A vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a first member, a second member, a buckle mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The first member is configured to attach to one of a vehicle floor structure and a seat structure. The second member is supported on the first member. The second member is configured for limited sliding movement relative to the first member. The buckle mechanism is attached to the second member for movement therewith. The buckle mechanism has a latch device configured to releaseably retain a seatbelt latch tongue member. The clutch mechanism is disposed between the first member and the second member and is operable to switch between a dis-engaged state and an engaged state. In the dis-engaged state, the clutch mechanism allows movement of the second member relative to the first member. In the engaged state, the clutch mechanism prevents movement of the second member relative to the first member.

A vehicle includes a seatbelt retractor. The seatbelt retractor includes a housing. The seatbelt retractor includes a spool having a first end and a second end each rotatably supported by the housing. The spool is elongated on an axis from the first end to the second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a torsion bar having a first end fixed to the first end of the spool and a second end operatively engaged with the housing. The torsion bar has a central cavity. The seatbelt retractor includes a heating filament disposed in the central cavity.

A belt retractor for a motor vehicle seat belt, with a belt shaft (1) in a housing frame, a profile head (2) which can be locked and a force limitation device (3) with a first end (4) coupled to the profile head (2) and a second end (5) is coupled to the belt shaft (1) and which allows a force-limited relative rotation of the belt shaft (1) with regard to the locked profile head (2). A connection tube (6) surrounds the force limitation device (3) with a locking hook (7), which during the relative rotation with regard to the profile head (2) slides over an external circumference of the connection tube (6) and on reaching a predetermined angle of rotation of the belt shaft (1) engages in a locking groove (8) on the connection tube (6), the coupling the connection tube (6) to the belt shaft (1) The connection tube (6) is produced in one piece with the profile head (2), so that on engagement of the locking hook (7) in the locking groove (8) the belt shaft (1) is locked via the profile head (2) to the housing frame in a non-rotational manner.

A seatbelt retractor includes a spool, a piston, a cylinder, a ring, and a valve. The spool is rotatably connected with a base by the piston and the cylinder. The piston is fixed to one of the base and the spool. The cylinder receives the piston and is fixed to the other of the base and the spool. The piston and the cylinder define a first chamber. The ring is sealed against the cylinder and defines a second chamber connected with the first chamber by an aperture. The valve is disposed across the aperture.

A system includes a sensor, a controller, and a seatbelt retractor. The controller is programmed to receive a signal from the sensor indicating detection of a vehicle front oblique impact. The seatbelt retractor includes a load limiting mechanism selectively releasable from a high load mode to a low load mode. The controller is programmed to release the load limiting mechanism from the high load mode to the low load mode at a predetermined time in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a vehicle front oblique impact.

A webbing take-up device in which, when a pretensioner mechanism is activated and turning of a pinion relative to a spool is allowed, a lock pawl is turned by the pinion and a trigger wire is sheared by the lock pawl. Thereafter, the pinion turns more relative to the lock pawl and shears a lock pin of the lock pawl. Hence, the lock pawl turns and activates an activation mechanism. Therefore, the activation mechanism may be activated without a torsion shaft of a force limiter mechanism allowing turning of a lock base in the take-up direction relative to the spool.

Vehicular control method to avoid collisions in which a smartphone is coupled to the vehicle while in a vehicular compartment. Data is generated from vehicle-resident sensors about operation of the vehicle and transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle. A communications network with another vehicle is established using the smartphone and the data transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone and data from sensors on the smartphone is transmitted via the smartphone and established communications network to other vehicle, the data including data about location and movement of the vehicle. Then, while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle, a vehicular operational function is controlled based in part on data transmitted using the smartphone and established communications network to cause movement of the vehicle to change in order to avoid a collision with the other vehicle.

A webbing take-up device includes a spool, a lock base that restricts pull-out direction rotation of the spool in a vehicle emergency, and a linear energy absorbing wire that deforms so as to permit pull-out direction rotation of the spool at or above a force limiter load when the lock base has restricted pull-out direction rotation of the spool. The webbing take-up device further includes a housing with which the energy absorbing wire engages along a radial direction inside face of the housing, and a winder section provided at a radial direction inside of the housing. The winder section is capable of rotating together as a unit with the spool, and takes up the energy absorbing wire by being rotated. Moreover, a wire guide and a lever are provided between the winder section and the housing. The wire guide and the lever pinch and deform the energy absorbing wire.

A switching mechanism (100) in a force limiter mechanism of a seat belt retractor including: a locking mechanism including a locking element (68) that locks a torque tube (64) with respect to a spindle (61) so that the torque tube (64) rotates together with the spindle (61) and a spindle ring (70); a switch ring (120) rotatable to unlock the locking mechanism; and a switch housing (101) that stores the switch ring (120), a switch piston (115) adapted to activate the switch ring (120). A switching gas generator (116) generates gas for pushing out the switch piston (115) upon activation of the switching mechanism. The switch housing (101) of the switching mechanism (100) has a protrusion (110) that protrudes in an incoming direction of an operated part (122) at an abutment part hit by the switch ring (120) rotated by the switch piston (115) to control movement of the switch ring.

Provided are a seat belt retractor and a seat belt device with which it is possible to improve energy absorption characteristics and a restraining property. The seat belt retractor includes a spool that performs winding of a webbing for restraining an occupant, a shaft inserted through an axial center of the spool, and a locking base connected to the shaft and capable of switching between a rotating state and a non-rotating state. The seat belt retractor further includes a load adjustment member disposed between the shaft and the locking base and that blocks or reduces load transmission in a case where a load equal to or greater than a threshold is applied to the shaft, and an energy absorption device disposed between the spool and the locking base and capable of changing an energy absorption amount according to a relative rotation speed between the spool and the locking base. The energy absorption device is connected in parallel with the load adjustment member.