Who Invented Seat Belts?

Automotive Safety

Seat belts are one of the top safety mechanisms in motor vehicles against accidents. Some countries currently have stringent laws mandating wearing safety belts at all times when in motor vehicles. Seat belts protect the lives of vehicle occupants.

Research has revealed that most accidents causing death involved vehicle occupants who were not restrained by seat belts. Most people know that seat belts are a requirement when operating a vehicle, but do you know who invented them? We'll talk about that in this article, so keep reading!

The Origin Of Seat Belts

There are various types of seat belts in the vehicles we use today. All we know is that seat belts are essential for vehicle safety. But very few people bother to ask who invented safety belts. The seat belt, at least the original idea of seat belts, was designed by George Cayley in the late 1800s.

George Cayley was an English engineer who invented the seat belt to use in his glider in the early 19th century. The first seat belt patent was awarded to Edward J in 1885. He had created a seat belt so tourists visiting New York City could stay safe while out and about.

The use of seat belts, popularly known as safety belts, in motor vehicles in Australia dates as far back as the 1930s when seat belts were beginning to be used in cars. Initially, seat belts were typically used in aeroplanes. Then, the Sports Car Club of America mandated drivers to put on two-point seat belts in 1954.

In 1956, Volvo introduced an optional two-point cross-chest diagonal safety belt. Subsequently, in 1958, Saab emerged as the first vehicle manufacturer to provide its cars lap seat belts as standard features.

How Long Have Seat Belts Been Around?

Three-point seat belts have been around since 1959. At the time, Volvo's Swedish engineer, Nils Bohlin, introduced them, and they quickly became standard seat belts in Volvos in the USA. They were more effective than lap-sash seat belts at preventing fatalities.

In 1967, Volvo began installing rear lap belts, and five years later, lap-sash seat belts became common. Even though Australia mandated having front passenger seat belts in cars back in 1969, the country has had that feature since at least the 1950s!

The state of Victoria was the first in the world to promulgate legislation in 1970 requiring the mandatory use of seat belts in vehicles at all times. Subsequently, in 1971 the government passed legislation requiring seat belts in all car seats. Since then, it has been a requirement to have seat belts on when in a vehicle.

Types Of Seat Belts

Ever since seat belts were invented, several manufacturers have developed different iterations. There are about seven seat belt types, with the most recent invention being the seat belt airbag. In this next section, we will highlight some of the most common types of seat belts.

Seat belt airbags

This is the most recent type of seat belt in the vehicle market. Ford introduced it in 2001. The technology behind the design of the seat belt airbag entails a combination of seat belts and airbags.

The design and functionality of seat belt airbags, also known as inflatable seat belts, are different from and better than standard seat belts or airbags. Inflatable seat belts offer maximum protection to the seat occupant by incorporating both a seat belt and an airbag that can operate simultaneously.

While these seat belts are efficient, the cost and difficulty of installing them have made many vehicle manufacturers reluctant to use them. It is imperative to confirm whether or not your vehicle allows an inflatable seat belt before installing one. This is due to the different variables that could potentially impact the safety of such installation. Ask the manufacturer for more information about such installation.

Two-point seat belt

This truck seat belt has mounting brackets on both sides, so it's compatible with most vehicles. It is also easy to adjust, requiring little to no adjustments. Before 1967, two-point seat belts were the minimum requirement in cars and trucks.

Lap seat belt

This is a seat belt that passes over the waist. It was the most prevalent type of seat belt in vehicles before three-point seat belts became required. Most coaches and aeroplane seats have lap seat belts. Professor James J. Ryan invented automatically retractable lap safety belts.

In his book Unsafe At Any Speed, Professor Ryan's work is described in detail by Ralph Nader. The lap seat belts were found to cause 'seat belt syndrome, the potential separation of the lumbar vertebrae, which can sometimes cause paralysis.

This called for regulations in almost all developed countries to install three-point seat belts. Installation began with outboard positions and later extended to passenger vehicles' seating positions.

Sash seat belt

The sash seat belt, also known as the shoulder harness, has a strap that passes diagonally over a passenger's outboard shoulder and is then bucked inboard of their lap.

There are various designs of the sash seat belt. In some configurations, the sash seat belt is attached to the lap belt tongue, while in others, the sash seat belt has a tongue and buckle that are separate from the ones on the lap belt.

Although efficient, occupants could slide forward in their seats and eventually out from beneath the belt in the event of a frontal collision. This is a process known as a 'submarine.' This risk caused most developed countries to switch to the three-point seat belt.

Three-point seat belts

The three-point seat belts are Y-shaped. Basically, the design of a three-point seat belt combines the features of the sash and lap seat belts. These seat belts offer maximum protection by spreading the energy of a moving body over the pelvis, the chest, and the shoulders.

A three-point seatbelt was initially only found in the front-outward seats of automobiles. After research found that lap seat belts had the potential of causing paralysis, manufacturers started favouring three-point seat belts. Installation of three-point seat belts began in all the outboard seating positions and later extended to all vehicle seating positions.

Volvo first manufactured the three-point seat belt in 1959. The first car to have the three-point seat belt was the Volvo PV 544. The Volvo 122 was the first car model to have the three-point seat belt as a standard component. Later on, Volvo made the three-point seat belt design patent accessible for all other manufacturers in the interest of motor vehicle safety.

Belt-in-seat

The belt-in-seat is a modification of the three-point seat belt; it has a shoulder strap attached to the seat instead of the vehicle's structure. Range Rover Classic was the first car to use the belt-in-seat design as standard for the front seats beginning in 1970. The belt-in-seat seat belts were recommended for smaller car occupants.

Vehicle manufacturers use these seat belts in convertibles and hardtops without B pillars to hold the upper mount of the seat belt. These seat belts are primarily found in Cadillac and Chryslers.

Four, five, and six-point seat belts

A five-point seat belt is designed so that the lap section is attached to a belt that runs between the legs, and it has two shoulder belts, which in total make up five points connected to the vehicle seat. The five-point seat belt is mainly used in racing cars and child safety seats.

A four-point seat belt has the same design as the five-point seat belt, except that it does not have a strap that passes between the legs. The six-point seat belt has the same design as the five-point seat belt, with the only difference being that it has two belts running between your legs.

Seven-point seat belts

A seven-point seat belt is not used in vehicles but in aerobic aircraft. Its design has a unification harness that has a combination of a five-point harness and an extra redundant lap belt attached to the aircraft.

The seven-point seat belt provides redundancy for negative manoeuvres that are known to lift the pilot from the seat. If a pilot wants to parachute from an aircraft that has failed, the seven-point seat belt requires them to unlatch two harnesses where necessary.

Are There Seat Belts For Children?

After manufacturers came up with seat belts for adult vehicle occupants, there was a clarion call for an invention of something more comfortable and safer for children. This was after several jurisdictions also made it mandatory for child occupants to put on seat belts.

For instance, in 1989, the UK passed a law that made it compulsory for vehicle occupants under 14 to put on seat belts in motor vehicles. However, it was realised that child occupants wearing seat belts suffered high risks of injury as compared to adults. The risk of injury was lower when a child occupant was not buckled up.

Further research revealed that in the event of an accident, the child occupant wearing seat belts was likely to suffer seat belt syndrome, which increased the risk of ruptured diaphragms, spinal damage, and severed intestines. Another study found those child occupants who put on seat belts in motor vehicles were predisposed to the possibility of head injuries and deaths.

Due to the above challenges and threats, most jurisdictions started calling for specialised child restraints in motor vehicles. Such specifications include children-sized seats with specialised restraints and extra padding where children use adult seat belts.

Why Do We Need Safety Belts?

Prevents ejection

The seat belt is essential for securing the driver or passenger in position as the vehicle begins to spin or skid. In most accidents, it has been found that drivers who do not put on their safety belts are more likely to lose control of their vehicle.

Similarly, studies previously conducted have shown that passengers who do not put on their seat belts are ejected from their seats, thus suffering severe injuries and even death. A safety belt will keep you at the same speed as the vehicle. As a result, you are less likely to suffer injuries or even get into an accident.

Distribution of impact force

This advantage depends on the type of safety belt. The lap and shoulder safety belts distribute the force impact over the strongest parts of the occupant's body. The concentration of impact force on the chest, head, or any single part of the body is highly likely to cause accidents and injuries. This is why seat belts are required; to distribute the force impact over your body's strongest parts.

Cars Should Always Have Functional Seatbelts

Without a doubt, the invention of safety belts is one of the most important inventions to come with vehicles. Today's cars, especially high-speed cars, would be too dangerous to drive without the invention of seat belts. If you're getting a new car or selling off your old one, it's important to enquire with a reputable car selling and buying company to ensure that all seatbelts are functioning correctly.