Seat occupant restraining apparatus

In an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body structure defining a plurality of access openings and a passenger compartment therein, a seat assembly disposed within the vehicle body structure, and a plurality of closure members hingedly connected to the body structure over the access openings, respectively, so as to be movable between open and closed positions at which the access openings are respectively opened and closed by the closure members, the closure members including at least one rear, side door hingedly connected over one of the access openings leading into the passenger compartment at the rear of the seat assembly, a seat belt apparatus for restraining an occupant of the seat assembly, said seat belt apparatus comprising:

• a length of flexible belt having first and second opposite ends;
• a belt anchor fixing the first end of said flexible belt relative to the vehicle body structure;
• seat belt retractor means, disposed within the rear, side door at a location to the rear of the seat assembly and connected to the second end of said flexible belt, for exerting a tension force on said belt that tends to forcibly wind the belt into the seat belt retractor means;
• tension relieving means connected to said seat belt retractor means for selectively preventing said seat belt retractor means from exerting the tension force on said flexible belt;
• and
• control means including belt detecting means for detecting whether the flexible belt is in an operative position which can restrain an occupant in the seat assembly and door detecting means for detecting when the rear, side door has been opened,
• said control means operatively connected to said tension relieving means for rendering said tension relieving means operative, in a manner which enables said tension relieving means to selectively prevent said belt retractor means from exerting the tension force on said flexible belt, once said belt detecting means detects that the seat belt apparatus is in the operative position, said control means for maintaining said tension relieving means operative as the rear, side door is opened, and said control means for rendering said tension relieving means inoperative once the rear, side door has been opened whereby the tension force will once again be exerted on said flexible belt by said seat belt retractor means.