Abstract: A safety belt retracting mechanism having constant pull includes a spindle supporting a rotatable spool for storing the belt within a housing. A conventional, positive coefficient of force spring inside the housing applies a retracting force to the spool and belt as the belt is pulled by the occupant. The spring is coupled between the housing and spool to a gear train having a negative coefficient of force transfer characteristic. The negative transfer characteristic of the gear train is caused by a changing gear ratio which compensates for the positive force characteristic of the spring to provide constant pull to the belt. The changing gear ratio is produced by a spiral-shaped gear coupled to a constant radius pinion formed on one end of the spindle. The spiral-shaped gear is formed on the hub of a containment member enclosing the spring. The containment member is mounted to the housing on a pivot arm.

Abstract: A safety buckle and tongue in combination wherein pressure on the tongue release push button is employed at a mechanical advantage, hence the buckle is unlatched with a minimum of effort even under conditions of stress. A ferrule provides a continuous link between the members of the restraint system to be connected, providing great strength and reliability.A pin, biased downwardly, latches the inserted tongue securely by entering an opening in the tongue. In inserting the tongue, an ejection member within the slot is forced back against its bias. When the pin is extracted from the tongue by the pressing of a push button, the tongue is ejected and the ejection member comes to rest directly beneath the pin, restraining it above the slot until displaced by the reinsertion of the tongue.

Abstract: The method and apparatus includes the use of at least one pallet, an assembly line, a projector means, and an electrical testing means. Assembly of the wiring harnesses takes place on the pallets which are either independently powered or move on a powered conveyor line. In either alternative, the pallets move along a non-synchronous, power and free assembly line. An overhead projector means is provided above selected work stations to project instructions and diagrams on the pallet. Electrical testing means are used to test the wiring harnesses during assembly, prior to completion of assembly, and to control movement of the pallet to the next work station. The method includes testing partially assembled components for electrical opens, shorts and incorrectly assembled components on the pallet at intermediate stages of assembly and passing the partially assembled components to the next stage of assembly only when the components have been shown to be correctly assembled.