A locking web retractor includes a spool mounted between side walls of a frame and rotatable in web take-up and pay out directions, and a locking apparatus including a toothed wheel rotatable with the spool, a movable component and a lock pawl. The movable component moves between a locking position in which it forces an engagement end of the lock pawl into engagement with the toothed wheel to prevent the spool from rotating in the web pay out direction, and an unlocking position in which the movable component does not force the engagement end of the lock pawl toward the toothed wheel. The lock pawl defines a counterweight at an opposite end and configured, in the unlocking position of the movable component, to cause the lock pawl to move in a direction which draws the engagement end of the lock pawl away from the toothed wheel.

Variable behaviour control mechanism with a variety of motion characteristics, the mechanism comprising means to measure a plurality of motion characteristics and to activate systems when a threshold of the motion characteristics is reached. The mechanism described is, for example, a vehicle seat belt and the mechanism minimises or prevents unwanted activation of line extension or retraction of the seat belt. A first mechanism is described where activation occurs between at least one primary system and at least one secondary system when a combination of the sensed motion characteristics achieves a threshold. A second mechanism is described where activation occurs between at least one primary system and at least one secondary system when at least one sensed motion characteristic achieves a threshold, the threshold being modified based on at least one further motion characteristic. A method of use of the above mechanisms is also described.

The present invention pertains to a vehicle sensor device and a seat belt retractor employing same, the vehicle sensor device comprising: a body forming the outer appearance thereof; a cover coupled to one opened surface of the body; a sensor housing rotatably installed in the body according to the inclination of a backrest and the installation angle of the body; a ball installed in the sensor housing and detecting the inclination of a vehicle and the change of acceleration; and a sensor lever disposed over the ball and having one end rotatably coupled to the sensor housing, wherein the sensor lever is configured to allow a pilot lever provided in a locking device to linearly reciprocate by a rotational movement according to the movement of the ball so that the sensor lever is installed in the senser housing in which the ball is installed.

An assembly (18) for a belt retractor of a vehicle comprises a holding fixture (34) and a vehicle-sensitive sensor (32) arranged in the holding fixture (34) for activation of a locking mechanism (16) of the belt retractor. The sensor (32) comprises a sensor housing (50) and an inertia body (52) suspended in the sensor housing (50). A spherical holding space (44) via which the sensor housing (50) is positioned in the holding fixture (34) so that the sensor (32) is movable only relative to one positioning axis (48) is formed in the holding fixture (34).

A seat belt retractor including a fixed frame connected to a vehicle body; a spool mounted on the fixed frame so as to be rotatable about a shaft arranged in a predetermined direction, in which a seat belt is wound around the spool; a control disc connected to the shaft about which the spool rotates to rotate together with the spool, and having external teeth; a vehicle sensor unit for detecting a change in acceleration of a vehicle by a fluctuation of an inertial member to prevent the control disc from rotating; and an installation member coupled to a housing which is coupled to one sidewall of the fixed frame, wherein the vehicle sensor unit is directly and rotatably coupled to the installation member.

A seat belt retractor includes a vehicle acceleration sensor. The vehicle acceleration sensor includes a sensor holder including a placement surface and an attachment member to which the sensor holder is coupled. The attachment member is attached to the housing in a state in which the sensor holder is in either a first posture or a second posture. The sensor holder is configured to be coupled to the attachment member at any one of a plurality of angular positions. The plurality of angular positions are positions of the sensor holder in a case where the sensor holder rotates around a rotation axis. A plurality of sensor attachment angles corresponding to the plurality of angular positions are different between the first posture and the second posture. The plurality of sensor attachment angles are angles, with respect to the housing, of the center line of the placement surface.

The invention describes a sensor (12) for activating a vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism (14) of a belt retractor (10), comprising a suspended inertia body (26) and a bearing (28) which supports the inertia body (26), the bearing (28) including a receiving space (58) for receiving lubricant. The invention further describes a belt retractor (10).

Variable behaviour control mechanism with a variety of motion characteristics, the mechanism comprising means to measure a plurality of motion characteristics and to activate systems when a threshold of the motion characteristics is reached. The mechanism described is, for example, a vehicle seat belt and the mechanism minimises or prevents unwanted activation of line extension or retraction of the seat belt. A first mechanism is described where activation occurs between at least one primary system and at least one secondary system when a combination of the sensed motion characteristics achieves a threshold. A second mechanism is described where activation occurs between at least one primary system and at least one secondary system when at least one sensed motion characteristic achieves a threshold, the threshold being modified based on at least one further motion characteristic. A method of use of the above mechanisms is also described.