Patent 5323977 Issued on June 28, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date: February 17, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
This invention relates to a safety belt system for vehicles comprising a belt retractor 10 and a webbing clamping mechanisms 12 arranged downstream of the retractor 10 and having two clamping wedges 46 and 48 which are arranged opposite each other in a housing on either side of the webbing. When the slide faces 54, 56 bear on the support surfaces 42, 44 the clamping faces 50, 52 of the clamping wedges 46, 48 form an angle of about one degree with each other which is open in the direction G of the belt withdrawal. Holding devices 402, 404; 410, 414 are provided for holding said clamping wedges 46, 48 in said rest position with their slide faces 54, 56 inclined to said support surfaces 42, 44 and their clamping faces parallel to the webbing. The holding devices become ineffective under load so that the slide faces 54, 56 make a surface contact with said support surfaces 42, 44 and the clamping faces 50, 52 form an angle of about one degree with each other which is open in the direction (G) of belt withdrawal.