Abstract: An inflatable cushion for an air bag module, the inflatable cushion comprising: an inflation opening for providing fluid communication to an interior of the inflatable cushion; a first tether having a cushion securement end and a mounting end, the cushion securement end being fixedly secured to the inflatable cushion and the mounting end having a mounting member, the mounting member being capable of pivotal movement with respect to the mounting end, wherein the mounting member is an integral portion of the first tether folded and secured upon itself to define the mounting member; and wherein the mounting member is capable of being positioned between a first position and a second position, the first position being orthogonal to a portion of the first tether and the second position being parallel to a portion of the first tether.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a stationary trailer with an adjustable length leg member. The apparatus comprises a ground engaging base plate which is attached to the end of the adjustable length leg member and has attachment means for one or more stabilizing members. The first end of the stabilizing member attaches to the ground engaging base plate and the second end of the stabilizing member attaches to an attachment member depending from the trailer. The attachment member is adapted to slidably receive the second end of the stabilizing member and comprises locking means for engaging the stabilizing member and locking the stabilizing member with respect to the attachment member.

Abstract: At least one guide member extends longitudally along at least a portion of a stowed side curtain airbag. At least one guide ramp directs deployment of the side curtain airbag toward the openable passage defined at least in part by one or more trim pieces. The guide member surrounds the side curtain airbag on three sides to define an airbag deployment opening facing a rear surface of the one or more trim pieces adjacent the openable passage. The interior trim stucture covers the stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.

Abstract: A framework of a vehicle provided with an engine mounted in an engine room and having a crank shaft, includes a subframe extending in the lateral direction of a space at the back of the engine. A steering gear box provided above the subframe extends in the lateral direction and an exhaust pipe that extends in the longitudinal direction crosses the gear box. A longitudinally extending recessed portion is formed on a top surface of the subframe so that the exhaust pipe provided under the steering gear box enters the recessed portion. Arch-shaped reinforcing members spanning over the exhaust pipe are provided on a top surface of the subframe at longitudinally spaced positions. The reinforcing member toward the front of the vehicle breaks when a physical impact is applied to the front of the vehicle before the reinforcing member disposed toward the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: Airbag module to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision comprising an expandable bag (11) with gas provided by a generator with, at least, one ventilation orifice (13) sealed with a patch that comprises an elastic membrane (25) destined to be broken as a result of pressure inside the bag (11) to allow gas discharge through the ventilation orifice (13), which is covered with a cover (21) secured to the bag (11) with, at least, one tearable seam (31); hence the opening of the ventilation orifice (13) occurs when the pressure inside the bag (11) is greater than the pressure required to break the membrane (25) plus the additional pressure necessary to tear the seam (31). The invention also comprises a procedure to manufacture the bag.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulated machine includes sensing an articulation angle and a wheel steering angle of the machine, and controlling a locking state of a differential responsive to a steering radius of the machine. An articulated frame wheeled machine is further provided, and includes a front frame unit with a wheel steering apparatus, a back frame unit and an articulation apparatus coupled between the front and back frame units. First and second sensors are operable to sense a wheel steering angle and an articulation angle of the machine, and an electronic control is provided which is configured to selectively lock or unlock a differential of the back frame unit responsive to a steering radius of the machine.

Abstract: At least one guide member extends longitudinally along at least a portion of a stowed side curtain airbag. At least one guide ramp directs deployment of the side curtain airbag toward the openable passage defined at least in part by one or more trim pieces. The guide member surrounds the side curtain airbag on three sides to define an airbag deployment opening facing a rear surface of the one or more trim pieces adjacent the openable passage. The interior trim structure covers the stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.

Abstract: An active knee bolster (28) and a knee bolster (42), whose accommodated positions are different, are mounted within an instrument panel (18) along a curved configuration of a wall portion (24) of the instrument panel (18) which, in a vehicle transverse direction, is convex and concave in a vehicle body longitudinal direction. At a time of a vehicle body collision, a main body (30) of the active knee bolster (28) moves from an accommodated position to a leg restraining position, and a leg restraining position of the active knee bolster (28) and a leg restraining position of the fixed-type knee bolster (42) become equal positions in the vehicle body longitudinal direction. In accordance with this invention, legs of an occupant can be reliably protected, and degrees of freedom in designing a vehicle interior wall such as the instrument panel or the like are improved.

Abstract: A knee airbag is described which is located in front of a front seat (S) in the footwell, whereby this footwell is limited on a first side by the vehicle inner structure (F) and on the side lying opposite the first side is limited by a center console (M). When it is completely filled and free from external forces, this knee airbag (10) exhibits a certain maximum width (b) horizontally and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle (f). In order to improve the safety of the vehicle occupants in case of a laterally-offset frontal collision, knee airbag (10) is arranged in the footwell in such a way that its maximum width (b) in inflated state is greater than the separation (a) between vehicle inner structure (F) and center console (M).

Abstract: A motor-vehicle (AV), in particular a tractor, having a front steerable device (BL). The motor-vehicle (AV) is characterized in that the front steerable device (BL) (ballast, implement, PTO) is hinged to a chassis (FR), and in that the front steerable device (BL) is rotated by a mechanism (MC) partly integral with a rotatable front yoke (11). The mechanism (MC) is activated by rotation of the front yoke (11).

Abstract: A four-point suspension control arm (1) is provided for the axle suspension of a rigid axle especially of a utility vehicle. The four-point control arm (1) has four bearing eyes (7, 8, 9, 10), wherein two bearing eyes (9, 10) can be connected to the rigid axle and two bearing eyes (7, 8)are to be connected to the vehicle frame, each in an articulated manner. The four-point control arm (1) is designed as a one-piece hollow housing (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), which can be twisted and is inscribed in the rectangle or trapezoid formed by the bearing eyes. The hollow housing (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) is formed essentially by a tube, which is arranged horizontally in respect to the vehicle and is open on both sides, with a cross section ranging from an essentially rounded rectangular to O-shaped.

Abstract: An air bag for a motor vehicle and a method of folding an air bag. The method includes the steps of positioning the air bag, extending the air bag in a first direction, positioning first and second perimeter sections of the air bag toward a center line to create upper and lower pleats, and rolling the air bag in a second direction disposed opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide an airbag case at least partly made from a relatively flexible material. The flexible material can be configured to provide the airbag components with the ability to connect to the vehicle and provide a channel to guide the flexible membrane upon expansion. In some embodiments, the airbag case includes a pocket formed from the folded flexible material. The pocket may receive a gas generator and a bag and attached to a cover or dashboard and the vehicle.

Abstract: In an airbag device, a decorative member is prevented from being scattered with a simple structure at the time of expansion of an airbag. That is, a concave part of the airbag cover (50) on which the decorative member is mounted is connected to an unmoved connection member while freely separable from other portions at the time of expansion of an airbag. To that end, there are formed, on the inner faces of the airbag cover (50), a circular tear line Lc for partitioning the concave part (52) and a plurality of tear lines L1˜4 extending outward from the tear line Lc in the radial direction thereof for forming each of opening pieces (50a). Further, attachment pieces (50b) of respective opening pieces (50a) are fastened to plastic deformable attachment parts of a base plate by screws. With this structure, the concave part of the airbag cover can be immovably held at the time of spread of the airbag.

Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide an airbag having a vent that can adaptively release gas from the airbag upon impact with an occupant. The vent may include a membrane and/or diaphragm that can control the amount of gas released from the airbag based on the pressure in the airbag. During a collision, the airbag can be filled with gas and absorb the energy from an occupant causing the pressure in the airbag to increase. The adaptive vent can release gas from the airbag by opening when the occupant impacts the airbag. In some embodiments, the size of the vents changes depending on the pressure existing in the airbag.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a small vehicle for preventing an airbag from being inflated uselessly even when a rider is moved significantly on the vehicle. A first airbag module includes impact sensors, an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when an impact force is determined to be excessive from detection signals supplied from the impact sensors, an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit and an airbag which is inflated by gas generated from the inflator that is mounted on a small vehicle. A second airbag module includes an inflator and a wearing type airbag which is inflated by gas generated by the inflator that is mounted on a rider. The electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by couplers that can input the output signal from the electronic control unit to the second airbag module.

Abstract: An ejection mitigation system for use in a motor vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags and at least one ejection mitigation panel which is not integral with an inflatable airbag and wherein the ejection mitigation panel is attached to at least one point below the belt line of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflator (16) for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device. The inflator (16) includes an inflation fluid control structure (100). The control structure (100) includes discharge openings (116) for directing inflation fluid into an inflatable volume (72) of the protection device (14) and vent openings (118) for venting inflation fluid outside the inflatable volume. The control structure (100) also includes a vent member (132) actuatable from an open condition permitting inflation flow through the vent openings (118) to a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent openings.

Abstract: Steering column for a motor vehicle with a rotatably supported steering spindle (1), a supporting unit (4) supporting the steering spindle (1) and a mounting unit (5) for securing the steering spindle (1) on the chassis of the motor vehicle, the supporting unit (4) in the event of a crash being displaceable with respect to the mounting unit (5), and an energy absorption device (18) acting between the supporting unit (4) and mounting unit (5) for the energy absorption in the displacement of the supporting unit (4) with respect to the mounting unit (5) in the event of a crash being provided, characterized in that at least one energy absorption part (34) of the energy absorption device (18) deformable in the displacement of the supporting unit (4) with respect to the mounting unit (5) is composed of a magnetorheological elastomer and that the energy absorption device (18) includes a means for the generation of a magnetic field, by means of which the energy absorption part (34) composed of the magnetorheologic

Abstract: A rotating joint is provided having a washer with a through-hole, a base, and a shoulder; a rotatable member having a primary hole circumscribing the center hole and sandwiched between the shoulder and base; and a fastener having a shaft that is insertable into the through-hole and connected with a mating threaded receptacle for applying a clamping force on the washer for preventing axial movement of the member while allowing the member to rotate. The shoulder is rolled, and the fastener is non-shouldered and does not use a load distribution washer. The rotatable member includes an opening for connecting a seat belt when the joint is used as a seat belt anchor. The shoulder has a lip overhanging the base, and the rotatable member is positioned therebetween. A method is also provided wherein the joint is captured by the washer separately from the application of the clamping force.