Abstract: A car seat including a seat body having a seat back and a seat pan for receiving an occupant thereon, and at least one shoulder harness coupled to the seat body and being located to fit over the torso of an occupant to retain the occupant on the seat body. The car seat further includes a buckle for releasably coupling the shoulder harness to the seat body, the buckle including a bracket coupled to the shoulder harness and a base coupled to the seat body. The bracket includes a gripping portion and a tongue and is releasably couplable to the base. The buckle is in a latched condition when the bracket is coupled to the base and is in an unlatched condition when the bracket is not coupled to the base. One of the gripping portion or the base includes a notification portion that has a visual property different from any adjacent areas of the one of the gripping portion or the base.

Abstract: A seat belt system including a web guide (150) having a support surface (192) for supporting a portion of a seat belt (30). The shape of the support surface is based upon the natural curvature of the seat belt. To determine the natural curvature of the seat belt a segment of the belt is folded to form a loop. The unstressed shape of this looped portion of the seat belt is defined by and corresponds to the natural curvature of the seat belt. The support surface, in one embodiment, is realized by a circular cylinder of radius that is circumscribed within the loop.

Abstract: A seat includes a frame, an assembly for supporting a self-contained breathing apparatus, and a headrest frame. The self-contained breathing apparatus and headrest frame are mounted to the frame. The seat also includes a seat belt assembly. The seat belt assembly includes a bracket, first and second guide members, a seat belt, a seat belt reel, and first and second portions of a buckle. The bracket is mounted to the headrest frame and the first guide member is mounted to the bracket. The second guide member, seat belt reel, and second portion of the buckle are mounted to the frame. The seat belt has a first end spooled into the seat belt reel. The seat belt extends up from the seat belt reel and is then threaded through the first and second guide members and the first buckle member. A second end of the belt is mounted to the frame. The first portion of the buckle is slidably mounted to the seat belt.

Abstract: A seat back frame (25) includes vertical longitudinal frames (27, 29) disposed in a left position and a right position to each other, and transverse frames (31, 33) linking the longitudinal frames (27, 29) to each other, a seatbelt retractor (35) is configured to provide an emergency locking, a seatbelt (5) is linked retractably to the seatbelt retractor (35) and provided with an engagement member (23), a locking member (21) fixed to a longitudinal frame (27) and configured to disengageably lock the engagement member (23), an upper part supporter (47) is provided at an upper part (27a) of the longitudinal frame (27) and configured to support the seatbelt (5) from the seatbelt retractor (35) to return, and the seatbelt retractor (35) and the upper part supporter (49) are arranged to transmit a load acting from the seatbelt (5) on the upper part supporter (47), in a compression direction of the longitudinal frame (27).

Abstract: An inflatable belt system and method of operation for a vehicle occupant restraint in which a lap belt section or torso belt section or both have dual load bearing portions with an inner portion being inflatable. During inflation of the inner portion the other outer belt portion ruptures along a frangible line. The outer belt portion is a woven cylindrical member.

Abstract: A rerouting device for a seat belt has a friction-reducing coating composed of a fluoropolymer matrix containing reinforcing substances dispersed therein and having a thickness of at most 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: In a seat belt device comprising a webbing restraining a body of an occupant to a seat and a webbing guide for guiding the webbing in such a manner that the webbing guide comes into slide contact with the webbing, the webbing guide includes an insert fitting, a covering resin which covers the insert fitting by molding, and a metal member with which the webbing comes into slide contact, and the metal member has a surface thereof which comes into contact with the webbing protruded than the covering resin toward a webbing side.

Abstract: A safety belt arrangement for motor vehicles. The arrangement includes a safety belt and a belt roller from which the belt is retracted and withdrawn. The safety belt arrangement also includes a belt deflection apparatus that includes a deflection member. The belt is guided from the belt roller to the deflection member so that the belt can be deflected as it approaches the passenger. The deflection member moves away from the passenger in the case of an accident due to a force applied by a spring. Normally, the deflection member is retracted against the spring force by a retainer mechanism. The retainer mechanism releases the deflection member in the event of an accident. The resulting tensile force applied to the belt moves the passenger back into the normal seated position.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a guide assembly (52), a guide member (120) supported by a base member (80) for rotation about an axis (200), and an opening (140) through which a seat belt (20) extends in a first direction parallel to the axis. A retainer member (180) has end walls (184 and 186) extending through respective channels (160 and 162) in the guide member (120) to block the guide member from movement in opposite directions along the axis (200) and maintain the guide member supported on the base member (80). The channels (160 and 162) include walls (166 and 170) that engage the end walls (184 and 186) to block movement of the guide member (120) in opposite directions along the axis (200).

Abstract: A passenger vehicle seat and restraint system comprising a frame mountable to a vehicle and a restraint member and a seat member coupled to the frame to form a seat for supporting an occupant. The vehicle seat may further comprise a seat back frame movably attached to the frame and a restraint harness affixed to the frame and the seat back frame for securing the occupant thereto.

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 vehicle seat (16) has a seat back portion (24) for engaging an occupant (12) of a vehicle (14). A length of seat belt webbing (18) extends around a portion of the occupant (12). A seat belt retractor (44) biases the length of seat belt webbing (18) in a belt retraction direction. The seat belt retractor (44) allows the length of seat belt webbing (18) to move in a belt withdrawal direction, opposite the belt retraction direction, when a predetermined force is applied to the length of seat belt webbing (18). A blocking mechanism (70) blocks movement of the length of seat belt webbing (18) in the withdrawal direction. The blocking mechanism (70) is actuated upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision. A portion of the length of seat belt webbing (18) restrains movement of the seat back portion (24) relative to the vehicle during a vehicle collision.

Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with first and second wall portions (14,16), and which may include an integrated reinforcement structure (18). The seating system is capable of either or both of withstanding without rupture at least about 11000 Newtons in the direction in which the seat back (12) faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle or, upon rapid acceleration up to at least about 20 g, substantially no fragmentation of the seat back with at least a 30 kg mass placed behind the seat back.

Abstract: A webbing insertion member is formed of a metal body having a through opening with an edge, a slip piece attached to the edge of the through opening for allowing a webbing to pass through the through opening above the slip piece, and a molding resin for fixing the slip piece to the metal body. A first engaging member is formed on one of the metal body and the slip piece, and a second engaging member is formed on the other of the metal body and the slip piece and engages the first engaging member so that the slip piece is securely engaged with the metal body.

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 with a front portion and a rear portion, a seatback portion coupled to the seat support portion, and legs or supports anchoring the seat to the vehicle. A harness support assembly includes a tower member with a slotted bottom end pivotally coupled to the rear of the seat support, a connecting member having one end adapted to fit into the slot in the tower member and a second end connected to the front of the seat support portion, a belt guide connected to the top of the tower member, and an anchor wing connected to the connecting member. A belt or harness attaches to the support assembly.

Abstract: Positioning devices for improving the fit, comfort and crash protection provided to users, particularly children, of Type II vehicle seat belt assemblies which include webbing connected to a retraction device and extending at a relatively upper end from a force diverter such as a pillar loop and secured to an anchor at a relatively lower end, with a latch plate insertable into a buckle and having a slotted opening through which the webbing slides to define a shoulder belt portion between the upper force diverter and the latch plate, and a lap belt portion between the lower anchor end and the latch plate.

Abstract: A seat belt position adjusting arrangement for a seat having a backrest has a mounting bracket adapted to fixedly secured to an upper portion of the backrest, and a belt receiving member which is adapted to threadedly receive a shoulder belt of a vehicle seat belt. The belt receiving member is operatively connected to the mounting bracket, selectively slidable along the mounting bracket and locatable in a selected position on the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle, having an adjustable headrest with a belt guide. The belt guide realigns the path of travel of a torso belt of a vehicle. The adjustable headrest provides head support to smaller sized passengers while also positioning the torso belt for the smaller sized passenger.

Abstract: In a seat belt guide, a hanger for guiding a seat belt by inserting the seat belt through a belt passing opening is inserted into a hanger guiding portion of a main portion to be moved in a front-to-rear direction. When the hanger is slid forwards by a predetermined distance, a rear end of a sliding groove of the hanger engages with a bolt to thereby swing the hanger in a horizontal direction. Since the seat belt is urged by a spring to a side opposite to a direction in which the seat belt is taken out of the belt passing opening when the seat belt is attached to a passenger, even if the passenger of small build wears the seat belt, the seat belt is not wound round the shoulder of the passenger and the seat belt adjusted to a lower attaching height can be attached to a proper position.

Abstract: A child safety seat for use in a vehicle has a seat body and a harness including a pair of shoulder straps which extend through respective slots in the seat back to a mechanism for adjusting the length of the shoulder straps. The height at which the shoulder straps project from the seat back can be varied by threading them through different slots. A pad is slidably mounted on each shoulder strap and has a cover formed of high friction material on the side thereof facing the child occupant's body. A tether strap has one end attached to each pad and projects through the same slot in the seat back as the corresponding shoulder strap for limiting movement of the corresponding chest pad along the shoulder strap to a predetermined limit distance away from the seat back. Such limit distance increases as the height at which the shoulder straps project from the seat back is increased.

Abstract: In a seatback frame for a vehicle seat having a seatback and a seat cushion and equipped with a seat belt of a three-point type, a pipe frame formed along an external shape of the seatback and a vertically extending tower frame located in the seatback at the same side as a belt-through member of the seat belt of the three-point type and fixedly connected to the pipe frame are provided. The tower frame includes an outer side bracket, an inner side bracket, both of which are formed of vertically extending, elongated metal sheets each formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section and both of which are coupled to one another in abutting engagement with one another to form an internal space, and an intermediate brace member incorporated in the internal space to provide a reinforcement rib structure.

Abstract: A webbing guide for a vehicle safety comprises a guide surface in the form of a generally cylindrical bar (6) which has a continuous outer surface over which seat belt webbing passes in use following an upside-down U-shaped path. The surface comprises a top portion and two side portions (8) on either side of the top portion, and the top portion and at least one of the side portions are shaped so as to present a countered surface to the seat belt webbing. Preferably, the central area (7) of the top portion is raised, and the central area (9) of one or both side portions (8), is recessed, but the opposite contour arrangement could be provided with the central area of the top portion recessed and the central area of one or both side portions raised.

Abstract: A guide assembly for guiding a flexible element such as a seat belt relatively to a support such as a seat frame (1), comprises a mounting member (3) having an aperture for receiving an escutcheon member (4) for trimming an orifice through which the element is to pass. The mounting (3) and escutcheon member (4) are divided to enable lateral insertion of the flexible element therein, and the mounting (3) holds the divided escutcheon member together when the latter is inserted therein. The assembly may be supplemented by a divided guide conduit (5).

Abstract: A compartmentalized occupant restraint system and kit for restraining an occupant in a seating arrangement comprising a vehicle seat with a seat frame, a seat bottom, and a seat back.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective covering for shoulder and lap seats belts of motor vehicles, the belts being connected together at a tongue releasably insertable into a latch of a buckle mechanism. The protective covering has a front and a back with a space therebetween for receiving the shoulder and lap belt. The covering has a generally truncated triangular shape with the front and back being joined together along two sides with the third side being open for receiving the shoulder and lap belt. The junction of the two joined sides is provided with an opening to permit the tongue of the seat belt to pass therethrough and engage the latch of the buckle. The covering is capable of distributing forces from the shoulder and lap belts over a larger area of the torso of a user upon the belts exerting a force on a user of the belt.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adjustable child-restraint seat for a vehicle comprising a seat shell, a harness panel, and a restraint harness, The seat shell has a top-portion formed to include two spaced-apart belt-receiving openings. The harness panel consists of a harness casing, a slot panel, an adjustable anchor-point shaft and a spring biased medium that retains the shaft in the corresponding slot of said slot panel . The restraint harness is coupled with the adjustable anchor-point shaft and couples with the restraint coupler which is attached to the bottom-seat portion to provide an adjustable shoulder harnessing system. The apparatus allows the user to easily adjust the height of the shoulder harness from the front of the seat shell.

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 locking clip is attached to a seat belt fastening a child car seat to a seat of a vehicle to facilitate tightening the seat belt and to ensure that the seat belt may not loosen. The locking clip is attached to a portion of the seat belt where a waist belt section and a shoulder belt section of the seat belt diverge from each other. The locking clip has a belt clamping mechanism clamping the waist belt section and the shoulder belt section together, and a ratchet mechanism for permitting the shoulder belt section to be pulled only in one direction to tighten the seat belt and to prevent the seat belt from loosening.

Abstract: To provide a seat belt component having a molded resin surface in which the burr formed by the resin is less conspicuous or eliminated. The seat belt component could be a shoulder anchor and have the added benefit of allowing the seat belt to slide smoothly therethrough. An externally formed structural element is formed on the metal surface to prevent further flow of the synthetic resin.

Abstract: A child car seat for a vehicle. The vehicle has a shoulder belt, and the shoulder belt includes a webbing. The child car seat includes a structural seat back and a vehicle-shoulder-belt-receiving first hook attached to the seat back. The first hook substantially encloses a first through slot, wherein the first through slot extends from front to back. The first hook includes two hook members which are spaced apart from each other by a first gap which is larger than the thickness of the webbing. The webbing is engageable in the first through slot.

Abstract: A tongue hooking mechanism for a seat belt incorporating a buckle disposed on a side of a seat adjacent to a central portion of a cabin of a vehicle; a seat belt having a fixed portion formed at an end thereof and disposed on the wall of the cabin; a through anchor portion disposed in an upper portion of the wall and arranged to support an intermediate portion of the seat belt; a retractor disposed below the through anchor portion and outer than the fixed portion and arranged to wind the seat belt up; and a tongue joined to an intermediate portion of the seat belt and arranged to be bitten by the buckle so that the abdomen and the breast of an occupant are held, the tongue hooking mechanism for a seat belt having: a fixing member with which the through anchor portion is joined to the wall, wherein a hook having a claw facing upwards is provided for the fixing member or a cover which covers the fixing member, and the tongue is permitted to be hooked by the hook.

Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat includes a molded plastic seat shell formed to include a seat portion having a back edge and a back-support portion coupled to the back edge. The back-support portion has a u-shaped perimeter and a plurality of tabs that extend from an outer leg of the u-shaped perimeter. The tabs cooperate with the perimeter to form channels adapted to receive a shoulder portion of a seat belt.

Abstract: A device for adjusting height of a shoulder anchor that forms a seat belt device of a vehicle. A buffer member is provided between a slider to which a shoulder anchor is attached, and a guide rail secured to a vehicle body. A pin for restricting the movement in a vertical direction of the slider, is guided by a guide wall to move from one recess portion in the buffer member to the other. The guide wall has ribs as reinforcing members on a lower side and the ribs prevent deformation of the guide wall.

Abstract: A seat restraint system whose torso belt includes an inflatable structure that inflates upon impact to protect the occupants of a vehicle such as an automobile. The torso belt is secured to an anchor arm that is pivotally mounted on a side surface of a seat of the vehicle or a side structure of the vehicle. The anchor arm is rotationally biased to remove slack in the torso belt and locks up in the event of a vehicle crash or sudden stop. The inflatable structure is linked to a gas generator and crash sensor. The gas generator may be mounted in the seat or within the anchor arm itself. When an impact above a predetermined level of severity is detected, the gas generator is ignited, inflating the inflatable structure which contracts in length as it inflates. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable structure is a braided tube. As the braided tube inflates, the diameter of the tube increases significantly and its length decreases significantly, due to the orientation of the fibers comprising the braided tube.

Abstract: A ceiling retractable three point seat belt system for restraining a passenger in a vehicle seat includes a seat belt webbing having a first end connected to a retractor secured to the vehicle, a first buckle anchored to the vehicle and disposed on one side of the passenger, and a second buckle anchored to the vehicle and disposed on an opposite side of the passenger. Further, a first latch member is connected to a second end of the seat belt webbing, remote from the first end, wherein the first latch member has a first tongue plate engageable with the, first buckle. A second latch member has a webbing loop, through which the seat belt webbing is threaded, such that the second latch member is slidable along the seat belt webbing, from the first latch member toward the retractor. The second latch member has a second tongue plate engageable with the second buckle.

Abstract: A seat belt guide has a bearing axis for the pivotal mounting of a guide body on a vehicle structure. The guide body has a flexing bar around which the seat belt webbing is guided. A fixing plate can be fixed on the vehicle structure pivotally around the bearing axis with a fixing bolt. Two flexing bar carriers rigidly connect the flexing bar is to the fixing plate at its two ends. The guide body is deformable when a specific load originates from the seat belt webbing, the flexing bar bending substantially symmetrically with respect to the fixing bolt.

Abstract: A seat belt system is provided for use in the rear seating area of a vehicle. The system has first and second tongue and buckle sets that are identical on outboard seats or either side of the center seat. The first and second sets are for use with a standard three-point shoulder and lap restraint system. The center seat also has a three-point restraint system but uses third and fourth tongue and buckle sets therefor with both tongues mounted to a single length of belt so that when disconnected from their corresponding buckles, the center seat back rest can be pivoted down without interference from the center seat belt restraint system. In addition, the tongues will only releasably lock in their corresponding buckles. To this end, the fourth tongue and buckle have a key and keyway mating fit to prevent the fourth tongue from locking in the other buckles.

Abstract: An arrangement for seat-belts for vehicles having a seat for a passenger, an area where the passenger has his shoulder when seated in a normal position, a forward direction and a rearward direction, comprises a belt which runs from the area in the vehicles where the passenger has his shoulder when seated in a normal position to an attachment point at the side of the passenger. The arrangement has connection means fixed to the vehicle behind the seat for moving the belt in a rearward direction, keeping the belt at the passenger's shoulder so that the belt is in contact with the passenger regardless of the angle of the seat's backrest.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a strap cover adapted to receive a seat belt strap through a passage provided by the cover, the passage having a width that is smaller than a width of the seat belt to be received, at least a portion of the cover that is adapted to be disposed over an edge of the strap having a soft exterior surface, the cover including at least one pair of connectors adapted to selectively connect portions of the cover to enclose the seat belt.

Abstract: A shoulder anchor position adjusting device is provided in which assembly of a position adjusting mechanism, which adjusts a position of a shoulder anchor, is easy. The shoulder anchor is fixed to a slider. The slider is slidably mounted to a slide rail by the position adjusting mechanism which has a lock pin and a release lever. The release lever is placed on the slider in which a stepped groove is formed. The release lever is swingably held due to engagement of an anchor plate of a cover case with a cut-out groove. A flange portion is formed at the lock pin, and is supported by a step forming portion of the stepped groove. Due to a coil spring, a shaft portion of the lock pin is inserted through an insertion hole of the slider and is fit into an engagement hole formed in the slide rail.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system for restraining an occupant in a seating arrangement comprising a vehicle seat wherein the vehicle seat has a seat frame, a seat bottom coupled to the frame, and a seat back coupled to the seat frame wherein the seat back has a first edge and a second edge, the occupant restraint system comprising a first anchoring assembly for being attached to the vehicle seat adjacent to the first edge of the seat back, a second anchoring assembly for being attached to the vehicle seat adjacent to the second edge of the seat back, a first elongate flexible member with a body portion extendibly and retractably retained on the first anchoring assembly, a mechanism for coupling a portion of the first elongate flexible member to the second anchoring assembly whereby the body portion of the first elongate flexible member traverses the seat back from the first edge to the second edge, a first buckle element coupled to the body portion of the first elongate flexible member, a first corresponding buckl

Abstract: A shoulder strap repositioner or “adjuster” for use in combination with a vehicle seat belt assembly having a lap belt and a diagonally-extending shoulder strap. Attached to a body central portion are left and right side wings each having a downwardly extending upper finger and an upwardly extending lower finger, with a gap between their distal ends. The fingers, in cooperation with the central portion, together define slots accessed via the gaps.

Abstract: A child's seat comprising a back support, a seat and interconnectable belts. The seat is provided with at least one storage element, to which a belt, which has been disconnected from the other belts, can be detachably attached. The storage element is positioned outside the part of the child's seat on which or against which a child being placed in the seat sits or rests.

Abstract: An advanced automobile passenger restraint and deceleration system is defined, the design of which is centered on retractible belts comprised of a unique, two-part combination of a single lap belt and dual shoulder belt restraints with the lap belt retractors automatically electrically locking upon application of restraint for firmly-located, tension-free lap belt comfort. This belt system features a padded body-centered, abdominal-force-distributing and fastening plate consisting of two halves, each half being attached to one shoulder belt and to one half of the lap belt with the two halves snapping together to apply said belt restraint system with one simple manual action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustment device for a vehicle seat belt system designed to adjust the angular inclination and position of the shoulder belt portion for a safer and more comfortable fit for a seat belt user. The adjustment device includes a detachable sleeve which wraps around both the lap belt and the shoulder belt and angled slots in the sleeve that the shoulder belt portion exits through. During use, the shoulder belt portion enters one side of the sleeve in parallel with the lap belt portion then bends upwardly and exits the sleeve through the slots at an angle. The bent shoulder belt portion passing through the slots creates friction and prevents unwanted lateral displacement of the sleeve and shoulder belt portion.

Abstract: An anti-roping turning loop is provided for a vehicle seatbelt. The turning loop defines a guide slot which is provided with anti-roping projections which prevent twisting of the seatbelt web.

Abstract: An arrangement for coupling the vertical position of a headrest assigned to a backrest of a motor vehicle seat with the withdrawal and retraction movement of a seat belt system with a belt retractor. When the seat belt is put on by a vehicle occupant sitting in the vehicle seat, the withdrawal movement of the belt strap is transformed into a movement of the headrest from a lower inoperative position into an upwardly displaced operative position. When the seat belt is taken off, the retraction movement of the belt strap is transformed into an opposite movement of the headrest back into the inoperative position. The arrangement comprises a locking unit for fixing the headrest can be fixed in its operative position. Starting from its operative position, the headrest can be vertically displaced with respect to the backrest and can be locked in the respective adjusted position.

Abstract: Vehicular restraint systems and associated fittings adapted for pivotal mounting onto a vehicle and for the guiding of an inflatable torso safety belt therethrough are provided. The fitting includes a clearance opening of selectively changeable thickness wherethrough the inflatable torso safety belt is passed to permit slidable movement thereof even when the inflatable safety belt is in an at least partially expanded or inflated state.

Abstract: A universal passenger restraint system which can be used by either a passenger sitting on a vehicle seat or a passenger in a wheelchair is described. A reel is mounted against the vehicle wall and a first belt extends therefrom having a female pin connector at the distal end and a male buckle slidably mounted intermediate the ends. A second belt is mounted on the opposite side of the passenger from the first belt and is provided with a male pin assembly, at the distal end thereof, to be received by the female pin connector. When used by a wheelchair passenger, a third belt is provided for attachment to the vehicle and having, at the distal end thereof a female buckle to releasably engage with the male buckle on the first belt.

Abstract: An adjustment device, e.g., for use by children and small adults, retains the shoulder strap of a vehicle seat belt in a position comfortably away from the user's neck and face. The adjustment device comprises a body attachment device which is adjustably positioned about the user's body, especially a user's shoulder, and a releasable securement device which secures the seat belt shoulder strap to the body attachment device, drawing it away from the neck and face region of the user.