Abstract: A tongue for an inflatable belt device and the inflatable belt device. One end of the inflatable belt is attached to the rear of the tongue. This connection preferably is concealed by a cover. The cover is preferably constructed from a synthetic resin. Also, the cover preferably is integrally formed with a flange. The flange serves to press on the inflatable belt, thus ensuring that the inflatable belt has a substantially constant thickness over the entirety of its length including the area in the vicinity of the belt-tongue joint. The flange, preferably, has a plurality of tear lines at which the flange tears open into a plurality of flaps when the inflatable belt is inflated. Also, the belt conforming member preferably has a groove at the union of the cover and the flange, which facilitates swiveling of the flange and the flaps about an axis of the groove.

Abstract: An inflatable belt device includes a tongue having a rear end connected to an inflatable belt; a buckle with which the tongue is to be engaged; and a gas generator or inflator for supplying gas into the buckle. The tongue includes a tongue base having a gas passage or duct; a tongue plate fixed to the tongue base; and a lap belt anchor. The lap belt anchor has an L-like configuration and includes a base and a bracket, which extends perpendicularly from the base and has an opening formed therein. The base is attached pivotally to the tongue plate by a pivot pin. A sheet, made from a low friction material, may be placed between the plate and the base, thus facilitating the pivoting of the tongue. As a result of this arrangement, gas is introduced much more smoothly from a tongue of an inflatable belt device into the inflatable belt. A low pressure gas generator may thus be used.