Safety belt system

Claim 1

A safety belt system for restraining a passenger in a vehicle upon sudden deceleration of the vehicle, comprising: a strap belt extending across and in front of the passenger; a stationary cylinder housing mounted in the vehicle; a piston rod and a piston operatively connected to said belt; said piston being movably mounted within said cylinder housing while said piston rod is rigid with said piston; a slidable connection between said piston and an intermediate portion of said belt; a slide member located within said housing and surrounding said piston rod, said slide member being connected between said piston and said connection to the belt; a ring frictionally mounted within said housing for displacement by said piston when the latter is moved forwardly, toward said connection, upon a sudden deceleration of the vehicle, and adapted to surround said slide member; spring means urging said slide member constantly backwards, away from said connection; and retaining means within said ring and in said slide member for at least one ball initially lodged therein; wherein a backward rebound movement of said belt is prevented after the latter has reached its maximum degree of deformation, due to the backward movement of said slide member under the action of said spring means, while said ring remains in the forwardly displaced position, so that said ball wedges itself between said piston and said ring, while said piston rod remains stationary.