Abstract: A vehicle restraint adjuster has a guide and a support for a vehicle restraint. The support is moveable along the guide. A securing member is provided to secure the guide to a vehicle body. The securing member is selectively actuable between a first position interfering with movement of the support past a predetermined point on the guide and a second position permitting movement of the support through the predetermined point.

Abstract: A quick connect anchor 20 for attachment to a cooperating fastener 110, the anchor including: a plate 30 configured to be placed over the fastener and configured to be moved in a first direction from a free position to a locked position; and a resilient blocking member 50 movable with the plate from a first position, in which the resilient member is free from the fastener, to an engaged position in engagement with a portion of the fastener, to resiliently connect the plate with the fastener when the plate is in its locked position.

Abstract: A height adjuster (100, 200, 400) for a seat belt system comprising a mounting bar (102, 202, 402), a carrier (120, 220,460, 460a) and a spring-loaded locking lever (170, 270,490). The mounting bar is preferably oval or rectangular in cross-section with at least one wall (side wall), which acts as an engagement or locking surface. The engagement surface can include a plurality of small teeth. The bar is adapted to be mounted to a support surface or structure. The carrier is slidably mounted on the bar and is movable to different positions. The carrier includes a main portion, which may be U-shaped in cross-section with a top, a bottom and a center wall. Each of the top and bottom walls includes a first opening through which the mounting bar extends.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) characterized by low mass and low operating noise, resistant to dust, moisture, and corrosion comprising: an integrally formed, quadrilaterally shaped main body portion (24). In the preferred embodiment of the invention the frame is injection molded using 50% or greater long glass fiber plastic or die cast or injection molded metal. A spring housing wall and wall of a mechanism cover are also integrally formed in the sides of the retractor. Positioned within the spring housing wall is a spring coil guide, as well as an integrally formed anchor, which is used to hold the outer end of a rewind spring. The mechanism side of the frame further includes an integrally formed post or pin to pivotally support a locking pawl.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) characterized by low mass and low operating noise, resistant to dust, moisture, and corrosion comprising: an integrally formed, quadrilaterally shaped main body portion (24). In the preferred embodiment of the invention the frame is injection molded using 50% or greater long glass fiber plastic or die cast or injection molded metal. A spring housing wall and wall of a mechanism cover are also integrally formed in the sides of the retractor. Positioned within the spring housing wall is a spring coil guide, as well as an integrally formed anchor, which is used to hold the outer end of a rewind spring. The mechanism side of the frame further includes an integrally formed post or pin to pivotally support a locking pawl.

Abstract: A height adjuster (100, 200, 400) for a seat belt system comprising a mounting bar (102, 202, 402), a carrier (120, 220,460, 460a) and a spring-loaded locking lever (170, 270,490). The mounting bar is preferably oval or rectangular in cross-section with at least one wall (side wall), which acts as an engagement or locking surface. The engagement surface can include a plurality of small teeth. The bar is adapted to be mounted to a support surface or structure. The carrier is slidably mounted on the bar and is movable to different positions. The carrier includes a main portion, which may be U-shaped in cross-section with a top, a bottom and a center wall. Each of the top and bottom walls includes a first opening through which the mounting bar extends.

Abstract: A seat belt system including a web guide (150) having a support surface (192) for supporting a portion of a seat belt (30). The shape of the support surface is based upon the natural curvature of the seat belt. To determine the natural curvature of the seat belt a segment of the belt is folded to form a loop. The unstressed shape of this looped portion of the seat belt is defined by and corresponds to the natural curvature of the seat belt. The support surface, in one embodiment, is realized by a circular cylinder of radius that is circumscribed within the loop.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) characterized by low mass and low operating noise, resistant to dust, moisture, and corrosion comprising: an integrally formed, quadrilaterally shaped main body portion (24). In the preferred embodiment of the invention the frame is injection molded using 50% or greater long glass fiber plastic or die cast or injection molded metal. A spring housing wall and wall of a mechanism cover are also integrally formed in the sides of the retractor. Positioned within the spring housing wall is a spring coil guide, as well as an integrally formed anchor, which is used to hold the outer end of a rewind spring. The mechanism side of the frame further includes an integrally formed post or pin to pivotally support a locking pawl.

Abstract: An energy absorbing web guide assembly comprising: a web guide for slidingly supporting a section of a seat belt; and a pair of mounting fasteners for mounting the web guide to a mounting surface and for permitting the web guide to resiliently move, in response to forces input thereto, between a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (20) characterized by low mass and low operating noise, resistant to dust, moisture, and corrosion comprising: an integrally formed, quadrilaterally shaped main body portion (24). In the preferred embodiment, the frame is injection molded using 50% or greater long glass fiber plastic or die cast or injection molded metal. A spring housing wall and wall of a mechanism cover are also integrally formed in the sides of the retractor. Positioned within the spring housing wall is a spring coil guide, as well as an integrally formed anchor, which is used to hold the outer end of a rewind spring. The mechanism side of the frame further includes an integrally formed post or pin to pivotally support a locking pawl.

Abstract: An anchor mechanism (200, 200a) has a load bearing plate (202) having a first opening (210). The plate coated by a coating material (214) at least in the vicinity of the first opening. The coating material (214) proximate opening (210a) being formed into a breakaway retaining ring (220) which functions to retaining a fastening bolt (82,82a) to the coated plate prior to installation and which breaks away during installation of the anchor mechanism to a cooperating part (102).

Abstract: A height adjuster for use with a seat belt comprising: a track mountable to a structural member of a vehicle in a vertical orientation, the member including a portion of a vehicle seat, the track including a plurality of adjustment holes located along its length, a carrier member, manually movable along the track relatively to the adjustment holes, the carrier member supporting a movable pin, having a top and a bottom. The pin is movable from a first position in which it is disengaged from a selected adjustment hole to a second position in which it is located within the selected adjustment hole. A spring biases the pin in a direction toward the back of the track, and an activating member, operatively connected to the pin, moves the pin out of the selected hole to the selected position. A web guide, adapted to receive the seat belt, is mounted to and movable with the slide member.

Abstract: A seat belt webbing retractor (10) has a spool sleeve (24) about which seat belt webbing (30) is wound. The spool sleeve (24) is rotatable in webbing withdrawal and webbing retraction directions (A and B). A ratchet wheel (26) is fixed for rotation with the spool sleeve (24). A movable pawl (34) has a blocking position for blocking the ratchet wheel (26) and the spool sleeve (24) against rotation in the webbing withdrawal direction (A). The pawl (34) also has a release position for permitting rotation of the ratchet wheel (26) and the spool sleeve (24) in the webbing withdrawal direction (A). A ring gear (96) moves from an initial position to an end position during rotation of the spool sleeve (24) and the ratchet wheel (26) in the webbing withdrawal direction (A). A lever (46) moves from a first position to a second position when the ring gear (96) arrives at the end position to cause movement of the pawl (34) automatically from the release position to the blocking position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12) supporting a spool (50) on which seat belt webbing (72) is wound for rotation in belt withdrawal (76) and belt retraction (75) directions. A lever (196) for use in preventing rotation of the spool (50) in the belt withdrawal direction (76) has a cylindrical portion (220) and a key (224) extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion (220). The lever (196) is supported for pivotal movement on a support member (112) that has a cylindrical chamber (222) for receiving the cylindrical portion (220) of the lever (196). A keyway (226) extends radially outward from the cylindrical chamber (222) for receiving the key (224) of the lever (196). The keyway (226) includes a surface (227) engageable by the key (224) of the lever (196) to prevent axial movement of the cylindrical portion (220) out of the cylindrical chamber (222).

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) has a rotatable spool (50) on which seat belt webbing (16) is wound. Rotation of the spool (50) results in rotation of an actuator gear (170) which drives an actuator ring (200). The actuator gear (170) and actuator ring (200) control movement of a cinch lever (130) to an actuated position to move a lock pawl (100) into engagement with a ratchet wheel (90) to block rotation of the spool (50) in a belt withdrawal direction (58). When all the belt webbing (16) is wound on the spool (50), a blocking member (230) on the actuator ring (200) moves the cinch lever (130) against a vehicle deceleration sensor lever (118) to minimize rattling of the sensor lever and of an inertia mass (112). A projection (216) on the actuator ring (200) ensures proper movement of the cinch lever (130) from the actuator ring (200) onto a cam surface (194) of the actuator gear (170).