Abstract: A passive seat belt for an automobile is disclosed. A guide rail is mounted to a sashless door or a roof side rail, and a movable anchor member is adapted to move in the groove of the guide rail so that the one end of a belt, connected to the free end of the movable anchor member, may be kept at a certain height higher than the door panel for preventing the belt from contacting a part of a body of a driver or a passenger. The guide rail may be straight and positioned horizontally or may be bent at the rear end of the door. The movable anchor member may be locked by a locking stop. The guide rail is covered by a decorative trim piece. The movable anchor member is reinforced by a reinforcing member mounted to the door, the pillar, or the like of the automobile.

Abstract: A belt transfer arrangement for a passive vehicle restraint belt system includes a pivoting arm mounted on the inboard side of the vehicle seat and carrying a guide ring at its upper end through which a restraint belt freely passes. A motion transfer device coupled between the arm and the vehicle door shifts the arm between a rearward, restraint position and a forward, release position in response to movement of the door between the closed and partly open positions. The transfer device includes a drive wire contained within a wire sheath that is fastened at both ends and constrains the wire for motion transfer. A lost-motion coupling that enables the door to be moved between the partly open and fully open positions without substantial movement of the arm is interposed between the door and the pivoting arm.

Abstract: A passive diagonal safety belt is anchored in a vehicle by an automatic roller at the edge of one side door opening and also on the seat in the middle of the vehicle. The safety belt runs over a deflection element, which is arranged at the door post, so that the height can be adjusted in the shoulder region. A transport cable is arranged along the upper edge of the side door opening and is driven when the side door is opened and shut. The cable is connected with the diagonal belt via a carrier which is slidably attached to the belt. So that the passive diagonal safety belt neither contacts the heads of nor hinders the movements of the occupants of the vehicle, the diagonal belt is moved obliquely in a forward and upward direction by the cable. The cable passes over a deflection device when automatically released from the vehicle occupants and is finally placed in a guide along the upper side door opening when a gripper on the transport cable raises the deflection element.

Abstract: An automatic seatbelt system which has a flexible tape extending continuously along a vehicle body form a roof side portion through a center pillar to a door so as to move a shoulder webbing connected to the roof side portion and a lab webbing connected to the door at the same time by a single driving sprocket wheel in response to an occupant entering or leaving a vehicle. The tape has a plurality of openings along the longitudinal direction thereof and the sprocket wheel is meshed with the tape by the openings. A shoulder guide rail is provided along the roof side portion of the vehicle body, within which a shoulder guide member guiding the shoulder webbing and connected to the trape is slidably received. A lap guide rail is provided along the door, within which a lap guide member guiding the lap webbing and connected to the tape is slidably received.

Abstract: A locking device for a moving anchor used in an automatic seat belt system has an anchor member movable between a seat occupant restraining position and a seat occupant liberating position along a guide member secured to a vehicle body, a pivotable member pivotably mounted on the anchor member, a driving member operatively mounted on the pivotable member so as to pivotally move the pivotable member between a first position and a second position, a locking member provided on a base member secured to the vehicle body, and a biasing member biasing the locking member to a locking position.

Abstract: A passive restraint belt system in which one end of an occupant restraint belt is mounted on the vehicle body inboard the seat and the other end is mounted on the vehicle door so that belt is unwound from a retractor provided at one of the belt ends when the door opens to automatically move the belt somewhat forwardly of the occupant to facilitate occupant ingress and egress. An arm is associated with the belt and is pivotally mounted inboard the occupant for pivotal movement between a position in which the arm lowers the belt to the normal restraining position across the occupant lower torso and a pivotally raised position in which the lap belt is raised above the occupant lower torso to facilitate occupant ingress and egress.

Abstract: A passive safety device for vehicles has a safety belt with at least one upper end associated with the shoulder of the vehicle occupant. This upper end of the safety belt is connectable by a manually-operable belt lock with a shackle. The shackle is held on a slide which can be displaced in a guide rail held on the vehicle body between a release position and a restraining position. The slide can be locked in the restraining position in a receiving means fixed on the vehicle body by a spring-loaded locking latch. If the slide becomes stuck at a position remote from the restraining position, the vehicle occupant can be protected by manually inserting into the receiving means one end of an emergency lock insertion shackle carried separately in the vehicle, and by fastening the belt lock to the other end of the insertion shackle.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for connecting the drive wire of a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system to a guide rail includes a sealing ring that engages the drive wire and keeps lubricant confined to the casing.

Abstract: A three point safety belt system has its lap and diagonal elements 14 and 16 fastened to anchorage points 22 and 24 at the bottom and top rear corners of an adjacent vehicle door 26. The common element 20 is lead through a loop 37 in the end of an arm 30 which is pivotally mounted at 34. As the car door opens the resulting tension in the belt causes the arm 30 to pivot upwardly and forwardly, lifting the belt away from the body of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A belt transfer system for a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a DC power source, a reversible DC motor and circuits for connecting the motor across to the power source for reversible operation and for braking the motor at the end of each operation by connecting both sides of the motor armature to the power source.

Abstract: A rotatable member rotatable by the movement of one of a lap webbing and a shoulder webbing and another rotatable member for moving an engageable portion of the other webbing are provided on the side of a vehicle body and on the side of a door, whereby these rotatable members are engaged with or disengaged from each other in accordance with the closing or opening of the door, so that one of the rotatable members being in contact with each other can impart rotation.Only one driving source can be provided for moving the webbings.

Abstract: A seat belt system comprises webbing adapted to restrain a vehicle occupant in a seat, a spring-loaded retractor for the webbing and an electric motor driven guide arm to move the webbing in response to the opening and closing of the vehicle door so that the webbing is moved forward of the occupant to facilitate occupant ingress and egress.

Abstract: In a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system having a belt that is coupled to a transfer member and a drive wire of a drive device that moves the transfer member along a guide rail between restraint and release positions in response to closing and opening of the door, the drive wire is coupled to the transfer member by a resilient coupling that is pre-assembled on a terminal on the drive wire and that is pushed onto a post on the transfer member. Resilient tangs on the connector member engage a stop shoulder, such as thread teeth, on the post.

Abstract: An automatic seat belt device installed in each seat of a motor vehicle and applied automatically to an occupant of the seat upon closing of an automotive door and adapted to confine the occupant to a back rest of a front seat in a vehicle. This seat belt device is comprised of an outer belt connected in V shape to upper and lower anchors of the door, and an inner belt connected through a ring joint to the outer belt. At the outer belt weaving between the ring joint on the outer belt and the lower anchor attached to the lower portion of the door is mounted a stopper adapted to prevent the ring joint from sliding down along the outer belt. Thus, the device can introduce the seat belt to a relatively high position where it does not interfere with the occupant's riding space in the vehicle when the door is opened.

Abstract: Drive device for a movable belt transfer guide in a passive seat belt system includes a friction coupling that is housed separately from the gears to isolate it from the gear lubricant. The coupling normally transmits the driving force, but slips if the transfer guide tends to be overdriven thereby minimizing overloading and shock loads.

Abstract: An improved three-point passive belt restraint system having a flexible shoulder belt positioning arm. The flexible belt positioning arm is adapted for positioning the shoulder belt adjacent the occupants shoulder when the belt restraint system is in the occupant restraint position. Further, the flexible belt positioning arm is mounted to a sled whereby the sled and positioning arm are moved away from the occupant to an occupant non-restraint position upon door opening.The flexible belt positioning arm includes an upper tube arm attached to the sled and a lower tube arm which includes a web guide for guiding and positioning the shoulder belt adjacent the occupant's shoulder. The upper and lower tube arms are connected at their inner ends by a flexible connection. The flexible connection allows flexing of the upper and lower tube arms relative each other to prevent occupant injury during crash conditions or inadvertent contact.

Abstract: A seat belt system for an automotive vehicle, includes a shoulder belt the lower end of which is fixed to a floor of the vehicle body and the upper end of which is connected with a slider, a guide rail fixed relative to the vehicle body along its longitudinal direction, the guide rail having its engaging portion to be engaged with an engaging portion of the slider so that the slider is slidably fitted to the guide rail, means for actuating the slider in response to the opening and closing a door of the automotive vehicle, and means for locking the slider in its rearmost position, the engaging portion of the slider facing the side wall of the vehicle body to which the guide rail is fixed, so that the slider can slidably move between the guide rail and the side wall of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A passive seatbelt driving system for a vehicle including a stroke amplifying means having variable amplification coupled to a door of the vehicle for amplifying the opening and closing strokes of the door, a take-up pulley driven by the amplified strokes from the stroke-amplifying means and a wire wound on the take-up pulley and coupled to a seatbelt such that when the door is opened the take-up pulley is driven by the amplified strokes from the stroke-amplifying means to pull the seatbelt away from the seat in the vehicle to provide sufficient space to enter or leave the vehicle regardless of the amount by which the door is opened.

Abstract: One end of an occupant restraining webbing is secured to a slider, and driving means moves said slider in a guide groove formed in a guide rail, so that an occupant can be automatically brought into a webbing fastened state. The slider, being provided at the head thereof with a shoe, moves smoothly. Said shoe is adapted to be damaged under a predetermined value of load in an emergency of the vehicle, so that the head of slider can be pressed against said guide groove to prevent the slider from moving, thereby securing the occupant in the restrained state.

Abstract: A passive restraint harness system is provided for deployment of a safety belt. The safety belt is a piece of webbing forming a lap belt portion and a cross chest portion. An upper anchor connects one end of the webbing to the upper rear edge of a vehicle door and a lower anchor connects to the other end of the webbing to the lower rear edge of the same vehicle door. A vehicle sensitive seat belt retractor located adjacent the seat of the user of the belt and inboard of the user is slidably connected to the piece of webbing forming lap and chest portions and urges it under a spring bias toward the retractor. This forms the lap belt portion and the shoulder or cross chest portion in respect to a seated user. A track is vertically oriented on the inner door face and fastened to the lower anchor. A slider is also on the track and the slider is over the webbing above the lower anchor. A traveler linkage is supported on the rear of the track and connected to the slider.

Abstract: A safety belt device for a vehicle having without glass frames doors and a pair of seats, comprising a retractor provided on the floor between the seats, a door pole upwardly extending from a rear portion of the door to a connecting portion higher than an occupant's shoulder, and a safety belt connected between the retractor and a seat belt connecting portion of the door pole. When the door is closed, the safety belt extends diagonally across the occupant's body, and when the door is opened, the safety belt is positioned to permit the occupant to get in and out of the vehicle.

Abstract: A passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a belt leading from an inboard location adjacent the lower rear portion of the seat to an outboard location adjacent the rear edge of the vehicle door. An elongated guide rail affixed on the inboard side of the seat carries a belt transfer guide having a guide ring through which the belt passes intermediate the inboard and outboard ends. The guide rail extends lengthwise along the seat and slopes upwardly from back to front. The guide ring is located at substantial distance above the guide rail, and the slope of the guide rail is such that the guide ring holds an inboard portion of the belt at substantially the level of or some distance above the level of the front of the seat when the belt transfer guide is in the forward position on the guide rail. The belt transfer guide is driven back and forth along the guide rail, preferably in response to opening and closing motions of the door.

Abstract: A passive seatbelt system for a vehicle including a tape having a plurality of holes formed therein at regular intervals, a passenger restraining seatbelt coupled at one end to the thick tape, a sprocket wheel which is engaged with the holes in the thick tape and a motor means which is coupled to a power source of the motor vehicle for driving the sprocket wheel. With such a system, the sprocket wheel causes the thick tape to move back and forth to thereby cause the seatbelt to move back and forth along the length of the vehicle. In this way, the seatbelt is automatically fastened or unfastened from the passenger.

Abstract: A three points passive seat belt assembly which automatically holds or releases vehicle passenger when the door is closed or opened. Extendable pull means holds lap belt portion of the belt at a higher position when the door is opened.

Abstract: A three-point passive seat belt system includes a continuous-loop restraint belt having upper and lower ends attached to the door. A control belt has its outboard end attached to a junction ring which encircles the continuous-loop belt to define lap belt and shoulder belt portions. The inboard end of the control belt is mounted inboard the seat by a retractor reel which winds the control belt. When the door is closed the retractor winds the control belt to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions respectively across the lower and upper torso of the occupant. The outboard end of the lap belt portion is attached to the door by a resilient anchor strap forward of the MVSS 210 specified mounting location.

Abstract: A load locking junction device for coupling a continuous-loop belt having ends mounted on the door with an anchor belt retractably mounted inboard the seat includes a frame having an aperture defining spaced apart first and second load bearing walls. The continuous-loop belt is slidable over the first wall to define a lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion. The anchor belt extends through the aperture and has a pin engaged in the end thereof to enlarge the end for simultaneous engagement against the second wall and the continuous-loop belt so that the belts are coupled together and maintained in engagement with the load bearing walls. A spring acts on the pin to space the anchor belt from the continuous-loop belt to permit movement of the continuous-loop belt through the frame.

Abstract: A passive occupant restraint belt system for a vehicle which includes a restraining belt and apparatus for moving the belt from an occupant restraint to an occupant releasing position in response to opening of a door of a vehicle. A belt transfer device engages the seat or shoulder belt for moving the belt between the restraining to releasing positions and is actuated by a motion transmission mechanism which transmits and amplifies opening motions of the door to the belt transfer device. The transmission includes a motion amplifier mounted on either the vehicle body or door, and a linkage having one end attached to the other of the body and door and its other end coupled to an input component of the motion amplifier. The linkage is coupled to the other of the vehicle body or door during normal door operation when the door is between closed and partway open to transmit door opening movement to the amplifier but released when the door is between partway open and fully open.

Abstract: A seat belt system includes a control arm with one end pivoted to an upper sash of a door and with the other end portion mounted to a roof side of a vehicle body for slidable movement. A seat belt extends from an anchor mounted to the roof side to a retractor mounted to the roof of the vehicle body adjacent the inboard side of a seat. A portion of the seat belt passes through the other end portion of the control arm. A spring is mounted so that when the door is closed, the other end portion of the control arm is urged to displace rearwardly till the control arm extends along the roof side to allow the seat belt to fasten around a passenger on the seat. As the door is opened, opening movement of the door will pull the one end of the control arm outwardly of the vehicle body, thus displacing the other end portion forwardly to extend the seat belt forwardly of the passenger for easy ingress or egress.

Abstract: A passive vehicle passenger restraint belt system includes a single continuous drive wire driven by the output of a mechanical motion amplifier to pull a shoulder belt transfer ring forwardly along a guide rail above the door and push a lap belt transfer ring upwardly along the door upon opening motion of the door.

Abstract: A passive seat belt arrangement has an improved belt carrying mechanism which comprises a track member diagonally mounted on a vehicular hinged door, and a wheeled belt carrying device which runs in the track member to carry an intermediate portion of the seat belt for preparing easy-enter and occupant restraining positions of the belt in response to opening and closing movements of the door.

Abstract: An automatic seat belt restraining system which is to be used in a vehicle of the type having a passenger compartment including a seat therein. The system is made up of a three point shoulder and lap belt assembly which has first ends attached to the body of the vehicle. The second ends of the shoulder and lap belts are separately attached to a continuous cable drive assembly. The shoulder and lap belt drive cable is contained in a guide track located outboard of the seat on an inner surface of the door of the vehicle. The cable is rigid enough to be driven forward and backward in the guide track. A motor-pinion gear drive assembly drives the cable through the guide track to simultaneously move the belts to a position which either restrains the occupant or permits him to leave the vehicle. A door switch and limit switches are used to activate and deactivate the system.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining an occupant of a seat located adjacent a door that is hinged along the front edge comprises a shoulder belt having one end secured to an anchor affixed to the upper rear portion of the door, a portion that extends down and in across the seat and an inboard portion that is wound on to an emergency locking retractor. An elongated guide rail extending along the edge of the roof generally coextensively with the upper edge of the door receives a slider for sliding movement therealong. A belt guide ring is movably attached to the slider and receives the intermediate portion of the belt for movement therethrough. The system may also comprise a lap belt having its inboard end secured to the intermediate portion of the shoulder belt and its outboard end wound on to an emergency locking retractor affixed adjacent the lower rear corner of the door.

Abstract: Seat belt tension eliminator device in a vehicle safety belt system, especially for a passive belt system, including fasteners, such as velveting fasteners, associated with the shoulder and lap belts and adapted to be engaged with each other when the belts are secured about an occupant, whereby the tension exerted by the shoulder belt is transferred to the lap belt.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system including torso and lap belts, wherein a guide clip is provided which is secured to one belt and permits the other belt to pass therethrough. The guide clip maintains communication between the belts and is especially useful with a two retractor system.

Abstract: A passive vehicle occupant restraint system for use with a vehicle seat which has a foldable back includes an inboard movable belt guide through which a portion of the belt intermediate an inboard and an outboard portion freely passes. The belt guide includes a guide member having a ring portion receiving the belt and mounted on the inboard side of the seat for generally backward and forward movement of the ring portion. A drive device is coupled between the belt guide member and an element associated with the back of the seat such that the belt guide ring portion is moved forwardly in response to forward folding of the seat back and is moved rearwardly in response to restoration of the seat back to the normal upright position.

Abstract: A passive occupant restraint belt system for a vehicle which includes a restraining belt and apparatus for moving the belt between occupant-restraining and occupant-releasing positions in response to partial opening of a door of the vehicle. A belt transfer device engages the seat or shoulder belt for moving the belt from the retraining to the releasing position and is actuated by a motion transmission mechanism which transmits and amplifies door opening motions to the belt transfer device. The transmission includes a motion amplifier mounted on either the vehicle body or door, and a force transmitting input rod having one end coupled to an input component of the motion amplifier.

Abstract: A passive vehicle occupant shoulder restraint belt is transferred between a restraint configuration and a release configuration by a guide ring which is moved by a driven transfer wire along a guide rail extending up from a restraint location partway down the vehicle center post and then forward along the edge of the roof above the door to a release location near the front post. A stop-anchor fastened to the post at the restraint location engages either the guide ring or the belt and holds the belt against pulling forces generated by a restrained occupant upon an abrupt change in the velocity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A passive occupant restraint belt system for a vehicle which includes a restraining belt and apparatus for moving the belt from an occupant-restraining to an occupant-releasing position in response to opening of a door of the vehicle. A belt transfer device engages the seat or shoulder belt for moving the belt from the restraining to the releasing position and is actuated by a motion transmission mechanism which transmits and amplifies opening motions of the door to the belt transfer device. The transmission includes a motion amplifier mounted on either the vehicle body or door, and an extendable linkage having one end attached to the other of the body and door and its other end coupled to an input component of the motion amplifier. The linkage has a first link provided with an indentation partway along its length, a second link carrying a lever adjacent one end and coupled adjacent its other end to the door amplifier.

Abstract: An emergency release mechanism in a passive seat belt system provides a vehicle occupant with an extra section of belting material by which the occupant may extricate himself from the vehicle in emergency situations where the position of the vehicle or the condition of the system is such that the seat belt could not otherwise be slackened. In passive systems, the seat belt is retractably mounted either to the vehicle floor or door, passed over the upper torso of the vehicle floor or door, passed over the upper torso of the vehicle occupant and permanently attached to an anchor bracket attached to the door or floor, respectively. The emergency release portion of the system releasably attaches an intermediate portion of the seat belt to the anchor bracket, thereby defining an open loop of belting material between the permanently-attached end and the releasably-attached intermediate sections of the belt.

Abstract: A seatbelt system wherein one end of a passenger restraining belt is fastened to a runner piece. The runner piece is guided by a guide rail mounted along the body of a vehicle and the belt is automatically fastened about the passenger by being driven by a drive motor. In particular, the runner piece is further provided with slide shoes which slide along the guide rail. The slide shoes reduce the sliding resistance between the runner piece and the guide rail and therefore provide a runner piece which is small and which moves smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: A passive seatbelt system which includes a guide rail fastened longitudinally to a roof side of a vehicle, a truck movable along the guide rail, a seatbelt which has one end connected to the truck, a slide rail provided adjacent the guide rail and having one end coupled to the guide rail and the other end fastened to a roof support of the vehicle, a flexible tape provided in the slide rail and having one end coupled to the truck a moving means coupled to the flexible tape for causing movement of the flexible tape whereby the seatbelt is caused to approach or recede from a seated passenger to thereby automatically fasten or unfasten the seatbelt.

Abstract: A passive seatbelt system wherein the outer end of the passenger restraining belt moves forward or backward, permitting passenger entrance or exit and to automatically fasten or unfasten the belt about the passenger. The passive seatbelt system further includes at least one elastic piece coupled to the outer end of the belt whose rigidity gradually decreases from the outer end of the belt towards the center of the belt whereby when the belt is fastened the belt separates sufficiently from the passenger while still being able to be fastened normally when the belt is automatically fastened.

Abstract: A seatbelt system which includes an anchor plate which anchors one under the passenger restraining belt and which is fastened to a runner piece which moves along a guide rail fastened to a motor vehicle body. When the anchor plate receives a driving force, the anchor plate moves along the guide rail so that the belt is automatically fastened about the passenger. The seatbelt system is further arranged and configured such that a belt anchoring portion of the anchor plate and a portion of the runner piece that is directly supported by the guide rail are both provided on a straight line which coincides with the line of action of belt tension during a vehicular emergency whereby belt tension is securely supported by the guide rail.

Abstract: A seatbelt system including a passenger restraining belt, a plastic tape coupled to one end of the passenger restraining belt which has a plurality of openings formed along its length, a sprocket wheel which engages with the plurality of openings in the plastic tape for moving the plastic tape and a motor for rotating the sprocket wheel whereby when the belt is moved, it is automatically fastened or unfastened. In addition, the seatbelt system includes a receiving space provided between the vehicle's rocker panel and an inner lining for receiving the remainder of the plastic tape after engagement with the sprocket wheel whereby the plastic tape will not project into the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system comprising a two-point belt that in passenger restraining position extends diagonally over the upper torso of the seat occupant from a floor attachment to a retractor mechanism anchored in the vehicle roof. A carriage or trolley movable along a track that in part parallels the vehicle body roof rail and in part the windshield pillar has a belt engageable "D" ring that engages the belt intermediate the ends of the latter. This carriage is movable along the track by a nonelectrical energizer that is energized by door opening movement. Upon movement of the carriage from the retractor end of the track along the roof rail and then downwardly along the windshield pillar, the carriage automatically draws the belt forwardly from its passenger restraining position to provide unobstructed ingress or egress to the compartment through the door opening.

Abstract: A passive seatbelt system including a passenger restrictive seatbelt of which an inner end is attached to a roller mechanism fastened to a center of the motor vehicle and an outer end which is fastened to a moving plate, the moving plate is fastened to a roof side of the motor vehicle and constrained to forward and rearward motion, a narrow belt is attached to the moving plate at one end and to a winding roller located to the rear of the roof side for winding up the narrow belt, the narrow belt and winding roller being arranged and configured such that it permits free unwinding to accommodate passengers of different physique except at times of a vehicular emergency wherein the unwinding of the narrow belt is stopped by an emergency locking retractor.

Abstract: An improved automobile safety device of the type having a shoulder safety belt extending diagonally across the upper body of a passenger and connected to a slide displaceable in a guide attached to the automobile frame. The belt is attached to the slide by a belt lock rigidly fastened to the slide, which assumes a spatially defined position when the slide is in the passenger-restraining position. An electric switch having an actuating element for effecting either a first switching state or a second switching state is attached to the vehicle body and positioned such that the belt lock engages the actuating element only when the slide is in the restraining position. The switch assumes the first switching state when the belt lock and slide are in the restraining position, and assumes the second switching state when the lock and slide are moved away from the restraining position.

Abstract: The belt or belts of a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system are moved from a restraining to a releasing position by a motion transmission system which transmits opening motion of a vehicle door to a belt transfer guide and includes a motion amplifier, the output of which drives the guide, and a folding linkage which remains folded and transmits door motion to the motion amplifier input device when the door moves between the closed position and a partly open position and unfolds and substantially ceases to transmit door motion to the motion amplifier when the door is moved between partly and fully open positions.

Abstract: A belt-anchoring device for securing an end of a vehicle passenger-restraining shoulder belt to a part of a vehicle located generally above, behind, and to one side of a vehicle passenger comprises a buckle adapted to be coupled to the aforementioned end of the shoulder belt and an anchor assembly having a mounting portion adapted to be rigidly fastened to the aforementioned part of the vehicle and a buckle-linking portion connected to the mounting portion for articulation about an axis located in a generally vertical plane and oriented generally transversely to the axis of the belt when the belt is in the passenger restraining position. The buckle is attached to the buckle-linking portion of the anchor assembly for pivotal movement about an axis oriented generally transversely of the vehicle.

Abstract: A passive occupant restraint system includes a shoulder belt retractor mounted inboard the occupant seat for winding the inboard end of a shoulder belt having an outboard end attached to the upper rear corner of the door. A lap belt has an outboard end mounted on the door by a lap belt retractor and an inboard end mounted on the shoulder belt by a latch plate which is slidably movable along the shoulder belt by manual effort of the occupant. The latch plate remains relatively stationary on the shoulder belt during winding and unwinding of the shoulder belt upon door movement so that the occupant may position the latch plate generally adjacent the outboard end of the shoulder belt to stow the lap belt generally parallel with the door or may position the sliding latch plate at mid-length along the shoulder belt so that the latch plate will be automatically located adjacent the shoulder belt retractor when the door is closed to establish the lap belt in restraining proximity with the lower torso.