Abstract: A system for pretensioning a seatbelt includes a minispool and a drive rod. The drive rod includes a spiral portion that, when driven along a longitudinal axis, causes the minispool to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The spiral portion of the drive rod engages the minispool, which includes corresponding structure that tracks the spiral portion. The minispool is restricted from longitudinal travel such that tracking the spiral portion causes the minispool to rotate and the drive rod passes through the minispool. In another form, the minispool can be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, with the translation of the drive rod causing the minispool to translate in the same direction of the drive rod. The minispool can include teeth that engage a bracket, such that the translation of the minispool causes the minispool to rotate as it translates.

Abstract: A system for pretensioning a seatbelt includes a minispool and a drive rod. The drive rod includes a spiral portion that, when driven along a longitudinal axis, causes the minispool to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The spiral portion of the drive rod engages the minispool, which includes corresponding structure that tracks the spiral portion. The minispool is restricted from longitudinal travel such that tracking the spiral portion causes the minispool to rotate and the drive rod passes through the minispool. In another form, the minispool can be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, with the translation of the drive rod causing the minispool to translate in the same direction of the drive rod. The minispool can include teeth that engage a bracket, such that the translation of the minispool causes the minispool to rotate as it translates.

Abstract: A height adjuster (200) for a vehicle safety restraint comprising: a rail (230) for providing a vertical path guide for a carrier (220); the carrier (220) configured to be vertically movable along the rail to one of a plurality of locations, the carrier also configured to rotationally support the web guide (210). The height adjuster also comprises a lock mechanism (240) movable between a locked and an unlocked condition, when in a locked condition the carrier is prohibited from moving down the rail and when in an unlocked condition the carrier is free to be moved; and a return spring mechanism (300) comprising a coiled return spring having an interior or coiled end (372) and a distal end (376), the interior end configured not to rotate as the carrier is moved and a distal end of the return spring secured to one of the carrier and release mechanism.

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) adapted for use with a seat belt system, the height adjuster including: a lock bar (110) having a lock side (116) with optional teeth (116a) and an opposing side (118); a lock lever (120) having an opening (122) therethrough, the lock bar receivable through the opening, a portion of the lock lever proximate the opening (122) configured as a lock edge (128) engagable with the lock side of the lock bar (110), the lock lever (120) movable between a disengaged position in which the lock edge is disengaged from the lock side and an engaged position in which the lock edge is engaged with the lock side of the lock bar; a clutch and actuator assembly (200) movably mounted to the lock bar and configured to move the lock lever between the disengaged position and the engaged position upon relative movement between the assembly (200) and the lock lever (120), the assembly (200) including a clutch portion (210) and an actuator portion (202).

Abstract: A height adjuster for a vehicle safety restraint has a web guide (38) and a track (84) for the web guide. The web guide (38) is vertically moveable along the track (84). A lock (76) has a lock condition for preventing vertical movement of the web guide (38) along the track (84) and an unlocked condition for allowing vertical movement of the web guide (38) along the track (84). A release mechanism (50, 80) is operatively connectable to said lock (76). The release mechanism (50, 80) has a release position for placing the lock (76) in the unlocked condition and an unreleased position from maintaining the lock (76) in the lock condition. A lift mechanism (66) at least partially assists vertical movement of the web guide (38) along the track (84) and biases the release mechanism (50, 80) toward the unreleased position.

Abstract: A web guide assembly has a D-ring to receive a seatbelt. The D-ring is attached to a support by a joint. The joint allows universal movement relative to the support. The web guide assembly may be part of a vehicle restraint system.

Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint adjuster has a vehicle safety restraint support and a guide for the support. The support is moveable along the guide. The adjuster further has a lock which secures the safety restraint support at a position on the guide in the locked state and allows the support to move in the unlocked state. A magnetic actuator selectively places the lock in the locked state and the unlocked state.

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 medical imaging system including a sound recording sub-system that records, digitizes and time-stamps at least one channel of sound related to time domain images produced by the medical imaging system in accordance with a system clock signal. The sound recording sub-system indexes or synchronizes the at least one channel of sound to events in the plurality of time domain images, which are acquired, digitized and time-stamped in accordance with the system clock signal. The time-stamped, digitized at least one channel of sound is memory-stored.

Abstract: An adjustable turning loop for a vehicle comprises a rail and a slide for a web guide. The slide is slideably received on the rail. A lock maintains a slide at a position on the rail. The lock has a locked condition limiting movement of the slide on the rail and an unlocked condition allowing movement of the slide on the rail. The lock comprises a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member pivot relative to the rail. The first member and the second member engage the rail in the locked condition and disengage from the rail in the unlocked condition.

Abstract: A medical imaging system including a sound recording sub-system that records, digitizes and time-stamps at least one channel of sound related to time domain images produced by the medical imaging system in accordance with a system clock signal. The sound recording sub-system indexes or synchronizes the at least one channel of sound to events in the plurality of time domain images, which are acquired, digitized and time-stamped in accordance with the system clock signal. The time-stamped, digitized at least one channel of sound is memory-stored.

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 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: 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: An apparatus (10) includes a base (30) defining a passage (32) which receives a seat belt tongue (16). The base (30) has an intermediate portion (108) between a pair of opposite end portions (106 and 112). The apparatus (10) further includes a housing (28) which contains the base (30). The housing (28) and the end portions (106 and 112) of the base (30) have structures (100, 128, 132) that interlock following movement of the base (30) within the housing (28) in a first direction and subsequently in a second, opposite direction. One of the housing (28) and the intermediate portion (108) of the base (30) defines a slot (144). The other of the housing (28) and the intermediate portion (108) of the base (30) defines a tab (102) which moves into abutment with a surface (146) in the slot (144) upon movement of the base (30) in the second direction.

Abstract: A latch mechanism latches a seat back (40), which is moveable relative to a seat base (20) between an upright position and a folded position. The latch mechanism comprises a pawl (60) connected with the seat back (40). The pawl (60) is moveable relative to the seat back (40) between an engaged position in which the pawl (60) is effective to prevent movement of the seat back (40) from the upright position and a disengaged position in which the pawl (60) is ineffective to prevent movement of the seat back (40) from the upright position. The latch mechanism further comprises a retaining member (100) connected with the seat back (40). The retaining member (100) is moveable from a first position to a second position upon movement of the seat back from the upright position. The retaining member (100) is effective to retain the pawl (60) against movement to the engaged position relative to the seat back (40) when the retaining member (100) is in the second position.

Abstract: A buckle (20) comprises a base (80) which defines a cavity (88) for receiving first and second tongues (62, 64) of a vehicle seat belt system. A latch plate (102) is supported by the base (80) and is movable between a latched position connecting the first and second tongues (62, 64) with the base and a release position in which the first and second tongues are disconnected from the base. A pushbutton (222) is movable to an actuated position to move the latch plate (102) from the latched position to the release position. A spring (260) is located in the cavity (82) and is connected to the latch plate (102). The spring (260) has a portion (262) which urges the latch plate (102) toward the latched position. The spring (260) has another portion (264) which extends between the first and second tongues (62, 64) to urge the pushbutton (222) away from the actuated position.