A vehicle occupant protection apparatus has a strap configured to extend across the front of a body of an occupant sitting on a seat of a vehicle, a pre-tensioner configured to retract the strap, a vehicle orientation sensor configured to detect either one of a change in the orientation of the vehicle and an operation for changing the orientation, and a controller configured to cause the pre-tensioner to start retracting the strap prior to a collision or when a collision occurs. After the retracting of the strap starts, the controller temporarily stops or eases the retracting of the strap in accordance with the change in the orientation of the vehicle.

A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a driving element as a pretensioner rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The pretensioner rod extends in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. In addition, the pretensioner rod forms a recessed portion or a recessed section to facilitate engaging with the sprocket during pretensioning.

A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a passenger vehicle is provided. The pretensioning assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator and a driving element disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The driving element includes a plastically deformable polymer rod with a recessed portion. A stopper is coupled to an end portion of the plastically deformable polymer rod. A seal member is disposed between the gas generator and the stopper. The tube includes a projection extending within the tube adjacent to the exit to define a constriction portion. The constriction portion is sized to permit the recessed portion of the plastically deformable polymer rod to pass therethrough while preventing the stopper from passing therethrough.

A seat belt device includes: a belt reel that winds a webbing; an electric motor that drives the belt reel to wind; a collision prediction unit that predicts a collision with an object; and a controller that is connected to the collision prediction unit via a network and that performs winding control of the electric motor when a collision with the object is predicted by the collision prediction unit. After the controller receives information on collision prediction from the collision prediction unit via the network, even when a communication failure occurs between the controller and the collision prediction unit, the controller performs control to cause the electric motor to continue winding control.

A seat belt device includes: a belt reel that winds a webbing; an electric motor that drives the belt reel to wind; a collision prediction unit that predicts a collision with an object; and a controller that is connected to the collision prediction unit via a network and that performs winding control of the electric motor when a collision with the object is predicted by the collision prediction unit. After the controller receives information on collision prediction from the collision prediction unit via the network, even when a communication failure occurs between the controller and the collision prediction unit, the controller performs control to cause the electric motor to continue winding control.

A locking mechanism comprising a coupling member comprising an arm portion which is rotatably supported by a housing and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction in response to the actuation of the pretensioner mechanism, a pressing portion adapted to press the pawl towards an engagement direction with the ratchet gear, and a coupling portion adapted to couple the arm portion and the pressing portion; and a rotating device adapted to hold the arm portion restrict a reverse rotation thereof; in the actuation of the pretensioner mechanism, when the pawl, pressed by the pressing portion and in contact with the ratchet gear rotating in the take-up direction, passes over each of teeth of the ratchet gear, the coupling member is elastically twisted and deformed between the arm portion and the pressing portion to hold the pawl in a state of being urged toward the engagement direction with the ratchet gear.

Provided are a pretensioner, a retractor, and a seat belt device in which strength and slidability of a rod-shaped power transmission member may both be achieved. A pretensioner includes a ring gear on which the spool is rotatably disposed, and power transmission units for transmitting power to the ring gear in an emergency. The power transmission units includes a rod-shaped power transmission member for transmitting power to the ring gear while being plastically deformed, a tip reinforcing member disposed on a tip side of the power transmission member, a pipe for containing the power transmission member, and a gas generator disposed at an end of the pipe. The tip reinforcing member has higher strength than the power transmission member.

Provided are a pretensioner, a retractor, and a seat belt device in which strength and slidability of a rod-shaped power transmission member may both be achieved. A pretensioner includes a ring gear on which the spool is rotatably disposed, and power transmission units for transmitting power to the ring gear in an emergency. The power transmission units includes a rod-shaped power transmission member for transmitting power to the ring gear while being plastically deformed, a tip reinforcing member disposed on a tip side of the power transmission member, a pipe for containing the power transmission member, and a gas generator disposed at an end of the pipe. The tip reinforcing member has higher strength than the power transmission member.

A safety belt retractor, comprising a frame (8) and a belt retracting cylinder (1), the retracting cylinder (1) being rotatably supported in the frame (8) and being composed to be used for winding a woven belt (2). The frame (8) comprises: a back plate (8h), which has a first side and a second side which are opposite to each other, and a first opening (20); a plurality of first supporting legs (8a,8b), extending from the first side of the back plate (8h); a first support plate (11), which is provided with a second opening (21) and is connected to free end regions of the first supporting legs (8a, 8b); a plurality of second supporting legs (8c, 8d, 8e, 8f), extending from the second side of the back plate (8h); and a second supporting plate (9), connected to the free end regions of the second supporting legs (8c, 8d, 8e, 8f). The first opening (20) and the second opening (21) receive the belt retracting cylinder (1). The safety belt retractor is simple in structure and easy to assembly. Also provided is a safety belt device comprising the safety belt retractor.

A belt retractor having a belt reel, a safety belt which can be wound thereon to form a wound belt, a pyrotechnic belt tensioner having a drive device which is guided in a tube and can be driven to perform a drive movement, and at least one first further assembly arranged coaxially to the rotational axis of the belt reel and in series with the belt reel, a safety belt which can be wound thereon to form a wound belt, and at least one first assembly, wherein the tube has a straight linear section which extends parallel to the rotational axis of the belt reel and the longitudinal axis of the assembly and is arranged on the side of the belt reel.