Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a pretensioner wheel rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a pretensioner rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The pretensioner rod engages with the pretensioner wheel during pretensioning. In addition, the pretensioner wheel includes a body portion, a pair of flanges radially extending from the body portion and a plurality of vanes with the cavities formed between adjacent two of the plurality of vanes.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The rod exits the tube along a perimeter of the sprocket, and toward an arcuate landing surface of the guide portion. In addition, the guide plate further includes a couple of tabs and ribs for avoiding rattling of the pretensioner tube in normal use of the retractor assembly.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a polymer rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The polymer rod exits the tube along a perimeter of the sprocket, and toward an arcuate landing surface of the guide portion. In addition, the rod guide is configured for preventing the polymer rod from trapping before engaging with the sprocket or after pretensioning.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a pretensioner wheel rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a pretensioner rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The pretensioner rod engages with the pretensioner wheel during pretensioning. In addition, the pretensioner wheel includes a body portion, a pair of flanges radially extending from the body portion and a plurality of vanes with the cavities formed between adjacent two of the plurality of vanes.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The rod exits the tube along a perimeter of the sprocket, and toward an arcuate landing surface of the guide portion. In addition, the guide plate further includes a couple of tabs and ribs for avoiding rattling of the pretensioner tube in normal use of the retractor assembly.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a polymer rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The polymer rod exits the tube along a perimeter of the sprocket, and toward an arcuate landing surface of the guide portion. In addition, the rod guide is configured for preventing the polymer rod from trapping before engaging with the sprocket or after pretensioning.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a passenger vehicle is provided. The pretensioning assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator and a driving element disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The driving element includes a plastically deformable polymer rod with a recessed portion. A stopper is coupled to an end portion of the plastically deformable polymer rod. A seal member is disposed between the gas generator and the stopper. The tube includes a projection extending within the tube adjacent to the exit to define a constriction portion. The constriction portion is sized to permit the recessed portion of the plastically deformable polymer rod to pass therethrough while preventing the stopper from passing therethrough.

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 and a driving element disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The tube includes a constriction disposed adjacent an exit of the tube. The constriction allows the driving element to pass but prevents a seal member disposed between the generator and the driving element from passing. The constriction provides backpressure on the seal member causing the seal member to expand radially outward. The system can also include a slug member disposed between the seal member and the driving element.

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 and a polymer rod disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The polymer rod is plastically deformable and engages a sprocket to rotate the sprocket in response to the travel of the rod, where rotation of the sprocket causes pretensioning. The rod has a non-constant cross-section along its length. The rod becomes locked after actuation to prevent travel in an opposite direction. The system further includes a seal member and slug member disposed between the rod and the gas generator, where the seal member is relatively flexible and the slug member is relatively hard.

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 and a polymer rod disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The polymer rod is plastically deformable and engages a sprocket to rotate the sprocket in response to the travel of the rod, where rotation of the sprocket causes pretensioning. The rod has a non-constant cross-section along its length. The rod becomes locked after actuation to prevent travel in an opposite direction. The system further includes a seal member and slug member disposed between the rod and the gas generator, where the seal member is relatively flexible and the slug member is relatively hard.

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 and a driving element disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The tube includes a constriction disposed adjacent an exit of the tube. The constriction allows the driving element to pass but prevents a seal member disposed between the generator and the driving element from passing. The constriction provides backpressure on the seal member causing the seal member to expand radially outward. The system can also include a slug member disposed between the seal member and the driving element.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a first belt portion and a second belt portion each having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and a buckle may be secured to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The buckle may be selectively connected to the latch plate in a latched state and may include a housing having an opening receiving the latch plate in the latched state and at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the opening and formed through a surface of the housing opposing a user when in the latched state.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a motor vehicle belt restraint system mounted to a structure of the vehicle. The pretensioner is connected to a belt restraint component that is also connected to the belt restraint system. The pretensioner includes a conduit made of tubing and having first and second ends. At least a portion of the conduit defines an elongated piston bore with a piston slideably positioned therein. A cable is attached to the piston and extends through the conduit for connection to the belt restraint component. A micro-gas generator is also located within the conduit and positioned generally opposite of the piston. Upon activation of the micro-gas generator, a gas is generated in the piston bore and drives the piston such that the piston exerts tension on the cable and thereby on the belt restrain component.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a motor vehicle belt restraint system mounted to a structure of the vehicle. The pretensioner is connected to a belt restraint component that is also connected to the belt restraint system. The pretensioner includes a conduit made of tubing and having first and second ends. At least a portion of the conduit defines an elongated piston bore with a piston slideably positioned therein. A cable is attached to the piston and extends through the conduit for connection to the belt restraint component. A micro-gas generator is also located within the conduit and positioned generally opposite of the piston. Upon activation of the micro-gas generator, a gas is generated in the piston bore and drives the piston such that the piston exerts tension on the cable and thereby on the belt restrain component.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor for providing extraction and retraction of seat belt webbing incorporating a belt tension sensing mechanism. The sensing mechanism includes a webbing guide which is moveable between positions and is biased toward a low tension position by a restoring spring force. The belt webbing is routed to deflected path through the web guide. Increasing tension on the webbing will cause the web guide to change its position as the webbing path straightens. The position of the web guide is detected through an electrical switch to provide a measure of webbing tension.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a first belt portion and a second belt portion each having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and a buckle may be secured to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The buckle may be selectively connected to the latch plate in a latched state and may include a housing having an opening receiving the latch plate in the latched state and at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the opening and formed through a surface of the housing opposing a user when in the latched state.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (100) having a rotationally mounted spool (120) with a seat belt windable thereon and a pretensioner (300) for winding the spool in a belt winding direction to rewind the seat belt upon the spool; the pretensioner comprising a rack and pinion mechanism (350) activated by a pyrotechnic element (400) for causing a clutch assembly (200) to change state from a disengaged mode to an engaged mode in which the clutch assembly drivingly engages the spool.

Abstract: An electromechanical seat belt retractor has a seat belt retractor assembly having a spool rotationally moveable about an axis of rotation for winding and unwinding a seat belt; a motor for selectively rotating the spool; a clutch including an over-clutch driven by the motor through one or more gears; the clutch being coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation of the spool and linearly spaced from the spool; and wherein upon a forward actuation of the motor a clutch plate of the clutch linearly moves to engage the spool coupling to the spool and thereafter rotating the spool about the axis to initiate a winding of the seat belt. After the clutch plate engages the spool a reversal of the motor linearly moves the clutch plate away from the spool disengaging the spool. Preferably the clutch means is a Bendix type clutch assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the clutch plate first engages an over-clutch is fixed in a locking engagement to the spool.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor device has a gas generator for generating a high pressure gas when a vehicle is in emergency; a chamber cylinder for conducting the high pressure gas from the gas generator; a piston received movably within the chamber cylinder and pressed and moved by the high pressure gas, the piston having an O ring sealed end portion engaging walls of the chamber cylinder and a rack portion extending into the chamber cylinder; and a drive unit for rotating a winding shaft or spool of a seat belt retractor in a direction of removing a slack of a belt, using the movement of the piston and driven by said rack teeth portions; a pretensioner employed with an energy absorbing mechanism, for reversely rotating the winding spool when a tension acting on the belt exceeds a predetermined value after removing the slack of the belt; and a venting mechanism having a gas passageway for exhausting the high pressure gas from a space filled with the high pressure gas to the outside of the space, the gas passageway ex

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (100) having a rotationally mounted spool (120) with a seat belt windable thereon and a pretensioner (300) for winding the spool in a belt winding direction to rewind the seat belt upon the spool; the pretensioner comprising a rack and pinion mechanism (350) activated by a pyrotechnic element (400) for causing a clutch assembly (200) to change state from a disengaged mode to an engaged mode in which the clutch assembly drivingly engages the spool.