Patent ID: 7021581

Claim:
A fastening device for a seat belt comprising: a belt-force-limiting element which limits a retaining force acting on a person protected by the seat belt by enabling the seat belt to yield to a predetermined extent; wherein the belt-force-limiting element comprises a wire-unwinding device from which a wire can be pulled by an exertion of a predetermined tensile force, and wherein one end of the seat belt is connected indirectly or directly to the wire so that the wire is pulled out of the wire-unwinding device when the retaining force exerted by the seat belt on the occupant reaches the predetermined tensile force, wherein the wire-unwinding device comprises a switching rocker for guiding the wire; and wherein the switching rocker includes first and second positions, wherein the first position of the switching rocker results in a different tensile force for pulling out the wire than the second position.