Abstract: A stretchable belt, such as for safety belt restraint systems in vehicles, includes a base material and at least one additional material having a different stress-stretch curve. By providing a base material with higher deformability than the additional material the stress-stretch curve of the belt has a first steeply rising portion where the load is primarily transmitted to the additional material. At a given load point, the additional material abruptly tears, and the load is transmitted to the base material. Thereafter, the stress versus stretch curve continues at a substantially lower angle. In this manner, the belt absorbs a maximum amount of energy for a given maximum load and maximum stretch. The belt may be formed from a single type of raw material, mechanically or thermally treating it to provide different stress versus stretch characteristics for the base material and the additional material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a woven belt, in particular for motor vehicle safety systems, which is found with a monofilament and a multifilament weft thread, both forming the central portion while only one forms the marginal portions.