PASSIVE AND SEMI-PASSIVE SEAT BELTS FOR INCREASED OCCUPANT SAFETY

Developments leading to passive seat belts are discussed. A problem in semantics is identified, and a distinction is drawn between “passive” and “semi-passive” seat belts.

A low-injury passive seat belt precursor is described, having a continuous webbing loop for lap and shoulder belt and an emergency-locking retractor. The seat belt system indicates potential for improving upon present seat belt systems, and with identifiable modifications, being converted into a passive occupant restraint configuration, and being later modified to provide 40-mph crash survival capability.