Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Chad Moore

Jon E Burrow

Bin Wang

Kenneth Herbert Kohlndorfer

Gerald Keller

Chris Koprowicz

Kurt W Schulz

John Witt

Kevin Hixenbaugh

Frank Fontana

Daniel K Webb

Frank Kiiskila

A belt for restraining an occupant in a vehicle includes a first and second layers extending from a first end of the belt to a second end of the belt, and a seal joining the first and second layers to form an inflatable portion of the belt. The inflatable portion includes a first wing, a second wing, and a tear seam. The first and second wings are disposed within the inflatable portion. The first wing has a first width and the second wing has a second width that, in one example, is different than the first width. The tear seam separates the interior of the inflatable portion from the interiors of the first and second wings. The tear seam is configured to tear when the belt is inflated, allowing gas to fill the first and second wings and expand the first and second wings laterally outward.

Folding patterns of an inflatable seat belt

A dual spool retractor device for seat belts in a motor vehicle including a frame, two spools rotatably mounted to the frame, and a pretensioning system providing pretensioning rotation for both the spools. The spools are pretensioning through the activation of a micro-gas generator. The gas generator can provide gas to a single or a pair of gas cylinders. One or more flexible numbers such as a metal band or cable is used which is coupled to one or both spools via a pulley. Activation of the gas generator forces a piston to move in a manner which exerts tension on the flexible member(s) thereby unwinding the flexible member from the spool pulley and providing pretensioning rotation of the respective belt spool.

Retractor-lap pretensioner with single micro-gas generator

An adaptive load limiting seat belt retractor particularly adapted for motor vehicle applications. The retractor provides multiple levels of load limiting through the use of a pair of internal torsion bar elements. The torsion bar elements control the tension force on the seat belt webbing during an impact in a manner which provides desirable crash management characteristics. The retractor can be switched between high and low load limiting modes through activation of a pyrotechnic pretensioner. When the pyrotechnic pretensioner is not activated, the retractor provides a low load level characteristic. Pretensioner activation switches the retractor into a high load level operating condition. A high load limiting level is provided when the pretensioner is not activated if the spindle rotation exceeds a limited level in the low load limiting condition. A degressive load limiting feature may be provided to cause load limiting to begin at a higher level than the high load limiting level, and then step down the high load limiting level.

Adaptive load limiting retractor

An assembly having a retractor and a pretensioner whereby the pretensioner can be employed to provide load limitation features. The pretensioner may also be used without the load limitation features. The pretensioner has a drive mechanism including a plurality of pretensioner balls sized to engage a pinion, the pinion operatively connected to the seat belt through a force limiting element. The pretensioner defines a guide surface structured to guide the pretensioner balls along a ball path along the pinion. The guide surface includes features to engage a pretensioner ball and block the pinion.

Retractor with pretensioner for auxiliary load limitation

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Chad Moore