Abstract: A housing (2) for mounting a gas generatot (7) in a pyrotechnic pretensioner, the housing comprising a hollow container for supporting the gas generator, the container having an opening through which the gas generator (7) may be inserted and having a tapered end section (20) arranged to be adjacent and to co-operate with a gas outlet end of the gas generator to provide a seal around the gas outlet, and the hpusing having a cover (8) for closing the container opening, the cover having a tapered wedge member (22) extending into the container in use at the opposite end to the tapered end section (20) to urge the gas generator (7) towards the tapered end section (20) of the container, in a close fit manner. The wedge(22) is preferably integral with the housing cover (8). This housing makes fitting of the gas generator easier and improves the seal between it and the pretensioner thus improving performance.

Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus has a 3-point seatbelt, with a buckle head, and a crash sensor. A pretensioner is connected at the buckle head of the seatbelt for pulling in a length of seatbelt webbing in response to the crash sensor detecting a crash. The pretensioner has a force reservoir and a piston located within and for movement along a pretensioner cylinder under the force of gas from a gas generator. The piston is connected by a cable to the buckle head of the seatbelt. A cable bracket has an inner and outer guide, and wherein the pretensioner cylinder is attached to the inner guide and the buckle mounting is connected to the outer guide.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic pretensioner for a vehicle safety belt comprises a piston slidably movable within a cylinder and attached to one end of a cable. The piston is driven along the cylinder by a gas generator to pull the cable and tension the safety belt. A locking device allows free movement of the piston in a tensioning direction and engages the cylinder to prevents movement of the piston in a loosening direction. The internal surface of the cylinder has a tooth profile engaged by the locking device. The piston has two resilient sealing members which cooperate with the tooth profile to seal the spaces between the teeth. The two sealing members are spaced apart by an odd integral number of half pitches of the teeth.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle safety restraint having a cylindrical hollow tube and a piston connected via a cable to a part of the vehicle safety restraint for tightening the safety restraint in the event of a crash. The piston having a gas generator with gas vents directed with a component in the opposite direction to that of the piston movement for belt tightening. The piston also having locks and seals, the locks being operable only against the belt loosening direction, and wherein the gas generator is positioned forward of the locking mechanism in the direction of piston movement for belt tightening.A more compact, cost effective pretensioner is possible.

Abstract: A termination device for terminating an electrical conductive track of a flexible circuit or a printed circuit. The device comprises a metallic member having a base with a pair of turned-over sidewalls thereon spaced apart to define an elongated gap. The base has an upwardly projecting curved portion which extends below the gap. When a circuit is positioned between the sidewalls and the base and the sidewalls are forced downwardly toward the base, the sidewalls cooperate with the curved projection on the base to tangentially grip the circuit therebetween and rupture any insulation on the circuit without piercing the conductor of the circuit.