Abstract:
A seat belt assembly having opposite end portions and first and second anchor structures for anchoring the opposite end portions of the belt assembly relative to a vehicle is provided. One of the anchor structures is provided with latch structure releasably anchoring the corresponding belt assembly end portion and includes actuator structure operative, when actuated, to release the corresponding end portion from the one anchor structure. A first end portion of the belt assembly includes a flexible section thereof and control structure is provided for the actuator structure including a portion shiftable between first and second positions and the shiftable portion is engaged with the flexible belt end portion section deflecting the latter from a generally straight condition and operative to increasingly deflect the flexible portion in response to shifting from the second position thereof toward the first portion. Also, retaining structure is provided operative to releasably retain the shiftable portion in the first position and to release the shiftable portion for movement toward the second position thereof in response to greater than minimum tensioning of the flexible section. The control structure includes time delay structure operative to actuate the actuator structure in response to movement of the shiftable portion from the first position thereof to the second position thereof.