Abstract: An improved air bag module having a manifold designed with integral keys configured to lock the manifold, retainer, air bag and soft cover to the housing. The manifold is elastically deformable and the keys are configured to be inserted into slots in the retainer and housing while the manifold is elastically compressed. Upon releasing the compression force the manifold expands and the keys are locked into the retainer and housing slots locking the individual sub-module pieces together. The air bag and soft cover are trapped between the manifold and the retainer during assembly. The soft cover and module housing are configured to open upon air bag deployment, allowing the air bag to inflate outside of the air bag module.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint system having a head/thorax air bag cushion configured to protect the head and thorax regions of a motor vehicle occupant during a side impact collision. The air bag is configured to be kidney shaped when inflated to optimize the protection area while eliminating excess volume. The air bag is inflated from the bottom up, thus inflating the region adjacent the thorax area of the occupant first. As the thorax area is loaded by the occupant, gas is forced into the head area of the air bag. As the head area is loaded by the occupant, gas is vented to atmosphere through vents located in the head area of the air bag.

Abstract: A vehicle side impact restraint system especially adapted for providing head impact protection. The system employs a deployable restraint curtain which is maintained stowed in an undeployed condition within a slot along the upper edge of a vehicle side door window. A track assembly is vertically mounted along the rear edge of the window and includes a gas generator, a track, and a sliding projectile. The upper edge of the triangularly shaped curtain is attached to the vehicle whereas the rear end of the lower edge is mounted to the projectile. Upon deployment, the sliding projectile pulls the curtain to a downward position in response to a deployment signal sent to the gas generator. The projectile reaches the lower end of the track where it is locked in position thus stretching the curtain across a portion of the window area, thus providing a surface for impact energy absorption.

Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle incorporating simplified assembly features. The airbag module assembly includes a retainer bracket element having a series of protruding tabs. These tabs are passed through slits of the airbag material and also engage slots in the module housing. The components are oriented and dimensioned such that the retainer bracket elastically deforms during assembly and allows the tabs to engage the housing slots by snapping into position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a resealable tear seam through which a seat deployed side impact air bag is deployed during a side impact collision wherein the air bag expands causing the resealable tear seam to open and allowing the air bag to expand outside of the vehicle seat. The resealable tear seam comprises a first and a second seam member, preferably plastic locking fasteners, configured to form a resealable interlocking bond. The seam members elastically deform when forming the bond and when opening along the bond and return to an undeformed state after the bond forms or opens. The seam may be easily opened to install or service the air bag module and after installation or service is complete the interlocking bond may be easily reformed.

Abstract: A side impact head restraint with inflatable deployment in which an inflatable member having a movable mounting point is used to deploy a fabric panel during a side impact collision for head protection. The inflatable member, made of coated fabric, is pressurized by a gas generator. The inflatable member is connected to fabric panel and is used to bring a fabric panel into position in the window area of a side door of the vehicle. The fabric panel is secured at three points, two fixed points located on the upper side rail and a third movable point on a track located on the "B" pillar. The inflatable member pushes the movable mounting point down the track from a position near the upper side rail down to a position immediately below the centerline of the side glass. The movable point locks into position at the end of the travel, when fully deployed. The fabric panel can then be loaded by the head wherein fabric elongation absorbs head impact energy.

Abstract: A side impact air bag module assembly for retaining a side impact air bag to a vehicle seat frame which provides a housing having a minimum internal volume configured for mounting to an existing seat back frame with minimal modifications so as to conform to the seat back structure and decrease the packaging size required within the seat back. The housing retains an inflator within a deep-well portion in conjunction with a retainer configured to fasten the air bag and inflator to the housing and seat back frame.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint housing for enclosing an air cushion assembly and securing the assembly within a vehicle is provided. The one-piece housing is formed of thermoplastic material and includes an inboard and outboard half hingedly secured together and enclosing the air cushion assembly in a tapered interior chamber. The housing is generally cylindrical having an inboard and outboard directing ramp formed on the respective inner surfaces of each half to define a tapering elliptical cross-section which focuses the energy generated by the inflation of the air cushion allowing the air cushion to rapidly emerge from the housing. The tapered interior chamber of housing also directs the air cushion into the desired position within the vehicle interior during deployment.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module especially adapted for seat mounted side impact protection. The restraint module incorporates a retainer bracket with projecting deformable tab fingers which are loaded inside the bag through an access slit. Slots on opposite sides of the access slit are overlapped and placed such that the retainer bracket tab fingers extend through them. A sheet metal mounting bracket is then installed over the air bag. A cylindrical inflator is installed through holes formed in the mounting bracket and air bag into the interior cavity of the retainer bracket. This sub-assembly can be mounted into a plastic housing having slots which permit the tab fingers to extend to the exterior of the housing where they can be deformed to interlock the components in an assembled condition.

Abstract: A cover for protecting at least one wire extending from an air bag inflator comprising: a top (52), including a circular shaped first portion (54) and a narrow three-sided flange portion (56) extending radially outward from first portion; a circularly shaped first wall (58) having first (60) and second ends (62) and a bottom surface defining a shoulder (64) extending downwardly from the first portion, the first wall terminating proximate the location of the flange portion to define a space (65) between the first and second ends of the first wall. An inner surface (66) of the first wall includes a diameter smaller than the diameter of an the end portion (24) of the inflator. The cover additionally includes a circularly shaped second wall (70) extending downwardly from the first wall, having an inner (72) surface. A groove (74) is formed within the inner surface, to receive an edge of the end portion (24).

Abstract: An assembly for an air bag (56) adapted to fit within an opening (22) in a panel in the vehicle interior such as an instrument panel. The assembly comprises a housing (44) including a first wall (100) and an opposite second wall (102), a flexible wall member (106) secured to the first wall (100) defining a space (132) therebetween to receive a hinge portion of the deployment door. One of the first wall (100) and flexible wall members (106) includes a plurality of depressions or first tabs (112) which extend into the space (132) to provide a mechanism to engage and lock the hinge portion of the deployment door in place. The second wall (102) includes at least one louver (122) forming a pocket (123) and a plurality of outwardly extending tabs (120) which provide a mechanism to engage and lock in place a tear seam portion of the deployment door.

Abstract: A height adjusting mechanism for a safety belt comprising a track adapted to the secured in a general vertical orientation to a portion of the vehicle. The track includes a central channel and a carrier slidably received thereon. The carrier includes structure to support a D-ring. The height adjusting mechanism further includes a latch plate tiltably located within the track and movable with the carrier.

Abstract: An adjustable seat belt anchorage (20) comprising: a guide rail (22) adapted to be secured to a portion of a vehicle (24) generally at or above occupant shoulder height, the guide rail (22) forming an open channel (34), and a plurality of pairs of cut-outs (36) oppositely positioned in front walls (28) thereof; a latch plate assembly (50) comprising: a resilient carrier (52) slidingly received within the channel (34); a latching mechanism (54) biased into the guide rail by the carrier (52) and supported by and movable within the carrier (52) including a latch bar (112) extending upwardly from the carrier (52) for engaging a selected pair of cut-outs (36). A flat spring (130) arcuately shaped spring (200) or coiled spring (222) is provided to bias the latch bar (112) into the selected cut-out (36).

Abstract: An adjustable seat belt anchorage (20) comprising: a guide rail (22) adapted to be secured to a portion of a vehicle (24) generally at or above occupant shoulder height, the guide rail (22) forming an open channel (34), and a plurality of pairs of cut-outs (36) oppositely positioned in front walls (28) thereof; a latch plate assembly (50) comprising: a resilient carrier (52) slidingly received within the channel (34); a latching mechanism (54) biased into the guide rail by the carrier (52) and supported by and movable within the carrier (52) including a latch bar (112) extending upwardly from the carrier (52) for engaging a selected pair of cut-outs (36) and a bushing (102) for supporting a D-ring (140), wherein the point of attachment of the D-ring is located relative to the latch bar (112) in a manner that forces and torques exerted upon the safety belt (146) and D-ring (140) tend to urge the latch bar (112) into the cut-outs (36) in the guide rail (22) and a spring (56) comprising a coiled end (84) slidabl