Systems and methods for installing retrofit seat belt systems with structural support for the lap and shoulder belts, while at the same time providing a low cost solution. In particular, some, or all of the loads, as required, are shared by an added support structure connected rigidly to a structural base, e.g., of a bus or other vehicle, via a base plate. As such the present teachings achieve compartmentalization around passengers in the event of a crash. Furthermore, unlike prior retrofit seat belt designs, the systems and methods of the present teachings uniquely facilitate a seamless transition for the different seat configurations and do not require complete replacement of the seats.

A seat system for a motor vehicle has at least one vehicle seat, which can be adjusted between a first position in the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle, and a second position counter to the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A safety belt device is provided to secure an occupant seated in the vehicle seat in the first and second position. An optimized system in terms of weight, complexity and manufacturing costs, has the safety belt device include a respective belt system, held on corresponding holding points on the motor vehicle body-in-white side, for the first and for the second position of the vehicle seat.

A system and method for securing a child in a typical adult-sized automobile seat are provided. The system includes a plurality of straps, or webbing, removably attached to the typical adult-sized automobile seat, an optional seat pad, two optional shoulder pads, two optional shoulder buckles, a chest buckle, and a hip buckle. The system is configured to safely and conveniently secure the child into the typical adult-sized automobile seat, thereby reducing or eliminating a need for a child-sized automobile seat. During use, the system secures the child into the typical adult-sized automobile seat, thereby preventing or ameliorating injury from an automobile collision.

A seat belt holder is provided for securing a latch plate of an associated unused seat belt to the molding around the base of the automobile seat, thereby preventing the latch plate from annoyingly rattling around when the vehicle is in motion. The seat belt holder includes a body providing a snap fit tab and an opposing latch plate receptacle. The latch plate receptacle is adapted to removably engage the latch plate, while the snap fit tab is adapted to removably snap connect to various molding elements of automobile seats.

A seat belt holder is provided for securing a latch plate of an associated unused seat belt to the molding around the base of the automobile seat, thereby preventing the latch plate from annoyingly rattling around when the vehicle is in motion. The seat belt holder includes a body providing a snap fit tab and an opposing latch plate receptacle. The latch plate receptacle is adapted to removably engage the latch plate, while the snap fit tab is adapted to removably snap connect to various molding elements of automobile seats.

A seat belt assembly including a seat belt webbing, a buckle, and a connector tongue assembly. The tongue assembly includes a body, a slot in the body for receiving a seat belt webbing, a locking mechanism located proximate the slot, and a spring biasing the locking mechanism towards the slot to frictionally engage the webbing to prevent freefall of the assembly.

Disclosed seat belt assemblies or mechanisms include a seat belt guide which positions the seat belt for convenient ingress and egress by an operator, but in a position which reminds the operator to fasten the seat belt. The seat belt guide is configured to be stiffer in one direction of movement to maintain the metal tab of the seat belt at a raised position to one side of the operator seat, for example at a position adjacent to an operator joystick or control, but to allow the guide and the seat belt to be moved across the operator seat (and operator) for buckling.

Disclosed seat belt assemblies or mechanisms include a seat belt guide which positions the seat belt for convenient ingress and egress by an operator, but in a position which reminds the operator to fasten the seat belt. The seat belt guide is configured to be stiffer in one direction of movement to maintain the metal tab of the seat belt at a raised position to one side of the operator seat, for example at a position adjacent to an operator joystick or control, but to allow the guide and the seat belt to be moved across the operator seat (and operator) for buckling.

A vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a load limiter having a seatbelt attachment portion and a seatbelt tension control mechanism that is configured to increase the length of a shoulder portion of a seatbelt in response to rapid or sudden deceleration of a vehicle, thereby reducing a level of tension experience by a seatbelt.

A vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a load limiter having a seatbelt attachment portion and a seatbelt tension control mechanism that is configured to increase the length of a shoulder portion of a seatbelt in response to rapid or sudden deceleration of a vehicle, thereby reducing a level of tension experience by a seatbelt.