Interpretation ID: nht73-2.45

DATE: 01/18/73

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Richard B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of January 8, 1973, asking us to confirm your understanding of paragraph S4.3.1 of Standard 210.

It is our opinion that each of the three drawings attached to your letter correctly indicates the "nearest contact point of the belt with the hardware" for the respective belt anchorage systems.

Yours truly,

NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.

January 3, 1973

Lawrence Schneider National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Dear Mr. Schneider:

This is to ask whether our understanding of MVSS 210 S4.3.1 is correct according to your interpretation.

We understand "the nearest contact point of the belt with the hardware" stipulated in MVSS 210, S4.3.1, exists at the point, as illustrated in the enclosed figures, when the retractor spool is considered to be the hardware.

CASE 1

Seatbelt webbing is directly in contact with the retractor spool when the webbing is extended to fit the 95 percentile male.

In this case, the nearest contact point exists at the point of contact of webbing and spool as shown in Figure 1.

CASE 2

Seatbelt webbing is directly in contact with the retractor spool through the underlying webbing when the webbing is extended to fit the 95 percentile male.

In this case, the nearest contact point exists at the point of contact of the most outside webbing and the next webbing as shown in Figure 2.

CASE 3

Seatbelt webbing is extended through the guide which meets the anchorage strength requirement of S4.2.

In this case, the nearest contact point exists at the point of contact of webbing and guide as shown in Figure 3.

Your prompt reply would be greatly appreciated.

Very truly yours,

Satoshi Nishibori Engineering Representative Liaison Office in USA

Enclosure

FIG 1

(Graphics omitted)

FIG 1

FIG 2

(Graphics omitted)

(Graphics omitted)