A method of controlling the motor speed of an electric retractor motor (18) of a belt retractor (10) for reducing a belt slack in the comfort mode comprises the following steps of: a) measuring the motor current (I.sub.M) applied to the retractor motor (18) as well as the voltage applied to the retractor motor (18), b) estimating the motor speed taking the time curve of the motor current (I.sub.M) applied to the retractor motor (18), the curve of the voltage as well as plural motor parameters (R.sub.M, I.sub.M, K.sub.M) into account, c) adapting the motor current (I.sub.M) in response to the estimated motor speed, and d) repeating the steps a) to c) until the estimated motor speed has reached a defined value.

A seatbelt pretensioner is provided including an inner tube with a gas generator housed therein, an intermediate sleeve extending over the inner tube, and a spool portion housing the sleeve and the tube. The spool portion includes spiraling flutes thereon that correspond to a protruding member in the form of flutes or pegs extending from the intermediate sleeve. In response to the gas generator firing, the sleeve will be driven longitudinally, causing the protruding member to act on the spiraling flutes of the spool, thereby causing the spool to rotate. The intermediate sleeve can include a spiraling slot that receives a peg from the inner tube, so that the intermediate sleeve will rotate to compound the spool rotation.

The invention relates to a belt retractor for a seatbelt device of a motor vehicle, having a belt shaft, rotatably mounted in a frame, for winding up a seatbelt of the seatbelt device, wherein the frame has two opposing wall sections oriented in parallel with one another and each having a bearing opening, in which wall sections the belt shaft is rotatably mounted, and a spring housing secured to one of the wall sections and having a return spring arranged therein, which is connected to the spring housing at a first end and rotationally fixed to the belt shaft at a second end, wherein the spring housing is radially elastically retained on the wall section.

The invention relates to a belt retractor for a seatbelt device of a motor vehicle, having a belt shaft, rotatably mounted in a frame, for winding up a seatbelt of the seatbelt device, wherein the frame has two opposing wall sections oriented in parallel with one another and each having a bearing opening, in which wall sections the belt shaft is rotatably mounted, and a spring housing secured to one of the wall sections and having a return spring arranged therein, which is connected to the spring housing at a first end and rotationally fixed to the belt shaft at a second end, wherein the spring housing is radially elastically retained on the wall section.

A belt retractor device for a vehicle comprises a first device component (12), a second device component (14) and a detent mechanism (16) including a first detent element (26) and a second detent element (28). The first detent element (26) has at least two stops (58) which are offset from each other in the radial direction and in the axial direction relative to a mounting axis (20). The second detent element (28) includes a detent edge (40) configured to engage in one of the stops (58) of the first detent element (12) and to prevent the first device component (12) and the second device component (14) from moving relative to each other against the mounting direction of the mounting axis (20).

A belt retractor device for a vehicle comprises a first device component (12), a second device component (14) and a detent mechanism (16) including a first detent element (26) and a second detent element (28). The first detent element (26) has at least two stops (58) which are offset from each other in the radial direction and in the axial direction relative to a mounting axis (20). The second detent element (28) includes a detent edge (40) configured to engage in one of the stops (58) of the first detent element (12) and to prevent the first device component (12) and the second device component (14) from moving relative to each other against the mounting direction of the mounting axis (20).

In a pretensioner mechanism of a webbing take-up device, a sealing member seals a communicating hole of a piston. When a force limiter mechanism is operated and rotating of a spool in a pull-out direction is allowed, the piston is moved to an upper side in a state in which the sealing member is pressed and contacted against a cylinder. As a result, the sealing member is turned and the sealing of the communicating hole by the sealing member is released. In consequence, a number of components may be reduced and assembly characteristics of the pretensioner mechanism may be improved.

In a pretensioner mechanism of a webbing take-up device, a sealing member seals a communicating hole of a piston. When a force limiter mechanism is operated and rotating of a spool in a pull-out direction is allowed, the piston is moved to an upper side in a state in which the sealing member is pressed and contacted against a cylinder. As a result, the sealing member is turned and the sealing of the communicating hole by the sealing member is released. In consequence, a number of components may be reduced and assembly characteristics of the pretensioner mechanism may be improved.

A vehicle safety belt bypass warning system involves, a video camera, at least one processor, face detection software, a safety belt, and a safety belt engagement sensor circuit. The processor detects that a human face is present and associated with an individual seat. An infrared (IR) emitter output is positioned on the safety belt and transmits individually coded light pulses unique to the occupied seat. At least one IR receiver receives individually coded light pulses from occupied seat IR emitters and, in response, will output coded electrical signals indicative of which occupied seat(s) the individually coded light pulses were received from. The at least one processor will wait for receipt of the coded electrical signals from the IR receiver. If the processor does not receive an indication for a particular occupied seat, the processor will trigger a safety belt bypass warning indicator.

An apparatus and method for improving the safety-relevant wear-comfort of a seatbelt worn by an occupant of a vehicle seat uses at least one sensor to detect the contour and/or position of the seatbelt, at least one actuator system for moving the seatbelt in order to change the contour and/or position, and at least one control module for controlling the actuator system. The control module is operative to control the actuator system automatically as a function of a deviation of the seatbelt contour/position, as detected by the sensor, from a predefined contour/position which reflects correct wear of the seatbelt.