Development of a Belt Configuration Test Device

Abdominal injury to automobile occupants can be caused by the lap portion of the belt restraint if it is not well deployed below the wearer's iliac spines. A new test device, capable of providing a quantitative measure of lap belt fit is described. Based on the standard 3 dimensional “H-point machine”, the device has been validated with a large number of occupants seated in a wide variety of contemporary passenger cars. Procedures for employing the device are presented.