Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Roger H Garrell

Louis R Brown

Barney J Bauer

Kiran Ramanlal Magiawala

A seat belt retractor ( ) comprises a frame ( ), a seat belt webbing spool ( ) rotatably mounted in the frame ( ), and an actuator ( ) for locking the seat belt webbing spool ( ) against rotation in at least one direction (B) in the frame ( ). The actuator ( ) is mounted to the frame ( ). An accelerometer ( ) provides an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration. The accelerometer ( ) is mounted on the frame ( ). A controller ( ) monitors the electrical output signal and causes the actuator ( ) to lock the seat belt webbing spool ( ) against rotation in the at least one direction (B) upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration. The controller ( ) is mounted on the frame ( ).

Seat belt retractor

An energy management device (,) for seat belt webbing (,) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a base (,) for attachment to the vehicle. The device (,) also includes a plastically deformable torsion bar (,) having a first portion (,) fixed relative to the base (,) and a second portion (,) rotatable relative to the first portion and the base. The torsion bar (,) twists upon rotation of the second portion (,) relative to the first portion (,). A spool (,) is supported on the base (,) and is fixed for rotation with the second portion (,) of the torsion bar (,) relative to the first portion (,) of the torsion bar. The spool (,) has an outer peripheral surface (,). A flexible member (,) is wound on the outer peripheral surface (,) of the spool (,). The flexible member (,) has a first end portion (,) connected with the spool (,) and a second end portion (,) extending from the spool (,) for connection with the seat belt webbing (,) of the vehicle. The torsion bar (,) twists and the spool (,) rotates in an unwinding direction upon the application of tensile force from the seat belt webbing (,) to the flexible member (,) in an amount exceeding a predetermined amount. The torsion bar (,) when twisting resists unwinding of the flexible member (,) from the spool (,). The distance between the axis of rotation (,) of the spool (,) and the outer peripheral surface (,) of the spool (,) varies to vary the resistance to unwinding of the flexible member (,) felt by the occupant. The resistance to unwinding varies as a function of the amount of the flexible member that is unwound from the spool.

Seat belt webbing energy management device

A prisoner restraint system (14) restrains kicking movement of a seated prisoner's legs by restraining movement of the prisoner's feet (94, 96) upward from positions resting on a vehicle floor (44), and by restraining forward movement of the prisoner's feet (94, 96). The prisoner restraint system (14) includes seat belt webbing (82, 86), a seat belt buckle (84), and a seat belt locking tongue (80). The prisoner restraint system (14) has an engaged condition in which the tongue (80) is interlocked with the buckle (84) to secure the webbing (82, 86) across the prisoner's lower legs (90, 92).

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Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

Roger H Garrell