A seat belt safety apparatus for a vehicle is provided and implements both of the functions of a retractor and a pretensioner in a structure with a seat belt disposed in a seat. The functions of a retractor and a pretensioner are separated in the seat belt safety apparatus to reduce the installation space.

A seat assembly includes a seat portion having a frame assembly, a carrier assembly and a displaceable platform operably coupled to the carrier assembly. The displaceable platform is operable between a use position and a deployed position. A retraction mechanism includes a first bracket operably coupled to the frame assembly, and a second bracket operably coupled to the displaceable platform. The first and second brackets are interconnected by an actuator that is operable between at-rest and actuated positions. The second bracket moves from a first position to a second position as the actuator moves from the at-rest position to the actuated position. At least one tether member is operably coupled to the first bracket and includes a body portion interlaced between the first and second brackets of the retraction mechanism.

A seat assembly includes a seatback and a seat portion supported by a frame assembly. The seat portion includes a carrier assembly and a displaceable platform pivotally coupled thereto for pivoting movement between a use position and a deployed position. A retraction mechanism includes a first bracket operably coupled to the frame assembly, and a second bracket operably coupled to the displaceable platform. The first and second brackets are operably coupled to one another by an actuator, and the second bracket is operable between first and second positions relative to the first bracket. A belt assembly includes a tether member and a belt member. The tether member is coupled between the first and second brackets, and the belt member is operable between a deployed position outside of the seatback, and a stowed position within an interior of the seatback.

A seat assembly includes a seatback having an interior portion with a seatback frame disposed therein. A retraction mechanism includes a first bracket operably coupled to the seatback frame. A second bracket is operably coupled to the first bracket by an actuator that is operable between at-rest and actuated positions. A tether member includes a body portion that is operably coupled between the first and second brackets of the retraction mechanism for movement therewith. The tether member moves from a deployed position to a retracted position when the actuator moves from the at-rest position to the actuated position. A belt member is operably coupled to the tether member. The belt member is operable between a deployed position, wherein the belt member is disposed in front of the back support portion of the seatback, and a stowed position, wherein the belt member is received in the interior portion of the seatback.

A tensioner device for a seat belt with a tensioner block (1) cable passageway (2) in which there is formed a pressure chamber (3) and a pull cable (4) that can be connected to a compressed-gas powered piston and that can be connected to a seat belt component for providing a tensioning motion. The pull cable extends through the pressure chamber (3) and with a gas generator (5) that is attached to the tensioner block (1), wherein, when triggered, the gas exiting from the gas generator (5) flows through a feed section (6) of the tensioner block (1) into the pressure chamber (3), wherein a guide element (8) is formed in a transition area (7) of the feed section (6) in the pressure chamber (3) that extends via a bar (11) parallel relative to the pull cable (4) and thereby divides the transition area (7) into at least two openings (9).

The invention relates, inter alia, to a tensioner drive (11) for a seatbelt installation, having a tube (30), at least one piston (25) which within the tube (30) is displaceable along a propulsion direction (P2), and a gas generator (40) for generating a propulsion gas (G) and a propulsion pressure on a pressure-facing side of the piston (25). According to the invention it is provided that the piston (25) on the pressure-facing side thereof has a first sealing element (90) which, upon triggering the gas generator (40), is impinged with the propulsion pressure and seals a first tubular portion (31) of the tube (30) that is filled with propulsion gas (G) in relation to a second tubular portion (32) of the tube (30) that in the propulsion direction (P2) lies behind said first tubular portion (31); a second sealing element (100) which, upon triggering the gas generator (40), is separated from the first sealing element (90) is disposed in the propulsion direction (P2) behind the first sealing element (90); wherein the second sealing element (100) is displaceable relative to the first sealing element (90), and in the event of leakage of the first sealing element (90) and when impinged with pressure by the propulsion gas (G) is displaced along the propulsion direction (P2) while enlarging the spacing (A) between the first sealing element (90) and the second sealing element (100).

A pretensioner includes a wire having one end connectable to webbing that restrains an occupant of a vehicle; a piston connected to another end of the wire; a cylinder that slidably accommodates the piston; a housing through which the wire passes and that holds the cylinder; and a gas generator that supplies gas to the piston through a gas chamber within the housing, the gas being for operating the piston in a retraction direction of the wire. The piston includes, at one end of a gas chamber side, a cylindrical portion that extends in an axial direction of the piston, and an initial volume of the gas chamber is adjusted by adjusting a volume of an inner space of the cylindrical portion.

A modular vehicle seat is disclosed that includes one or more safety measures incorporated into the seat such that the seat can be pre-assembled in a modular unit that can be incorporated into a variety of vehicle designs. The safety measures may include an airbag deployment system that deploys an airbag from a seat back and extends around a shoulder portion of the occupant restraint system. The airbag deployment system includes an airbag that extends coaxially around the shoulder web of the restraint system of the vehicle seat. The safety measures may include a device for pre-tensioning a lap portion of an occupant restraint harness coupled to a seat portion of the vehicle seat. Illustratively, the pre-tensioning device may be activated just prior to activation of the airbag deployment system.

The invention relates to a belt tensioner (30) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a housing (32), a working chamber (34) into which the compressed gas released in the case of restraint is flowing, a pull rope (24) extending through an opening (36) within the housing (32) and a sealing bush (10) for sealing the working chamber (34) against the opening (36) between the pull rope (24) and the housing (32), with the sealing bush (10) comprising a sleeve (16) and a sealing element (12) and the sealing bush (10) being pressed onto the pull rope (24) by plastic deforming of the outer sleeve (16).

A vehicle seat belt device that includes: a load transmitting member that is formed in a flexible elongate shape, an end portion, at a seat rear side, of the load transmitting member being engaged with an anchor that is secured, at a seat rear side and at a seat lower side of a seat cushion, to a vehicle body or a vehicle seat, and an end portion, at a seat front side, of the load transmitting member being engaged with a pretensioner that is provided at the seat front side and at the seat lower side of the seat cushion and which, upon activation, pulls the seat front-side end portion of the load transmitting member inside the pretensioner; and a guide portion that is provided integrally with a buckle and that abuts a middle portion of the load transmitting member.