Abstract: A safety restraint system in which the retractor for the shoulder webbing is pivotably mounted to a structural member associated with the back of the seat. The retractor is pivotable about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The retractor has a shaft normal to the spool of the retractor and is pivotably locked in a sleeve of a mounting bracket attached to the structural member.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism comprising: a winding housing having a wedge pusher member; a spool rotationally supported in the winding housing having webbing wound thereon; a rewind spring for rewinding webbing onto the spool; a sensor responsive to one of vehicle deceleration or web acceleration in excess of a determinable limit for pre-blocking the rotation of the spool prior to the initiation of web clamping; a support frame for rotationally supporting the winding housing, and a web clamping device supported in the support frame, in a deactivated condition, for clamping the webbing, wherein after the pre-blocking of the spool and in response to a continued force on the web the winding housing rotates urging the web pusher into engagement with the web clamping device to clamp the web therebetween.

Abstract: A D-ring or seat belt apparatus (200) for safety belts comprising: a cradle (300) adapted to be mounted to a cooperating structure; a member (201, 204) supported by the cradle and having a roller (260) and flexible shaft (270) for supporting a shoulder belt portion of a seat belt. The member (201, 204) permitted to move or rotate side to side relative to the cradle, to move or rotate about a first axis of the cradle and to move or rotate about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A height adjuster (10) useful to adjust the height of a safety belt webbing, comprising: a frame (12) having a plurality of spaced locking formations (18); a carrier (16) movably mounted upon the frame comprising; a handle assembly (40) for locking the carrier into a designated one of the locking formations (18) comprising: a locking pin (50) movable into and out from the designated locking formation and biased by a first spring (134) toward the locking formations: and activation assembly (60,70,90), comprising variable height spring (90) for initiating retraction of the pin from the designated locking formation in response to a squeezing or clamping action, the carrier being movable along the frame with the locking pin (50) disengaged from any locking formation.

Abstract: A safety belt system (20) comprising a spool having safety belt webbing (26) attached to a spool (24) retraction mechanism that is spring biased to retract the webbing. The spool is associated with a ratchet wheel (28a,b) and a locking member (42). The locking member is movable into engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent extension of the webbing under certain vehicle operating conditions. A pendulum-type inertial member (44) associated with the locking member is operable to move the locking member into engagement with the ratchet wheel. The system includes a noise inhibitor assembly (50) which prevents the locking member from rattling under certain operating conditions.

Abstract: A latch plate assembly (10) comprising: a plate (12) having formed at one end thereof a tongue (14) and at an opposite end a back portion (22), the back portion (22) comprising open ends (112a,b) and an open recess (50; 30), the back portion including radially extending opposing openings (52,54) through which may be received a substantially flat seat belt webbing (60); a lock bar (80) moveable between first and second positions releasing and compressing the webbing (60); a cap (90) for enclosing the open recess (50; 30) and open ends (112a,b) including a sloping surface for positioning the lock bar (80) into compressive engagement with the webbing (60) and for slideably securing the lock bar (80) therein.

Abstract: A safety restraint system (10) for a vehicle comprising: a safety belt (20) having a seat belt portion connected to a buckle (64) and a shoulder belt portion connected to a motorized retractor which includes a reversible motor (34). The shoulder belt portion is received through a D-ring (60) having associated therewith a first angle sensor (80). The system additionally includes a logic control unit (104) which controls the system through various modes of operation. In its normal mode of operation the logic control unit monitors and stores the value of the D-ring (60) angle and initiates the rewind of the seat belt (20) during instances of excess shoulder belt slack. Upon rewinding the shoulder belt the motor (34) is commanded to reverse wind to pay-out a very small amount of the seat belt webbing thereby relieving shoulder belt tension.

Abstract: A door mounted transport mechanism for passive three point safety restraint system for motor vehicles operates to move the restraint system from the "B" pillar to the "A" pillar of the motor vehicle when the door is opened and returning when the door is closed and the ignition system is turned on. By being mounted in the vehicle door, the restraint system is fabricated and assembled as a subassembly and moved to the vehicle assembly line in a complete condition. Occupant convenience is obtained by the positioning of the rear anchoring positions on the door which puts them more outboard than in a convention pillar mounted system.

Abstract: A low friction self-locking adjust tongue having a pair of depressed lands provided in the tongue plate either side of the web aperture to form a lock bar well. Cutouts provided in the tongue plate's upstanding flanges form in conjunction with said depressed lands a bi-level lock bar slot extending rearwardly and upwardly from the lock-bar well to above the plane of the tongue plate. In the unlatched position of the tongue plate, the lock bar rests in the lock bar well permitting the seat belt webbing to pass thereover with negligable friction. In the locked position, the lock bar is displaced towards the rear of the bi-level lock bar slot which raises the lock bar above the plane of the tongue plate. In this position, the friction between the lock bar and the seat belt webbing is sufficient to lock the seat belt webbing in the tongue plate after it is snuggly adjusted about the occupants pelvic region.

Abstract: A web guide for a three point seat belt system integrated into a pillar of an automotive vehicle. The web guide has an annular race disposed in a circular aperture of a hollow vehicle pillar proximate the shoulder height of a seated occupant. A circular web guide member having a transverse web slot receiving the seat belt webbing is rotatably retained in the race. The end of the seat belt webbing external to the pillar is attached to a structural member of the vehicle. The end of the seat belt webbing internal to the hollow pillar is attached to a retractor.

Abstract: A child chair adapted to be secured by conventional vehicle seat belt systems. The chair is provided with a safety belt system including a belt which is attached to the chair and a combined tongue and anchor plate to form a lap belt portion and a pair of shoulder belt portions. The safety belt system also includes a tongue latch which is connected to the chair by means of a crotch belt and releasably connects to the tongue.

Abstract: A lock-up mechanism for a vehicle sensitive automotive seat belt retractor having a shuttle displaceable with the winding and unwinding of the seat belt webbing from the retractor's spool and a lock pawl activated by the shuttle to pivot the retractor's lock bar into engagement with the retractor's lock bar. The lock pawl is pivoted to a reset position by the shuttle disengaging the lock pawl from the retractor's lock bar permitting the webbing to be extracted from the retractor's spool in a normal manner. An overcenter spring holds the lock pawl in either the locked position pivoting the lock bar into engagement with the retractor's ratchet wheel or the reset position with the lock pawl disengaged from the lock bar.

Abstract: A safety belt system having separate lap and shoulder belts. The belts are attached to a double spool belt retraction mechanism which is spring biased to retract the belts. Each spool has associated with it a ratchet wheel and a pawl movable into engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent extension of the associated belt under certain conditions. A pendulum type inertial member is associated with each pawl and is operable under certain conditions of vehicle acceleration and attitude to move the associated pawl into engagement with the related ratchet wheel. The system includes a belt tension eliminating mechanism which prevents retraction of the shoulder belt under certain operating conditions and a member associated with each pawl which prevents the pawl from rattling under certain operating conditions.

Abstract: An emergency release mechanism for passive seat belt systems including a housing retained in the window frame of a vehicle door, a pivotable lever in the housing about which a loop of seat belt webbing is placed, a latch normally holding the lever in its lock position and a release member for movement of the latch out of engagement with the lever in order to release the belt.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system, such as for a three occupant seat, including a rotatable shaft mounted on the vehicle roof and a carriage movable on the shaft in response to rotation of a seat belt retractor as seat belt webbing is extended and retracted as a result of door movement.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system wherein the inboard upper anchor point for the seat belt of the outboard passenger and the upper anchor point for the seat belt of the center passenger are commonly located in the roof of a vehicle, and are commonly movable from a rearward position of passenger restraint to a forward position permitting easy egress and ingress to the seating positions.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system including a retractor spool housing the seat belt and which is rotatable on a shaft in response to door opening to move the seat belt to a non-restraining position permitting easy ingress to the vehicle. The spool mechanism is separate from a lower retractor frame which is fixed to the vehicle. The spool is movable into load transfer engagement with the lower frame upon application of a load to the spool.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system having a door mounted seat belt retractor in which a vehicle sensitive sensor, preferably mounted in the retractor, is mounted at a forward position on the door so that the acceleration acting on the sensor due to normal door opening motion is less than the lock up acceleration.

Abstract: An improved safety belt retractor assembly is provided wherein the support shaft for the retractor spool having a belt wound thereon is directly mounted on a pair of integral raised flanges on a vehicle structural support member. The ends of the shaft engage the flange by a J-shaped anchor and the load caused by the restraining force of the belt is thus transmitted directly to the structural support member. In addition, the lock dog is directly supported in a V-shaped cutout for direct transmission of the force to the structural support. A plastic cover having openings in the sides locate the ends of the shaft and the lock dog during pre-assembly. A crosspiece for the pendulum actuator is also pre-located in the cover.

Abstract: Seat belt tension eliminator device in a vehicle safety belt system, especially for a passive belt system, including fasteners, such as velveting fasteners, associated with the shoulder and lap belts and adapted to be engaged with each other when the belts are secured about an occupant, whereby the tension exerted by the shoulder belt is transferred to the lap belt.