Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetically induced force that introduces a force threshold that, in effect, provides a threshold to part movement and confers a degree of hysteresis, preventing movement until a sufficiently large energizing force is applied. The effect may be further altered by use of an additional magnetically induced force interaction with at least one further member to urge or slow movement once started and/or to prevent movement once a new position is reached.

A webbing retractor includes: a take-up shaft on which a webbing that is applied to a vehicle occupant can be taken-up, and on which the webbing is taken-up due to the take-up shaft 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 sensing section that senses a pulled-out state of the webbing; and a control section that, in a case in which the sensed pulled-out state corresponds to a state in which the webbing is pulled-out to a predetermined position, operates the restricting member and restricts rotation of the take-up shaft.

A webbing retractor includes: a take-up shaft on which a webbing that is applied to a vehicle occupant can be taken-up, and on which the webbing is taken-up due to the take-up shaft 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 sensing section that senses a pulled-out state of the webbing; and a control section that, in a case in which the sensed pulled-out state corresponds to a state in which the webbing is pulled-out to a predetermined position, operates the restricting member and restricts rotation of the take-up shaft.

In a vehicle emergency, a spool of a webbing take-up device is rotated in a pull-out direction such that a main lock is displaced toward a rotation-radial direction outside of the spool and engages with a clutch gear configuring a first rotation body. Rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction is thus restricted. Also in a vehicle emergency, the first rotation body is rotated in a take-up direction of the spool such that the main lock engages with the first rotation body, and rotation force of the first rotation body is transmitted to the spool through the main lock and the spool is rotated in the take-up direction.

In a vehicle emergency, a spool of a webbing take-up device is rotated in a pull-out direction such that a main lock is displaced toward a rotation-radial direction outside of the spool and engages with a clutch gear configuring a first rotation body. Rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction is thus restricted. Also in a vehicle emergency, the first rotation body is rotated in a take-up direction of the spool such that the main lock engages with the first rotation body, and rotation force of the first rotation body is transmitted to the spool through the main lock and the spool is rotated in the take-up direction.

For a vehicle seat, for instance an aircraft passenger seat, a seat belt system including a seat belt reel having a rotating shaft, a seat belt wound on the rotating shaft, and a lock for locking at least one of the rotating shaft and the seat belt. At least one sensor is operative to output a signal when a sensed parameter exceeds a predetermined magnitude threshold. An activation device is operative to activate the lock. A time delay device electrically coupled to the at least one sensor and the activation device is operative to, upon receiving the signal output by the at least one sensor, activate the activation device upon completion of a time delay after receiving the signal output by the at least one sensor. Further embodiments include shoulder belts forming loops allowing a predetermined amount of forward travel prior to restraining a passenger.

An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes a collision detector, a main airbag, a belt airbag, a belt controller, a distance detector, and an airbag controller. The collision detector detects a collision of the vehicle. In response to the collision detector detecting the collision, the main airbag deploys from a storage position toward an occupant seated on a seat of the vehicle. The belt airbag is stored in a seatbelt. The belt controller controls winding of the seatbelt, extraction of the seatbelt, and prohibition of the extraction of the seatbelt. The distance detector detects a distance from the storage position to the occupant. When the collision detector detects the collision of the vehicle and the detected distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the airbag controller deploys the belt airbag from within the seatbelt without causing the belt controller to prohibit the extraction of the seatbelt.

An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes a collision detector, a main airbag, a belt airbag, a belt controller, a distance detector, and an airbag controller. The collision detector detects a collision of the vehicle. In response to the collision detector detecting the collision, the main airbag deploys from a storage position toward an occupant seated on a seat of the vehicle. The belt airbag is stored in a seatbelt. The belt controller controls winding of the seatbelt, extraction of the seatbelt, and prohibition of the extraction of the seatbelt. The distance detector detects a distance from the storage position to the occupant. When the collision detector detects the collision of the vehicle and the detected distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the airbag controller deploys the belt airbag from within the seatbelt without causing the belt controller to prohibit the extraction of the seatbelt.

A force to be applied to a seatbelt in response to a deceleration of a vehicle can be produced. Information about the deceleration of the vehicle can be received. A cause of the deceleration can be other than in response to a collision of the vehicle with an object. In response to a receipt of the information, a signal to control an actuator to produce the force can be produced. The actuator can be different from any of a pretensioner of a seatbelt assembly, a load limiter of the seatbelt assembly, and a locking mechanism of a retractor of the seatbelt assembly. A measure of the force can be proportional to a measure of the deceleration. The force can be sufficient to limit a forward movement of a person wearing the seatbelt to be less than a specific distance. The signal can be caused to be communicated to the actuator.

A force to be applied to a seatbelt in response to a deceleration of a vehicle can be produced. Information about the deceleration of the vehicle can be received. A cause of the deceleration can be other than in response to a collision of the vehicle with an object. In response to a receipt of the information, a signal to control an actuator to produce the force can be produced. The actuator can be different from any of a pretensioner of a seatbelt assembly, a load limiter of the seatbelt assembly, and a locking mechanism of a retractor of the seatbelt assembly. A measure of the force can be proportional to a measure of the deceleration. The force can be sufficient to limit a forward movement of a person wearing the seatbelt to be less than a specific distance. The signal can be caused to be communicated to the actuator.