Abstract: A coupling assembly for connecting the drive wire of a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system to a guide rail includes a sealing ring that engages the drive wire and keeps lubricant confined to the casing.

Abstract: A passive vehicle safety belt system having a belt transfer member that is moved between restraining and releasing configurations along a guide rail by a drive device that includes a racked wire comprising a connector for joining the casing for the drive wire to the guide rail having two parts defining an elongated retaining portion that are joined to clamp the casing within a longitudinally disposed socket. A plurality of closely spaced, annular grooves help in holding the casing in the socket. The halves clamp the sleeve in the bore. A clasp portion is joined to the retaining portion and is disposed in the guide rail. Resilient ears are received in holes in the guide rail to lock the retaining portion to the guide rail.

Abstract: A belt transfer system for a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a DC power source, a reversible DC motor and circuits for connecting the motor across to the power source for reversible operation and for braking the motor at the end of each operation by connecting both sides of the motor armature to the power source.

Abstract: A drive device for a movable belt guide in a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system which includes a rotatable sprocket wheel having a multiplicity of sprocket teeth that provide positive winding and unwinding of a flexible drive tape having holes that receive the sprocket teeth.

Abstract: A belt clamp for use in conjunction with an emergency locking retractor in a vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a belt turning roll having the belt looped around it and carried by a pair of spaced-apart levers, one on either side of the frame, that are substantially rigidly joined together and mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis transverse to the frame. Springs normally hold the turning roll and levers away from a movable clamping jaw that is supported by the frame to move toward and away from a matching fixed clamping jaw. The springs yield to a substanial pull out force on the belt, thereby enabling the lever and turning roll to pivot toward and to engage and shift the movable clamping jaw toward the fixed clamping jaw, whereupon the belt is gripped between gripping surfaces on the jaws and is prevented from pulling out from the emergency locking retractor.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a drive element to a belt transfer member in a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a fitting on the end of the drive element that is received into a generally U-shaped receptacle on the transfer member and held in place by a U-shaped leaf spring retainer. The fittng has one or more annular, outwardly projecting flanges that fit into and engage openings in the walls of the receptacle to transmit driving force from the fitting to the receptacle.

Abstract: An emergency locking retractor for a vehicle occupant restraint belt comprises a locking mechanism having an inner disc that is received on the reel shaft for axial movement toward and away from a side frame member in which the reel is supported, an inertia spring that normally holds the inner disc in an outward position in which the mechanism is unlocked, and an outer disc fixed on the shaft against axial outward movement away from the frame. One of the two discs is rotatable relative to the shaft, while the other rotates with the shaft, and coating cam elements on the inner and outer discs shift the inner disc toward the frame when the reel is pulled out abruptly and engage coacting locking ratchet teeth on the inner disc and the frame to stop the inner disc from rotating. The reel shaft is locked to the inner disc by a flange on the shaft having lugs that fit into locking slots in the inner disc.

Abstract: The waist belt of a three-point vehicle passenger restraint belt system is contructed to absorb the kinetic energy of the occupant during the initial part of a collision by forced elongation and then to restrain the occupant's lower body for the remaining part of the collision.

Abstract: A moving anchor type passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system having a restraint belt which is transferable along a guide rail affixed in the vehicle roof above the door between an occupant-releasing configuration and an occupant-restraining configuration. The locking device comprises a locking pawl mounted in a fixed anchor member which engages cams provided on the top edge of a movable anchor member and selectively locks the movable anchor member with the fixed anchor member in the occupant-restraining configuration. The invention further comprises an electrical warning system for indicating when the movable anchor member is in the occupant-releasing position, when the pawl is engaged in the cams in the occupant-restraining position, and if the tongue plate attached to the safety belt is properly engaged in the buckle affixed to the moving anchor member.

Abstract: In a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system having a belt that is coupled to a transfer member and a drive wire of a drive device that moves the transfer member along a guide rail between restraint and release positions in response to closing and opening of the door, the drive wire is coupled to the transfer member by a resilient coupling that is pre-assembled on a terminal on the drive wire and that is pushed onto a post on the transfer member. Resilient tangs on the connector member engage a stop shoulder, such as thread teeth, on the post.

Abstract: An anti-slip device for vehicle occupant restraint system of the type having a control belt and serially arranged lap belt and shouler belt sections joined by a D-ring and a looop in the control belt which is inserted through the restraint belt opening in the D-ring. A lock member is inserted into the loop and is prevented from moving toward a locking position at the restraint belt opening by springs or tear-away stitching. When a predetermined amount of tension is applied to the control belt the springs or stitching yield or break, thus permitting the lock member to move to the restraint belt opening and thereby wedging the restraint belt against the opening and preventing the lap belt section from slipping into the shoulder belt section.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for connecting a plastic-covered drive wire to a slider in a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises an uncovered segment of the core at the end of the drive wire, a pressed-on coupling ring affixed to the uncovered segment and a coupling sleeve on the slider that is pressed onto the coupling ring and onto a portion of the drive wire covering adjacent the uncovered segment. Damaging concentrated bending stresses in the drive wire core adjacent the coupling ring are eliminated due to support of the core by the covering portion within the sleeve.

Abstract: A passive safety seat belt system for a vehicle includes a belt that is driven between a restraint position and a release position by a direct current electric motor having first and second brushes positioned diametrically opposite each other on the commutator. A third brush is positioned adjacent the second brush and contacts the commutator. When the first and second brushes are connected to a source of current to energize the motor, the motor produces a first torque output in a forward direction, and when the first and third brushes are connected with a source of current to energize the motor, the motor produces a second torque smaller than the first torque and in a reverse direction. The motor operates in the forward direction to drive the belt system from the release position to the restraint position in one time period, and operates in the reverse direction to drive the belt system from the restraint position to the release position in approximately the same time period.

Abstract: An infant safety carrier for vehicles comprises a rigid receptacle that is secured by a vehicle seat belt on the seat crosswise of the vehicle and a bag of strong flexible material fastened to the receptacle and shaped and dimensioned to envelop an infant's body and head, except for his or her face, to restrain the infant safely in the vehicle in the event of an accident.

Abstract: An improved drive wire for a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a length of racked wire composed of a stranded wire core and a helically wound tooth wire, and a length of transfer wire composed of a stranded wire core and a covering of durable polymeric material joined to each other at a butt splice connection that includes a pressed-on metal collar adjacent to the end of each stranded wire core, a band of polymeric material on each core adjacent the collar and a pressed-on coupling sleeve surrounding and joining the collars and embracing the polymeric bands for relief of concentrated stresses adjacent the collars.

Abstract: Drive device for a movable belt transfer guide in a passive seat belt system includes a friction coupling that is housed separately from the gears to isolate it from the gear lubricant. The coupling normally transmits the driving force, but slips if the transfer guide tends to be overdriven thereby minimizing overloading and shock loads.

Abstract: A simplified motion amplifier arrangement for a passive restraint belt system comprises a movable belt hanger transferable along a guide rail and connected with an output driving member which engages an output gear wheel. A link rod arranged to slide along a second guide rail is releasably attached in an eye provided on the vehicle body near the dash and accessible to the passenger. The rearward end of the link rod is connected with an input driving member which engages a smaller input gear wheel mounted concentric to and rotatable with the output gear wheel. When the door is opened, the link rod is pulled forward, thereby pushing the input gear member to drive the gear wheels. As the output gear rotates it pulls the output driving member to transfer the belt from the restraining to the releasing position.

Abstract: A belt shifting mechanism in a passive restraint belt system including a link rod and a paired slider mounted within a slide rail which is mounted on the inner face of a vehicle door, the paired slider having a front and rear slider, the link rod being attached at one end to the vehicle body adjacent the front edge of the vehicle door opening and at the other end to the front slider, the rear slider having connected thereto a drive member which in response to the motion of the rear slider causes a restraint belt to shift between a restraining position and a release position, the front and rear slider being releasably attached to each other by a releasing device, the releasing device when the vehicle door is partially opened from a closed position releasing the front slider from the rear slider such that only the front slider is caused by the link rod to slide forwardly beyond the predetermined point in response to the opening of the door from a partially opened to a fully opened position.

Abstract: A child safety seat for vehicles comprises a molded plastic seat having a bottom, back and protective sides and fitted with a padded cover. The plastic seat is carried on and strengthened by a tubular metal frame which is constructed to support the safety seat on a vehicle seat and to be secured in place by the vehicle seat belt or a special restraint belt. A retractor belt leads rearwardly from an emergency locking retractor fastened to the underside of the seat and joins a pair of shoulder belts which extend divergently and upwardly in back of the seat back, forward over an upper cross piece of the supporting frame and through lateral spaced-apart slots in the seat back and then lead downwardly into a polymeric foam abdominal pad. Portions of the shoulder belts corresponding to the pelvic region of the child are embedded within and united to the abdominal pad and are fastened at their lower ends to the upper portion of a buckle tongue, which portion is also embedded within the abdominal pad.