A seat belt system for a vehicle comprises a first seat belt buckle mounted at a first location, a second seat belt buckle mounted at a second location and a seat belt retractor mounted at a third location, a seat belt and a circuit. The third location is spaced along a seat for an occupant from the second location. The seat belt is extendable from the seat belt retractor and has a tongue. The seat belt is extendable to connect the tongue to the first seat belt buckle or the second seat belt buckle. The circuit interconnects the first seat belt buckle, the second seat belt buckle and the seat belt retractor. The circuit is configured to change an operating mode of the seat belt retractor when (1) the seat belt tongue is removed from the first seat belt buckle and/or (2) the seat belt tongue is removed from the second seat belt buckle. An optional indicator can be provided to indicate to the vehicle operator that the operating mode of the retractor has been changed.

A webbing retractor including: a take-up shaft that can take-up a webbing that is applied to a passenger, that takes-up the webbing by being rotated in a take-up direction, and that is rotated in a pull-out direction due to the webbing being pulled-out; a restricting member that, by being operated, restricts rotation of the take-up shaft in the pull-out direction; a driving portion that, by being electrically driven, changes an operating state of the restricting member; and a control section that acquires an acceleration of any of the webbing, the passenger or a vehicle, that computes jerk related to the acceleration, and that controls the driving portion such that the restricting member operates in a case in which the acceleration exceeds a first threshold value and the jerk exceeds a second threshold value.

A webbing retractor including: a take-up shaft that can take-up a webbing that is applied to a passenger, that takes-up the webbing by being rotated in a take-up direction, and that is rotated in a pull-out direction due to the webbing being pulled-out; a restricting member that, by being operated, restricts rotation of the take-up shaft in the pull-out direction; a driving portion that, by being electrically driven, changes an operating state of the restricting member; and a control section that acquires an acceleration of any of the webbing, the passenger or a vehicle, that computes jerk related to the acceleration, and that controls the driving portion such that the restricting member operates in a case in which the acceleration exceeds a first threshold value and the jerk exceeds a second threshold value.

Described herein are latching devices where relative speed of movement between members is in part controlled or reduced via eddy current formation and in part controlled or relative motion stopped via a latch arrangement. Various embodiments are described, one being use of a conductive member; at least one magnetic field and a latch member that, prior to latching, moves independently to the at least one conductive member. A kinematic relationship exists between the conductive member and at least one magnetic field that enables the conductive member to move at a different speed relative to the magnetic field on application of an energizing force, thereby inducing an eddy current drag force by relative movement of the conductive member in the magnetic field. The eddy current drag force resulting causes movement of the conductive member causing the conductive member to engage the latch member thereby halting movement between the at least one conductive member and the at least one latch member.

Described herein are latching devices where relative speed of movement between members is in part controlled or reduced via eddy current formation and in part controlled or relative motion stopped via a latch arrangement. Various embodiments are described, one being use of a conductive member; at least one magnetic field and a latch member that, prior to latching, moves independently to the at least one conductive member. A kinematic relationship exists between the conductive member and at least one magnetic field that enables the conductive member to move at a different speed relative to the magnetic field on application of an energizing force, thereby inducing an eddy current drag force by relative movement of the conductive member in the magnetic field. The eddy current drag force resulting causes movement of the conductive member causing the conductive member to engage the latch member thereby halting movement between the at least one conductive member and the at least one latch member.

The invention relates to a restraint system (11) for an aircraft seat (10), comprising a restraint belt (3) and a belt retractor (2) for winding up the restraint belt (3) and allowing the restraint belt (3) to be extracted, further comprising a blocking device (1) for blocking the belt retractor (2) such that the restraint belt (3) cannot be extracted, wherein the blocking device is connectable to a signal (S) used to issue audible and/or visual output (6) inviting passengers to fasten seat belts (3), wherein the blocking device (1) is configured to interact with the seat belt retractor (2) such that the seat belt retractor (2) prevents further extraction of the seat belt (3) while the signal (S) is active. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a restraint system.

The invention relates to a restraint system (11) for an aircraft seat (10), comprising a restraint belt (3) and a belt retractor (2) for winding up the restraint belt (3) and allowing the restraint belt (3) to be extracted, further comprising a blocking device (1) for blocking the belt retractor (2) such that the restraint belt (3) cannot be extracted, wherein the blocking device is connectable to a signal (S) used to issue audible and/or visual output (6) inviting passengers to fasten seat belts (3), wherein the blocking device (1) is configured to interact with the seat belt retractor (2) such that the seat belt retractor (2) prevents further extraction of the seat belt (3) while the signal (S) is active. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a restraint system.

Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetic flux interaction that, in effect, may provide a tunable resistance to movement, changing the rate of relative movement between the members. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first member in a kinematic relationship with at least one further member to form a system. The system moves within a limited range of motion and the system interacts when an external energizing force is imposed on the system causing the members to respond due to their kinematic and dynamic characteristics and thereby creating relative motion between the members. The trigger member is coupled to the at least the first member and moves in response to a pre-determined system movement. When the trigger member moves, the trigger member imposes a braking action on the system or a member or members thereof. The speed and/or intensity of the braking action imposed by the trigger member on the system or a member or members thereof is controlled by the trigger member rate of movement. This rate of movement is in turn governed by a magnetic flux interaction between the trigger member and the at least one first member causing formation of a magnetically induced eddy current force between the parts.

Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetic flux interaction that, in effect, may provide a tunable resistance to movement, changing the rate of relative movement between the members. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first member in a kinematic relationship with at least one further member to form a system. The system moves within a limited range of motion and the system interacts when an external energizing force is imposed on the system causing the members to respond due to their kinematic and dynamic characteristics and thereby creating relative motion between the members. The trigger member is coupled to the at least the first member and moves in response to a pre-determined system movement. When the trigger member moves, the trigger member imposes a braking action on the system or a member or members thereof. The speed and/or intensity of the braking action imposed by the trigger member on the system or a member or members thereof is controlled by the trigger member rate of movement. This rate of movement is in turn governed by a magnetic flux interaction between the trigger member and the at least one first member causing formation of a magnetically induced eddy current force between the parts.

The rotatable locking section engages with the fixed locking section resulting in pull-out direction rotation of the spool being locked. The webbing take-up device includes a permanent magnet and an electromagnet that restrict displacement of the rotatable locking section toward the fixed locking section, and that are actuated in a vehicle emergency so as to displace the rotatable locking section toward the fixed locking section. A restricting force of the rotatable locking section by the permanent magnet and the electromagnet is set such that the rotatable locking section is displaced toward the fixed locking section by an inertial force that spins the rotatable locking section about its own center of rotation when the electromagnet is deactivated and the spool has been rotated in the pull-out direction with an angular acceleration greater than a predetermined angular acceleration.