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Adaptive seat belt load limiter and method

  • US 8,091,923 B2
  • Filed: 06/27/2008
  • Issued: 01/10/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A load limiter for mounting a seat belt buckle comprising:

  • a vehicle tube connected to a vehicle and a buckle tube connected to a buckle, said tubes being concentrically arranged with one tube inside the other tube;

    at least one plow shoe captured between the tubes and upon imposition of an occupant restraint load, the buckle tube moves axially relative the vehicle tube so that the at least one plow shoe deforms at least one of the tubes;

    and an adjuster mechanism adjusting a position of the at least one plow shoe to thereby establish an extent of the deformation of the at least one tube and thereby selectively increasing or decreasing an energy absorbing capacity of the load limiter.

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