Passive safety device for securing occupants of vehicles, in particular motor vehicles

Claim 1

In an automobile passive safety device of the type having a shoulder safety belt extending diagonally across the upper body of a passenger, a slide displaceable in a guide attached to the automobile frame above one of the automobile doors, belt lock means for detachably coupling one end of the belt to said slide, and a driving means for displacing said slide from a removed position wherein said belt is lifted away from the automobile passenger to a restraining position wherein said belt extends across the upper body of said passenger, the improvement wherein said belt lock means comprises a first belt lock member rigidly fastened to said slide and a second belt lock member connected to said one end, wherein the second member may be rigidly coupled to said first member to assume a spatially-defined position when said slide is in said restraining position, an electric switch means, and means for actuating said switch means for effecting either a first switching state or a second switching state of said switch means, the actuating means including an actuating element supported by said switch means, wherein said switch means is attached to said vehicle body and positioned such that said second member engages said actuating means to actuate said switch and effect said first switching state only when said slide is in said restraining position and said second member is coupled to said first member, and wherein said switch means assumes said second switching state when said belt lock means and slide are moved away from said restraining position or said second member is uncoupled from said first member.