Abstract: A vehicle braking arrangement includes a braking plate connected to a vehicle by a link arrangement. The braking plate is movable from a rest position to a braking position where contact is made with the ground, and includes a sealing rim arranged to at least partially contact the ground such that an at least partly enclosed volume is formed. The vehicle braking arrangement includes a low pressure container connected to the volume via a valve assembly. Air pressure in the low pressure container is below the air pressure of ambient air in the rest position of the braking plate. The valve assembly is arranged to be opened when the braking plate is in the braking position such that the pressure is lowered in the volume and the braking plate is pressed against the ground by a conferred pressure difference between air outside the volume and air in the volume.

Abstract: A vehicle braking arrangement includes a braking plate connected to a vehicle by a link arrangement. The braking plate is movable from a rest position to a braking position where contact is made with the ground, and includes a sealing rim arranged to at least partially contact the ground such that an at least partly enclosed volume is formed. The vehicle braking arrangement includes a low pressure container connected to the volume via a valve assembly. Air pressure in the low pressure container is below the air pressure of ambient air in the rest position of the braking plate. The valve assembly is arranged to be opened when the braking plate is in the braking position such that the pressure is lowered in the volume and the braking plate is pressed against the ground by a conferred pressure difference between air outside the volume and air in the volume.

Abstract: A personal restraint system for a seat in a motor vehicle including a three-point belt system and a two-point belt system. The three-point belt system including a first belt retractor, and a first belt web having a first belt latch plate, and a first belt buckle. The two-point belt system including a second belt retractor, and a second belt web having a second belt latch plate, and a second belt buckle. The second belt retractor including a blocking device which engages a spool of the second belt retractor when both belt webs are wound up on their respective retractors to prevent engagement of the two-point belt system if the three-point belt system is not engaged.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement for a motor vehicle is disclosed to provide protection for the occupants (1, 2) of two adjacent seats (11, 12). Each seat is associated with two air-bag units (15, 16, 20, 21), one of which contains an air-bag to be deployed so as to occupy a space on the inboard side of the seat, and the other of which contains an air-bag to be deployed so as to occupy a space on the outboard side of the seat. There is a sensor and control arrangement (23) to sense impact and to determine which side of the vehicle has been impacted. The sensor and control arrangement (23) generates actuation signals capable of actuating the air-bag unit (15) associated with the first seat (11) closest to the point of impact I, and the air-bag unit (21) of the second seat (12) closest to the point of impact I.

Abstract: A novel safety device for the driver's cabin of a truck, wherein the driver's cabin demonstrates at least one driver seat (10, 16) with a first side (10a) facing a side window and a second side (10b) opposite the first side, is suggested. The safety device comprises a safety net (20), which is spread next to the second side (10b) of the driver seat (10) at least in the event of a rollover accident. The safety net can be permanently spread next to the driver seat, or it can be rolled up or folded together in the state of rest and only be spread next to the driver seat when needed. The safety net prevents the person sitting on the driver seat from falling to the opposite inner structure of the driver's cabin when the driver's cabin rolls over (FIG. 10).

Abstract: A safety arrangement for use in a motor vehicle comprises at least one plastically-deformable element, defining an interior chamber, which will deform only when subjected to at least a first predetermined force. A source of gas is connected to inject gas into the chamber and a signal generator is provided to generate a signal representative of crash severity which is to be applied to the element during a crash situation or in an anticipated crash situation. The signal generator is connected to a control unit so as to provide the control unit with the signal. The control unit is connected to the source of gas in order to control the source of gas and to inject gas into the interior chamber of the deformable element so as to increase the gas pressure in the chamber when the crash severity signal is substantially in excess of a predetermined threshold. The arrangement provides a structure whose energy absorption characteristics can be varied according to the severity of a crash situation.

Abstract: A novel safety device for the driver's cabin of a vehicle, wherein the driver's cabin demonstrates at least one driver seat with a first side facing a side window and a second side opposite the first side. The safety device comprises a safety net, which is spread next to the second side of the driver seat. The safety net can be permanently spread next to the driver seat. The safety net may prevent the person sitting on the driver seat from falling to the opposite inner structure of the driver's cabin the driver's cabin rolls over.

Abstract: A personal restraint system for a seat in a motor vehicle including a three-point belt system and a two-point belt system. The three-point belt system including a first belt retractor, and a first belt web having a first belt latch plate, and a first belt buckle. The two-point belt system including a second belt retractor, and a second belt web having a second belt latch plate, and a second belt buckle. The second belt retractor including a blocking device which engages a spool of the second belt retractor when both belt webs are wound up on their respective retractors to prevent engagement of the two-point belt system if the three-point belt system is not engaged.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for use in a motor vehicle comprises at least one plastically-deformable element, defining an interior chamber, which will deform only when subjected to at least a first predetermined force. A source of gas is connected to inject gas into the chamber and a signal generator is provided to generate a signal representative of crash severity which is to be applied to the element during a crash situation or in an anticipated crash situation. The signal generator is connected to a control unit so as to provide the control unit with the signal. The control unit is connected to the source of gas in order to control the source of gas and to inject gas into the interior chamber of the deformable element so as to increase the gas pressure in the chamber when the crash severity signal is substantially in excess of a predetermined threshold. The arrangement provides a structure whose energy absorption characteristics can be varied according to the severity of a crash situation.

Abstract: The safety arrangement for a motor vehicle incorporates primary restraint arrangement having a three-point seat-belt (3) and optionally one or more air-bags (19,22). A secondary restraint system is provided in the form of a two-point seat-belt (13). A sensor senses when the two-point seat-belt (13) is in use and provides a signal to a control unit (17) which adjusts the restraining effect provided by the primary restraint arrangement so that the overall restraining effect is the same regardless of whether the two-point seat-belt is, or is not, used. The use of the two-point seat-belt (13) provides enhanced occupant protection especially in a side-impact or rollover situation.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement for a motor vehicle is disclosed to provide protection for the occupants (1, 2) of two adjacent seats (11, 12). Each seat is associated with two air-bag units (15, 16, 20, 21), one of which contains an air-bag to be deployed so as to occupy a space on the inboard side of the seat, and the other of which contains an air-bag to be deployed so as to occupy a space on the outboard side of the seat. There is a sensor and control arrangement (23) to sense impact and to determine which side of the vehicle has been impacted. The sensor and control arrangement (23) generates actuation signals capable of actuating the air-bag unit (15) associated with the first seat (11) closest to the point of impact I, and the air-bag unit (21) of the second seat (12) closest to the point of impact I.

Abstract: The safety arrangement for a motor vehicle incorporates primary restraint arrangement having a three-point seat-belt (3) and optionally one or more air-bags (19,22). A secondary restraint system is provided in the form of a two-point seat-belt (13). A sensor senses when the two-point seat-belt (13) is in use and provides a signal to a control unit (17) which adjusts the restraining effect provided by the primary restraint arrangement so that the overall restraining effect is the same regardless of whether the two-point seat-belt is, or is not, used. The use of the two-point seat-belt (13) provides enhanced occupant protection especially in a side-impact or rollover situation.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a back-rest (1) carrying a head-rest (2). A mechanism is provided to move the head-rest (2) forwardly relative to the back-rest (1) in response to a rear impact situation. An element (9) is operatively located between the head-rest (2) and the mechanism (6) which is adapted to yield when exposed to a force in excess of a predetermined force. Thus the force that can be applied by the head-rest (2) to a head (8) of an occupant of the seat, is limited to be a maximum of 200 Newtons, with the preferred value being 100 Newtons.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for lowering the height of the front part of a motor vehicle. A radar sensor is provided to sense the proximity of an adjacent vehicle. A signal is passed to a control unit which responds when a potential accident situation is detected. An output passes to a valve unit which is actuated to permit gas from an inflatable element to escape through a nozzle. As the gas escapes the element reduces in length, and a lowering housing element connected to a wheel of a vehicle moves upwardly into an upper housing element which is fixed to part of the structure of the vehicle. Thus, the front part of the vehicle is lowered so that the bumper on the vehicle is at an appropriate height.

Abstract: A security module for a motor vehicle security device includes a module housing, a belt take-up roller for the taking up onto, and the unwinding therefrom, of a safety belt operable to belt in a seat occupant seated in a vehicle seat in the motor vehicle, and a side airbag module having an airbag inflatable into a deployed position in which it provides lateral support for the seat occupant. The side airbag module also includes an associated gas generator for supplying compressed gas to effect deployment of the airbag. The take-up roller, the safety belt, and the side airbag module are commonly mounted in the module housing, which can be mounted relative to the seat back of the vehicle seat either during installation of the vehicle seat itself during the vehicle production or as an aftermarket installation.

Abstract: A seat security arrangement for a vehicle seat occupant sitting on a vehicle seat. The arrangement includes a three-point safety belt having an extent forming a shoulder belt extending from the outboard side of the vehicle seat that restrains one shoulder of the seat occupant and another extent forming a lap belt. The arrangement further includes a two-point safety belt extending from the inboard side of the vehicle seat past the respective non-belt restrained shoulder of the seat occupant and thereafter crossing the shoulder belt of the three-point safety belt. Additionally, the arrangement includes a support device located in the respective region of the seat back turned toward the inboard side of the vehicle seat, the support device extending in the direction of the vehicle's forward travel so as provide lateral support to the upper torso of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a squab and a back mounted for pivotal movement relative to the squab. A support plate is mounted to the squab, and the back of the seat is pivotally mounted to the support plate. A mechanism for providing a resistive force resists a first pivotal movement. The providing mechanism provides a first resistive force during a first energy impact and a second resistive force during a second energy impact. The first energy impact is a higher energy impact than the second energy impact.

Abstract: A safety arrangement (1) is located beneath the hood or bonnet (3) of a motor vehicle and includes an inflatable element (8) which is formed of a plastically deformable material. A gas generator (14) supplies gas to inflate the element (8) in response to a signal from a sensor (18) which is responsive to impact with a pedestrian. The gas generator (14) passes gas to a chamber (15), and thus through a relatively small aperture (16) to inflate the element (8) with a gradual inflation. If a pedestrian strikes the bonnet, the pedestrian will not deform the bonnet and then be arrested by impact with an engine block or the like, and also the plastically deformable element (8) will deform to absorb energy.

Abstract: An air-bag (8) is mounted in the roof of a motor vehicle to be deployed in front of an occupant (7) of the vehicle. The air-bag is constrained by tear straps (15) within the air-bag to inflate initially as a “curtain” in front of the occupant of the vehicle, that curtain only having a relatively narrow thickness (t). When the tear-straps break, the bag has a more rounded configuration. The bas is releasably retained within a recess (9) which initially houses the bag. When the bag is fully inflated, the bag becomes totally separated from the recess, to prevent the bag forcing the head of the occupant rearwardly as the torso of the occupant moves forwardly during an accident.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame. The safety device includes: a gas generator; a sensor for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over for activating the gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to the gas generator for being inflated with gas from the gas generator upon activation of the gas generator. The inflatable element can thus assume a non-inflated mode and an inflated mode and can further be positioned adjacent the door in an inflated-mode thereof. The inflatable element is further made of fabric and includes: a first fabric layer defining a front part thereof; a second fabric layer defining a back part thereof, selected parts of the first fabric layer and second fabric layer being interconnected for defining one of linear and point shaped links where the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are directly secured together.