Chevrolet Impala 1969 Owner's Manual page 36

unwound from the retractor drum,
then connect the belt and make the
necessary adjustments at the buckle
for proper fit. To release the lap belt,
simply depress the push putton lo-
cated in the center of the buckle.
Automatic-locking lap belt retrac-
tors are provided for the added con-
venience of the driver and outboard
front seat passenger on all Chevrolet
cars as an extra cost option. The auto-
matic-locking retractors adjust and
lock the lap belts into position auto-
matically to provide a snug . and com-
fortable fit. A release knob on the
retractor permits additional extension
of the belt when desired. Rotating the
knob releases the belt for additional
adjustment. The belt locks in the re-
tractor automatically when the knob
is released.
To fasten a lap belt equipped with
an automatic-locking retractor, pull
the webbing across the lap far enough
to permit inserting the Hat metal "eye"
end into the buckle. If the webbing is
not initially pulled out far enough to
permit buckling, release the webbing,
thus allowing it to reWind in the re-
tractor and release the locking mech-
anism so the webbing can be pulled
out to' the proper length. Rotating the
release knob on the side of the retrac-
tor also releases the automatic locking
mechanism, permitting further exten-
sion of the webbing. Once the buckle
is fastened, pull the belt firmly across
the lap in the direction of the retractor
to obtain a snug fit. The retractor will
automatically take up the excess web-
bing.
When added slack is desired (for
example, to reach into a pocket), you
may simply rotate the release knob on
the retractor to release the automatic
lock without need for releasing the
buckle.
CAUTION: The buckle and flat
metal "eye'}
of the lap belt used with automatic lock-
33
ing retractors are smaller than those used
with regular retractors or no retractors.
Care should be taken to avoid Inserting
the small metal "eye" in the larger buckle
of either the shoulder belt or the center
lap belt because it will not latch properly.
CAUTION: Never use the same belt for
more than one person at a time. Be sure
to avoid: (a) wearing a lap belt
loo~ely
or
with slack In the system; (b) wearmg the
belt with the webbing not tully extracted
from anon-locking retractor; and (c)
wearing the belt in .
a
twisted condition
or pinched between the seat structural
(metallic) members.
Shoulder Belts-When properly worn
with a lap belt, a shoulder belt can
provide additional protection against
impact with the car interior by re-
straining forward motion of the upper
torso in a collision. This is primarily
true in case of frontal impacts, which
are the most frequent type of accident.
CAUTION: Wearing a shoulder belt with-
out a lap belt can be extremely ha.zardous
to the wearer in case of an aCCident. In
addition, the use of a shoulder belt is not
recommended for
a
person less than 4
feet 7 inches in height because the belt
would cross over the body too near the
neck and thereby substantially increase
the danger of neck injury In a collision .