Abstract: A roof (40) and side structure (20) of a vehicle at least partially define a safety apparatus mounting chamber (70). The mounting chamber (70) has an opening (74) defined between an edge portion (68) of a vehicle headliner (58) and the vehicle side structure (20). An inflatable protection device (80) is inflatable between a vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure (20). A cover (90) at least partially encloses the protection device (80) within the mounting chamber (70) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The cover (90) has a trim portion (140) which extends from the mounting chamber (70) into the opening (74) and which has an outer surface (144) exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment (72). The trim portion (140) of the cover (90) has a closed condition in which a first edge portion (146) of the trim portion is in abutting engagement with the edge portion (68) of the headliner (58).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle occupant protection curtain (12) which is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position extending across a vehicle window (15). The apparatus (10) further includes a track (44 or 48) and a runner (34). The runner (34) is connected to the curtain (12) to draw the curtain (12) from the retracted position to the deployed position upon movement of the runner (34) along the track (44 or 48) from a first position to a second position. The track (44 or 48) defines a plurality of intermediate positions to which the runner (34) is movable transversely of the track (44 or 48) in a direction toward the window (15). The track (44 or 48) blocks return movement of the runner (34) from each of the intermediate positions toward the initial position under the influence of tension imparted to the curtain (12) by a vehicle occupant moving against the curtain (12) in a direction outward of the window (15).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof (40) and a side structure (20) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and a fill tube (120) for directing inflation fluid into the protection device. The protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which it is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) also includes means for mounting the protection device (12) and the fill tube (120) to the vehicle. The mounting means comprises a headliner assembly (70) having a headliner portion (72) extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof (40). The headliner assembly (70) has a support portion (74) disposed adjacent to the vehicle side structure (20). The support portion (74) of the headliner assembly (70) defines a chamber (112) receiving the fill tube (120) and the protection device (12) when the protection device is in the deflated condition.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle part (16) with a structural portion (44) and a trim portion (50) covering the structural portion (44). An air bag module (30) is located within a deployment opening (56) in the trim portion (50) of the vehicle part (16). A deployment structure (70) closes the deployment opening (56). The deployment structure (70) consists of a single, continuous body of molded plastic material, and includes a deployment door (78 or 80) partially bounded by a stress riser (82) in the plastic material. The module (30) is mounted on the structural portion (44) of the vehicle part (16). The deployment structure (70) is fully supported on the vehicle part (16) by the trim portion (50) separately from the module (30) and the structural portion (44).

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus comprises a mount attached to a laser beam delivery system and a cylinder attached to the mount. A piston having first and second piston ends and a piston body sealingly and slidably engages with the cylinder dividing the cylinder into first and second piston chambers. The piston is slidable between an extended position and a retracted position and has a central axial bore through which a supplemental wire is fed. A wire supply provides supplemental wire to the first piston end and a delivery head attached to the second piston end delivers the supplemental wire proximate to a laser beam and a work-piece.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fixture for positioning a first sheet metal part in proximity of a second sheet metal part so that each sheet metal part has one surface facing the other sheet metal part across a gap and one surface facing away from the other sheet metal part, wherein at least one of the sheet metal parts comprises galvanized steel. A laser beam delivery device applies a laser beam to one of the facing away surfaces. A feed wire source provides a feed wire comprising a supplemental wire and a reactive agent at an intersection of the laser beam and the one facing away surface. The apparatus affects relative movement between the one facing away surface and the laser beam to provide a laser weld between the two sheet metal parts.