Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner for use in a seat belt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a pretensioner tube in fluid communication with a gas generator, and a driving element with a piston disposed inside the pretensioner tube and formed a flexible elongated rod. At least a portion of an outer surface of the elongated rod spaced from an inside surface of the pretensioner tube defines at least one clearance space to be filled by the deformed elongated rod in the event that a gas pressure from the gas generator is applied to the piston when a sprocket is engaged with the elongated rod causing an overpressure condition in an actuation volume defined between the piston and the gas generator within the pretensioner tube.

Abstract: A system for pretensioning a seatbelt includes a minispool and a drive rod. The drive rod includes a spiral portion that, when driven along a longitudinal axis, causes the minispool to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The spiral portion of the drive rod engages the minispool, which includes corresponding structure that tracks the spiral portion. The minispool is restricted from longitudinal travel such that tracking the spiral portion causes the minispool to rotate and the drive rod passes through the minispool. In another form, the minispool can be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, with the translation of the drive rod causing the minispool to translate in the same direction of the drive rod. The minispool can include teeth that engage a bracket, such that the translation of the minispool causes the minispool to rotate as it translates.

Abstract: A system for pretensioning a seatbelt includes a minispool and a drive rod. The drive rod includes a spiral portion that, when driven along a longitudinal axis, causes the minispool to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The spiral portion of the drive rod engages the minispool, which includes corresponding structure that tracks the spiral portion. The minispool is restricted from longitudinal travel such that tracking the spiral portion causes the minispool to rotate and the drive rod passes through the minispool. In another form, the minispool can be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, with the translation of the drive rod causing the minispool to translate in the same direction of the drive rod. The minispool can include teeth that engage a bracket, such that the translation of the minispool causes the minispool to rotate as it translates.

Abstract: A pretensioner assembly for motor vehicle belt restraint systems is provided. The pretensioner assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator. An elastic piston disposed within the tube is operable to drive a plurality of balls upon receiving pressurized gas discharged from the gas generator. The piston includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a flexible rim that expands upon receiving pressurized gas from the gas generator, and the distal end includes a flexible rim that expands in response to backpressure from the plurality of balls. The expansion of the flexible rims at the proximal and distal ends of the piston provides a tight seal between the piston and the inner peripheral wall of the tube.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor with a load limiting device and a tensioning device includes a two-part belt shaft with a first part (1), upon which the belt can be wound, and a second part (5), which can be locked in a vehicle-fixed manner in a frame (8) of the seat belt retractor. A tensioner drive wheel (6) for driving the seat belt retractor in the winding direction is located between the first (1) and the second part (5) of the belt shaft on a hollow cylindrical appendix (5a) of the second part (5) of the belt shaft, and the load limiting device (3) extends into the ring cylindrical appendix (5a) of the second part (5).

Abstract: A pretensioner assembly for motor vehicle belt restraint systems is provided. The pretensioner assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator. An elastic piston disposed within the tube is operable to drive a plurality of balls upon receiving pressurized gas discharged from the gas generator. The piston includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a flexible rim that expands upon receiving pressurized gas from the gas generator, and the distal end includes a flexible rim that expands in response to backpressure from the plurality of balls. The expansion of the flexible rims at the proximal and distal ends of the piston provides a tight seal between the piston and the inner peripheral wall of the tube.

Abstract: A pretensioner assembly for motor vehicle belt restraint systems is provided. The pretensioner assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator. An elastic piston disposed within the tube is operable to drive a plurality of balls upon receiving pressurized gas discharged from the gas generator. The piston includes a proximate end and a distal end. The proximate end includes a flexible rim that expands upon receiving pressurized gas from the gas generator, and the distal end includes a flexible rim that expands in response to backpressure from the plurality of balls. The expansion of the flexible rims at the proximate and distal ends of the piston provides a tight seal between the piston and the inner peripheral wall of the tube.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor with a load limiting device and a tensioning device includes a two-part belt shaft with a first part (1), upon which the belt can be wound, and a second part (5), which can be locked in a vehicle-fixed manner in a frame (8) of the seat belt retractor. A tensioner drive wheel (6) for driving the seat belt retractor in the winding direction is located between the first (1) and the second part (5) of the belt shaft on a hollow cylindrical appendix (5a) of the second part (5) of the belt shaft, and the load limiting device (3) extends into the ring cylindrical appendix (5a) of the second part (5).

Abstract: Disclosed is a seat belt retractor with a two-part belt shaft including a first part (1) of the belt shaft, upon which the safety belt (2) is wound, and a second part (5) of the belt shaft, which can be locked in a vehicle-fixed manner in relation to a housing (8) of the seat belt retractor. A load limiting device (3) is located between the first (1) and the second part (5) of the belt shaft. The first (1) and the second part (5) of the belt shaft axially overlap at least in sections, and a bearing ring (13) is provided in the overlapping area.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a device for pretensioning a seatbelt is provided. The device comprises a spindle for receiving a portion of the seatbelt. A retractor frame that has a weakened portion is supported by the spindle for rotational movement within the retractor frame. A pretensioner is operatively connected to the spindle for rotating the spindle to tighten the seatbelt. The pretensioner includes pretensioner balls. The pretensioner is configured to drive the pretensioner balls toward a ball collection area adjacent to the weakened portion. The weakened portion is deformed by the pretensioner balls to increase the size of the ball collection area.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a device for pretensioning a seatbelt is provided. The device comprises a spindle for receiving a portion of the seatbelt. A retractor frame that has a weakened portion is supported by the spindle for rotational movement within the retractor frame. A pretensioner is operatively connected to the spindle for rotating the spindle to tighten the seatbelt. The pretensioner includes pretensioner balls. The pretensioner is configured to drive the pretensioner balls toward a ball collection area adjacent to the weakened portion. The weakened portion is deformed by the pretensioner balls to increase the size of the ball collection area.

Abstract: An anchorage device for a motor vehicle is provided, including a pretensioning wheel, a pulley connected to the pretensioning wheel via a torsion bar first portion, a seat belt connecting member connected to the pulley, and a locking device coupled with the pulley via a torsion bar second portion. The torsion bar first portion provides resistance to rotation of the pulley during outward locking travel of the seat belt connecting member.

Abstract: A device and method for tensioning a vehicle seatbelt are disclosed. The device has a motor, a pulley, a first cable, and a seatbelt buckle. The motor has a motor output for transferring rotational energy developed in the motor. The pulley is in communication with the motor output for receiving the rotational energy developed in the motor. The first cable has first and second ends. The first end is coupled to the pulley. The seatbelt buckle is coupled to the second end of the cable. The rotation of the pulley causes movement of the seatbelt buckle.