Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (10) includes seat belt webbing (18) and a device (64) coupled to the seat belt webbing (18) for sensing tension in the seat belt webbing (18). The device (64) is decoupled from the seat belt webbing (18) in response to the tension in the seat belt webbing (18) exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner mechanism (40) includes a part (36) for attachment to the seat belt (20). A strap (50) is connected to the part (36). A piston (78) and piston rod (58) are movable in a first direction to move the strap (50) and the part (36) to tension the seat belt (20). A pivot connection (59, 62) between the piston rod (58) and the strap (50) causes the strap to move with the piston rod. A cam (70) pivots the strap (50) about the pivot connection (59, 62) and effects movement of the part (36) toward the piston rod (58) as the piston (78) and the piston rod move in the first direction.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner mechanism (40) includes a part (36) for attachment to the seat belt (20). A strap (50) is connected to the part (36). A piston (78) and piston rod (58) are movable in a first direction to move the strap (50) and the part (36) to tension the seat belt (20). A pivot connection (59, 62) between the piston rod (58) and the strap (50) causes the strap to move with the piston rod. A cam (70) pivots the strap (50) about the pivot connection (59, 62) and effects movement of the part (36) toward the piston rod (58) as the piston (78) and the piston rod move in the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for providing fluid under pressure for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device comprises an electrically actuatable initiator (80) having terminal pins (100). A hermetically sealed metal propellant container (130) contains a propellant (82) ignitable by the initiator (80) to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (130) is secured to the initiator (80) by crimping. The apparatus (10) also comprises a member (86) electrically insulating between the metal propellant container (130) and the terminal pins (100) of the initiator (80) to isolate the initiator electrically from the propellant container.

Abstract: A filter arrangement which is employed in a fluid conduit is formed of a filter formed of a permeable filter material connected to a flange seal having an annular portion for engaging with and coupling to the permeable filter medium, and a planar portion for forming a seal which prevents leakage at a flange-type coupler. The planar and annular portions of the flange seal are formed of teflon, as is the filter itself, which may be formed of multiple layers of teflon fabric or filter material, each having a respective filter permeability characteristic. The filter is coupled to the annular portion of the flange seal by a thread which is sewn through the various layers of the filter medium and the annular portion of the flange seal. The thread may itself be formed of teflon, such that the entire filter arrangement is formed of teflon and will resist corrosion. Collapse of the filter is prevented by a rigid tubular support which has apertures therethrough to facilitate flow of the fluid.

Abstract: A pretensioner (40) is connected with a seat belt buckle (32) and is operable to move the buckle through a pretensioning stroke to remove slack from a seat belt. Movement of an actuator member (36) from an unactuated position to an actuated position under the influence of its own inertia at the end of a pretensioning stroke is resisted by a pair of counterbalance assemblies (162, 164) disposed in the buckle (32). The counterbalance assemblies (162, 164) include masses (168, 176) having inertia which results in the application of force against counterbalance cams (212, 232) connected with the actuator member (36). This force resists movement of the actuator member (36) to an actuated position at the end of the pretensioning stroke. Upon the application of manual force against an outer end portion of the actuator member (36) to release the buckle, the masses (168, 176) are pivoted by the counterbalance cams (232, 212).

Abstract: A seat belt restraining apparatus (10) for restraining movement of a child in a child seat (12) includes a shoulder belt webbing (28) extensible across the shoulders of a child to restrain movement of the child in the child seat. An adjust belt (44) connected with the shoulder belt webbing is movable to adjust the shoulder belt webbing. An adjuster (50) associated with the adjust belt has a locked condition blocking movement of the adjust belt and a release condition enabling movement of the adjust belt. The adjuster includes a slide bar (120) around which the adjust belt extends and which is slidable on a base (54) between a clamping position blocking movement of the adjust belt and a release position enabling movement of the adjust belt. A pull tab (160) connected with the slide bar is manually movable to move the slide bar from the clamping position to the release position to enable movement of the adjust belt. A guide roller (80) is rotatably mounted on the base.

Abstract: A tongue assembly is for use in a safety apparatus in which belt webbing restrains movement of an occupant of a vehicle or of a child seat. The tongue assembly includes a base, a cover, and a cam. The cam is movable into a clamping position to clamp the belt webbing against the cover to block movement of the belt webbing through the tongue assembly. The cover and the cam are rotatable together on the base in response to forces applied to the belt webbing.

Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant or a child seat includes a tongue assembly and belt webbing which is selectively extensible through the tongue assembly along either a first path or a second path. The first path includes first and second webbing openings in the tongue assembly through which the belt webbing is extensible and slidable when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant. The second path includes the first and second webbing openings and further includes a third webbing opening in the tongue assembly. The belt webbing may selectively be extended through the third webbing opening to block movement of the belt webbing through the tongue assembly when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a child seat.

Abstract: A tongue assembly for use in a safety apparatus in which belt webbing restrains movement of an occupant of a vehicle or of a child seat includes a metal base. The base has a passage through which the belt webbing extends. A plastic cover is fixed to the base and has a belt clamping portion. The tongue assembly also includes a slide bar around which the belt webbing extends. The slide bar is movable relative to the base and cover between a first position in which the slide bar clamps the belt webbing against the belt clamping portion of the cover to block movement of the belt webbing through the passage and a second position in which the belt webbing is movable through the passage.

Abstract: A tongue assembly for use in a safety apparatus in which belt webbing restrains movement of an occupant of a vehicle includes a base, a cover, and a cam. The cover is mounted for sliding movement on the base. The cover has an actuator portion engageable by the belt webbing to slide the cover along the base between a first portion and a second position. The cover engages and pivots a cam when the cover slides from its first position to its second position. The cam has a clamping surface disposed adjacent a clamping surface on the base. A portion of the belt webbing passes between the clamping surfaces on the base and the cam member. The cam is pivoted by sliding movement of the base into a clamping position in which the cam clamps the belt webbing against the base to block movement of the belt webbing through the tongue assembly.

Abstract: A filter bag enclosure for containing a laboratory animal and a carrier therefor during transportation is provided with lateral and top seals which prevent gaseous communication with the laboratory animal therewithin except through the filter medium which forms the lateral sides of the filter bag. In accordance with the invention, the lateral edges of the filter bag are sealingly joined to one another by the application of acoustic energy. A length of sealing material, which may be polyethylene, is advantageously interposed between the edges prior to the application of the acoustic energy so as to enhance the reliability of the lateral seals. The top portion of the filter bag is provided with polyethylene strips joined thereto, illustratively by the use of ultrasonic acoustic energy. After the laboratory animal and its carrier is installed inside of the filter bag, the filter bag may be closed by conventional heat sealing of the polyethylene top strips.

Abstract: A generally tubular shroud of rectangular cross-section having flat side walls formed by inner and outer tubes of rectangular cross-section spaced apart to provide a substantially uniform space therebetween, a flat aluminum-boron carbide sandwich received in and substantially filling the spaces at the four sides of the shroud. The inner and outer tube walls are in pressure contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the sandwiches. The side walls of the tube and sandwiches are interlocked by transversely extending elongated channels formed in the shroud walls including the inner and outer tube walls and the sandwiches. The invention includes a method in which after assembly, the parts are expanded in a die by very high pressure hydraulic pressure by means of a flexible bag, establishing the pressure contact and suitably folding end portions of the inner and outer tubes.