Force limiter for vehicle safety belt systems

An apparatus for limiting a force applied by a seat belt webbing to an occupant of a vehicle which arises in the event of a vehicle collision due to movement of the occupant against the seat belt webbing creating a tensile force in the seat belt webbing, said apparatus comprising:

• a metal frame having a U-shape formed by a base plate and a pair of spaced apart side plates, said base plate including first and second end portions;
• said base plate including a support which extends adjacent said second end portion of said base plate between said pair of side plates;
• a stationary cylindrical deflection pin extending between said pair of side plates, said deflection pin being spaced from said base plate and being located intermediate said first and second end portions of said base plate;
• and
• a metal strip having first and second end portions and opposing first and second flat side surfaces, said strip extending approximately 180.degree. around said deflection pin such that said first and second end portions of said strip lie parallel to one another and are spaced apart, said first flat side surface engaging said deflection pin and said second flat side surface engaging said support on said base plate;
• said first end portion of said base plate being connected with the seat belt webbing to transmit the tensile force in the seat belt webbing as well as movement of the seat belt webbing caused by the occupant moving against the seat belt webbing into relative movement between said frame and said strip;
• said first flat side surface of said strip being frictionally slidable on said deflection pin in response to relative movement of said frame and said strip to dissipate a portion of the tensile force in the seat belt webbing;
• said support on said base plate engaging and guiding said second flat side surface of said strip during relative movement of said frame and said strip;
• said strip being plastically deformed upon relative movement of said frame and said strip to further dissipate the tensile force in the seat belt webbing.