Abstract: A low-cost automatic suppression apparatus allows or suppresses deployment of a low risk deployment airbag based solely on occupant seat load and seat belt tension. The seat load and belt tension parameters are detected by low-cost sensors, and an airbag control unit suppresses airbag deployment when the occupant load is below a specified load threshold or the belt tension is above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allows airbag deployment. The sensors are preferably switch-based so that the signals provided to the airbag control unit are in the form of a differential electrical current, and only two wires are needed to interface each sensor to the airbag control unit.

Abstract: The pretensioner is configured to provide a compact and less expensive pretensioner for improving the work assembly efficiency while effectively transmitting the pressing force of plural force transmission members to the ring gear. Plural balls inside the pipe are pressed under the pressure of gas from the gas generator in an emergency. The first ball presses the lever, and the balls other than the first ball sequentially press the subsequent levers such that the ring gear rotates to move rightward. The internal teeth of the ring gear are meshed with external teeth of the pinion attached to the rotary shaft at the side of the spool. The pinion then rotates to allow the spool to retract the seatbelt. The first ball abuts on the ball stopper portion of the pipe to stop the rest of the balls such that most of the balls are located in the circular movement path.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of load restraint systems, particularly occupant restraint systems that provide improved restraint by adopting more closely the contour of the occupant and particularly actively controlled restraint systems which respond to the external environment and hazardous situations. There is provided an articulated restraint which more closely adopts the profile of an occupant to provide a better and closer fitting restraint. Improving the fit of the restraint to the occupant provides better survivability in impact scenarios. The articulated restraint is formed from a series of elements which are joined by a connecting cord. When tension is applied to the cord the elements compress together and adopt the form of the occupant, further tension forces the elements to form a substantially rigid conformation which retains the occupant in a seat.

Abstract: A seatbelt apparatus includes an electric motor 20 for winding a seatbelt 12, and a microcomputer 30 for controlling the electric motor 20. The microcomputer 30 controls the electric motor 20 so as to wind the seatbelt 12 at a winding load which increases to a first winding load at a first rising gradient when collision is detected using a detected length and a detected vehicle velocity by a length sensor 41 and a vehicle velocity sensor 42. The microcomputer 30 controls the electric motor 20 so as to wind the seatbelt 12 at a winding load which increases to a second winding load which is larger than the first winding load at a second rising gradient which is larger than the first rising gradient when an emergency braking operation is detected by detection signal from a brake switch 43. Therefore, the seatbelt can be wound at a winding mode and a winding load which can protect a passenger without giving much feeling of discomfort.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle system includes a seat belt with a latch plate, and a seat belt buckle assembly. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a buckle head for receiving the latch plate, a scabbard covering a portion of the buckle head, and a buckle stalk connecting the buckle head to a vehicle body portion. The scabbard includes at least one tear seam located at an intersection of the first wall and the third wall. The scabbard is configured such that a separation force of the tear seam is less than a buckling load of the scabbard, such that when the buckle is impacted and undergoes a shock load during buckle pretensioning, the tear seam will separate and allow the buckle head to slide down the ramped surface preventing a shock load from a hard contact point that would cause the latch plate to delatch from the buckle head.

Abstract: A seat belt is secured to an anchor at one side of a seated person and extends across the seated person's body to a second anchor at an opposite side of the seated person to which the belt is also secured. A belt retention device is operable, when actuated in response to a sudden, rapid deceleration of the vehicle, to grip the belt between the anchors at a point of engagement adjacent to the one side of the seated person to cooperate with the second anchor in taking up any slack in a section of the belt between the point of engagement and the second anchor and also maintaining such section of the belt tightly engaged across the person's body.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for detecting the position of an occupant (4) of a seat (1) which is provided with a safety belt (9) which is mounted on a retractor (10) includes a sensor (11) which measures the length of belt withdrawn from the retractor The sensor is associated with a processor unit (8) which is associated with a seat position sensor (7). By determining the position of the seat and by determining the minimum length of belt paid-out from the retractor (10) after the seat belt has been buckled in position, and by determining how additional belt has been paid-out at any incident, the position of the seat occupant (4) relative to an air-bag (19) can be determined. If the seat occupant is very close to the air-bag, the nature of deployment of the air-bag can be moderated by the central processor unit (8).

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (40) associated with a seat (10) includes a spool (106) about which seat belt webbing (42) is wound. The spool (106) is supported for rotation in a belt withdrawal direction and in an opposite belt retraction direction. A vehicle sensitive sensor (190) is responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for preventing rotation of the spool (106) in the belt withdrawal direction. A first mechanism (206) is responsive to a first condition for disabling the vehicle sensitive sensor (190). A second mechanism (294) is responsive to a second, different condition for preventing rotation of the spool (106) in the belt withdrawal direction. The second condition is a condition of the associated seat (10). In one embodiment, a third mechanism (400) is responsive to the first condition for allowing rotation of the spool (106) in the belt withdrawal direction.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a seatbelt pretensioner is provided. The pretensioner comprises a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder. Extending distally from the proximal section is a guide section. Disposed within the interior space is a piston that is moveable toward a distal end of the guide section. The piston has a proximal portion and a distal portion that extends from the proximal portion. The proximal and distal portions are disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections. The distal portion is configured for attaching to an anchor that is coupled to webbing of the seatbelt. In fluid communication with the gas chamber is a gas generator. The gas generator is configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive pretensioner seatbelt system, which includes a seatbelt webbing, a slip ring, a buckle, a pretensioner and a retractor. One end of the webbing is fixed to the anchor site of the vehicle body, while the other end of the webbing goes through the slip ring and links to the retractor. The pretensioner includes a stroke enlargement mechanism and a power source. The stroke enlargement mechanism includes a fixed component and a movable component. The webbing is wound around the fixed component and the movable component. The stroke enlargement mechanism ensures that the length of webbing retracted by the pretensioner is greater than the displacement of the movable component. Compared to conventional seatbelt systems, this seatbelt system allows more webbing to be retracted in the same time duration; in other words, it takes less time to retract a webbing of the same length. In this way, pretension of the present invention can be realized more efficiently.

Abstract: A resettable combat vehicle restraint system prevents secondary impacts within the vehicle cabin during crash, mine blast, or rollover events by positioning the occupant within a load attenuating seat to best survive the dangerous event. The preferred embodiment of the restraint system includes a five point restraint, webbing retractors for each lap and shoulder belt with the capability for both reversible and pyrotechnic pretensioning, an active headrest, and a crash recognition module to electrically activate the pyrotechnic pretensioners and to electrically modulate the actions of the reversible pretensioning retractors and the active headrest.

Abstract: A pre-tensioner capable of effectively absorbing kinetic energy exerted on a coupling member connected to a piston during operation. As a gas generator is actuated to generate gas in the event of emergency, the gas is introduced into a pressure chamber. By gas pressure of the gas, a piston moves at high speed toward a taper portion of a cylinder to reach the taper portion. According to the movement of the piston, a buckle is pulled toward a bracket so that the buckle is about to reach the bottom. After that, the piston further moves to the left while deforming the taper portion. The deformation of the taper portion absorbs kinetic energy of the piston. Therefore, kinetic energy of the buckle is absorbed so as to stop the buckle softly and the impact is buffered.

Abstract: An inertia sensitive actuator especially adapted for use with a dual spool retractor for a motor vehicle seat belt system, The dual spool retractor includes shoulder belt and lap belt spool assemblies engaging with the shoulder belt and lap belt portions of the seat belt webbing, The dual spool retractor incorporates an inertia sensitive actuator having an excitation mass which is coupled with both of the retractor spool assemblies via linkages,

Abstract: A seat-belt pretensioner arrangement includes a pretensioner configured to apply at least two tension levels to a seat-belt and a control system to control the pretensioner. A control system is configured to provide at least one vehicle slip function which is derived from at least one sensed parameter relating to the current or expected dynamic situation of the vehicle. The control system is configured to select the tension level to be applied to the seat-belt by the pretensioner in response to the value of the slip function provided by the control system.

Abstract: A safety belt system for a motor vehicle is provided. The safety belt system comprising a safety belt, a shoulder portion of the safety belt, a buckle element, a mobile region of the buckle element, which under the action of forces caused by a crash is mobile from an initial position in which the safety belt may slide along the buckle element into a final position, in which the safety belt is fixed to the buckle element. The safety belt cooperating with the mobile region, such that the mobile region is movable by a force acting on the shoulder portion which tensions the shoulder portion in the direction of extension of the belt, from its initial position into its final position. The fixing of the safety belt on the buckle element is carried out by the mobile region itself.

Abstract: The present invention provides an attachment construction for a seat belt system provided with a pretensioner mechanism, in which a lap anchor in a locking portion for fixing one end of a seat belt to a vehicle body has a gas generator and a tubular cylinder portion. The cylinder portion or the cylinder portion and the gas generator are arranged between a pillar and a pillar trim covering the cabin side of the pillar.

Abstract: A safety restraint system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a seat belt buckle (60) and a retractor (53) mounted approximately at or below a pelvic level of a vehicle occupant (98). A seat belt (52) extends over a side pelvic portion (97) of vehicle occupant (98) and directly prevents outward lateral displacement of the side pelvic portion (97) during a side collision event.

Abstract: A seat belt tensioner includes a guide, which has a pair of opposing plates connected by a connector, a wire, a first end of which extends upward to be connected to a seat belt, a central portion of which is curved to extend around the connector, and a retracting mechanism, which is connected to the second end of the wire and is operated by an external signal in an emergency. Here, the connector is integrally formed with at least one of the plates. Thus, the seat belt tensioner enables structural simplification, easy assembly, and a reduction in the number of parts.

Abstract: A locking mechanism of an inertia reel assembly of a vehicular seatbelt restraint system is selectively disabled based on a latch status of a seatbelt buckle of the seatbelt restraint system. In one embodiment, a sensor at a latch assembly determines whether the seatbelt buckle is engaged with the latch assembly and provides an output signal based on this determination. A controller receives the output signal and selectively drives an actuator based on the output signal so as to enable or disable the locking mechanism of the inertia reel assembly. By disabling the locking mechanism of the inertia reel assembly when the seatbelt buckle is detected as unlatched, an occupant is able to quickly latch the seatbelt buckle even in the event of an inertial event that otherwise would have prevented any further extension of the seatbelt.

Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt system includes a pinion (16) rotatably mounted in a housing (12), a drive unit (26), and a toothed rack (18) whose toothing (20) is directly engaged or enters into direct engagement with the pinion (16) and which can be driven by means of the drive unit (26). The toothed rack (18) has the shape of a circular arc and moves on a circular path (K) upon activation of the drive unit (26).

Abstract: A vehicle passenger restricting system is provided to restrict passenger movement so that a space between a passenger's head and the ceiling of the vehicle is effectively enlarged when a rollover condition occurs. The vehicle passenger restricting system has a passenger seat, a rollover detector, a seat tilting device and a controller. The rollover detector detects a vehicle rollover condition. The vehicle passenger restricting device restricts passenger movement on the passenger seat. The seat tilting device tilts the seat in a backward direction. The controller activates the seat tilting device to recline the seat backwards when the rollover detector detects the vehicle rollover condition exists. Preferably, the controller also operates the restricting device when it determines that a rollover condition exists.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the operation of a reversible belt retractor to release a belt extraction lock of a restraint belt in a motor vehicle, the lock can be activated by an acceleration sensor. After the belt retractor has been triggered as a consequence of a hazardous situation having been detected and after the hazardous situation has been recognized as being over, the operation of the belt retractor is controlled by a release signal at a release time in order to bring about the release of the belt extraction lock to shift it from a blocking state into a comfort-providing state. The release time is determined by a sensor model algorithm based on a model of the acceleration sensor from at least one variable characterizing the running dynamics.

Abstract: An igniter for an automotive safety system, for example a seat belt tensioner or an air bag, has an explosive squib mounted in a housing with an explosive charge ignitable by the squib but directing its reaction force toward the squib.

Abstract: A seatbelt lock includes a preventive tensioning device which moves a seatbelt lock from an operating position into a lowered safety position with respect to the operating position, an energy accumulator, and a drive unit. The seatbelt lock is maintained preloaded in an operating position by means of the energy accumulator, and the drive unit transfers the seatbelt lock from the safety position back into the operating position.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the present invention a force limiting device for a motor vehicle is provided. The force limiting device is adopted for adjusting the absorption of a force between two parts moving relative to one another during a dangerous situation in the motor vehicle. The force limiting device comprises a kinematic energy absorption device configured such that for a predefined profile of a speed difference between the two parts moving relative to one another different force limiting levels are produced as a function of mass and momentum of the two moving parts.

Abstract: A retractor includes a pretensioner whereby increased control and variation over the load limitation characteristics of the retractor are provided. The seat belt and spool are linked to a locking mechanism through a first force limiting element, while the pretensioner is linked to the seat belt and spool through a second force limiting element. Both the first and second force limiting elements are employed during a load limiting phase of the retractor.

Abstract: The seat belt device includes a first unit, a second unit, seat belt webbing, a spindle, a first pretensioner, a second pretensioner, and a controller. The first unit determines a possible collision of an automobile in response to a manipulation of the automobile by a driver. The second unit detects the collision of the automobile. The first pretensioner has a motor to rotate in response to a signal indicative of the possible collision determined by the first unit. The second pretensioner is pyrotechnically driven to rotate in response to a signal indicative of the collision detected by the second unit. The controller is configured to cancel an operation of the first pretensioner after an activation of the second pretensioner. The first pretensioner includes a limiter for restricting the motor from transmitting a driving force to the spindle exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A restraint system for a motor vehicle includes a safety belt, an end of which can be attached by means of an end pre-load tensioning device to the vehicle body. The end pre-load tensioning device includes a seat belt retractor that takes up the end of the seat belt and a tensioning device connected thereto for the belt shaft of the seat belt retractor. The belt shaft is formed as a hollow shaft, and a blocking element blocks the belt shaft that is released in the event of an accident.

Abstract: A pretensioner for restraining an occupant with a seat belt by pulling the seat belt when an impact on a vehicle is generated. The pretensioner comprises a retaining ring having a ring to be in contact with an end of a seal member facing a protective member and a plurality of projections to be in press contact with the inner wall of a housing that project radially outwardly from the periphery of the ring, wherein the retaining ring is press fitted into the housing so that the seal member is fixed to the inner wall of the housing by the retaining ring.

Abstract: A pretensioning apparatus for seat belt webbing is located in the vicinity of a belt anchor end of a three-point vehicle safety restraint seat belt. The pretensioning apparatus has a fixed member in the form of a tubular member that may be anchored to a vehicle seat at the belt anchor side of the vehicle. A movable member in the form of a piston is connected to the webbing in the region of the belt anchor end. A means is provided for moving the movable member relative to the fixed member in a generally horizontal direction, to move the seat belt webbing in a pretensioning direction in response to a signal from a crash sensor. A webbing guide is fixed to the seat to provide an effective anchorage point spaced from the belt anchor end of the webbing under pretensioning conditions.

Abstract: Provided is a pretensioner for a seat belt retractor. The pretensioner for a seat belt retractor of a vehicle includes a torsion bar on which a webbing is wound; a gear member connected to the torsion bar; a base member with which the gear member is meshed and through which the torsion bar passes; a cylinder having a movement guide hole formed therein to supply a gas upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle; a piston having a rack formed at a side surface thereof in a longitudinal direction to be meshed with the gear member and moved along the movement guide hole upon supply of a gas, and; a cylindrical sealing operation part integrally formed with a bottom of the piston and projecting therefrom; and a sealing part coupled to an outer periphery of the sealing operation part to seal between the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder, wherein the base member has a hooking means for hooking the piston to a rack.

Abstract: A clutch 100 of the present webbing retractor has a gear wheel 116 and spring claws 182, and has peripheral direction load receiving portions 120 at the gear wheel 116, and load from the spring claws 182 is applied along a peripheral direction via the peripheral direction load receiving portions 120. Therefore, compactness and weight reduction of the clutch 100 can be aimed for. Further, the clutch 100 has a ring 176, and the ring 176 integrally has a cover portion 178 holding respective clutch structural members at predetermined assembly positions, and the spring claws 182, and is held integrally with a rotor 124 by elastic forces of the spring claws 182. In this way, the respective clutch structural members can be temporarily held (sub-assembled) integrally.

Abstract: A pretensioner (20) for use with a seat belt system, the pretensioner comprising: a straight first tube (22) having a cylindrical wall (22a), a first end (24) and a second end (26), at least one of the first end (24) or the second end (26) having an opening (32); the first tube includes a first opening (38) in the wall (22a) to receive a second tube (50), the second tube (50) having a first end portion (52), a second end portion (56) and a medial portion (54), the medial portion configured to have a circular curvature of radius R1; the second end portion is situated so that its center is collinear with a central axis (64) extending through the center of the first tube (22) and wherein an axis extending through the center of the first end portion is arranged at an acute angle relative to the central axis (64); a pyrotechnic element (40) is provided at one end of the first tube to provide products of combustion to drive a piston (100) down the first tube, the motion of the piston moving a cable (80) in a direct

Abstract: A pretensioner 10 comprises a housing 12 through which the wire 11 is passed and a cylinder 14 supported to the housing 12. One end of the wire 11 is connected to a seat belt buckle, and the other end of the wire 11 is connected to a piston 15 slidably received in the cylinder 14. A gas generator 23 for generating a high-pressure gas for moving the piston 15 in the direction of retracting the wire 11 is provided on the housing 12. Furthermore, a seal member 30 for sealing a clearance between the wire 11 and the inner wall of the housing 12 is provided in the housing 12. An agent for improving heat resistance is applied onto an agent applied portion 11A of the wire 11 positioned within a gas passage 24.

Abstract: A first member (10) provided with pins (12), (15) that penetrate through a seat belt webbing (30), and a second member (20) provided with holes (22), (25) to which the pins (12), (15), which have penetrated through the seat belt webbing (30), penetrate are provided, and a plurality of the pins (12), (15) are penetrated through a plurality of the respectively corresponding holes (22), (25), and the seat belt webbing (30) is sandwiched by the first member (10) and the second member (20) from both sides.

Abstract: To ensure stable EA operation without being affected by action of a pretensioner. A seat belt retractor comprises a torsion bar 7 of which one end in the axial direction is connected to a spool 4 and which is torsionally deformable because of relative displacement between the one end side and the other end side in the axial direction, a pretensioner 11 which is disposed on the other end side in the axial direction of the spool 4 and which rotates the spool 4 in a direction 10. of winding a seat belt 3 when the vehicle rapidly decelerates, a main pawl 12 which is disposed on one end side in the axial direction of the spool 4, and a sub pawl 13 which is disposed on the other end side in the axial direction of the torsion bar 7. During the normal operation, the main pawl 12 is actuated to lock the spool 4 to prevent the spool 4 from rotating in the direction of withdrawing the seat belt 3.

Abstract: A buckle pretensioner system includes a substantially L-shaped rail for guiding a buckle body of a buckle from a position where the buckle body engages with a tongue plate to a position corresponding to a lumbar region of a vehicle occupant. When a vehicle disposed with the buckle pretensioner system undergoes a sudden deceleration, a piston inside a cylinder is moved in a frontward direction of the vehicle by gas generated by the actuation of a gas generator, a buckle stay is pulled by a wire coupled to the piston, and the buckle stay is moved along the shape of the rail. As a result, the buckle body supported by the buckle stay pivots from the position where the buckle body engages with the tongue plate to a vehicle occupant restraining position of a webbing belt, and then is pulled to the lumbar region-corresponding position.

Abstract: A seat belt apparatus including a seat belt through anchor including a hanging shaft that a seat belt withdrawn from a retractor is hung on. The seat belt anchor also includes an anchor base that supports both ends of the hanging shaft. The anchor base includes a shaft non-rotatably supported by the anchor base at both ends and a tube body rotatably attached outside the shaft. The seat belt through anchor additionally includes a stopping mechanism for preventing rotation of the hanging shaft when a pressing force of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied to the tube body from the seat belt.

Abstract: In the seat belt apparatus of the invention, a belt retracting motor is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over based on a lateral acceleration, a roll rate and a roll angle which are detected and calculated by a lateral acceleration sensor and a roll rate sensor, according to a predetermined first determination condition. Also, a pretensioner is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over according to a second determination condition indicating that there is a higher possibility of rollover. When it is determined that the vehicle will not roll over, operation of the belt retracting motor is cancelled, and the seat belt is permitted to be pulled out.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spring for rotating a reel in a belt winding direction to wind up a seat belt, and a motor for generating rotational power capable of rotating the reel in the belt winding direction to wind up the seat belt. A motor control unit controls the motor to generate the rotational power to wind up the seat belt with a desired winding force.

Abstract: Occupant restraint systems for use in land vehicles and other vehicles are disclosed herein. A restraint system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes an elongate belt or web configured to extend across an occupant seated in a vehicle, such as a military land vehicle. A proximal end portion of the elongate web is operably coupled to a web retractor. The web retractor carries an electrically actuated web locking device operably coupled to an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor sends an electrical signal to the web locking device in response to vehicle acceleration in, for example, a vertical direction above a preset magnitude. The web locking device responds to the electrical signal by at least temporarily preventing the retractor from paying out web.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor including an integral electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is detachably installed between lower edges of respective both side walls of a frame. Further, a motor is detachably fixed to a lower surface of a case of the ECU. Since the ECU is disposed between the frame and the motor, the ECU can be protected from an external force by means of the frame and the motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety ensuring device for ensuring safety of an occupant when an impact caused by a collision or a rapid deceleration is applied to the occupant wearing a seatbelt when a vehicle runs and an occupant-restraining performance degrades, including: a movable portion that is disposed in a seat portion of a vehicle seat and moves the seat portion up and down; and a drive portion that is accommodated inside the vehicle seat and moves the movable portion up and down, wherein the drive portion moves the movable portion up and down by an electric drive device upon receiving electric signals from a sensor installed on the vehicle and a control unit connected to the sensor, and at least a pre-crash sensor is provided as the sensor.

Abstract: A pretensioning apparatus for seat belt webbing is located in the vicinity of a belt anchor end of a three-point vehicle safety restraint seat belt. The pretensioning apparatus has a fixed member in the form of a tubular member that may be anchored to a vehicle seat at the belt anchor side of the vehicle. A movable member in the form of a piston is connected to the webbing in the region of the belt anchor end. A means is provided for moving the movable member relative to the fixed member in a generally horizontal direction, to move the seat belt webbing in a pretensioning direction in response to a signal from a crash sensor. A webbing guide is fixed to the seat to provide an effective anchorage point spaced from the belt anchor end of the webbing under pretensioning conditions.

Abstract: A pretensioner with a wire-holding groove is formed in a housing at a bent portion, so that a wire, which holds a seat belt buckle at an upper end protruding from the wire-holding groove, is slidably held by the wire-holding groove. The wire slides and is displaced in a draw-in direction of the seat belt buckle when a gas generator is actuated and acted on a part of the wire closer to an end thereof, which extends in a front-to-back direction of a vehicle. The tongue piece bulging into the wire-holding groove restrains the wire from being pushed in due to a push-in load of the wire from the seat belt buckle. Conversely, the wire is allowed to be drawn in upon the actuation of the gas generator such that the pretension can enhance the reliability of a restraining function of a push-in displacement of a wire.

Abstract: A device for tightening a seat belt has a piston (2) drivable linearly in a piston guide (1) by the gas pressure of a propellant gas. A gearing (3) is also caused to move by the piston (2), the gearing serving the transmission of the piston movement to a pinion (4). The pinion (4) is connected to, or configured to be connected to, a belt spool of a seat belt retractor (13) in a manner whereby rotation of the pinion causes rotation of the belt spool. The gearing (3) on associated with the piston (2) is mounted displaceable transversely to the piston's direction of movement and meshes with the pinion (4) as a result of gas pressure in an expandable bladder (24).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device (30) for helping to protect an occupant of a seat (10) of a vehicle (12) includes an inertia member (134,334) engaging an element (136,330). The inertia member (134,334) is movable relative to the element (136,330) from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to at least one sensed vehicle condition for activating the occupant protection device (30). One of the inertia member (134,334) and the element (136,330) has a first surface portion (224,426) extending at a first angle (?, A) relative to a vertical axis (222,422) extending through the center of mass of the inertia member (134,334) when the inertia member (134,334) is in the unactuated position. The one of the inertia member (134,334) and the element (136,330) has a second surface portion (228,428) extending at a second angle (?, B) relative to the axis (222,422) different than the first angle (?, A).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes a controller for controlling a reversible occupant restraint so as to restrain an occupant when three conditions are met, i.e., a first condition that the steering angle of a steering wheel has exceeded a steering angle threshold, a second condition that the steering angle speed has exceeded a steering angle speed threshold, and a third condition that the steering angle acceleration has exceeded a specific steering angle acceleration threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat belt apparatus for motor vehicles comprising a seat belt, a belt retractor and a drive, which preferably comprises an electric motor, for the retractor, wherein a unidirectionally effective blocking member is integrated into the powertrain between the drive and the retractor which, starting from a normal blocking state, amplifies the blocking effect with a force transmission starting from the belt and reverses it into a release state with a force transmission starting from the drive.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt device includes an electric motor for retracting a loose portion of a seat belt during an emergency in a vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the electric motor. The control unit causes the electric motor to continuously rotate only in a belt retraction direction and repeatedly alternate between low-speed rotation and high-speed rotation when an emergency condition of the vehicle is predicted. The belt tension is varied by the repeated changing of the rotational speed between high speed and low speed, and the seat belt therefore vibrates. An occupant can be alerted to a predicted emergency by this vibration.