Abstract: Seat belt systems and inflatable airbags can be used to mitigate the potential for injury to an occupant's neck. The seat belt systems provide for moderating the seat belt loads acting on the occupant to allow an improved synchronization of the occupant torso and head rebound timing, which in turn limits head and torso differential loading (frontal whiplash) and therefore occupant neck loads and neck, based on the position of the occupant, loads on the seatbelt, or a predetermined time in the crash event. Airbags are also provided with a sloped impact face. Additionally, airbags are also provided with a relatively flat top portion.

Abstract: A protection device (10) having a set (11) of protection inflatable members (15, 20, 25) including left and right inflatable lateral means (20, 25) that are suitable for co-operating respectively with the left and right shoulder straps (6, 7), said device (10) possessing an inflator (30) for inflating said protection inflatable members (15, 20, 25). The device includes a headrest (35) carrying a nape airbag (15) of said set of inflatable members (15, 20, 25), the nape airbag (15) including one passage (16, 17) per inflatable lateral means (20, 25) in order to convey fluid to each inflatable lateral means (20, 25), said headrest (35) being provided with a hollow support (40) carrying said inflator (30) and with a fluid diffusion box (50) arranged in the nape airbag (15) so as to convey a fluid from the inflator (30) to the nape airbag (15) and to the inflatable lateral means (20, 25).

Abstract: A vehicle safety device includes a vehicle seat, an inflator, a far-side airbag and a tension tether. The far-side airbag is configured to inflate and deploy forward and upward with respect to the vehicle seat from a seatback inner side portion by a gas being supplied into the far-side airbag. The far-side airbag protrudes higher than a headrest when the far-side airbag is in an inflated and deployed state. The tension tether extends upward from a predetermined portion of an upper end portion of a seatback frame and hooks around the headrest from behind the vehicle seat in the inflated and deployed state. The tension tether extends from an upper surface of the headrest toward an upper surface of the far-side airbag, and further extends toward the seatback frame on a vehicle inside with respect to the far-side airbag in the inflated and deployed state.

Abstract: A restraint seat for use in vehicles with restraint systems having inflation devices is disclosed; the seat has a seat body housing, a seat body attachment means for securing the seat to a vehicle seat assembly, the seat body means securable to the seat body and a child restraint harness affixed to the seat body housing for restraining a child. The child restraint harness includes one or more inflatable belts. The harness is connectable to the vehicle restraint system which includes an inflation device, wherein the actuation of the vehicle inflation device inflates the one or more inflatable belts of the child seat. The harness further has a tongue for connecting the harness of the child seat to the buckle of the vehicle restraint system.

Abstract: Described in this invention is an inflatable cushion apparatus for a vehicle, which may be applied in multiple embodiments. One such apparatus is a cushioned strap that may be used with or in place of a standard seat belt shoulder strap. A strap may also be employed across the lap strap. A second embodiment may be used a vehicle seat cushioned. Disposed within both embodiments is an inflatable tube within channels created by seams, which may be inflated and deflated to accommodate the comfort of the user.

Abstract: A restraint system for a seat is provided and may include a first portion formed from a first material and having a first end fixed for movement with the seat and a second end movable relative to the seat. A second portion may be integral with or attached to the first portion, may be formed from the first material, and may be operable between a pre-deployed state and an inflated state.

Abstract: An air belt apparatus is provided in which a bag is stored while being folded short prior to deployment and inflation. An air belt apparatus includes a bag provided in a part of a seatbelt, a collision detection device, and a gas supply device that supplies deployment gas to the bag. The bag includes a cylindrical portion connected to the gas supply device, and an inflatable portion wider than the cylindrical portion. Prior to deployment and inflation, the inflatable portion is stored on a radial inner side of the cylindrical portion while being turned inside out and folded up to a width substantially equal to a width of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a seatbelt, an anchor attached to the seatbelt and to the mobile platform, and an airbag attached to the mobile platform via the anchor. The airbag may be movable from a pre-deployed state to an inflated state.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system comprising a seat belt webbing having a first end and a second end, the webbing configured to restrain the occupant; a member for anchoring the second end of the webbing; and an inflatable pretensioner having an inflator and an inflatable cushion that includes a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber, wherein the inflator is configured to inflate the first and second chambers of the cushion; wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to deploy upon inflation to provide pretensioning of the webbing to restrain the secured occupant; wherein the second inflatable chamber is configured to deploy upon inflation to restrain the occupant.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes: aside airbag device including an airbag that deploys in a space between a side surface on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of a seat and a passenger compartment inner wall facing the side surface; and a seat belt device including a seat belt that restrains an occupant. The side airbag device is provided at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat and on an inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat belt. The airbag is ejected outward in the vehicle width direction at a vehicle side impact, secures a space between the passenger compartment inner wall and the occupant, and presses the seat belt outward in the vehicle width direction to apply a tension to the seat belt.

Abstract: A seatbelt strap for a seatbelt of a motor vehicle includes several seatbelt strap layers and at least one belt interior that can be charged with gas and is arranged between at least two seatbelt strap layers. The seatbelt strap layers are connected to one another in the region of the chargeable seatbelt interior at edge regions by tear strips having different seam thicknesses in different sections. The seatbelt strap layers are fastened to one another outside a region of the chargeable seatbelt interior in such a way that these remain connected to one another at least during the charging of the seatbelt interior.

Abstract: A seat belt for a vehicle includes a belt webbing with several belt webbing layers and, in a shoulder belt region and a lap belt region, a belt interior located between at least two belt webbing layers to which a gas can be applied. The belt webbing is routed through an opening of a latch plate which is insertable into a buckle, by means of which latch plate the belt webbing is, if the seat belt is fastened, deflected at a lower deflection point in a transitional region from the lap belt region to the shoulder belt region. A gas passage connecting at least two sections of the belt interior is provided at the lower deflection point between the at least two belt webbing layers. The gas passage is a tube that is flexible at least in the radial direction. The flexible tube is plastically or elastically deformable.

Abstract: A seat belt is wound up in a passenger protection apparatus. An airbag to be inflatable is at a position of a shoulder belt of the seat belt by being folded like a belt in the passenger protection apparatus. The passenger protection apparatus includes a fabric member which configures a bag-like member of the airbag and a partition wall fabric. The partition wall fabric has portions respectively connected to first and second parts of the fabric member and partitions an inside of the bag-like member into a central inflatable portion and supporting inflatable portions each of which is located between a passenger-side surface of the fabric member and a fabric formed of the central inflatable portion. The first and second parts configure inner surface of the bag-like member and hold the seat belt. The second part is configured to face a passenger and opposite to the first part.

Abstract: A restraint system for a seat is provided and may include a belt portion having an inflatable portion movable from a pre-deployed state to an inflated state. The inflatable portion may include a first surface opposing an occupant when in the inflated state and a second surface facing away from the occupant when in the inflated state. The first surface and the second surface may be formed at an angle relative to one another.

Abstract: Buckle connectors and airbag assemblies for inflatable personal restraints, and associated methods of use and manufacture are described herein. In one embodiment, an inflatable personal restraint system for use in an aircraft includes a web configured to restrain an occupant in a seat, a connector attached to a distal end portion of the web, and an airbag carried by the web. The restraint system further includes an airbag cover at least partially enclosing the airbag and engaging a portion of the connector. The connector can include a tongue portion configured to be releasably engaged with a corresponding buckle to secure the web around a portion of the occupant.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a seatbelt, an anchor attached to the seatbelt and to the mobile platform, and an airbag attached to the mobile platform via the anchor. The airbag may be movable from a pre-deployed state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A restraint system for a seat is provided and may include a first portion formed from a first material and having a first end fixed for movement with the seat and a second end movable relative to the seat. A second portion may be integral with or attached to the first portion, may be formed from the first material, and may be operable between a pre-deployed state and an inflated state.

Abstract: An airbelt wherein a folded body of a bag-like belt is covered with a cover, and the two are sewn together with tear seams, and wherein the tear seams can be torn without the need to use a high-power inflator when the airbelt is inflated, and an airbelt apparatus employing this airbelt are provided. In one form, a mesh webbing and a mesh cover cover the bag-like belt. A plurality of parts of the airbelt in the longitudinal direction are sewn with the tear seams. The tear seams extend in the width direction of the airbelt and curve so as to be convex toward a tongue.

Abstract: An air belt apparatus is provided in which a bag is stored while being folded short prior to deployment and inflation. An air belt apparatus includes a bag provided in a part of a seatbelt, a collision detection device, and a gas supply device that supplies deployment gas to the bag. The bag includes a cylindrical portion connected to the gas supply device, and an inflatable portion wider than the cylindrical portion. Prior to deployment and inflation, the inflatable portion is stored on a radial inner side of the cylindrical portion while being turned inside out and folded up to a width substantially equal to a width of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A safety restraint system having a seat belt (51) and an inflatable air bag (200), the air bag including first (220) and second (222) opposing panels, the first panel including one or more loops (234) and slots (232) to receive a seat belt (51), the air bag and/or seat belt configured to slide relatively to each other along the length of the seat belt.

Abstract: A vehicle has an inflatable occupant restraint system that includes an inflatable occupant protection device and an inflator operable to inflate the inflatable occupant protection device when a predetermined event occurs. The vehicle also includes a child restraint system having a portable child seat with an inflatable child protection apparatus attached thereto. The child restraint system includes a connection interface connected to the child seat and adapted for connection to the occupant restraint system such that the child protection apparatus is inflated when the predetermined event occurs.

Abstract: A restraint system for occupants of a vehicle, comprising a belt; an airbag unit arranged on the belt, wherein the positions of the belt and the airbag unit can be shifted with respect to each other; an airbag in the airbag unit; and means for securing the position of the airbag on the belt, i.e., means by which the airbag and the belt can be fastened together upon deployment of the airbag without the possibility of a shift in their relative positions.

Abstract: A restraint system for occupants of a vehicle includes a belt (2, 2?) and a belt-tensioning means as well as an airbag (3, 4) arranged on the belt (2, 2?), wherein at least a certain part of the belt (2, 2?) is at least temporarily tensioned when the belt-tensioning means is activated, wherein the airbag (3, 4) serves as the belt-tensioning means.

Abstract: Stitch patterns for inflatable personal restraint systems and associated systems and methods. A stitch pattern between a web of a restraint and an airbag mounted to the restraint has a continuous, or curvilinear pattern to reduce stress concentrations. The stitch pattern can be applied to the web, the airbag, and a gas tube in a single stitching procedure.

Abstract: A seat belt for a vehicle includes a belt webbing with several belt webbing layers and, in a shoulder belt region and a lap belt region, a belt interior located between at least two belt webbing layers to which a gas can be applied. The belt webbing is routed through an opening of a latch plate which is insertable into a buckle, by means of which latch plate the belt webbing is, if the seat belt is fastened, deflected at a lower deflection point in a transitional region from the lap belt region to the shoulder belt region. A gas passage connecting at least two sections of the belt interior is provided at the lower deflection point between the at least two belt webbing layers. The gas passage is a tube that is flexible at least in the radial direction. The flexible tube is plastically or elastically deformable.

Abstract: An air belt device includes: a seat belt that restrains a seated occupant; an air belt that is provided in a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt and that is deployed when supplied with a gas; a retractor that extractably winds up the seat belt from a side of a shoulder portion of the occupant; an inflator that supplies gas to the air belt; and a flexible hose that is curved when the seat belt is not worn and that communicates the inflator with the end of the air belt that extends into the seat back.

Abstract: A seatbelt for a vehicle that includes a belt strap composed of a plurality of belt strap layers and at least one belt inner space which can be impacted with a gas. The belt strap is guided through a recess of a buckle tongue, which can be inserted into a belt buckle. A holding element is arranged on the belt strap, the holding element holds the buckle tongue in a defined position when the belt strap is in a retracted state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide airbags that are guided by the seat belt, but that are not installed or incorporated into the seat belt itself. The airbags may be installed on a seat side, seat backrest, or in the seat armrest. The airbags are associated with a guiding strip that uses the seat belt to guide the airbag into the proper position in front of the passenger.

Abstract: Inflator connectors for inflatable personal restraints and associated systems and methods are described herein. An inflator connector configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a body having an attachment portion and a sleeve portion and a coupling rotatably received in the sleeve portion. The attachment portion of the body can include a first bore having a first engagement feature positioned toward a first opening for operably engaging at least one of an inflator and a gas tube. The sleeve portion can include a second bore in fluid communication with the first bore. The coupling can include a second engagement feature positioned toward a second opening for operably engaging the other of the inflator and the gas tube.

Abstract: A belt strap for a safety belt of a vehicle includes a belt interior located between two belt strap layers, to which belt interior a gas can be applied. A gas passage connecting at least two sections of the belt interior is provided between the at least two belt strap layers. The gas passage is secured at a first end in the region of an end fitting of the safety belt. The gas passage, which is designed as a flexible tube, is secured within the belt interior with at least a second end, which is located opposite the secured first end.

Abstract: A seat belt for a vehicle includes a belt webbing with several belt webbing layers and, in a shoulder belt region and a lap belt region, at least one belt interior located between at least two belt webbing layers and to which a gas can be applied. The belt webbing is routed through an opening of a latch plate that can be inserted into a buckle, by means of which latch plate the belt webbing is, if the seat belt is fastened, deflected at a lower deflection point in a transitional region from the lap belt region to the shoulder belt region. A gas passage connecting at least two sections of the belt interior is provided at the lower deflection point between the at least two belt webbing layers. The gas passage is in the form of a tube that is flexible at least in the radial direction.

Abstract: A seatbelt system for a vehicle includes a seatbelt anchor, a seatbelt connected to the seatbelt anchor, and an airbag mounted to the seatbelt anchor such that the airbag is provided separately from the seatbelt. The airbag may be a side airbag for a pelvic area of a vehicle occupant. The seatbelt system may deploy the airbag to a desired location in a short amount of time and in a precise manner with improved confidence that the airbag has been deployed to the desired location.

Abstract: Systems for indicating the status of a seatbelt buckle prior to a protective response are disclosed herein. An airbag activation system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a normally closed magnetically operated reed switch. The reed switch is attached to a connector carried on one portion of a seatbelt, and a magnet is attached to a buckle carried on another portion of the seatbelt. Coupling the connector to the buckle causes the magnetic field of the magnet to move the reed switch from the normally closed position to an open position, thereby enabling the activation system to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.

Abstract: An inflatable safety belt has a belt webbing (3) with at least two belt webbing layers (3a, 3b) put on top of each other and forming a hollow space in between, a gas generator (12) having a flow connection to the hollow space, and an anchor fitting (6) for fastening the belt webbing (3) and the gas generator (12) to a motor vehicle. The ends of the belt webbing layers (3a, 3b) are connected to the anchor fitting (6) in such a way that the flow connection to the gas generator (12) is free of tensile forces.

Abstract: A vehicle has an inflatable occupant restraint system that includes an inflatable occupant protection device and an inflator operable to inflate the inflatable occupant protection device when a predetermined event occurs. The vehicle also includes a child restraint system having a portable child seat with an inflatable child protection apparatus attached thereto. The child restraint system includes a connection interface connected to the child seat and adapted for connection to the occupant restraint system such that the child protection apparatus is inflated when the predetermined event occurs.

Abstract: An inflatable shoulder belt webbing system and a method for inflating the inflatable shoulder belt webbing system having a buckle, a web loop having a tongue that is selectively engaged by the buckle when the tongue is secured to the buckle and is disengaged when the tongue is removed from the buckle, a lap belt member retained by the web loop, a shoulder belt member having an inflatable webbing portion being contained within the shoulder belt member, the shoulder belt member being retained by the web loop, a tubular member rigidly fixed externally to an outer edge of the web loop and having one end in sealed communication with the inflatable webbing portion, a source of inflation gas, and a manifold rigidly fixed externally to the buckle and having an outlet providing a conduit between the source of inflation gas and the tubular member when the tongue is secured to the buckle.

Abstract: An air belt apparatus for a vehicle may include a seat belt passing through a belt hook mounted to a vehicle body and through a buckle tongue, with a first end of the seat belt being coupled to a belt retractor mounted to the vehicle body in such a way that the seat belt may be released from or retracted into the belt retractor, and with a second end of the seat belt being fixed to the vehicle body, and an airbag cushion which covers the seat belt and may be mounted at one end thereof to the buckle tongue, wherein the seat belt may be slidably mounted to the airbag cushion such that the airbag cushion does not move along with the seat belt, wherein the airbag cushion may be fluid-connected to the buckle tongue and receives airbag gas through the buckle tongue.

Abstract: An inflatable member is inflated by compressed gas that flows through the latch and hollow tubular tongue of a seat belt anchor. The inflatable member is retained in an uninflated condition in a split two layer belt. The latch is pivotally secured to a conduit that receives compressed inflation gas from a cylinder that is provided with a diffuser.

Abstract: An occupant safety mechanism for an occupant of a vehicle includes a buckle assembly, an airbag cushion, an inflator, and webbing. The airbag cushion is coupled to the buckle assembly, such as in a buckle assembly housing, and is configured to deploy from the buckle assembly. The webbing is coupled to the buckle assembly and substantially fixed points disposed on the vehicle, on a seat, or both, so as to restrain the occupant a seat during a dynamic vehicle event. The inflator is configured to deploy the airbag cushion upon occurrence of a dynamic vehicle event.

Abstract: Stitch patterns for inflatable personal restraint systems and associated systems and methods. A stitch pattern between a web of a restraint and an airbag mounted to the restraint has a continuous, or curvilinear pattern to reduce stress concentrations. The stitch pattern can be applied to the web, the airbag, and a gas tube in a single stitching procedure.

Abstract: Systems for indicating the status of a seatbelt buckle prior to a protective response are disclosed herein. An airbag activation system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a normally closed magnetically operated reed switch. The reed switch is attached to a connector carried on one portion of a seatbelt, and a magnet is attached to a buckle carried on another portion of the seatbelt. Coupling the connector to the buckle causes the magnetic field of the magnet to move the reed switch from the normally closed position to an open position, thereby enabling the activation system to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.

Abstract: An occupant restraining device for a vehicle that can regulate a position of a seat belt, without occupying vehicle cabin space. An air belt device includes a retractor that is arranged to the rear, in a vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to a seat back, a seat belt that is pulled out from the retractor when applied to an occupant and that includes a shoulder belt portion for restraining an upper body of the occupant, and a belt insertion portion that is formed by indenting a portion, in a seat width direction, of an upper end of the seat back, and into which an upper side portion of the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt is made to enter.

Abstract: An objective is to inflate an inflation portion to an upward position, corresponding with a temple area of an occupant, at the time of a side impact. At a shoulder portion of a seatback 26 of a vehicle seat 12, there is an inflation-time cross-sectional shape regulation component 22, through which an occupant restraint webbing 16 passes. The occupant restraint webbing 16 has an inflation portion 18 that corresponds with a cephalic region 14H of an occupant 14 at the time of inflation. At the time of inflation of the inflation portion 18, the inflation-time cross-sectional shape regulation component 22 regulates such that a cross-sectional shape of the inflation portion 18 is an oblong shape which is long in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An airbelt wherein a folded body of a bag-like belt is covered with a cover, and the two are sewn together with tear seams, and wherein the tear seams can be torn without the need to use a high-power inflator when the airbelt is inflated, and an airbelt apparatus employing this airbelt are provided. In one form, a mesh webbing and a mesh cover cover the bag-like belt. A plurality of parts of the airbelt in the longitudinal direction are sewn with the tear seams. The tear seams extend in the width direction of the airbelt and curve so as to be convex toward a tongue.

Abstract: Seat belt systems and inflatable airbags can be used to mitigate the potential for injury to an occupant's neck. The seat belt systems provide for moderating the seat belt loads acting on the occupant to allow an improved synchronization of the occupant torso and head rebound timing, which in turn limits head and torso differential loading (frontal whiplash) and therefore occupant neck loads and neck, based on the position of the occupant, loads on the seatbelt, or a predetermined time in the crash event. Airbags are also provided with a sloped impact face. Additionally, airbags are also provided with a relatively flat top portion.

Abstract: A seat belt (2) for motor vehicles, has a restraining element (4) for a seat belt tongue (3). The restraining element protrudes from the seat belt (2), from only on one side thereof and the seat belt (2) may be configured as a multi-layer seat belt (2) forming a hollow space (5) between the seat belt layers (21, 22).

Abstract: An occupant restraint system comprising a seat belt webbing having a first end and a second end, the webbing configured to restrain the occupant; a member for anchoring the second end of the webbing; and an inflatable pretensioner having an inflator and an inflatable cushion that includes a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber, wherein the inflator is configured to inflate the first and second chambers of the cushion; wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to deploy upon inflation to provide pretensioning of the webbing to restrain the secured occupant; wherein the second inflatable chamber is configured to deploy upon inflation to restrain the occupant.

Abstract: A vehicular occupant restraint system including: a four-point seatbelt system having left and right webbings for restraining an occupant, each of the left and right webbings having an upper body restraining portion that restrains the upper body of the occupant; a left first inflating portion which is provided on the upper body restraining portion of the left webbing and which inflates by receiving a gas supply and deploys in front of the upper body of the occupant, and a right first inflating portion which is provided on the upper body restraining portion of the right webbing and which inflates by receiving a gas supply and deploys in front of the upper body of the occupant; and a second inflating portion which inflates by receiving a gas supply when the first inflating portions inflate, and deploys to support the first inflating portions from the outside in the seat width direction.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes a four-point seat belt that has a pair of right and left shoulder webbings; and air belt portions that are respectively provided for the pair of right and left shoulder webbings. The air belt portions receive gas supplied from an inflator and then deploy so as to restrain a head H of an occupant P from moving forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes: a retracting device that retracts one end side of a webbing for restraining an occupant so that the webbing can be withdrawn; a webbing holding portion that holds the other end side of the webbing; and a fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion are attached.