Patent ID: 7000488

Claim:
A force-sensing unit adapted to measure a belt tensile force acting on a seatbelt lock, comprising: a casing arranged and configured to be attached between the seatbelt lock and an anchorage, the casing having an opening defined in a front wall thereof and guide slots defined in respective side walls thereof, wherein the anchorage is arranged and configured to be secured to the bodywork of a vehicle; an anchor movably disposed within the casing, the anchor comprising a lug protruding through the casing opening; a stop extending from the lug and being arranged and configured to restrict movement of the anchor in the direction of the seatbelt lock; a stud extending from the stop; a torsion spring supported on the stud and having arms extending traversely to the stud, wherein ends of the arms are disposed in respective casing guide slots, the torsion spring being arranged and configured to impart an elastic force on the anchor in a direction opposite of the seatbelt lock when the seatbelt lock is pulled away from the casing; and a sensor coupled to the casing and being arranged and configured to detect the position of the movable anchor.