Abstract: A seat belt webbing retractor (22) includes a spool (72) on which a length of belt webbing (16) is wound. A stop member (100) is fixed in position on a vehicle. A crush plate (60) is secured to the retractor (22), and both the retractor (22) and the crush plate (60) are movable in a direction (132) toward the stop member (100). A crushable energy absorbing material, preferably a honeycomb (130), is disposed in the path of movement of the crush plate (60). The crushable material (130) controls movement of the crush plate (60) relative to the stop member (100), reducing the abruptness of the load on a vehicle occupant during a collision. In a second embodiment, the resistance provided by a crushable member (280) may be controlled in response to a sensed characteristic (310) of the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises seat belt webbing (26), which is extensible about a vehicle occupant, and an actuatable pretensioner (50). The pretensioner (50) includes a web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132). When the pretensioner (50) is actuated, the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) clamps against the seat belt webbing (26) and moves to an actuated position to tension the seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant. An energy absorbing mechanism (90) dissipates energy transferred to the seat belt webbing (26) by the vehicle occupant after the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) moves to the actuated position. The energy absorbing mechanism (90) comprises a member (92) and a cutter (75) for cutting the member. A wedge block assembly (108) connects the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) to the member (92) after the web clamp mechanism has moved to the actuated position.

Abstract: A track assembly for a vehicle includes an upper track slidably mounted in a lower track. A seat belt buckle mounting bracket is attached to the upper track and connects a fixed seat belt to the upper track. The seat belt buckle mounting bracket includes first and second angularly disposed legs, with the first leg attached to the upper track and the second leg attached to a fixed seat belt buckle. The attachment structure mounts the seat belt buckle mounting bracket in a first, normal operating position in which the second leg of the bracket extends upward from a side wall of the upper track. The attachment structure permits the seat belt buckle mounting bracket to rotate from the first position under a force applied through the fixed seat belt to a second position in which the second leg of the bracket is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the upper track to place the first and second legs of the bracket in tension with the applied force.

Abstract: An energy absorbing beam construction for use in vehicle seat belt restraining systems includes an energy absorbing beam which is mounted or fastened to a vehicle frame or vehicle seat frame. The seat belt retracting mechanism or belt buckle end of the seat belt restraining system can then be mounted to the energy absorbing beam. In use, when the vehicle is subjected to a head-on collision, the energy absorbing beam deforms elastically at collision speeds less than a target speed and deforms plastically at speeds greater than this to minimize injury to a vehicle occupant that may occur as a result of seat belt restraint.

Abstract: An energy absorbing child seat in which a back support panel of the child seat is attached to a supporting structure or frame through energy absorbing brackets which plastically deform during a vehicle collision allowing a seat occupant to travel forward relative to the supporting structure and thus reduce the relative velocity and deceleration between the occupant's head and shoulders to reduce neck loads and neck injuries.

Abstract: An anchor device for a seat belt for connecting, to a vehicle, a webbing for restraining an occupant to a seat so that a load applied to the webbing is received by the vehicle body. The anchor device includes a frame on which an anchor for locking the webbing is supported, a shock absorbing member which is secured at one end to the frame and at the other end to the vehicle body and which is capable of being deformed by a load applied to the frame, and a coupling member for coupling a portion of the shock absorbing member near the other end to the frame. The coupling member is broken or deformed by the load applied to the frame to separate the frame and the shock absorbing member from each other. Thus, when a load is applied from the webbing to the anchor of the seat belt, the anchor is moved properly to absorb the shock.

Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt system having a belt retractor (10) featuring an automatic blocking mechanism, the belt (14) running in a straight line from the belt retractor to a deflector fitting (12), comprises a U-shaped deflector fitting (18) mounting a pivotal bracket (22) perpendicular to the run of the belt in the rest condition. When the belt tensioner is activated the pivotal bracket (22) is pulled through between the base of a deflector fitting (18) and a supporting member (20) secured thereto to form a belt loop. An uncoupling/force limiter assembly (36) is arranged in the path of the cable (34, 38) connected to the pivotal bracket. This assembly comprises a guide tube (50) supported by the vehicle body and a converter tube (52) accommodated therein telescopically which is shiftable up to a stop at the base of the guide tube (50) and which permits force limitation and conversion of energy due to plastic material deformation when the belt is tensioned.

Abstract: A seat belt system comprising a length of webbing (20) adapted to secure an occupant to a seat; first locking element such as a tongue (24) receivable into second locking element such as a buckle (26), a portion of the buckle being fixedly positioned relative to the seat; a retractor (22) for retracting excess webbing; the webbing supporting a loop (40) of elastic material for resiliently coupling the webbing (20) to the tongue such that the webbing can move relative to the tongue in response to occupant motion and wherein a portion of the webbing (20) proximate the tongue is formed into a second loop (42), which limits the extension of the elastic loop (40) when the webbing is under tension.

Abstract: A track assembly for a vehicle includes an upper track slidably mounted in a lower track. A seat belt buckle mounting bracket is attached to the upper track and connects a fixed seat belt to the upper track. The seat belt buckle mounting bracket includes first and second angularly disposed legs, with the first leg attached to the upper track and the second leg attached to a fixed seat belt buckle. The seat belt buckle mounting bracket is stationarily mounted in a first, normal operating position in which the second leg of the bracket extends upward from a side wall of the upper track, but rotates from the first position under a force applied through the fixed seat belt to a second position in which the second leg of the bracket is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the upper track to place the first and second legs of the bracket in tension with the applied force. The second position provides a strong geometry position for the seat belt buckle mounting bracket.

Abstract: The seat belt retractor of the present invention is provided with a fragile portion .gamma. near a supporting section of a rotating shaft 21 on two side walls 2b (and 2a--not shown) of a case 2. The fragile portion .gamma. undergoes plastic deformation or rupture when a load exceeding a predetermined value is applied on a seat belt 1 through the rotating-squeezing member 20 and a rotating shaft 21 by pulling force. When the fragile portion .gamma. undergoes plastic deformation or rupture, the rotating-squeezing member 20 is moved toward loading direction, and the rotating-squeezing member 20 is separated from the sliding-squeezing member 19. Then, the rotating-squeezing member 20 is turned over, and the squeezing force on the seat belt 1 by the rotating-squeezing member 20 and the sliding-squeezing member 19 is alleviated. As the result, the application of highly concentrated load on the seat belt can be avoided.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle seat belt comprises a flexible crushable pad adapted to be positioned between the shoulder strap of a seat belt and the shoulder of a user. Separable attachment means secures the crushable pad in a predetermined position in relation to a seat back. The attachment means permits movement of the pad further from said seat back on application of a predetermined force, e.g. in an accident.

Abstract: In order to reduce the risk of head injuries in a passive safety belt system, the upper anchoring fitting provided with a buckle insert is automatically pivoted in response to loads typical of an accident to a safety position in which the anchoring fitting projects only a minimal amount into the region of a passenger head in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Abstract: The safety belt restraining system for vehicles is provided with a vehicle-sensitive and/or webbing-sensitive locking belt retractor and a webbing clamping means following said retractor. To achieve fast activation of the webbing clamping means with minimum webbing withdrawal but nevertheless to protect the webbing from damage by the clamping operation, the inhibiting force exerted by the webbing clamping means on the webbing is limited by dimensioning and configuration of the system to a predetermined value at which the webbing clamping means does not cause any appreciable weakening of the webbing. The belt retractor is in turn dimensioned at least for absorbing the forces which are to be expected in the evolution of an accident and are introduced via the webbing after the predetermined value is exceeded. When said value is exceeded and, e.g. the webbing slips between the webbing clamping means, the retractor can absorb the remaining blocking load.

Abstract: A child's car seat comprising a rigid frame having back, bottom, and side portions and a buckle located therein; strap means extending from the back over the shoulders of a child occupant of the seat; and a T-shield secured to the lower ends of the straps. Also included is a latch plate, the latch plate having an upper portion with an opening adapted to receive the straps and a lower portion with a locking aperture to be releasably secured in the buckle, the upper portion of the latch plate being of a first rigidity and being encompassed and secured within the T-shield and the lower portion of the latch plate being heat treated to render it more rigid than the upper portion.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprising a first emergency lock mechanism for locking a reel shaft around which a seat belt is wound and a second emergency lock mechanism for sandwiching and locking said seat belt drawn out from the reel shaft by a rotatable member which pivots on one of its ends. The rotatable member has a deformable portion which is deformed so that the distance from the center of rotation to the sandwiching face of the seat belt may be shortened.

Abstract: A front leg (1) is formed by an upright support rod extending vertically above a fixing stud (8), a rear leg (2) is formed by both a lower support rod (2a) extending on a diagonal line joining the upper end of the front leg and the lower end of the rear leg and an upper support rod (2b) contiguous to the lower support rod (2a) in an upper position relative to the lower support rod, the upper support rod (2b) being curved arcuately and inclined rearwardly upwards, and an energy absorber (12) is mounted bridgewise as a diagonal member between the upper end portion of the front leg and the lower end portion of the rear leg, to constitute a leg structure. Accordingly to this leg structure, a striking energy is absorbed by an anti-plastic deformation force induced when the rear leg (2) and the energy absorber (12) is deformed plastically under an impact larger than a predetermined value, and the seat is held at its supported posture in normal use.

Abstract: In a belt strap for a restraint system for restraiing a passenger in a vehicle seat in the event of a collision, the belt strap includes regions which mechanically absorb energy. Such a seat belt includes elements for increasing the contact surface of the belt strap with the passenger's body so that the force transmitted to the passenger's body in the event of a collision is reduced. The belt may include colored material which discolors over time or plastically deformable colored threads to indicate if the belt's elasticity has decayed due to aging or due to over-extension of the belt. The belt has a modulus of elasticity which varies across its width so that the belt edges roll away from the passenger in the event of a collision. An information label indicating the expiration date of the usable duty lifetime of the safety belt may be provided.

Abstract: The force-limiting energy absorber for safety belt systems comprises a series of stretch members lying one behind the other in the direction of the tensile stress. Each stretch member comprises an opening which is surrounded by a border deformable under a tension load. In the openings limiting elements are disposed which limit in abutment manner the deformation of the border transversely of the direction of the tensile stress. The limiting elements may be made mushroom-shaped and integrally formed on the border of the stretch members.

Abstract: A safety belt or harness warning system generally having a laminate-like structure and positioned on the safety belt to expose an underlying one of the lamina indicative of a belt-applied stress above a predetermined stress, and further indicating a belt replacement. The preferred laminate has an underlying adhesive layer, which may be easily adhered to the belt for ease of application, and an interior layer indicating that a high stress force has been applied to the belt.

Abstract: A force limiter comprises a stretch element which is inserted into the force flow path and which under tensile load by increasing its length deforms in force-limiting manner and the longitudinal ends of which are bridged by a stretch-limiting element with insertion of a clearance corresponding to the intended extension of the stretch element. By the stretch-limiting element the failure load of the force limiter is increased without influencing the tensile stress/elongation characteristic within the intended action range.

Abstract: In a belt strap for a restraint system for restraining a passenger in a vehicle seat in the event of a collision, the belt strap includes regions which mechanically absorb energy. Such a seat belt includes elements for increasing the contact surface of the belt strap with the passenger's body so that the force transmitted to the passenger's body in the event of a collision is reduced. The belt may include colored material which discolors over time or plastically deformable colored threads to indicate if the belt's elasticity has decayed due to aging or due to over-extension of the belt. The belt has a modulus of elasticity which varies across its width so that the belt edges roll away from the passenger in the event of a collision. An information label indicating the expiration date of the usable duty lifetime of the safety belt may be provided.

Abstract: The force-limiting energy absorber for safety belt systems comprises a series of stretch members lying one behind the other in the direction of the tensile stress. Each stretch member comprises an opening which is surrounded by a border deformable under a tension load. In the openings limiting elements are disposed which limit in abutment manner the deformation of the border transversely of the direction of the tensile stress. The limiting elements may be made mushroom-shaped and integrally formed on the border of the stretch members.

Abstract: The jack (V) comprises a tubular primary screw (10) movable in rotation and translation and provided with an outer screw thread (10a) and an inner screw thread (10b) which have opposite thread hands, a fixed secondary screw (11) engaged in the inner screw thread (10b), a nut (9) connected to the movable element and engaged with the outer screw thread (10a) of the primary screw (10). The nut (9) is composite and comprises a first nut (9a) composed of a plastics material having a good coefficient of friction and a second nut (9b) composed of a mechanically strong material. Axial forces of normal amplitude are absorbed by the plastics nut (9a), while the exceptional overloads, resulting for example from an impact on the front of a vehicle whose seat structure is provided with the jack of the invention, are absorbed by the second nut (9b). In normal operation, the friction between the plastics nut (9a) and the screw (10) are considerably reduced, which provides a jack having an excellent efficiency.

Abstract: A safety belt arrangement, especially one having a lap belt as a constituent of the belt system. One end of the lap belt is connected to a part that is secured to the vehicle, and the other end of the lap belt is provided with a belt buckle part. An anchoring member is provided as a carrier for the other belt buckle part, with the ends of the lap belt, as well as the anchoring member, being connected with a tensioning mechanism that operates in opposite directions. This tensioning mechanism is disposed between the anchoring elements that act as guide elements for the lap belt portion and for the anchoring member, which includes a cable section. The tensioning mechanism is secured to the one end of the lap belt and to the anchoring member via connections that are freely movable in the direction toward the guide elements, and are also movable relative to one another.

Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat belt anchor comprises an elongated rail member and a slide member slidably received by the rail member. The rail and slide members are of complementary cross sections, one being generally C-shaped with inturned and offset flanges along each side and the other being generally channel-shaped with out-turned and offset flanges along each edge. A spring-biased retaining pin is movable orthogonally to the direction of movement of the slide member into a selected hole in the rail member. A flange on the end of the pin forms a shoulder that can engage the back edge of the hole to prevent dislodgment of the pin under a high downward force. A deformable member positioned between the hole wall and the pin normally keeps the pin shoulder from engaging the hole edge but is deformed under a high force to permit such engagement.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a safety restraint system having a loop of wire whose opposite ends entrained through a ferrule and crimped therein. The opposite ends of the wire have a predetermined free length extending beyond the ferrule. Stop members attached to the ends of the free lengths prevent the ends of the wire from being pulled through the ferrule when the applied energy exceeds the energy absorbing capabilities of the energy absorber.

Abstract: A stretchable belt, such as for safety belt restraint systems in vehicles, includes a base material and at least one additional material having a different stress-stretch curve. By providing a base material with higher deformability than the additional material the stress-stretch curve of the belt has a first steeply rising portion where the load is primarily transmitted to the additional material. At a given load point, the additional material abruptly tears, and the load is transmitted to the base material. Thereafter, the stress versus stretch curve continues at a substantially lower angle. In this manner, the belt absorbs a maximum amount of energy for a given maximum load and maximum stretch. The belt may be formed from a single type of raw material, mechanically or thermally treating it to provide different stress versus stretch characteristics for the base material and the additional material.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying a counteracting force which is generated by pulling superposed sections of webbing, which are secured together, through a separating means so that the separation of the secured together superposed sections generates a counteracting force. A frictional force may also be generated so as to provide an additional counteracting force.

Abstract: A support and associated flexible untearable band which incorporates a plurality of energy-absorbing loops intended to destruct under the effect of an applied impact load. The energy-absorbing loops are made of an elastic elongated material and are secured on the band, and a rigid holder is provided onto which the loops are put one after another. The flexible band is a woven ribbon provided on at least one side with at least one row of woven loops made integral with the ribbon and having a width less than the width of the woven ribbon itself.

Abstract: A crash protection structural component is constructed as a hollow sleeve pe body which is open at its ends. The hollow body is made of at least one strand of fiber compound material formed into a netting. The netting is constructed for an irreversible stepwise take-up of energy in response to a shock load or impact, whereby the strand layers delaminate at the strand intersections or junctions of the netting as the strand layers are taking up shearing loads in response to a compression load which is applied to the component in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The device comprises a flexible band, composed of two layers which are established by the band being folded back, which band is associated with an energy-absorbing member. The members are fashioned as a plurality of loops from an elastic long-sized material, which are fastened on the band between its layers. The loops of the band layers are consecutively interconnected by virtue of tricot knit in a direction from the ends of the band towards the place where it is folded back. One of the ends of the band may be connected to a stationary fixed support, while applied to the other end may be a load F directed to destruct the knit in a direction opposite to that of unknitting. The most promising practical application of the present invention lies with shock absorbers of safety belts for builders, erectors, mountaineers, as well as with automobile safety seat belts.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improvided belt holder for a passive seat belt assembly, which connects first and second belts extending from different portions of a motor vehicle. The belt holder comprises a base plate fixed to the first belt and having spaced side walls, the side walls being formed with respective elongate slots at positions manually facing each other; a shaft passing through the elongate slots to span between the side walls, the second belt passing round the shaft, the shaft taking both a first position where the shaft is freely rotatable about the axis thereof permitting the second belt to be freely movable longitudinally with rotation of the shaft and a second position where the shaft tightly grips the second belt thereby fixing the second belt to the base plate; and means for holding the shaft in the first position until a predetermined magnitude of force is applied thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus to indicate the load on a restraining device subject to tensile loading, especially for a safety belt, the restraining device having an opening for communication with a restraining element, such as a seat belt, and being formed of two parts having different tensile strengths. The parts are displaceable with respect to each other upon loading of the restraining device in tension above a predetermined amount and one of the parts is provided with an indicator sign which becomes visible upon such displacement.

Abstract: A seat belt tensioning device for a vehicle comprises a fixed member fixed to a vehicle body, a movable member which is movable in the direction opposite to the fixed member, a bellow shaped flexible member, both ends of which are secured to the fixed member and the movable member to form a sealed chamber, a rod, one end of which is secured to the movable member, the other end of which is connected to a seat belt through the sealed chamber, and a guide member which is provided along the flexible member for guiding the elongation of the flexible member. One end of the guide member is airtightly fixed to the movable member and the other end of the guide member extends in the direction opposite to the movable member while airtightly and slidably contacted with the fixed member at an urgent time such as upon a vehicle impact, a high pressure gas is produced and is poured into the sealed chamber. Then, the flexible member which is usually contracted, is elongated due to the high gas pressure.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device for use with a vehicular seat belt includes a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle and defines a circular interior space and a narrow passage extending between the interior space and the outer surface of the housing. An elongated rod-like strip of a metal has a coiled end portion having a plurality of turns disposed in the circular space. An intermediate portion of the metal strip extends from the interior space outwardly through the narrow passage and terminates in the other end which is adapted to be connected to the seat belt. The junction between the circular space and the narrow passage is shaped to bend successive portions of the metal strip and guide them into the narrow passage when a tension of a magnitude greater than the bending stress of the metal strip is applied to the outer end of the strip during a collision.

Abstract: High velocity impact landing forces are attenuated in apparatus (10) utilizing an energy absorbing tube (12) of composite fibrous material, that is, a fiber reinforced plastic. The energy absorbing tube (12) is disposed in force transmitting relation between an anvil (14) disposed at one end and structure (16) for applying a force to the opposite end of the tube (12) to provide force attenuating apparatus. The tube (12) is progressively crushed onto the anvil (14) by the force applying structure (16) to dissipate energy. The force attenuating apparatus (10) is used in an energy absorbing seat (20) to provide occupant protection against high impact forces. Other uses of the force attenuating apparatus (10) is in a landing gear mechanism (76) and a vehicle bumper system (89).

Abstract: A safety seat-belt retractor for use in vehicles, comprising a fixed frame, a winding shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, and a toothed member mounted on the shaft for relative rotation thereto. A pawl is operative in response to a predetermined deceleration of a vehicle to lock the toothed member against rotation relative to the frame. A first projection and a second annular projection are formed on an axial end face of the toothed wheel with the first projection radially spaced from and positioned between the second annular projection and the shaft. An elongated energy-absorption member has one end thereof secured to the shaft and the other end free and extends between the shaft and the first projection, around the latter in U-shape and between the first and second projections. The elongated energy-absorption member is forcedly drawn by and wound around the shaft to absorb a tension on the seat-belt when the toothed member is locked by the pawl.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor to be installed in a seat belt system of a vehicle for restraining an occupant on his seat by a seat belt in an emergency, comprises a reel, a torsion bar, one end of which is connected to the reel so as to be rotated therewith, the other end of which is formed into a locking portion, a lock member to be engaged with the locking portion for locking the other end of the torsion bar in an emergency and a stopper means which is disposed between the reel and the torsion bar for stopping the rotation of the reel. In an emergency such as upon an impact of the vehicle, the lock member operates to lock the other end of the torsion bar. The torsion bar of which one end is connected to the rotating reel is twisted to absorb the impact energy of an occupant. And before the torsion bar is broken, the stopper means operates to stop the rotation of the reel. Therefore, even if a large tension force is applied to the seat belt, the torsion bar is not broken due to the twisting thereof.

Abstract: A seat belt tensioning device which restrains the passenger and absorbs his kinetic energy at an urgent time such as upon an impact of a vehicle. A piston is slidably disposed within a cylinder so as to move in only one direction. Return stop means prevents the piston from moving in an opposite direction. A metallic deformable member is disposed within a cavity of the piston, one end of the member being fixed to the piston, the other end thereof being connected to a seat belt. Piston operating means moves the piston within the cylinder at an urgent time and tensions the seat belt to restrain the passenger. When the tension force applied to the seat belt exceeds the deforming stress value of the metallic deformable member, the member is plastically deformed and the seat belt is drawn out of the cylinder to absorb the kinetic energy of the passenger.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor has a spindle 11 provided with an outer layer 14 formed of a material which is capable of absorbing energy by substantially inelastic deformation. When the safety belt 10 is subject to shock-loading exceeding a predetermined level, this outer layer 14 is crushed, leading to a reduction in the effective diameter of the spindle 11 and thereby allowing an additional length of the belt 10 to be paid out after the spindle 11 has been loaded.

Abstract: A device for anchoring a portion of a safety belt to the floor of a vehicle in the form of a bar extending in longitudinal direction of the vehicle along which a looped portion of a safety belt may move.

Abstract: An adjustable emergency locking anchor is provided for mounting a safety restraint system buckle adjacent a seat occupant's hip during fore and aft adjustment of the seat. The adjustable emergency locking anchor includes a channeled floor anchor plate having one end secured to the vehicle floor and the other end slidably receiving a buckle plate which has the safety restraint buckle secured to its outer end. The buckle plate is secured to the seat via a seat anchor plate which is superposedly mounted on the buckle plate for movement relative to the buckle plate in one direction only, that direction being toward pawls which are mounted on the buckle plate so as to engage the floor anchor plate when they are pivoted into position.

Abstract: A bracket assembly device for seat belts comprising a bracket attachable to a vehicle wall by a mounting screw, the bracket comprising front and rear plates having holes for the mounting screw. The front plate forms a slip opening for the webbing or supports a member having such opening. The front plate is movable in essentially a vertical direction relative to the mounting screw and rear plate. The upper displacement position of the front plate is fixed by a member which yields when a predetermined downward directed force on the front plate is exceeded.