Abstract: A seat belt system comprising a length of webbing (20) adapted to secure an occupant to a seat; first locking element such as a tongue (24) receivable into second locking element such as a buckle (26), a portion of the buckle being fixedly positioned relative to the seat; a retractor (22) for retracting excess webbing; the webbing supporting a loop (40) of elastic material for resiliently coupling the webbing (20) to the tongue such that the webbing can move relative to the tongue in response to occupant motion and wherein a portion of the webbing (20) proximate the tongue is formed into a second loop (42), which limits the extension of the elastic loop (40) when the webbing is under tension.

Abstract: An adjustable seat belt anchorage (20) comprising: a guide rail (22) adapted to be secured to a portion of a vehicle (24) generally at or above occupant shoulder height, the guide rail (22) forming an open channel (34), and a plurality of pairs of cut-outs (36) oppositely positioned in front walls (28) thereof; a latch plate assembly (50) comprising: a resilient carrier (52) slidingly received within the channel (34); a latching mechanism (54) biased into the guide rail by the carrier (52) and supported by and movable within the carrier (52) including a latch bar (112) extending upwardly from the carrier (52) for engaging a selected pair of cut-outs (36). A flat spring (130) arcuately shaped spring (200) or coiled spring (222) is provided to bias the latch bar (112) into the selected cut-out (36).

Abstract: An auxiliary storage buckle assembly (50), of integral construction for storing a latch plate (36, 60), a safety belt (30) when not restraining an occupant of a vehicle including a base (54), and a cover (8) defining a slot (58) for receiving the latch plate (36, 60), a lock plate (70) having a resilient stem portion (72) cantilevered from a portion of the base (54) proximate the entrance of the slot, and movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the latch plate for interacting with an opening (62) in the latch plate for securing same thereto. Various alternate embodiments of a storage assembly (50') are illustrated wherein such assembly (50') may be inserted within an opening in the interior facia or trim of a vehicle or fabricated as an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A safety belt system (22) comprising: a dual spool retractor assembly (30) including first and second retractors, each retractor including safety belt webbing (32), a wheel (50), an interlock mechanism (54) for coacting with the wheel (50) to prevent the extension of the webbing, the retractor assembly further includes first and second levers (60a,b, 80a, b) one associated with each retractor, activated by an occupant, to manually release a corresponding interlock mechanism for its corresponding wheel to permit extension of the webbing; a switch assembly (100) mounted to the dual retractor assembly (30) comprising a single electrical switch (106) for generating a signal indicative of the position of the levers (60,80); a carrier (102) mounted to the dual retractor assembly (30) for mounting the switch (106) and for supporting actuation bar (104), the actuation bar (104) rotatingly and slidingly supported within the carrier (102) for selectively enabling and disabling the switch.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a safety restraint system having a loop of wire whose opposite ends entrained through a ferrule and crimped therein. The opposite ends of the wire have a predetermined free length extending beyond the ferrule. Stop members attached to the ends of the free lengths prevent the ends of the wire from being pulled through the ferrule when the applied energy exceeds the energy absorbing capabilities of the energy absorber.

Abstract: An improved safety belt retractor comprising a ratchet means, a locking means which is engageable with the ratchet means, and an actuating means which is actuable in response to a predetermined acceleration for engaging the locking means with the ratchet means, wherein the improvement comprises a flexible means for spacing the locking means from the ratchet means and for allowing the locking means to engage the ratchet means upon actuation of the actuating means. The spacing means eliminates the rattling noise caused by the metal-to-metal contact between the locking means and the ratchet means, but the spacing means, being flexible, permits the locking means to engage the ratchet means upon actuation of the actuating means.