Abstract: An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a housing configured to be mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle and an inflator assembly at least partially disposed within the housing. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag that receives inflation gas from the inflator assembly to expand and deploy out of the housing from a packaged configuration to a deployed configuration to provide occupant crash protection during a collision event, the airbag defining an inflatable chamber. A diffuser is disposed within the inflatable chamber and is in fluid communication with the inflator assembly. An occupant-facing panel of the diffuser comprises an aperture disposed in the center of the occupant-facing panel of the diffuser.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a housing configured to be mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle and an inflator assembly at least partially disposed within the housing. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag that receives inflation gas from the inflator assembly to expand and deploy out of the housing from a packaged configuration to a deployed configuration to provide occupant crash protection during a collision event, the airbag defining an inflatable chamber. A diffuser is disposed within the inflatable chamber and is in fluid communication with the inflator assembly. An occupant-facing panel of the diffuser comprises an aperture disposed in the center of the occupant-facing panel of the diffuser.

Abstract: A fuel dispenser sump conduit support. The fuel dispenser sump conduit support includes a conduit attachment structure, a bracket, and a sump interface. The bracket is connected to the conduit attachment structure at a bracket interface. The sump interface is disposed on the bracket distally from the from the bracket interface. The sump interface includes a surface connectable to a fuel dispenser sump.

Abstract: A cap for tubing. The cap includes a post and a socket. The post includes an exterior tube mating surface and a substantially flat top surface disposed at a first end of the post. The socket is disposed at a second end of the post. The socket includes an interior tube mating surface and a tool mating surface.

Abstract: A cap for tubing. The cap includes a post and a socket. The post includes an exterior tube mating surface and a substantially flat top surface disposed at a first end of the post. The socket is disposed at a second end of the post. The socket includes an interior tube mating surface and a tool mating surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for tethering that may be used to keep a cushion properly positioned for side impact protection, particularly in vehicles with limited space rearward of the cushion. A tethering assembly provides tension to keep the cushion in place. The tethering assembly may include a tether with first and second ends attached together such that the tether forms a loop. The first and/or second ends may also be attached to a lower portion of the cushion. Upper and lower anchors may be attached to a vehicle surface near the cushion to slidably retain the tether. When the cushion inflates, the first and second ends move downward. The lower anchor may be a locking mechanism that restricts withdrawal of the first end. During deployment and impact of a vehicle occupant with the cushion, the tensioning assembly exerts tension to keep the cushion in place.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing bracket is disclosed for use in a vehicle to absorb the impact of a vehicle occupant with an interior surface of the vehicle such as a vehicular pillar, an interior trim panel, and other potential areas of contact. The brackets of the invention generally include an anchor plate configured to allow attachment of the bracket to a surface, an extension arm extending from the anchor plate; and a support foot linked to the extension arm. The energy-absorbing brackets of the invention are generally incompletely tubular in nature, and configured to deform when impacted to dissipate impact energy and assume a configuration adapted to absorb additional impact energy.

Abstract: An airbag assembly that includes an inflatable curtain and a stiffening member is disclosed. The stiffening member is attached at or near the top end of the curtain. Such attachment may be accomplished via a variety of methods including fasteners, mounting brackets, sewing, inserting the stiffening member into a pocket in the curtain, or by passing one or more of the curtain's attachment tabs through slits located on the stiffening member. The stiffening member is designed to extend along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the inflatable curtain. In one embodiment, the stiffening member is constructed to resist twisting of the inflatable curtain along a portion of the longitudinal length. In an alternative embodiment, the stiffening member is constructed such that when the inflatable curtain is twisted, the stiffening member deforms the inflatable curtain such that the curtain cannot be installed onto a vehicle interior without first correcting the deformation.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing bracket is disclosed for use in a vehicle to absorb the impact of a vehicle occupant with an interior surface of the vehicle such as a vehicular pillar, an interior trim panel, and other potential areas of contact. The brackets of the invention generally include an anchor plate configured to allow attachment of the bracket to a surface, an extension arm extending from the anchor plate; and a support foot linked to the extension arm. The energy-absorbing brackets of the invention are generally incompletely tubular in nature, and configured to deform when impacted to dissipate impact energy and assume a configuration adapted to absorb additional impact energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for tethering that may be used to keep a cushion properly positioned for side impact protection, particularly in vehicles with limited space rearward of the cushion. A tethering assembly provides tension to keep the cushion in place. The tethering assembly may include a tether with first and second ends attached together such that the tether forms a loop. The first and/or second ends may also be attached to a lower portion of the cushion. Upper and lower anchors may be attached to a vehicle surface near the cushion to slidably retain the tether. When the cushion inflates, the first and second ends move downward. The lower anchor may be a locking mechanism that restricts withdrawal of the first end. During deployment and impact of a vehicle occupant with the cushion, the tensioning assembly exerts tension to keep the cushion in place.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain package that is made of an inflatable curtain wrapped around by a thin film is disclosed. The inflatable curtain has a number of mounting tabs that allows the inflatable curtain to be attached to a vehicle. The orientation of the thin film allows mounting tabs to extend out of a seam in thin film. The inflatable curtain package may be constructed by aligning a first edge of the thin film to a position near a location wherein the mounting tabs attach to the inflatable curtain. Next, the mounting tabs are positioned over the first edge of the thin film. Then a second edge of the thin film is positioned to overlap the first edge and the attachment location. The two overlapping edges cause the thin film to wrap around the inflatable curtain.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain package that is made of an inflatable curtain wrapped around by a thin film is disclosed. The inflatable curtain has a number of mounting tabs that allows the inflatable curtain to be attached to a vehicle. The orientation of the thin film allows mounting tabs to extend out of a seam in thin film. The inflatable curtain package may be constructed by aligning a first edge of the thin film to a position near a location wherein the mounting tabs attach to the inflatable curtain. Next, the mounting tabs are positioned over the first edge of the thin film. Then a second edge of the thin film is positioned to overlap the first edge and the attachment location. The two overlapping edges cause the thin film to wrap around the inflatable curtain.

Abstract: A venting arrangement for an inflatable curtain cushion is disclosed. The inflatable curtain cushion includes a pair of fabric layers that are themselves gas permeable. The fabric layers have an impermeable coating on the interior surface of fabric layers. One or more vents are provided by bonding a portion of the fabric layers together at the impermeable coating. Separation of the bonded fabric layers causes delamination of the coating from one of the fabric layers. Exposure of the underlying permeable fabric allows venting of inflation gas. The bonded fabric layers separate when gas pressure within the inflatable curtain cushion exceeds a threshold pressure. The number and size of the vents can vary depending upon the permeability of the underlying fabric layer and the desired deflation rate.

Abstract: Featured for use in an inflatable restraint system installation is an airbag module assembly wherein the airbag cushion is joined or attached via interlocking reaction housing component parts. The invention is well suited for the use of such interlocking reaction housing component parts formed of relatively low-cost stamped steel.