Patent ID: 7708312

Claim:
A three-point safety belt system including: a tongue configured to receive portions of a safety belt assembly; the safety belt assembly comprising a shoulder belt section and a lap belt section, the shoulder belt section including a hollow, generally flat first tube or tubular section, the first tube or tubular part configured to tear apart along a preferred region; the shoulder belt section further including an inflatable air bag disposed within the first tubular part of the shoulder belt section and movable therewith, the air bag inflatable by inflation gas to extend and break the first tubular part as the air bag inflates from a stored condition to an inflated condition; a web guide including a frame and a spool rotationally supported on the frame, the spool having a plurality of spokes extending perpendicularly to the direction the shoulder part section traverses the spool, wherein a void is created between adjacent spokes, the undulating profile of the inner layer material extendible within one or more voids as the shoulder belt section traverses over the spool of the web guide; a first and second retractor; the lap belt section extending from the tongue to the first retractor and the shoulder belt section extending from the tongue to the second retractor, each retractor configured to respectively retract the lap belt section and the shoulder belt section and to permit the extension or protraction of same and to lock; the shoulder belt section further including an inflatable air bag disposed within the first tubular part of the shoulder belt section and movable therewith, the air bag inflatable by inflation gas generated by an inflator causing the air bag to extend and break the first tubular part as the air bag inflates from a stored condition to an inflated condition wherein the shoulder belt section when viewed in cross-section as it traverses the web guide, the first tubular part forms a top or outer layer of material and a bottom or inner layer of material with the air bag in a compact configuration therebetween, the outer layer of material generally in tension and having a smooth profile while portions of the inner layer of material are in compression and have an undulating profile.