Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) comprises a length of seat belt webbing (16) extensible about a vehicle occupant and a mechanism (80) associated with the length of seat belt webbing. The mechanism (80) includes at least one movable component (82, 84) and a one-piece cover member (90) defining a chamber (88) in which the at least one movable component is located. The cover member (90) encloses the at least one movable component (82, 84) and damps audible noise generated by vibration of the at least one movable component. The one-piece cover member (90) comprises at least two layers (92, 94) of dissimilar polymeric material bonded together. The layer includes a base layer (92) and an outer layer (94). One of the layers (92, 94) is made of an impact resistant material and the other of the layers (92, 94) of a noise absorbing material bonded to the one layer.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) includes a spool (100) on which belt webbing (16) is wound. The spool (100) is fixed for rotation with a shaft (110). The shaft (110) is acted upon by gravity with a first force. The seat belt webbing (16) provides a second force on the shaft acting counter to the first force. A means, such as a pair of M-shaped springs (130, 140), provides a biasing force on the shaft acting counter to the first force. The springs (130, 140) may also bias the spool (100) axially away from side walls (34, 36) of the retractor frame (30).

Abstract: A one-piece molded plastic nut for receiving a screw adapted to retain a trim assembly to a panel having a slot. The plastic nut has a head having a bottom surface and a top surface with a trench molded into the head and opening onto the top surface. The trench has a bottom face with three holes molded in the bottom face of the trench that extend through to the bottom surface of the head with the holes adapted to receive the screw. The trench has a pair of opposing facing planar side walls and a pair of opposing facing planar end walls angled towards the bottom face of guiding the screw towards one of the holes in the bottom face. Two flexible webs are spaced between the holes and confrm to and engage the screw when inserted into one of the holes. A pair of legs mirror each other and are adapted for insertion into the slot for engaging the panel and retaining the plastic nut to the panel. Each leg has an inner surface having a series of molded curved surfaces aligned with the holes in the head.

Abstract: A one-piece molded plastic nut for receiving a screw adapted to retain a trim assembly to a panel having a slot. The plastic nut has a head having a bottom surface and a top surface with a trench molded into the head and opening onto the top surface. The trench has a bottom face with three holes molded in the bottom face of the trench that extend through to the bottom surface of the head with the holes adapted to receive the screw. The trench has a pair of opposing facing planar side walls and a pair of opposing facing planar end walls angled towards the bottom face for guiding the screw towards one of the holes in the bottom face. Two flexible webs are spaced between the holes and conform to and engage the screw when inserted into one of the holes. A pair of legs mirror each other and are adapted for insertion into the slot for engaging the panel and retaining the plastic nut to the panel. Each leg has an inner surface having a series of molded curved surfaces aligned with the holes in the head.