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.

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.

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 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.

A wheelchair occupant restraint device includes: a wheelchair retractor which is disposed in a vehicle cabin, and around which one end portion of a wheelchair belt member is wound; a wheelchair buckle which is disposed on the opposite side of a securing space for a wheelchair from the wheelchair retractor, and on which a wheelchair tongue plate attached to the other end portion of the wheelchair belt member is able to be mounted; an occupant retractor which is disposed on the opposite side of the securing space from the wheelchair retractor, and around which one end portion of an occupant belt member is wound; and an occupant buckle which is disposed on the opposite side of the securing space from the occupant retractor, and on which an occupant tongue plate attached to the other end portion of the occupant belt member is able to be mounted.

A wheelchair occupant restraint device includes: a wheelchair retractor which is disposed in a vehicle cabin, and around which one end portion of a wheelchair belt member is wound; a wheelchair buckle which is disposed on the opposite side of a securing space for a wheelchair from the wheelchair retractor, and on which a wheelchair tongue plate attached to the other end portion of the wheelchair belt member is able to be mounted; an occupant retractor which is disposed on the opposite side of the securing space from the wheelchair retractor, and around which one end portion of an occupant belt member is wound; and an occupant buckle which is disposed on the opposite side of the securing space from the occupant retractor, and on which an occupant tongue plate attached to the other end portion of the occupant belt member is able to be mounted.

A retractor restraint system is provided for securing wheelchairs and/or people in vehicles. The system includes a housing, a retractor reel mounted to the housing rotatably in a positive and a negative direction of rotation for receiving a belt which can be coupled to a wheelchair, an arresting unit for arresting the reel to prevent rotation in the negative direction of rotation in an operating state of the retractor restraint system, a clamping unit arranged at the housing for releasably clamping fast the belt unwound from the reel, and a triggering mechanism for actuation of the clamping unit. The triggering mechanism is coupled to the arresting unit and the reel in such a way that the clamping unit is actuated when a torque acts on the reel in the negative direction of rotation and the reel is arrested by the arresting unit.

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.