Restraint system

A belt retractor device, comprising a cable release portion operatively coupled with a belt retractor portion, the belt retractor portion having a length of safety belt coiled therein, the cable release portion having at least one cable with first and second cable ends, the cable release portion having a slide member with an anchor formation to receive the first cable end, and a handle to displace the slide member between opposed first limit positions, thereby to displace the cable between opposed second limit positions;

• the belt retractor portion including a trigger operable in a first phase for locking the retractor portion in position and a second phase for releasing the retractor portion to recoil the safety belt, the cable release portion including an actuator operatively joined with the second cable end for actuating the trigger between the first and second phases, the retractor portion further including a dwell unit for suspending the slide member near one limit position for a predetermined period of time thereby to maintain the trigger in the second phase for the predetermined period of time.

A restraint belt control device comprising a belt retractor portion and a remote belt release portion communicating therewith, the belt retractor portion being operable between a first rest position and a second activated position, and a dwell portion associated with one of either the remote belt release portion or the belt retractor portion, the dwell portion being operable in a first phase for maintaining the belt retractor portion in the second activated position for a predetermined time period and a second phase for releasing the belt retractor portion from the second activated position after the predetermined time period has passed.

A control device for controlling a restraint belt retractor, comprising a deployment portion including latch portion, a cable with a first end arranged to be joined to the latch portion and a second end arranged to be operatively associated with the restraint belt retractor, the latch portion being movable between a first position in which the cable is arranged to maintain the restraint belt retractor in a locked position and a second position in which the cable is arranged to maintain the restraint belt retractor in a released position, a displacement portion moveably mounted relative to the deployment portion for displacing the latch portion between the first and second positions, the latch portion being biased toward the first position, a suspension portion for suspending the latch portion at or near the second position for a predetermined period of time, thereby to permit operation of the restraint belt retractor in the released position.

A restraint system, comprising a belt retractor, a belt retractor controller remote from the belt retractor, a data link between the belt retractor and the belt retractor controller, the belt retractor and the belt retractor controller being operable to exchange control signals over the data link to provide control of the belt tractor by the belt retractor controller, the belt retractor controller being operable in a first phase to lock the belt retractor thereby to lock a belt therein, a second phase to release the belt retractor thereby to allow the belt to be withdrawn from or returned to the belt retractor and a third phase to maintain the belt retractor in a released position for a predetermined period of time and to configure the belt retractor in a locked position after the predetermined period of time has passed to permit the belt to be either installed on a cargo item or removed from the cargo item.

A restraint member retractor device for restraining a wheel chair in a wheel chair transport vehicle, comprising a restraint belt, a lock portion for retaining the restraint belt either in a lock position or in a release position, a trigger portion to transfer the lock portion between a lock condition and a release condition, the trigger portion being operable for automatically maintaining the lock portion in the release condition for a predetermined period of time sufficient for manipulating the restraint belt and for automatically configuring the lock portion in the lock condition after the predetermined period of time has passed.