Patent ID: 8851522

Claim:
A vehicle restraint apparatus for a motor vehicle belt restraint system and adapted for connection with a structural component of a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising: an elongate ferrule having a restraint component mounting portion, a vehicle mounting portion, and a body portion therebetween, the vehicle mounting portion having a mounting aperture therein for being pivotally mounted to a structural component of a motor vehicle; a seatbelt restraint component coupled to the restraint component mounting portion of the ferrule; a pin attached to the body portion of the ferrule, wherein the pin is made from a material having a lower shear strength than the material of the ferrule, and the pin is configured for being inserted into a hole or disposed against a surface of a corresponding vehicle structure to limit rotation of the ferrule about the mounting aperture in response to a pivotal load exerted on the ferrule that is below a first predetermined level, and further configured to shear off in response to a pivotal load exerted on the ferrule that is above the predetermined level to allow the ferrule to pivot about the mounting aperture; wherein the pin includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion has a diameter greater than the second portion, and the second portion is configured to contact a surface of the corresponding vehicle structure to oppose the pivotal load that is below the first predetermined level.