Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes a seat (12) for an occupant of a vehicle. A length of belt webbing (42) is extensible about the occupant of the vehicle seat to restrain the occupant. The length of belt webbing has a portion (48) extending from an upper portion (24) of the seat back (20). A belt webbing engaging member (76) is mounted on the seat back (20) for guiding movement of the belt webbing (48) from the seat back. The safety apparatus includes means (120) for mounting the belt webbing engaging member (76) on the seat back (20) for movement relative to the seat back in a direction between the seat back inboard side (28) and the seat back outboard side (26). In a preferred embodiment, the belt webbing engaging member is a seat belt retractor spool (76). The retractor spool (76) is mounted in the frame (62) of a retractor (60) for rotation about an axis (82). Shoulder belt webbing (48) is wound on the spool (76).

Abstract: A rotatable spool has seat belt webbing wound around the spool. A motor, when actuated, rotates the spool in the belt withdrawal direction. A spring has a biasing force which rotates the spool to wind the belt webbing onto the spool. A worm gear mechanism is located between the motor and the spool and is selectively drivingly connectable with the spool. When drivingly connected with the spool, the worm gear mechanism prevents the biasing force of the spring from winding the belt webbing onto the spool. A clutch, when engaged, connects the spool and the worm gear mechanism. The clutch is disengaged and the motor is deactuated when a belt tension signal is below a lower predetermined threshold value. The clutch is engaged and the motor is actuated when the belt tension signal is above an upper predetermined threshold value which is greater than the lower predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A preloader for use in a webbing retractor for allowing a webbing to be fitted closely around a vehicle occupant at the time of an emergency of a vehicle. The preloader includes a gas generating device for generating a gas instantaneously at the time of an emergency of the vehicle; a moving member adapted so as to be moved by the pressure of the gas; a force converting/transmitting device connected to the moving member and adapted to move together with the moving member so as to convert the moving force of the moving member into a torque acting in a webbing taking-up direction and transmit the torque to a takeup shaft of the webbing retractor; and a force transmission preventing device for preventing the moving force of the moving member from being transmitted to the force converting/transmitting device when a load exceeding a predetermined value is applied by the force converting/transmitting device to the moving member.

Abstract: A seat belt drawing angle adjusting device provided on the upper end part of a seat back, comprising a housing, a seat belt retractor supported within the housing, a seat belt guide member rotatably supported in the housing and a lock mechanism for locking and unlocking the guide member. The guide member has, formed therein, a slit through which a seat belt passes from the retractor to the outside, and is so arranged as to be vertically movable, thereby allowing vertical displacement of the slit. Hence, the seat belt can be adjusted at lower or higher level in relation to its drawing point.

Abstract: A restraint system is provided for restraining a pilot in a safe position during high-acceleration conditions. A stationary harness portion is attached to the pilot's body and haulback straps are connected in a slidable manner to the stationary harness. Under normal conditions, the pilot has some freedom of movement to lean forward or move from side to side. In the event of high acceleration or other emergency conditions, a pair of haulback straps that are slidably attached at the mid-torso position of the pilot are retracted to bring the entire back of the pilot against the back support of his seat. Lateral support pads positioned at the back and side of the pilot are moved to provide support to the sides, ribs and lumbar regions of the mid-torso and to restrain side-to-side movement of the pilot. The position of the lateral support pads is automatically adjusted according to the size of the pilot.

Abstract: An assembly for retracting a seat belt having a support and an elongate shaft mounted substantially vertically thereon. The seat belt is windable about the shaft, the arrangement being such that the seat belt forms a reel about the shaft. A selectively operable device is provided to prevent withdrawal of the seat belt from the assembly. The shaft has an exposed region about which the reel may be formed, the length of this exposed region being significantly greater than the width of the seat belt so that the part of the belt emerging from the reel may be positioned vertically at any selected position along the exposed region of the shaft.

Abstract: A safety belt retraction apparatus is provided for use in a vehicle having at least one door and a chassis. The apparatus includes a safety belt retractor mechanism mounted on the vehicle door, and having a reel about which the webbing of the safety belt is wound. The reel is adapted to take up and let out the webbing. The safety belt retraction apparatus further inlcudes a resiliently compressible bellows of blow-molded plastic. The bellows is mounted at one end to a housing containing the retractor mechanism, and has an opposite web-engaging free end adjacent the reel. The bellows is dimensioned so that its free end is spaced from the reel during initial take-up operations. Thereafeter, upon continued winding of the webbing about the take-up reel, the free end of the bellows engages the webbing, and with continued winding is compressed so as to exert a friction force on the webbing during continued take-up. The friction force precludes loose winding of the webbing about the reel.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an intermediate portion of a webbing for use in a seatbelt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle by means of a webbing having one end accommodated in a webbing accommodating device through a biasing force is arranged to withdraw the webbing from the accommodating device in opposition to the biasing force. Accordingly, when an occupant is to apply the webbing to himself by withdrawing it from the accommodating device, the webbing can be withdrawn and applied with a small manual force.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved seat belt retractor rewind spring assembly. In accordance with this invention, a rewind spring assembly is provided having the "bridling" effect wherein the coiled flat strip spring is retained by a spring cap which exerts an outwardly directed bending load on the end of the spring which engages the cap. This bridling effect has been found to increase the efficiency of the coil spring. The rewind spring assembly according to this invention improves over prior art designs in that completely automated assembly is possible through the provision of a novel spring cap design, assembly fixture and assembly process.

Abstract: In a back rest for a vehicle seat, the upholstery support is provided at least in one upper corner area in its front side with an opening to form a receptacle for a belt retraction device, which receptacle is open toward the front and closed at the rear by a back wall lying behind and spaced from the front side. An upper and a lower wall, which form the top and bottom of the receptacle, are connected with the front wall and/or the back wall and are spaced from each other so as to allow the receptacle to receive the belt retraction device without play. Form-fitting, overlapping restraining elements on the upper wall and the facing upper side of the belt retraction device, as well as on the back wall and the facing back side of the belt retraction device, together with a connecting element that engages the underside of the belt retraction device, secure the retraction device against being moved out of the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing webbing wind-up force has a ratchet which rotates together with a take-up shaft for winding up a webbing, a rocker arm with a pawl engageable with the ratchet, a bidirectional solenoid for causing the rocker arm to pivot, and a snap action spring. When an occupant has the webbing fastened, the bidirectional solenoid is activated for a predetermined period of time so that the pawl is engaged with the ratchet, and thereafter, the rocker arm is held in its engagement position by the action of the snap action spring. When the occupant unfastens the webbing, the bidirectional solenoid is activated for a predetermined period of time in the direction opposite to that in the above operation so that the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet, and thereafter, the rocker arm is held in its disengagement position by the action for the snap action spring. Thus, it is possible to reduce the amount of electric power consumed by the bidirectional solenoid.

Abstract: In a seat belt retractor including a housing, a take-up shaft rotatably mounted to the housing, a spring for biasing the take-up shaft in a belt retracting direction, a gear mechanism operatively connected to the belt take-up shaft, a tensionless mechanism operatively connected to the gear mechanism and operable to prevent the take-up shaft from rotating in the belt retracting direction and a motor actuated slack control mechanism operatively connected to the gear mechanism and operable to rotate the belt take-up shaft, there is provided a control unit constructed of a computer in which under normal driving posture of a driver (or belt wearer), an appropriate belt slack is automatically provided depending upon a vehicle speed, and upon posture change of the driver for reverse driving of the vehicle, a tensionless state is established in the retractor with the seat belt which has been drawn out by a certain amount due to the posture change of the driver.

Abstract: A child passenger securing apparatus for use in a vehicle includes a body which has a seat portion and a backrest portion and which defines a hollow portion extending from the seat portion to the backrest portion. A portion of a webbing unwound from a retractor secured within the hollow portion of the seat portion is passed through the hollow portion and led out from a lead-out portion provided in the backrest portion so that a child passenger is fastened by this portion of the webbing. Accordingly, the webbing is prevented from contacting a seat for an adult passenger on which the apparatus is mounted, so that the webbing moves smoothly when it is unwound and rewound.

Abstract: In a mounting construction of a webbing retractor on a panel of a vehicle body, one of engaging means of the webbing retractor is latched to one of engaging holes from the back side of the panel and, thereafter, the other of the engaging means is forced into the other of the engaging holes from the front side of the panel.Accordingly, the webbing retractor can readily be mounted on the panel of the vehicle body without use of such a mounting member as a bolt.

Abstract: An automatic safety seatbelt apparatus for extending a seatbelt from a seatbelt retractor apparatus, through a guide ring fixed on a lower side face of a longitudinal floor tunnel, to a shoulder anchor mounted on an upper portion of the vehicle body. The guide ring ensures a proper diagonal extension of the seatbelt across an upper half of the body of a seated passenger.

Abstract: A passive restraint for a vehicle seat comprising a seat belt is disclosed which is designed so as to secure the security of an occupant. In this passive restraint, since a retractor is mounted in the inside front portion of one of side frame sections of a cushion frame and a belt guide is installed in the outside rear portion of the same one side frame section, an input from the seat belt will be little applied to the intermediate portion of the cushion frame, and points of the input is located adjacent to the front and rear points of installation of a slide rail. As a result of this, loads of the seat belt are distributed directly over the side of the slide rail, which offers an advantage to the cushion frame from the standpoint of strength.

Abstract: A seat belt positioning device (14) is provided which includes a boot member (32) consisting of a housing member (31) covering a spring loaded retractor mechanism (20) for the seat belt (26) and a guide member (34) for guiding the belt (26). The housing member (31) and guide member (34) are connected through a hinge (42, 44) for pivotal movement about an axis displaced below the path of protraction and retraction of the belt (26) so that full retraction of the belt (26) operates to pivot the guide housing (34) vertically to an occupant accessible position when mounted in a vehicle.

Abstract: A strap retractor assembly of a vehicular seat belt arrangement including a retaining strap to be fitted to a vehicle occupant, comprising a reel shaft having the strap anchored thereto at one end of the strap, a spring urging the reel shaft to turn in a direction to have the strap re-wound on the reel shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatable with the reel shaft, a pawl member movable into and out of a position engaging the ratchet wheel and prohibiting the reel shaft from being turned in the aforesaid direction, a switch unit to produce first pulses in response to rotation of the reel shaft in one direction and second pulses in response to rotation of the reel shaft in the opposite direction, a pulse counter to count the first pulses forwardly and the second pulses backwardly, a comparator to compare the number of the pulses counted by the counter with a predetermined number of pulses and to produce a control signal when the former equals the latter, and a solenoid-operated actuator to drive the pawl member into the

Abstract: An automobile seat belt winding device is disclosed. The device comprises a retractor which has a belt winding shaft. The shaft is driven by a motor, the operation of which is controlled by control circuits so that the belt is wound when not being worn and when a slack occurs.A slack sensor comprises a switch and a slip joint, and a slack in the belt is detected due to changing of the position of the slip joint.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved ejection seat restraint system for protecting the head and neck and spinal cord from injuries resulting from rapid forward deceleration and ejection from aircraft. The neck of human beings is at risk from lethal spinal cord injury with rupture of the atlanto-occipital membrane which holds the base of the skull to first cervical vertebra. Such lethal injuries according to the invention are prevented by a single inertial reel connection to the helmet of the user, at a point, aligned with or slightly above the superior nuchal line of the skull of the user. The helmet includes forehead padding, a wrap around cup shaped chin strap and an adjustable nape strap. The webbing for the inertial reel connection is preferably medium to soft.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact flight attendant's folding seat assembly is mounted by a plurality of separate brackets to a wall in an aircraft cabin such that the well serves as a connective support structure for various subcomponents of the seat assembly. When the seat pan is pulled down into an open position against a seat return spring, cams actuated by a seat pan frame push forward on a swingably mounted seat back frame forcing the seat back into a downwardly and forwardly sloping seating orientation. The seat back frame and cooperating cams are constructed and arranged in such a way that any rearward force exerted by the occupant against the seat back frame is reacted through the cams into the supporting wall, via the mounting brackets, wherein the intervening cams transmit the load in compression and without being subjected to rotative moment so that the seat pan is not forced to close on the seated occupant.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor having a tension eliminator comprises a belt take up shaft, a return spring, a first rotatable member rotatable together with the belt take up shaft, a second rotatable member rotatable about the first rotatable member, the relative rotation between the first and second rotatable members being restricted, a spiral spring for biasing the first and second rotatable members to rotate in opposite directions, a stopper device for causing the second rotatable member to take a one-way rotatable condition, a completely locked condition and a released condition, a control device for controlling the stopper device so that when the first rotatable member rotates in one direction, the second rotatable member under the first condition is brought into the third condition and when the first rotatable member rotates in the other direction, the second rotatable member under the third condition is brought into the second condition, and a buckle switch for controlling the stopper device so that when the be

Abstract: A safety seat for motor vehicles, with a safety belt, particularly a three-point belt, stored in an automatic belt roll-up device, and including a lock tongue, a belt lock arranged at the door side of the vehicle, and a flexible, restorable belt-strap guide, which is connected to the seat and/or the belt roll-up device, and is hollow to form a passage for the belt strap which is movable in the guide in the longitudinal direction. The belt-strap guide is limited in length in the manner of a stump. With the safety belt open, the free end of the guide extends essentially straight and forms an abutment or a receiving opening for the lock tongue in the region of the outlet opening for the belt-strap. With the safety belt closed, the belt-strap guide bends elastically under the effect of belt-strap forces in the direction of the path of the particular belt segment.

Abstract: A safety seat belt system for use in a vehicle in which an upper end section of its webbing is made narrower to allow the use of a compact retractor that can be placed in the center pillar of the vehicle. In order to prevent the narrower upper section to be extended over the torso of the occupant when worn by the occupant and to safely restrain the torso by the remaining broader webbing section, at least two guide members are provided to guide the webbing between the retractor and relevant shoulder of the occupant. Owing to the compact structure of the retractor, it is suitable particularly for small cars.

Abstract: Substantial portions of seat belt retractors are embedded in side frame members of a car, so that their upper parts extend upward to a smaller height and occupy a smaller space in a space above the seat or floor of the car to prevent the seat belt retractors from obstructing or giving an uncomfortable feeling to persons getting in or out of the car or sitting on the seat.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor for a safety belt arrangement having a seat belt for reliably restraining and safely protecting a seat belt occupant, comprises belt retracting means for retracting the seat belt, belt slackening means for slackening the seat belt by allowing the seat belt to be pulled out by a predetermined length after the seat belt is retracted and tightened on the seat occupant by the seat belt retracting means; tension eliminating means for permitting the seat belt to assume a tensionless belt position where the seat belt is maintained tensionless after being slackened by the belt slackening means; and tensionless belt position memorizing means for memorizing the tensionless belt position of the seat belt so as to enable the seat belt to be retracted to the tensionless position by the belt retracting means when the seat belt is pulled out beyond the tensionless belt position of the seat belt.

Abstract: A belt retractor is disclosed which includes a rotary shaft having thereon a belt reel with a coil of seat belt wound therearound. The rotary shaft is rotatable in a first direction when the seat belt is pulled out and is spring-biased for rotation in a second direction to retract the seat belt around the belt reel. Lock means is provided for locking the rotary shaft so that the rotary shaft is prevented from rotating in the second direction but permitted to rotate through a predetermined angle in the first direction and to rotate back through the permitted angle in the second direction. Drive means is provided for bringing the lock means into driving connection with the rotary shaft when the seat belt is being worn around the user.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor with a belt tension eliminator comprises a belt take up reel, a retracting spring, means for producing a belt fastening signal, and a tension eliminator which prevents retraction of the belt with a measure of slack in the same, so that the tension or stress exerted on the body of the belt wearer by the belt fastened is eliminated by rendering the force of the retraction spring to be inactive in the normal driving position and posture assumed by the belt wearer.

Abstract: A seatbelt system including a seatbelt retractor. The retractor includes a frame, a take-up shaft rotatably coupled to the frame, first and second take-up springs connected in series to the take-up shaft, a gear wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and provided between the first and second take-up springs and a means for preventing the rotation of the gear wheel when the anchor plate is moved upon application of the seatbelt, whereby during the application of the seatbelt only the tension of the first take-up spring acts on the seatbelt.

Abstract: In a seat belt retractor having two springs at least one of which acts for taking up webbing and wherein webbing take-up force can be reduced by controlling at least one of the two springs, a take-up force reducing mechanism comprises a rotatable member connected to one of the springs for controlling the output of the one spring so that when the rotatable member is in its movable condition, there is obtained an unreduced webbing take-up force and that when the rotatable member is unrestrained, the webbing take-up force is reduced, a restraining member capable of assuming a restraining position to restrain the rotatable member and a non-restraining position in which it cannot restrain the rotatable member, a friction cam member capable of following the rotational movement of the rotatable member due to friction therewith and also capable of assuming a first rotated position and a second rotated position, and electromagnetic means for moving the restraining member to said non-restraining position by an extraneo

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint belt retractor includes a system for locking the belt reel against rewinding by an otherwise continuously operating rewind spring. The system locks in response to rotation of the belt reel with a time delay interposed between a cycle consisting of a small rotation in the unwinding direction followed by a small rotation in the winding direction which cycles a retractor switch via a clutched operating lever on the reel shaft.

Abstract: A system for restraining forward movement of an occupant of a motor vehicle seat comprises a chest pad 18 on an arm 16 which is pivotable about a transverse axis 20 behind and below the seat, together with a lap restraint in the form of an arm 10 having a padded portion 12 which extends across the user's lap. The arm 10 is pivotally mounted on a transverse axis 24 located near the front of the seat. A lever 26 is fast with the arm 16 and a lever 28 is fast with the arm 10. A roller 32 engages confronting surfaces 34 and 36 on the arms 26 and 28. When the roller 32 is in the position shown, forward movement of the arm 16 causes relatively little backward movement of the arm 10 so that the occupant can lean forward in his seat without forcing the bar on the arm 10 into his lap. If, due to sudden decceleration of the vehicle, the occupant moves forward in his seat, lifting the padded portion 12, the roller 32 shoots forwards into engagement with stop surface 38.

Abstract: A safety belt wind-up device includes a rotatable belt wind-up shaft, wind-up force lock device capable of assuming interlocked and uninterlocked positions with the wind-up shaft including a first member rotatively driven by the wind-up shaft when the wind-up force lock device is in the interlocked position, a first cam rotating together with the first member, a second member rotatively driven by the first member engaging the second member, and a second cam rotating together with the second member, and a device for bringing the lock device into the interlocked and uninterlocked positions depending upon engagement and disengagement of a buckle of the device. The device permits a safety belt to be drawn out of the device to a length required for a user's action from the equipped position and completely delete the wind-up force acting upon the belt at the equipped position, whereby the user is not subjected to a belt wind-up force.

Abstract: A seatbelt system including a lap webbing wound up by a retractor and turned back through a lap slip anchor swingably installed on the floor of the vehicle. Furthermore, the seatbelt is of such an arrangement that a center of the retractor and a center of the lap slip anchor are displaced relative to each other and the rotating range of the lap slip anchor is controlled whereby the wind out angle and wind up angle of the lap webbing relative to the retractor is controlled.

Abstract: A reel type safety seat belt retractor in which a pawl is triggered to engage a ratchet wheel, serving as a reel flange, by an inertial device sensitive to an accelerated movement of the reel, wherein the inertial device has two levels of sensitivity, a low level to prevent the triggering of the pawl under all normal conditions of belt withdrawal for buckling, and a second level of high sensitivity which prevails after the belt webbing has been buckled about the passenger.This is accomplished by means of a biasing spring shared by both a webbing follower and the inertial device, and by a clutch which rotated when the webbing in initially withdrawn to restrain the webbing follower and the attached spring bias in a condition of high tension for the low level of sensitivity.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprising belt take-up shaft means supported by the base member, belt take-up force locking means capable of assuming an interlocked position in which it is interlocked with the take-up shaft means and a non-interlocked position in which it is not interlocked with the take-up shaft means, and sensing means for bringing the take-up force locking means to the interlocked position and the non-interlocked position, respectively, in accordance with the wearing and removal of the seat belt of a belt wearer.The take-up force locking means in the interlocked position prevents the take-up of the belt so far drawn out but permits draw out and take-up of the belt in a predetermined range beyond the amount so far drawn out.

Abstract: In a vehicle seat belt system in which the belt has a diagonal or shoulder portion and a lap or pelvis portion, the diagonal portion is connectable at a desired position to an extension of the lap portion which is stretched diagonally upright over the front of the back of the seat. A snubber device isolates the portions of the belt providing the lap portion and the extension, the upper end of which is connected to an anchorage for a retractor from which the diagonal portion downwardly extends. The diagonal portion and the extension are connected by a device such that tension in the belt as it extends forwardly over the users shoulder, tilts the device into engagement with the seat back to enhance frictional engagement therewith against inadvertent movement of the device.

Abstract: A seatbelt for a vehicle including a retractor provided adjacent one side and on a forward underside of a passenger seat. The retractor is arranged and configured such that a seatbelt extending from the retractor extends diagonally across the underside of the seat to a point on the seat opposite from the side on which the retractor is provided.

Abstract: An improved tension-relieving apparatus for a shoulder belt of a vehicle safety belt system includes: a housing, a shoulder belt support, a locking means, a force transmitting means and an actuating means. The housing has an approximately U-shape including a back wall and two sidewalls. The shoulder belt support extends between the sidewalls of the housing. The shoulder belt moves partially around the shoulder belt support as the shoulder belt is unwound from the retractor and rewound into the retractor. The locking means is disposed adjacent to the shoulder belt support. The locking means includes a clamp pivotably disposed within the housing and extending between the sidewalls of the housing. The clamp, in its locking position, prevents movement of the shoulder belt around the shoulder belt support. The force transmitting means is mounted in the housing adjacent to the locking means and moves the clamp between its locking position and its unlocking position.

Abstract: According to the invention, a shoulder belt has its inboard end mounted on the vehicle body generally adjacent the hip of the occupant and an outboard end mounted on the roof rail by a shoulder belt retractor. A track extends longitudinally along the roof rail and movably mounts a carriage which slidably receives the shoulder belt intermediate the inboard and outboard ends thereof. A drive cable of fixed length has its rearward end attached to the upper rear corner of the door and a forward end attached to the roof rail adjacent the forward end of the track so that the drive cable assumes a position generally coincident with the track when the door is closed and assumes a position angularly divergent from the track when the door is opened. The drive cable extends slidably through the guide loop to permit rearward retraction of the carriage by the belt retractor as the drive cable converges with the track during door closing movement to establish the belt in the restraining position.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor with a tension eliminator is provided with a ratchet wheel arrangement which acts as a position memory upon closing of a buckle switch and which is responsive to the belt webbing being drawn off the reel of the retractor by a seat occupant leaning forward beyond a predetermined distance, the wheel being rotated via an internal/planetary gear arrangement, proportionally to the excess distance whereupon the webbing can be retracted only said predetermined distance inducing a degree of tension eliminating slack in the webbing upon return of the occupant to the position in which he or she buckles the seat belt.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system for a vehicle comprising a seat belt retractor mounted in the vehicle, seat belt webbing have one end attached to the retractor and another end attached to the vehicle, a thin elongated flexible element attached at one end to the vehicle and at a second end to a ring attached the webbing, and a button on the webbing for moving the ring and the webbing in response to motion of the vehicle door.