BELTS SNAP BACK WITH AIR BAGS DELAYED: TRY THESE ON FOR SIZE

BY PROPOSING TO POSTPONE THE DATE WHEN CARS MUST BE FITTED WITH PASSIVE RESTRAINTS, NHTSA HAS STIMULATED DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BELT SYSTEMS. WHILE THE WORDING OF THE NOTICE IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER INDICATES THAT NHTSA IS THINKING OF THE CURRENT THREE-POINT SYSTEM WITH INERTIAL REEL ADDED TO THE UPPER SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR, THREE AUTOMOBILE SAFETY EXPERTS HAVE INDEPENDENTLY CONCLUDED THAT THE INVERTED-Y YOKE AFFORDS GREATER PROTECTION, CONVENIENCE, AND COMFORT. THE BELT IS ATTACHED TO A REEL IN THE CAR ROOF AND SPLITS INTO A DOUBLE STRAP, ONE FOR EACH SHOULDER, JUST BEHIND THE HEAD. THE LOWER ENDS USUALLY TIE INTO THE LAP BELT ANCHOR POINTS. (THIS HAS THE DRAWBACK THAT A SEAT ADJUSTMENT MAY LEAVE SOME SLACK BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE SEAT BITE.) THE INVERTED Y PROVIDES GREATER BEARING AREA AGAINST THE BODY THAN THREE- POINT BELTS, PERMITTING HIGHER DECELERATIONS WITHOUT INJURY. IT ALSO DOES NOT TWIST THE BODY DURING RESTRAINT. THE POINT AT WHICH THE STEM DIVIDES CAN BE REINFORCED TO PROTECT AGAINST WHIPLASH. WHEN WORN, THE BELTS DO NOT RUB AGAINST THE NECK, DISTURB CLOTHING, OR, IN WOMEN, PRESS AGAINST THE BOSOM. PRESENT DISADVANTAGES, REQUIRING DESIGN MODIFICATIONS, INCLUDE POSSIBLE INCONVENIENCE OR DANGER TO REAR-SEAT OCCUPANTS FROM THE INERTIA LOCKING DEVICE IN TWO- DOOR VEHICLES, OBSTRUCTION TO REAR VISION BY AN UNUSED CENTER SEAT STRAP, AND THE INADEQUATE STRENGTH OF MOST SEAT TRACKS TO ANCHOR THE BELTS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 79, No 12, PP 33-35, 5 FIG
• Authors:
  • Flanagan, W
• Publication Date: 1971-12

Media Info

• Serial:
  • SAE Journal of Automotive Engineering
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Inertia (Mechanics); Manual safety belts; Y intersections
• Old TRIS Terms: Inverted y
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223678
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 17 1972 12:00AM