Abstract: An acceleration sensor, which can always maintain a supporting body at a predetermined angle even when an inclining member is inclined and in which, moreover, a tilt lock angle is small. A substantially U-shaped limiting protrusion 136 is provided standing at a face wheel 130, and predetermined clearances are formed between the limiting protrusion 136 and a limiting shaft 138 of a bracket 40. When a seatback is inclined, the face wheel 130 rotates around an axis line J at the same angle as an angle of inclination of the seatback, and the bracket 40 is rotated with respect to the seatback by the load of a weight 118. Thus, a center line C of the bracket 40 is kept in a vertical direction. Even if a difference occurs between the angle of inclination of the seatback and the angle of rotation of the face wheel 130, the center line C of the bracket 40 is always in the vertical direction, within the clearances, due to the weight 118's own weight.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor for retracting a seat belt is formed of a first motor for retracting a seat belt with a force not providing a pressing feeling to a passenger, a second motor having a torque greater than that of the first motor for retracting the seat belt with a force forcibly holding the passenger to a seat, and a control circuit connected to the first and second motors for controlling the same. Thus, the seat belt retractor can perform a forced retraction and a normal retraction with an economical structure.

Abstract: A guide pin is provided erect at a lock plate of a webbing retractor. A guide hole is formed in a V gear in correspondence with the guide pin. The guide hole is formed from a first hole portion, a second hole portion and a third hold portion. A state in which the guide pin is positioned in the first hole portion is an initial state. When relative rotation between the V gear and a spool arises, the guide pin moves from the first hole portion and reaches the second hole portion. In this process, the guide pin pushes the V gear so as to rotate reversely, and locking is cancelled. When a pushing force causing a V gear reverse rotation angle to exceed a set value is applied from the guide pin, the guide pin escapes into the third hole portion such that excessive pushing force is cancelled.

Abstract: A seat belt spooling device having a ball type pretensioner. The pretensioner includes a case and a ball-receiving member formed integrally with each other. The ball receiving member includes a guide formed integrally with the ball-receiving member. The guide is positioned to guide balls entering into the ball-receiving member from the case, thereby reducing the number of components and the assembling cost.

Abstract: A passenger restraining harness and support assembly for use with a bench seat mounted in a vehicle. The bench seat includes a frame having a seat support portion and a back support portion. The seat is supported on legs anchoring the seat to the vehicle. A harness support assembly includes towers pivotally mounted to the bench seat to move with the seat back through a limited deflection. Web slack take-up devices are mounted to the towers and pivot therewith contacting webs mounted to the towers and removing slack therefrom upon deacceleraton.

Abstract: A buckle pretensioner for a vehicle safety restraint comprising a buckle head (1) for receiving a buckle tongue to secure safety restraint webbing about a vehicle occupant in a three-point belt system; a cable (2) connected to the buckle head (1); and device (7) for rapidly withdrawing the cable in a belt tightening direction, the withdrawing device (7) comprising a force reservoir (8), and driving mechanism (6), and being of a compact construction through the use of set-up gearing (3,4) to magnify linear movement produced by the force reservoir (8) which may be a pyrotechnic gas generator or a spring. The driving mechanism (8) may be a piston-cylinder (6,8) or a rack and pinion. The gearing may comprise a pulley arrangement (3,4). Alternatively a roots motor or a gear pump could be used.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism, in particular for connecting a belt tensioner drive with a belt spool of a belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt, comprises a driving part, an intermediate part, a driven part, a form-fitting coupling and a force-fitting coupling. The form-fitting coupling and the force-fitting coupling are connected in series. The coupling mechanism has an initial state in which the form-fitting coupling is engaged and the force-fitting coupling is disengaged.

Abstract: A vehicular seatbelt retractor is provided with a webbing control device and a pawl device, in which a mass member is inserted into a first tooth portion body of a clutch wheel and is positioned in a retainer ring of a retainer, so that its wing latch faces a second sprocket of the retainer ring. The webbing control device includes a retainer, a locking element and a clutch wheel, and the pawl device includes a housing and a standing weight mounted to be rocked from side to side in the housing.

Abstract: In a pretensioner, an axial direction of a generator accommodating portion is inclined from a direction which is orthogonal to an axial direction of the cylinder main body toward the cylinder main body. As a result, another axial direction end portion of the generator accommodating portion is positioned closer to the cylinder main body side and the dimensions of the pretensioner along the orthogonal axial direction of the cylinder main body becomes small. In addition, at a bottom portion side of the cylinder main body, an open space is generated along the orthogonal direction of the cylinder main body and therefore the pretensioner becomes more compact. Moreover, since the generator accommodating portion and the cylinder main body are connected such that a center axis of the generator accommodating portion is skewed with respect to the center axis of the cylinder main body, a large area can be secured for the opening into the cylinder main body while a compact structure is maintained.

Abstract: A seatbelt system is provided with a retractor, which has a retractor base provided with side plates, a bobbin, a locking member prevented from rotation in a webbing-withdrawing direction in an event of an emergency, a shaft integrally connected at an end thereof with the bobbin and at an opposite end thereof with the locking member, and a bobbin locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the bobbin in the webbing-withdrawing direction when relative rotation between the bobbin and the locking member has reached a predetermined extent. The locking member is brought into engagement with one of the side plates of the retractor base so that any further rotation of the locking member is prevented. At the same time, the bobbin is brought into engagement with the other side plate via the bobbin locking mechanism so that any further rotation of the bobbin is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety belt apparatus, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a safety belt (11) which is connected on the one hand via a belt lock (12) to the vehicle body (13) and on the other hand to a belt winder (14) which is attached to the vehicle body (13), and which has a belt roller (15) which is rotatable about a transverse axis (16) and onto which the belt (11) is wound up to a greater or lesser extent, which is stressed by a spring mechanism (17) in the belt roll-up direction and is connected to a belt tautener (18) as well as to an unwind blocking apparatus (19) which blocks the further drawing out of the belt in the attempt of a rapid belt drawing out and/or in accident caused accelerations at the latest after a limited further rotation of the belt roller (15), with a coupling (20) consisting of an input part (22), an output part (24) and coupling members (25) which are active between them being placed between the belt tautener (18) and the belt roller (15), which coupling (20)

Abstract: An emergency-lock type retractor includes an emergency lock part for stopping the rotation of said drum to restrict the pull-out of said belt when a belt wound around a drum is pulled suddenly at a predetermined speed or higher, and a hand-operated lock part capable of stopping the rotation of said drum by hand.

Abstract: A vehicle body acceleration sensor suitable for being used in a retractor attached to a backrest. A vehicle body acceleration sensor (32) for use with a seat belt having a transmission device (39) which pivots a sensor case (30) about its pivot axis S according to reclining angle of a backrest (62) in synchronization with reclining action of the backrest (62) so as to retain an inertial body support surface (30b) of the sensor case (30) in an appropriate orientation. The transmission device (39) has a slide member (53) disposed in a seat portion (63), a cam plate (54) which causes to move the slide member (53) back and forth within only a pivotable range of the sensor case (30), and a wire (56) for transmitting the movement of the slide member (53) to the sensor case (30).

Abstract: An energy absorbing seat belt retractor (20) comprising: a frame (22); a torsion bar (70, 70′) having a first and a second side, rotationally supported relative to the frame. The torsion bar of the type which is pre-torqued to create a permanent deformation therein or having an annular cross section to reduce a transition zone between the torsion bar's elastic and plastic deformation regions. The retractor also includes a locking device (200) adapted to be activated during a vehicle accident and operative on the first side (76) of the torsion bar to stop the torsion bar from rotating.

Abstract: A retractor (20) for a vehicle safety restraint for use in a rear vehicle seat comprising: seat belt webbing wound on a rotatable spool (2), and a vehicle sensor having an inertial sensor mass (5) supported in a housing and movable relative thereto when vehicle acceleration or deceleration exceeds a predetermined magnitude; a vehicle sensor pawl (7) arranged to be moved, in response to movement of the mass, from a position in which the spool is freely rotatable into a spool locking position; a seat back latching condition detector, adapted to be located in a latch for the rear seat back, means (10) connecting the latching condition detector to the vehicle sensing pawl, the connecting means being operable to move the pawl (7) into the spool locking position when a seat back deatched condition is detected.

Abstract: An energy management device (10) for seat belt webbing (18) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a base (40) for attachment to the vehicle. The device (10) also includes a plastically deformable torsion bar (60) having a first portion (66) fixed relative to the base (40) and a second portion (72) rotatable relative to the first portion and the base. The torsion bar (60) twists upon rotation of the second portion (72) relative to the first portion (66). A spool (80) is supported on the base (40) and is fixed for rotation with the second portion (72) of the torsion bar (60) relative to the first portion (66) of the torsion bar. The spool (80) has an outer peripheral surface (90). A flexible member (100) is wound on the outer peripheral surface (90) of the spool (80). The flexible member (100) has a first end portion (104) connected with the spool (80) and a second end portion (110) extending from the spool (80) for connection with the seat belt webbing (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt retractor has a frame, a spool rotatably mounted to the frame and a spool locking device for locking the spool against rotation. The spool locking device includes actuating means for actuating the locking device. The actuating means is a support carrying a mass and a pawl, the mass being arranged to move from an initial position to an actuating position to actuate the pawl into engagement with the ratchet on the spool. The actuating means is an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the pawl and the ratchet. The adjustment mechanism may adjust the support relative to a housing, and adjust the tip of the pawl relative to the pawl body or a deformable pawl tip.

Abstract: A vehicle-sensitive retractor is provided that can be mounted in a reclinable seat back which has a nominal position inclined to the vertical and that is actuated to a locked position in each of three mutually-perpendicular planes. The retractor has a universal acceleration sensor that compensates for different seat back inclinations so that it does not lock until a threshold vehicle acceleration condition is detected, and so that it will lock regardless of the sensed acceleration when the seat back and retractor are shifted to specified inclinations forward and rearward from the seat back nominally inclined position. The sensor preferably includes a weighted basket that supports an inertia member. At the rearward inclination position, the inertia member operates an actuating mechanism to lock the retractor. A stop engages and prevents adjustment of the support at the seat back's forwardmost inclined position so that at a predetermined angular distance forward therefrom, e.g.

Abstract: Safety belt devices are disclosed for vehicles comprising a seat belt, a retractor for retracting the seat belt, a seat belt guide for guiding the seat belt, a rotatable drum for displacing the seat belt guide between a normal operating condition and a tightened condition for the seat belt, the seat belt guide mounted on the rotatable drum, and an activator for activating the rotatable drum into the tightened condition, the rotatable drum including an energy absorber for reducing the force exerted upon the seat belt guide by the seat belt during return of the seat belt guide from the tightened condition to its normal operating condition.

Abstract: A seatbelt retractor to be mounted in a backrest is provided with a sensor member for actuating a locking mechanism. Depending on an angle of reclining of the backrest, the sensing member is pivotal such that the spatial orientation of the sensing member is adjusted into a suitable orientation. The seatbelt retractor is also provided with one or both of a buffer mechanism and a locking adjusting mechanism to properly actuate the locking mechanism irrespective of the position of the sensing member.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor may be spaced from and mounted at an attitude to the vertical that is different than the attitude of the retractor; and a mechanical connection therebetween operates the retractor to block belt protraction from the retractor reel when the vehicle and/or seat belt experience an acceleration or deceleration above a predetermined amount. Preferably, the retractor is of substantial conventional manufacture, and the remote actuator uses the same kind of proven inertia-sensitive components to provide a low-cost and proven system. Preferably, the remote actuator is connected mechanically by a cable to the retractor, and the cable actuates the retractor to its blocking position to stop belt protraction.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (10) includes a sensor (16) which is effective to sense a distance between a vehicle (12) and an object (14) adjacent to the vehicle (12). The sensor (16) also is effective to provide a sensor signal (18) indicative of the distance between the vehicle (12) and the adjacent object (14). The system (10) also includes a length of seat belt webbing (26) extensible about an occupant (28) of the vehicle. An actuatable mechanism (22) is operatively connected with the webbing (26). The actuatable mechanism (22) is operable to effect a tightening of the webbing (26) around the vehicle occupant (28) upon the sensor signal (18) indicating that the distance between the vehicle (12) and the adjacent object (14) is within a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt system comprises a belt reel taking up a seat belt, a belt tensioning mechanism capable of biasing the belt reel in a winding direction of the seat-belt, and a sensor capable of triggering the belt tensioning mechanism and provided with a safety device translatable by installation of the belt retractor in a vehicle from a secured condition in which the sensor is blocked, into a released condition in which the sensor is ready to trigger. The safety device includes a sensor blocking element which is movable between a blocking position in which the sensor is blocked, and a release position in which the sensor is ready to trigger, and includes a transport locking element and a sensing element. The sensing element senses a diameter of a coil of the seat belt on the belt reel and allows a movement of the sensor blocking element into the release position only when the diameter is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (22) having an inertial sensor to initiate lockup of the retractor, the inertial sensor including a first housing portion (102) having an actuating arm mounting member (120). The retractor including a first pin (126) cantilevered from the mounting member (120); an activation arm (130) rotationally supported upon the first pin (126), the activation arm (130), when activated, movable into engagement with a ratchet wheel (80), a pendulous vehicle sensor subassembly (150) mounted upon the first housing portion (102), the subassembly (150) and the first housing portion (102) including a support mechanism to rotatably support the sensor subassembly thereon.

Abstract: An energy absorbing seat belt retractor (20) comprising: a frame (22); a torsion bar (70,70') having a first and a second side, rotationally supported relative to the frame. The torsion bar of the type which is pre-torqued to create a permanent deformation therein or having an annular cross section to reduce a transition zone between the torsion bar's elastic and plastic deformation regions. The retractor also includes a locking device (200) adapted to be activated during a vehicle accident and operative on the first side (76) of the torsion bar to stop the torsion bar from rotating.

Abstract: A retractor for a vehicle restraint system has a locking mechanism comprising an additional inertia member (7) which decouples from the webbing spool when a predetemined acceleration or deceleration force is exceeded, due to the pretensioning operation taking place, and operates a locking pawl (3) to prevent further movement of the spool. The locking pawl (3) is then positively held in the locking condition using a spring catch (9) integral with the inertia member (7), or it can be spring biased in the locking condition using a spring displacing the inertia member (7) against the locking pawl (3) once shear pins (8) have been destroyed. This prevents webbing payout in a multiple crash situation, and provides a positive indication that the pretensioner has fired.

Abstract: A belt retractor for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The backrest of the seat is able of being latched to a vehicle body in an upright seating position by a lock. The retractor has a frame and a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame. A blocking mechanism is provided for selectively blocking rotation of the belt reel on the frame. The blocking mechanism is activated as long as the backrest is not locked in place by latching action of the lock. The blocking mechanism comprises an activating mechanism and an actuating element associated therewith and coupled to the lock by a push/pull mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt integral seat of a motor vehicle with a backrest, which includes a frame, a retractor, for the safety belt attached to the backrest and a sensor steering this retractor. The seat also contains a seat area, which is joined by a back rest joint with the back rest, and a seat frame, which comprises an adjustment device, with which at least the angle of the tilt of the seat area can be changed. The sensor is connected in a pivoted manner with the frame of the back rest around the swiveling axis and in the seat frame a mechanical device for the registration of the adjustment of the angle of the tilt is provided, which registers the angle of the tilt of the seat area in comparison to a state of reference and which is pivotally connected with the sensor by a flexible shaft.

Abstract: A tightening device for a safety belt includes a cable having a first end and a second end. A drive is connected to the first end of the cable. The drive, when activated, moves the cable in a tightening direction. The second end of the cable is connected to a safety belt. A deflection device about which the cable is guided is provided. The deflection device has a rotatable eccentric pawl and a stop. The stop limits rotation of the eccentric pawl when rotated upon movement of the cable in the tightening direction and thus defines a deflection position of the eccentric pawl. The eccentric pawl has an elongate extension extending in a direction of the cable portion extending between the drive and a deflection location at the deflection device. The eccentric pawl has a deflection end guiding the cable at the deflection location. The eccentric pawl has an eccentric arc opposite the deflection end.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor 80 is attached to a seat back 14 and a cable advancing and retreating mechanism 20 is attached to a portion where a supporting arm 12 and a shaft 18 for inclining the seat back 14 are connected to each other. The supporting arm 12 projects from a seat cushion 10 for supporting the seat back 14. Corresponding to the inclination of the seat back 14, a cable 70 laid between the cable advancing and retreating mechanism 20 and the seat belt retractor 80 is advanced or retreated from/into the cable advancing and retreating mechanism 20. The attitude of the acceleration sensor 92 attached to the seat belt retractor 80 is controlled by advancing or retreating the cable 70 so that the acceleration sensor 92 always stands perpendicularly.

Abstract: A belt retractor for incorporation in a fold-down type backrest of a vehicle seat is disclosed. The backrest of the seat is able of being latched to a vehicle body in an upright seating position by a lock. The retractor has a frame and a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame. A blocking mechanism is provided for selectively blocking rotation of the belt reel on the frame. The blocking mechanism is activated as long as the backrest is not locked in place by latching action of the lock. The blocking mechanism comprises an activating means responsive to inertial forces. The activating means has a coupling disk which is connected to the belt reel and has a coupling toothing. The activating means further has a coupling pawl which can be caused to engage the coupling toothing. The coupling pawl comprises a control knuckle coupled by a traction means to the lock.

Abstract: In an automobile vehicle, a seat assembly includes a seat belt and a seat belt inertia reel attached to the seat. The reel is equipped with belt locking means. Also included is a seat pan position adjustment means that enables a seat pan to be inclined by pivoting around a transverse horizontal axis. The inertia reel is attached to the seat pan and is installed so as to pivot around an axis that is substantially parallel to the transverse horizontal axis. A correction mechanism corrects the angular position of the inertia reel with respect to the seat pan according to the inclination of the seat pan.

Abstract: To allow a weight type acceleration sensor to be employed as an acceleration sensor of a seat belt retractor which is incorporated in a seat back. A seat belt retractor 80 is attached to a seat back 14 and a cable winder 20 is attached to a portion where a supporting arm 12 and a shaft 18 for inclining the seat back 14 are connected to each other. The supporting arm 12 projects from a seat cushion 10 for supporting the seat back 14. Corresponding to the inclination of the seat back 14, the cable winder 20 rotates so that a cable 70 laid between the cable winder 20 and the seat belt retractor 80 is unwound or wound from/onto the winder 20. The attitude of the acceleration sensor 92 attached to the seat belt retractor 80 is controlled by the unwinding or winding of the cable 70 so that the acceleration sensor 92 always stands perpendicularly.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor apparatus for a vehicle capable of properly detecting an acceleration acting on a vehicle body in a predetermined direction even when the mounted orientation of the acceleration sensor apparatus changes relative to the vehicle body, and capable of providing an output operation when the vehicle body tilts more than a predetermined angle. A sensor housing is fixed on a vehicle body such as on a seatback. A sensor bracket is swingably supported by the sensor housing about an axis parallel to an axis of tilt of the seatback. An inertial body is movably supported in a support depression of the sensor bracket. An output interlock member provides an output operation in an interlocking relation with an ascending movement of the inertial body along a slope of the support depression. An upper weight is located above a swing center axis. A lower weight is provided so that the center of gravity of an assembly swingably supported about the swing center axis is positioned below the swing center axis.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) for mounting on a vehicle seat back (22) includes a spool (110) on which seat belt webbing (32) is wound. The retractor (10) includes inertia sensing means (40) for blocking rotation of the spool (110) in a belt withdrawal direction (124) in response to vehicle deceleration above a predetermined deceleration. The inertia sensing means (40) comprises a first inertia member (222) movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to vehicle deceleration above a predetermined deceleration, and sensor means (230) operable to block rotation of the spool (110) in the belt withdrawal direction (124) in response to movement of the first inertia member (222) from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

Abstract: A safety belt reeling device with a belt-sensitive control system, for locking the reeling shaft when safety belt removal occurs at a rate above a preset limit, has a reeling shaft and a safety belt fastened thereto. The reeling shaft is rotatable for winding and unwinding the safety belt. A vehicle-sensitive control system locks the reeling shaft when horizontally acting vehicle acceleration forces are too great. The vehicle-sensitive control system has a control disk with outer toothing and a locking lever cooperating with the outer toothing. The reeling shaft is locked when the locking lever engages the outer toothing and released when the locking lever disengages the outer toothing. The vehicle-sensitive control system has a first sensor activating the locking lever for engaging the outer toothing when a first preset threshold value, defined by government standards, for horizontally acting vehicle acceleration forces is surpassed.

Abstract: A seat belt actuator may be spaced from and mounted at an attitude to the vertical that is different than the attitude of the retractor. Preferably, the remote actuator is connected by a looped cable to the retractor to actuate the retractor to its blocking position to stop belt protraction. Herein, the retractor is mounted on a tiltable seat back of a vehicle seat that changes its attitude to the vertical while the remote inertia-sensitive actuator is mounted in the seat rest of the vehicle seat and does not change its attitude. The cable turns a gear in both the remote actuator and in the retractor. An inertia flywheel sensitive to rotation, or an inertia, weight sensitive to acceleration or deceleration, when deceleration is above the predetermined amount, stops rotation of the gear at the remote actuator.

Abstract: An inclination-compensatable safety belt reeling device connected to a vehicle seat, wherein the part of the vehicle seat to which the safety belt reeling device is connected is inclination-adjustable relative to an axis extending to the center of the earth, has a vehicle-sensitive acceleration sensor to be oriented in a nominal position to the center of the earth. A pendulum device with a pendulum mass acts on the acceleration sensor for returning the acceleration sensor into the nominal position when an inclination change occurs. An inertia mass in the form of a deceleration mass sensitive to horizontal acceleration forces is provided. A stationary blocking toothing is also provided. The pendulum mass has laterally projecting arms with guide projections extending in a direction of movement of the deceleration mass. The deceleration mass is positioned with slotted holes on the guide projections so as to be slidingly linearly guided.

Abstract: A reel of a seat belt retractor equipped in a automobile for reeling a seat belt is integral with a shaft of an ultrasonic motor. The ultrasonic motor is rotated either one direction or the other so as to retract or draw out the seat belt. A control device for controlling the rotation of the ultrasonic motor by supplying a control signal based on the signals sensed by a buckle sensor which senses a buckle is locked, a tension sensor which senses tension of a seat belt, a speed sensor which senses speed of the automobile, a rotation sensor which senses the rotation degree and a child seat sensor which senses whether child seat is set on a passenger seat.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle seat (12) with an upper frame (28) supported to tilt on a lower frame (18). An emergency locking mechanism (60) is supported on the upper frame (28). The apparatus (10) further includes an orientation mechanism (106) including an elongated flexible driving member (114). The orientation mechanism (106) moves the driving member (114) longitudinally in one direction upon tilting of the upper frame (28), and moves the driving member (114) longitudinally in an opposite direction upon opposite tilting of the upper frame (28). The orientation mechanism (106) tilts the emergency locking mechanism (60) a controlled amount relative to the upper frame (28) in response to longitudinal movement of the driving member (114).

Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatically operable indication of when a pretensioner has operated in a vehicle passenger safety restraint system. The indication may be audible or visible, for example an inflatable brightly coloured balloon in the vehicle trim or a whistle or a flag. Such an indication ensures that the vehicle owner knows when the pretensioner feature of his vehicle is not available for a subsequent crash condition so that he can seek re-setting or servicing of the pretensioner at the earliest opportunity.

Abstract: A vehicle seat which carries a passenger restraint system, namely a lap belt and a shoulder belt, with a tension load carrying member being provided to resist forward rotation and bending of the backrest frame during a frontal vehicle collision when the shoulder belt is loaded in tension. The tension load carrying member forms a truss structure with the frame back portion and the frame base portion. However, during normal vehicle operation, the tension load carrying member is detached from the frame back portion eliminating the truss structure and the need for a more complex recliner mechanism for adjusting the position of the backrest. A grip mechanism is provided to attach the load carrying member in response to a high shoulder belt load to complete the truss. In an alternative embodiment, the load carrying member is released from the backrest only during adjustment of the backrest.

Abstract: A retractor having a frame pivotably mounted to a structural member of the back of a seat of an automotive vehicle. A self-zeroing center of gravity assembly is pivotably mounted to the structural member which maintains a predetermined orientation independent of the angle at which the back of the seat is positioned. A blocker mechanism, responsive to extraction of the shoulder webbing from the retractor to temporarily block the center of gravity assembly from pivoting during the displacement of the back of the seat toward a reclined position and prevents inadvertent locking of the retractor and displacement of the seat's back.

Abstract: A safety restraint system in which the retractor for the shoulder webbing is pivotably mounted to a structural member associated with the back of the seat. The retractor is pivotable about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The retractor has a shaft normal to the spool of the retractor and is pivotably locked in a sleeve of a mounting bracket attached to the structural member.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle (24) includes a base (80) that defines a cavity (82) for receiving a pair of tongues (62, 64). A latch plate (100) is supported by the base (80) and is movable between a first position connecting the tongues (62, 64) with the base when the tongues are advanced a fully inserted distance into the cavity (82) and a second position at which the tongues are disconnected from the base. A blocking mechanism (200) has a portion located in a path of movement (P1, P2) of one of the tongues (62, 64). The blocking mechanism (200) is operable to block advancement of the tongues (62, 64) the fully inserted distance into the cavity (82) until both tongues are advanced into the cavity together a predetermined distance. The blocking mechanism (200) comprises a member (204) that is linear moveable relative to the base (80). A pivotable arm (206) carried by the member (204) has opposite end portions (266, 264) which engage the tongues (62, 64).

Abstract: A passive passenger restraint system adapted for use with aerial, cable-supported chairlifts includes a passive restraint that is driven by the motion of the chairlift. A seatbelt automatically deploys across the laps of the passengers. The seatbelt restrains the passengers until the end of the trip and then releases the restraint just before unloading the passengers. After unloading, the restraint system automatically resets for the next passengers and the next deployment cycle. A similar passenger restraint system for use in vehicles restrains passengers individually using a shoulder belt and a lap belt.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism for a belt pretensioner comprises a sensor mass which responds both on a head-on collision and on ramming of the vehicle from the rear. The sensor mass may be pivotally mounted and formed by functional parts of the pretensioner drive. In a belt pretensioner which is combined with a belt retractor (10) to an assembly and which has a pyrotechnical piston/cylinder drive, the sensor mass consists of a carrier block (40) pivotally mounted on a base (12) and having a guide cylinder (42) mounted therein and a piston accommodated therein. A striker lever (50) pivotally mounted in the base (12) is released for activating an impact igniter on a gas generator cartridge (44) when the carrier block (40) is pivoted in vehicle-sensitive manner in the one or other direction.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) includes a vehicle deceleration sensing assembly (40) which is operable at a plurality of different inclined orientations to block withdrawal of belt webbing (32) from a spool (110). The spool (110) is rotatable about a first axis (62) of the retractor. The sensing assembly (40) includes a first inertia member (222) supported for movement on a second inertia member (224). The second inertia member is supported for pivotal movement about an axis (260) which extends parallel to an adjustment axis (30) of a vehicle seat back (22) in which the retractor (10) is mounted. The first inertia member (222) is movable to move a pawl (180, 200) into engagement with a ratchet (114-116, 130) rotatable about the first axis (62) to block rotation of the spool (110) in a belt withdrawal direction (124).

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (18) includes a frame (110), a spool (112), and a locking pawl (126). The spool (112) has ratchet teeth (122) and is supported on the frame (110) for rotation in a seat belt winding direction and a seat belt unwinding direction. The pawl (126) is movable into a locking position in which it extends into the path of movement of the ratchet teeth (122) to block rotation of the spool (112) in the unwinding direction. The retractor (18) further includes an actuator assembly (150) for moving the pawl (126) into the locking position. The actuator assembly (150) includes a first actuator member (152), a second actuator member (154) and a spring (156). The first actuator member (152) is supported for movement into an actuated position against the bias of the spring (156). The second actuator member (154) is supported for movement with the first actuator member (152).

Abstract: A lever is provided for switching from a state in which a preloader for rapidly rotating a webbing take-up shaft in a webbing winding direction in an emergency of a vehicle is non-operated to a state in which the preloader is operated. Before a retractor is mounted to the vehicle, the preloader is made non-operative so that an undesired operation may be avoided. The lever interlocks with a lock device for preventing the webbing take-up shaft from being rotated in a webbing pulling-out direction during acceleration of the vehicle. When the preloader is in a non-operative state, the lock device provides a locked state in which a webbing cannot be pulled out from the webbing take-up shaft. Therefore, in order to fasten the webbing to an occupant, the lever must be actuated to enable the pulling out of the webbing, i.e., to enable the lock device to operate and to enable the preloader to operate. After the retractor has been mounted to the vehicle, the preloader is released from the non-operating state.