Abstract: A seat apparatus comprises: a seat back provided with a seat back frame; a head rest frame supported to the seat back frame via a tilting shaft so as to be freely tilted in forward and rearward directions; a head rest supported to an upper side of the tilting shaft in the head rest frame; a gas actuator mounted to the seat back frame, operated due to a momentary gas generation and tilting the head rest frame in a direction in which the head rest is tilted forward at a time of the operation; and an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of the automobile in the forward and rearward directions. The gas actuator is operated when the acceleration sensor detects a predetermined or greater acceleration.

Abstract: The engagement between the first and second members is accomplished by the wedging of roller members so that the first and second members can be held rotationally fast to each other in a continuous manner or at any desired angular position. A pair of roller members are received in a chamber defined between the first and second members, and are normally urged into wedging engagement in the circumferential ends of the chamber under the spring force of a spring member, but may be disengaged so as to allow free relative rotation between the first and second members by displacing the roller members toward each other against the spring force of the spring member by using actuation members. Thus, the relative rotation in either direction can be prevented, and the releasing of the first and second members can be accomplished simply by slightly moving the roller members.

Abstract: A seat apparatus comprises: a seat back provided with a seat back frame; a head rest frame supported to the seat back frame via a tilting shaft so as to be freely tilted in forward and rearward directions; a head rest supported to an upper side of the tilting shaft in the head rest frame; a gas actuator mounted to the seat back frame, operated due to a momentary gas generation and tilting the head rest frame in a direction in which the head rest is tilted forward at a time of the operation; and an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of the automobile in the forward and rearward directions. The gas actuator is operated when the acceleration sensor detects a predetermined or greater acceleration.

Abstract: In a seat belt pretensioner device, comprising a seat belt buckle which is supported in a moveable manner, a power generator for moving the buckle in a direction to increase a tension of the seat belt, and a reverse preventing device for preventing the reversal of the movement of the buckle, the reverse preventing device consists of a ball-type one-way clutch defining a plurality of chambers between an inner race and an outer race, each of said chambers narrowing in a rotational direction and receiving a ball and a spring urging the ball toward a narrower part of the corresponding chamber, and the springs are formed by bending a plurality of projections integrally formed in a peripheral part of a single disk shaped plate member into a wavy form. Thus, the multitude of springs are formed by a single member, and not only the management of component parts is simplified but also the assembly work for the one-way clutch is facilitated even when the one-way clutch is not adapted to be formed as a subassembly.

Abstract: An emergency locking scat hinge device includes an inner and outer members defining a plurality of chambers therebetween, each having a relatively wide central part and end parts which get progressively narrower circumferentially away from the central part, a rolling member received in each of the chambers, a resiliently supported retaining member which retains each of the rolling members in the side central part of the corresponding chamber, and an acceleration sensitive locking device which actuates the retaining member so as to cause the rolling members to wedge between the inner and outer members. Because this seat hinge device permits free rotation under normal condition but prevents the relative rotation in a high acceleration situation, it can effectively increase the mechanical strength and rigidity of a seat back against tilting particularly when it is used on one side of a vehicle seat while a normal recliner hinge device is used on the other side of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A lever apparatus for operating a member comprises: a supporting member; a gear rotatably supported by the supporting member around a rotation shaft and connected to the member; a lever coaxially rotatable with the rotation shaft in a normal direction and in a reverse direction from a neutral position thereof within a predetermined angle; a return spring for returning the lever to the neutral position; a latch rotatably supported by the lever around a latch shaft and transmitting a rotation of the lever to the gear and providing a torque to the gear in the normal direction or in the reverse direction according to the direction of the lever; and an engaging shaft disposed between the latch and the supporting member. The engaging shaft engages the latch with the supporting member when the lever is rotated in the predetermined angle.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat assembly which can prevent a submarine phenomenon in a reliable manner, and which is simple in structure so as to allow a high level of flexibility in layout. A slip preventing member for preventing the vehicle occupant from slipping forward under the seat belt in case of an impact is supported by a fixed part of a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position, and an actuator is interposed between a fixed part of said seat and a part of said slip preventing member. To retain the slip preventing member at its raised position even after the power of the power unit is all used up, the assembly further includes a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position.

Abstract: A lever apparatus for operating a member comprises: a supporting member; a gear rotatably supported by the supporting member around a rotation shaft and connected to the member; a lever coaxially rotatable with the rotation shaft in a normal direction and in a reverse direction from a neutral position thereof within a predetermined angle; a return spring for returning the lever to the neutral position; a latch rotatably supported by the lever around a latch shaft and transmitting a rotation of the lever to the gear and providing a torque to the gear in the normal direction or in the reverse direction according to the direction of the lever; and an engaging shaft disposed between the latch and the supporting member. The engaging shaft engages the latch with the supporting member when the lever is rotated in the predetermined angle.

Abstract: In a pretensioner device for automatically increasing a tension of a seat belt in case of a vehicle crash which uses a piston and cylinder arrangement as a power generator, a spring member resiliently urges the piston assembly in the direction of actuation so that any play that may be present in each connecting potion of the path of power transmission can be eliminated. Therefore, collision between component parts at the time of activating the power generator can be prevented, and the loss of energy which could arise from such collision can be avoided. The piston assembly may comprise a piston main body slidably received in the cylinder, and a piston rod having a base end abutting an opposing end of the piston main body and a free end projecting out of the open free end of the cylinder while the cylinder is provided with an inwardly directed radial flange for preventing the piston main body from being projected out of the cylinder.