Abstract: Various embodiments of restraint system pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a pretensioning assembly to automatically pretension the seat harness.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices and systems for attaching seatbelts to anchoring structures in aircraft and other vehicles, are described herein. In some embodiments, such apparatuses include a modular connector having a base configured to be attached to an anchoring structure, a body configured to be attached to a seatbelt, and an annular lock configured to releasably couple the body to the base. In these embodiments, the body carries the lock adjacent to an aperture configured removably receive the base. When the body is pressed over the base, the base passes into the aperture and contacts the annular lock, expanding the lock outwardly around the base. The base continues moving though the aperture in the body until the lock retracts into a groove in base, thereby releasaby locking the body to the base.

Abstract: Buckle assemblies with dual release features and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly is configured to detachably engage latch plates. The buckle assembly can include a top cover and a bottom housing collectively defining an operation space; a load plate having a plurality of apertures, an actuator configured to connect with the top cover, a plurality of pawls configured to operably enter the corresponding apertures so as to secure a plurality of latch plates, a release ring positioned adjacent to the pawls and connected with a release cord. The latch plates can be released by rotating the top cover or pulling the release cord.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes apparatuses, devices and systems for attaching seatbelts to anchoring structures in aircraft and other vehicles. In some embodiments, such apparatuses include a modular connector having a base configured to be attached to an anchoring structure, a body configured to be attached to a seatbelt, and an annular lock configured to releasably couple the body to the base. In these embodiments, the body carries the lock adjacent to an aperture configured removably receive the base. When the body is pressed over the base, the base passes into the aperture and contacts the annular lock, expanding the lock outwardly around the base. The base continues moving though the aperture in the body until the lock retracts into a groove in base, thereby releasaby locking the body to the base.

Abstract: Buckle assemblies with lift latches and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly is configured to detachably engage at least one latch plate. The buckle assembly includes a cover, a load plate connected to the cover and formed with a plurality of openings, a shaft passing through the cover, a lift latch being operably rotated around the shaft in the operation space, and pawls selectively locking corresponding latch plates inserted in the openings in response to the rotation of the lift latch.

Abstract: Various embodiments of restraint system pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a pretensioning assembly to automatically pretension the seat harness.

Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.

Abstract: Buckle assemblies with lift latches and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly is configured to detachably engage at least one latch plate. The buckle assembly includes a cover, a load plate connected to the cover and formed with a plurality of openings, a shaft passing through the cover, a lift latch being operably rotated around the shaft in the operation space, and pawls selectively locking corresponding latch plates inserted in the openings in response to the rotation of the lift latch.

Abstract: Buckle assemblies with dual release features and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly is configured to detachably engage latch plates. The buckle assembly can include a top cover and a bottom housing collectively defining an operation space; a load plate having a plurality of apertures, an actuator configured to connect with the top cover, a plurality of pawls configured to operably enter the corresponding apertures so as to secure a plurality of latch plates, a release ring positioned adjacent to the pawls and connected with a release cord. The latch plates can be released by rotating the top cover or pulling the release cord.

Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.

Abstract: Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.

Abstract: Buckle assemblies with swivel and dual release features and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly is configured to detachably engage a web connector coupled to a first web. The buckle assembly includes a support structure coupled to a first release actuator, a second release actuator, and a swivel subassembly. The buckle assembly is configured to allow a user to detach the web connector from the buckle assembly via the first and/or second release actuators. Moreover, the swivel subassembly is configured to be coupled to a second web and to prevent the second web from twisting with reference to the buckle assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.

Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.