly increasing the inner pressure of the cylinder to push the piston assembly outward so that the driven member may be instantaneously driven. A spring is interposed between the piston assembly and the propellant to urge the piston assembly in the projecting direction. The front end of the propellant fits into the central opening so that the available space may be fully utilized. Therefore, the size of the power actuator can be reduced, and the required amount of the pyrotechnic material for the propellant can be reduced due to the reduced initial volume of the chamber for the expansion of the generated gas.

Abstract: Provided is an anti-submarine vehicle seat device which can reliably prevent submarining without complicating the assembling of the seat assembly, and is adapted to be retrofitted. Major parts of the device are incorporated into a subassembly which comprises a casing adapted to be attached to a seat frame, a power actuator fixedly secured in the casing, an arm pivotally supported by the casing, and adapted to be actuated by the power actuator, and a lock mechanism for keeping the arm substantially at an actuated position once the arm is actuated by the power actuator.

Abstract: An actuator includes a hollow cylinder which has a first portion and a second portion. The inner diameter of the first portion is larger than that of the second portion. A piston is inserted in the cylinder. The actuator has a gas generator which supplies a gas into the cylinder to move the piston toward the first portion. The seal member keeps airtightness between the piston and the cylinder when the piston stays in the second portion and flows the gas when the piston stays in the first portion. A hollow stopper is arranged in the first portion and stops the piston. The stopper has a vent groove which is provided on the inner surface and connects the interior of the cylinder to the open end. A piston rod is jointed to the piston and housed in the cylinder. The piston rod moves along the axis with the piston.

Abstract: In a vehicle occupant restraint system provided in association with a vehicle seat for preventing a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under a seat belt in an impact situation such as a vehicle crash, a pair of support members are provided on either side of the seat frame, and pivotally support a pair of arms across which a cross member extends. The cross member comprises an energy absorbing structure adapted to undergo a controlled deformation under a load occurring as the front part of the seat bottom is raised. The energy absorbing structure may consist of a relatively deformable member wrapped around the cross member or a feature for controlling a mode of deformation of the cross member. When the cross member consists of a pipe member, the energy absorbing structure may comprise a relatively deformable member filled inside the pipe member or perforations formed in the pipe member.

Abstract: In the seat belt pretensioner device according to the present invention, because the buckle is pulled by urging an intermediate point of the cable, it is possible to pull the seat belt and buckle by a required stroke with a relatively small stroke of the power actuator, and this contributes to a compact design of the device. Because the buckle can be pulled via a fixed point of a cable guide, the buckle and, hence, seat belt can be pulled in a stable manner, and a high level of reliability can be achieved. For instance when the power actuator comprises a piston rod that is pushed out by high pressure gas, because a high pressure gas can be produced with a relatively small device, the size and weight of the device can be minimized.

Abstract: A piston rod is formed in a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow cylinder. The piston rod is inserted in the cylinder so as to be relatively movable in an axial direction of the cylinder.

Abstract: An actuator of an active knee bolster is provided with a drive force generation device and a one way lock mechanism that is disposed in a vicinity of an operation end of the drive force generation device. The one way lock mechanism is configured such that, if attempted movement of a piston member in an inward insertion direction occurs, respective engagement portions are moved to a taper portion by urging force of a spring, whereby the engagement portions are abutted against an external periphery surface of the piston member such that the piston member and the engagement portions are fixed. Accordingly, as a result of the one way lock mechanism, a main body of the active knee bolster that has been moved to a restraining position cannot return in a vehicle forward direction, and thus it is possible to generate a substantial lower limb restraining force that restrains a lower limb of an occupant.

Abstract: In a vehicle occupant restraint system provided in association with a vehicle seat for preventing a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under a seat belt in an impact situation such as a vehicle crash, a pair of casings are provided on either side of the seat frame, and pivotally support a pair of arms across which a cross member extends. A power unit pivotally incorporated in at least one of the casings raises the arms and cross member in an impact situation. The casing is formed by a main member having a vertical section and a pair or flanges extending from upper and lower ends of the vertical section, and a lid member attached to the free ends of the flanges. The hollow structure of the casing provides a high level of mechanical strength, and the two piece structure of the casing allows the assembly work to be performed in a simple manner because the components can be installed from sideways one after another in a relatively simple manner.

Abstract: A vehicular seat includes at an upper part of a seat back an upper frame which extends in a widthwise direction of the seat back. An actuator unit which generates a drive force is attached along the upper frame. A headrest support frame is provided to the upper frame so as to be capable of moving in a front-and-back direction. When an acceleration equal to or above a predetermined value is applied to a vehicle by a collision from behind, a drive force generated by an operation of the actuator unit is transmitted to the headrest support frame. By moving the headrest support frame in a direction along which it approaches an occupant by using this drive force, a headrest supported to the headrest support frame moves frontward.

Abstract: Provided is a compact power actuator which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and easy to install. The power actuator comprises a piston assembly which is received in a fixed cylinder for either directly or indirectly engaging a driven member, and a propellant for rapidly increasing the inner pressure of the cylinder to push the piston assembly outward so that the driven member may be instantaneously driven. A spring is interposed between the piston assembly and the propellant to urge the piston assembly in the projecting direction. The front end of the propellant fits into the central opening so that the available space may be filly utilized. Therefore, the size of the power actuator can be reduced, and the required amount of the pyrotechnic material for the propellant can be reduced due to the reduced initial volume of the chamber for the expansion of the generated gas.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle occupant restraint system which can reduce the load on the chest and head of the vehicle occupant in an impact situation while reliably preventing the submarine phenomenon. By restraining the pelvis and the adjacent parts of the vehicle occupant before the load is applied to the chest and head, the load is more favorably distributed, and the critical parts are favorably protected. This can be accomplished by activating a restraining member for raising an appropriate part of the vehicle seat immediate upon detecting an impact.

Abstract: Provided is a compact power actuator which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and easy to install. The power actuator comprises a piston assembly which is received in a fixed cylinder for either directly or indirectly engaging a vehicle occupant restraint member, and a propellant for rapidly increasing the inner pressure of the cylinder to push the piston assembly outward so that the restraint member may be instantaneously driven. A spring is interposed between the piston assembly and the propellant to urge the piston assembly in the projecting direction. The front end of the propellant fits into the central opening so that the available space may be fully utilized. Therefore, the size of the power actuator can be reduced, and the required amount of the pyrotechnic material for the propellant can be reduced due to the reduced initial volume of the chamber for the expansion of the generated gas.

Abstract: In a seat belt pretensioner device, comprising a seat belt buckle which is supported in a moveable manner, a power generator for moving the buckle in a direction to increase a tension of the seat belt, and a reverse preventing device for preventing the reversal of the movement of the buckle, the reverse preventing device consists of a ball-type one-way clutch defining a plurality of chambers between an inner race and an outer race, each of said chambers narrowing in a rotational direction and receiving a ball and a spring urging the ball toward a narrower part of the corresponding chamber, and the springs are formed by bending a plurality of projections integrally formed in a peripheral part of a single disk shaped plate member into a wavy form. Thus, the multitude of springs are formed by a single member, and not only the management of component parts is simplified but also the assembly work for the one-way clutch is facilitated even when the one-way clutch is not adapted to be formed as a subassembly.

Abstract: In the device according to the present invention, it is possible readily to distinguish between a road of travel and an obstacle in an image, simply using a distance image, even in cases where such a distinction is difficult to make, for instance, when a moving body is inclined during travel or the road forms a slope. Three-dimensional co-ordinate position data in a three-dimensional co-ordinate system is calculated for each pixel of the distance image, on the basis of two-dimensional co-ordinate position data for each pixel in the distance image and distance data from a reference position for each of the pixels, in such a manner that a three-dimensional distribution of pixels corresponding to a plane and an object to be detected is generated.

Abstract: Provided is a compact power actuator which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and easy to install. The power actuator comprises a piston assembly which is received in a fixed cylinder for either directly or indirectly engaging a vehicle occupant restraint member, and a propellant for rapidly increasing the inner pressure of the cylinder to push the piston assembly outward so that the restraint member may be instantaneously driven. A spring is interposed between the piston assembly and the propellant to urge the piston assembly in the projecting direction. The front end of the propellant fits into the central opening so that the available space may be fully utilized. Therefore, the size of the power actuator can be reduced, and the required amount of the pyrotechnic material for the propellant can be reduced due to the reduced initial volume of the chamber for the expansion of the generated gas.