Abstract: An inflatable seat belt apparatus is formed of an inflatable portion which is usually maintained in a band shape and has an envelope part inflated and deployed in a spindle shape by introducing gas generated by a gas generating device, the gas generating device acting in case of exceeding a predetermined threshold, a webbing having the inflatable portion extending over at least a range directly contacting with an occupant, a tongue fixed to an end of the inflatable portion and having a gas path from the gas generating device and a buckle to which the tongue is detachably engaged. The inflatable portion has an elastic inflatable unit inserted into the envelope part and is inflated and deployed by introducing the gas generated by the gas generating device into the elastic inflatable unit via a filter.

Abstract: An inflatable seatbelt system wherein if extremely high acceleration acts on the vehicle laterally when a lateral collision or other similar emergency situation occurs and this acceleration exceeds a first set value, a gas generator is activated to inflate a shoulder belt (2) surely and almost instantaneously in the same way as in a case where extremely high deceleration acts on the vehicle longitudinally. In this case, a portion of the shoulder belt (2a) extending between first and second anchors (6) and (20) also inflates to a large extent. Accordingly, the head and face of the occupant (M) are brought into contact with the inflated shoulder belt portion (2a) by the lateral acceleration. Therefore, the heavy impact load, which would otherwise be applied to the occupant's head and face, is relieved. Thus, the occupant's head and face are effectively and reliably protected.

Abstract: An inflatable seatbelt system having a webbing (11) formed by laying two strap-like webbing base fabrics (11a) and (11b) one on top of the other, which have a predetermined width approximately equal to the width of a typical conventional seatbelt, and sewing the respective side edges of these webbing base fabrics to each other at both lateral ends of the webbing (11). The warp (14) is disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the webbing (11), and the weft (15) is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the webbing (11). The warp (14) is formed of threads which do not practically stretch when the webbing (11) inflates. The weft (15) is formed of rubber-like stretchable threads made of an elastic material, e.g., urethane. Accordingly, the webbing (11) inflates to a large extent in the lateral direction, but it does not practically inflate in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An inflatable seatbelt system having a webbing (11) formed in the shape of a bag from a woven fabric. The warp of the webbing (11) is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the seatbelt, and the weft is disposed in the lateral direction of the seatbelt. The weft is formed of spandex threads made of a material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity and stretchable in a rubber-like manner, e.g., urethane. The weft (15) on the reverse side of a portion of the webbing (11) corresponding to the boundary between a shoulder belt (2) and a lap belt (3) is cut over a predetermined area. A gas outlet portion (5e) of a tongue (5) is inserted into the shoulder belt (2) from an opening 11(c) formed by widening the cut area of the weft (15).

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller having a magnet roller for feeding a developer to a photoconductor, and a toner concentration sensor for detecting a toner concentration of the developer, a region of the magnet roller corresponding to a location of the toner concentration sensor, being substantially zero gauss as magnetic flux density distribution.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a document feeder for feeding a plurality of documents one by one, a copy paper feeder for feeding a copy paper sheet having a front surface and a rear surface onto which document images are transferable, an image transferring assembly for transferring an image of the fed document onto a copy paper sheet, an operable unit for discharging the copy paper sheet or temporarily retaining the copy paper sheet therein to refeed the sheet to the image transferring assembly when a next document is fed, a mode setting key for selectively setting in advance either of a first mode in which the copy paper sheet onto which the last document image is transferred is forcibly discharged or a second mode in which the copy paper sheet onto which the last document image is transferred is temporarily retained in the operable unit, and a CPU.

Abstract: In order to prevent excessive developer, after regulating the height of the developer on a developing sleeve, from being accumulated on a partition plate even during the time when a developing apparatus is in a non-driven condition, the partition plate is provided, in a surface thereof facing a toner-concentration sensor, with holes for causing the developer to fall downwardly therethrough. Alternatively, an AC voltage is applied to the partition plate, or the partition plate is adapted to be swung or vibrated, or the partition plate is adapted to be movable so that the position of the partition plate during the time when the developing apparatus is in the non-driven condition is different from the during the time when the developing apparatus is being driven.

Abstract: A method of producing water-absorbent cloth-like articles is disclosed. A binderless cellulosic nonwoven fabric is placed in a mold and compressed under a pressure of 1100 to 1500 kg/cm.sup.2, preferably 1200 to 1300 kg/cm.sup.2. The molding so produced will recover to original form when water is added to it.