Abstract: A passive safety belt system has a lap element 14, a diagonal element 16 and a common element 20 interconnected by a ring 18. First puller mechanism 30 is connected to the shoulder element 16 at 32 and then runs through the ring 18 and a second ring 34 which is slidable on the common strap 20. The other end of the first puller mechanism 30 is connected to a traveller 36 on a track 38. Second puller mechanism 46 has one end connected to the second ring 34 and then runs through the traveller 36 to a spool 48 coupled to a spindle of a retractor 28 for the common element 20, so as to pay out the second puller mechanism as the common strap is wound in. The effect of this is to move the point of action of the first puller mechanism 30 nearer to the center of the car without interfering with retraction of the common strap 20 on to the retractor 28.

Abstract: A passive safety belt system consists of a lap strap (14), a shoulder strap (16) and a common strap (20) interconnected to form a 3-point safety belt with the free ends of the lap and shoulder straps (14 & 16) connected to the rear edge of a vehicle door (26) and the free end of the common strap (20) connected to an inertia reel. A flexible element (30) interconnects the junction of the three straps (14, 16 & 20) of the safety belt with a traveller (36) on the track (38). An arm (46) has a loop (48) at one end, through which the common strap (20) runs. The other end of the arm (46) is pivotally mounted on the front inboard corner of a seat (10), a stop member (50) on the common strap (20) engages with the loop (48) to lift the arm (46) when a predetermined length of said common strap has been pulled off the inertia reel (28).