Abstract: A diffuser for uniformly diffusing inflation gas from an elongated inflator having inflation exhaust ports at only one end into an airbag cushion. The diffuser having a longitudinal length extending between opposing first and second diffuser ends. A first end section extends from the first diffuser end, is positionable over the inflation exhaust ports of the inflator and defines at least one diffuser vent opening. An intermediate section extends from the first end section and defines a plurality of diffuser vent openings equal or progressively larger further from the first end section. A second end section extends from the intermediate section to the second diffuser end and defines a single diffuser vent opening. Each of the plurality of diffuser vent openings of the intermediate section is equal or larger than the at least one diffuser vent opening of the first end section and equal or smaller than the single diffuser vent opening of the second end section.

Abstract: The process comprises the steps of gripping top and bottom boundaries of the face portion of the main panel of the cushion and pulling it so that the front face portion is generally planar and the side panels extend generally outward from the canister. First and second folding combs move inward from the opposite sides of the cushion. From the front a third folding comb moves rearward. Plates of the combs interdigitate with portions of the cushion inbetween, thus creating accordion folds. Fourth and fifth folding combs move in from the sides and their plates interdigitate with the plates of the other three combs, tucking excess portions of the cushion inbetween the accordion folds already formed. The package thus formed is compressed and then moved into the canister. A dust cover is slid over the front of the canister.

Abstract: There is provided a method for preparing composite materials from renewable raw materials wherein natural raw materials, especially in fiber form, comprising starch as binder are molded by adding water in accordance with a predetermined temperature and time profile to form boards and molded articles. The advantages of this method reside in said materials being fully biodegradable and free from harmful substances.

Abstract: An auto ignition system for use as part of an airbag inflator having an ignitor tube. The auto ignition system includes an elongated auto ignition chamber having an open end and a length to width ratio of at least three. The auto ignition chamber is adapted to be positioned within the airbag inflator with the open end facing the ignitor tube. Auto ignition material is contained within the auto ignition chamber, and a metal foil retention disk closes the open end of the auto ignition chamber. According to one embodiment, the auto ignition chamber is a recess defined by an endwall of the airbag inflator with the open end of the recess facing the ignitor tube. According to another embodiment of the invention, a solid press-fit closure plug closes the open end of the auto ignition chamber, and according to an additional embodiment, the press-fit closure plug is a porous metal fiber or powder press-fit closure plug.

Abstract: A wrapped gas generant cartridge is incorporated in an inflator of a vehicle occupant restraint system. The gas generant cartridge includes a stacked, aligned plurality of substantially flat annular wafers of gas generant material having a central opening therethrough. A wrap of sheet material surrounds the plurality of wafers and has marginal end panels folded along the end surfaces of the plurality of wafers, leaving at least one end opening exposed for receiving an ignition tube of the inflator. The wrap of sheet material is selected from metal foil, expanded metal, cellulose, thermoplastics, including polyolefin shrink wrap, with tape, adhesive or adhesive laminates holding the wrap in position. The gas generant cartridge is received in a filter and screen pack within the inflator.

Abstract: A flexible sensor, such as a membrane switch, is molded into a plastic automotive panel by a low temperature, low pressure, method which avoids damage to the switch while insuring its placement at a desired depth below the surface of the panel. This is achieved by a process which includes a first step of spraying a mold with a rapid gelling liquid plastic to a preselected thickness. After the plastic has firmed, the sensor is placed thereon and is encapsulated by spraying with a second layer of the plastic. The resulting shell with the embedded sensor may then be provided with a backing, such as a plastic foam.

Abstract: A diffuser for uniformly diffusing inflation gas from an elongated inflator having inflation exhaust ports at only one end into an airbag cushion. The diffuser having a longitudinal length extending between opposing first and second diffuser ends. A first end section extends from the first diffuser end, is positionable over the inflation exhaust ports of the inflator and defines at least one diffuser vent opening. An intermediate section extends from the first end section and defines a plurality of diffuser vent openings equal or progressively larger further from the first end section. A second end section extends from the intermediate section to the second diffuser end and defines a single diffuser vent opening. Each of the plurality of diffuser vent openings of the intermediate section is equal or larger than the at least one diffuser vent opening of the first end section and equal or smaller than the single diffuser vent opening of the second end section.

Abstract: Assembly is adapted to mount on an internal structural member of a vehicle seat, the seat having a seat body formed with a recess and having a trim cover formed with a frangible opening to said recess. The invention also includes a one-piece resilient plastic deployment door anchored on the structural member and curving over a folded, inflatable airbag cushion and inflator module to comprise a rounded surface smoothly overlayable by the seat trim cover. The door has a distal edge approximately alignable with the frangible access to assist in the opening of the frangible access during deployment of the airbag cushion.

Abstract: An airbag module incorporating a staked module cover attachment. The airbag module has a module housing defining four sets of openings, the four sets generally forming a rectangle, and a folded, inflatable airbag cushion and an airbag inflator secured to the module housing between the four sets of openings. A thermoplastic module cover defining at least one tear seam includes a lid positioned over the airbag cushion. Four attachment legs extend unitary from the lid and terminate at bottom edges butting against the module housing corresponding with the four sets of openings defined by the module housing. A plurality of spaced-apart stakes are unitary with and extend from the bottom edges of the attachment legs, and each of the stakes extends through one of the openings of the sets of openings to distal ends secured such that the stakes cannot be withdrawn from the openings, securing the module cover to the module housing.

Abstract: A developmental, manual gas-fill, ball-weld seal machine is provided to flexibly and quickly handle a wide range of inflators of different diameters and sizes for airbag applications. The change tooling for the different sizes and diameter inflators is simple and easy to replace. Completely axial clamping is provided to provide a good seal during fill and positive grounding during ball welding.

Abstract: A monitoring device for portable breathing apparatuses having a manometer by means of which the pressure in the pressure container of the breathing apparatus is detected, and having a transmitter by means of which a signal corresponding to the pressure is transmitted at regular intervals. The transmitter also has a signal generating device which generates an identification signal which is characteristic of the transmitter. The pressure signal and identification signal are received and tested by a receiver. If the identification signal matches an identification comparison signal stored in the receiving device, the measured pressure value is displayed on a display device.

Abstract: A horn switch support plate for use with a membrane horn switch as part of a horn switch assembly for insertion into a horn switch pocket of a driver side airbag module. The horn switch support plate includes a generally flat, rigid base supporting the horn switch. A substantially continuous peripheral wall extends upwardly from the base, and peripherally encircles the membrane horn switch. The height of the peripheral wall is sized to be greater than the thickness of the horn switch to ensure that the horn switch will not be compressed prior to actuation by a vehicle driver. The horn switch support plate also includes four tabs extending inwardly from and generally perpendicular to four corners of the peripheral wall, each tab extending over, respectively, a corner of the horn switch to retain the horn switch within the horn switch support plate.

Abstract: An airbag cushion assembly including a horn switch unit secured to an airbag cushion with a cushion strap, with the cushion strap and horn switch unit cooperating to retain the airbag cushion in a deflated, folded position prior to mounting the airbag cushion assembly within an airbag module and prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. The horn switch unit defines a first elongated slot, a second elongated slot and a weakened portion rupturable upon a force created by inflation of the airbag cushion to break the horn switch unit between a first and a second elongated slots defined by the horn switch unit. The horn switch unit is positioned on the folded airbag cushion opposite the collar, with a first elongated tether of the cushion strap extending through the first slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, and a second elongated tether extending through the second slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion.

Abstract: A collision- or rapid deceleration-initiated stiffening system for a structural member of a motor vehicle frame. The system includes a structural member that defines a hollow, substantially gas-tight interior. The system also includes an inflator for pressurizing the interior of the structural member to increase the stiffness and the axial or buckle strength of the structural member upon collision or rapid deceleration of the motor vehicle. The inflator may produce inflation gas for pressurizing the structural member from different sources including the burning of solid pyrotechnic gas generant or the release of a stored gas, for example. In addition, the inflator may be initiated by different initiators including an electrical initiator squib connected to a remote deceleration sensor or a depressible initiator plunger in alignment with a bumper strut, for example. The inflator also may be used to inflate an airbag cushion of an airbag module in addition to pressurizing the structural member.

Abstract: An invisible cover door for an inflatable passive passenger restraint is provided in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for deployment of an airbag therethrough. The low pressure insert injection molding of the cover door into the interior trim structure, such as an instrument panel or dashboard or door panel structure, produces an invisible cover door with tear propagation lines that are undetectable to a vehicle occupant and that do not "show" or mar or otherwise affect the aesthetic appearance of the outer trim surface of the instrument panel or dashboard. Such invisible doors which require only two tear propagation lines can be provided.

Abstract: An improved membrane horn switch having a first main switch section and a second main switch section connected by spaced-apart, relatively narrow first and second bridge members which are rupturable by a force created by an inflating airbag cushion. Each bridge member has a conductive coating in the form of two spaced-apart parallel strips which resist the propagation of stress cracks caused by the bending and twisting of horn actuation, and provide redundancy upon one of the two conductive strips being severed by a stress crack. Improved membrane horn switches having strain relieving bridge members are also provided. Each strain relieving bridge member, in addition to having two spaced-apart conductive strips, also forms a non-straight path between the first main switch section and the second main switch section.

Abstract: An airbag module cover assembly having a horn switch backing plate secured to a module cover with an electrically conductive thermoplastic coupler. The module cover includes a switch cover panel having an outer face and an inner face, and a horn switch is positioned adjacent the inner face. A spacer extending inwardly from and substantially surrounding the inner face peripherally retains the horn switch, and the switch backing plate is supported by the spacer and extends over and retains the horn switch within the spacer. The spacer has a height that is greater than a thickness of the horn switch so that the horn switch does not substantially contact both the backing plate and the inner face simultaneously and, therefore, is not compressed between the backing plate and the inner face prior to the switch cover panel being depressed by a vehicle driver.

Abstract: An improved assay system for homogeneous assay detection and/or measuring target nucleic acid sequence replicated in a PCR amplification procedure is provided by employing a nucleic acid polymerase having 5' to 3' exonuclease activity and devoid of 3' to 5' exonuclease activity, oligonucleotide analytical probe blocked against chain extension at its 3' terminus and labeled at its 5' terminus with an energy transfer donor fluorophore, and oligonucleotide detection probe labeled at its 3' terminus with an energy transfer acceptor fluorophore, said probes being complements of each other but differing in nucleotide length so that their Tm's are at least 10.degree. C.

Abstract: A module housing and a module cover for use as part of an airbag module. The module housing has a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and each sidewall includes an outwardly bent portion. A first apron extends downwardly from the outwardly bent portion of the first sidewall to a distal edge, and a second apron extends downwardly from the outwardly bent portion of the second sidewall to a distal edge. The first apron defines two spaced-apart slots and the second apron defines two spaced-apart slots. The module cover includes a lid, positioned over the module housing. A first and a second attachment finger each have a first segment extending downwardly from the lid to a transverse section. The transverse sections extend through, respectively, the two slots defined by the first apron. Second segments extend downwardly from the transverse sections to hooks caught on the distal edge of the first apron securing the first and the second attachment fingers to the first sidewall of the module housing.

Abstract: Photosensitive, dielectric insulating, crosslinkable copolyester films used as dielectric and as photoresist films for microelectronics circuits which are also suitable for use in producing MCM-L packages. In various embodiments of the invention there is provided photosensitive, dielectric insulating, crosslinkable copolyester film forming mixtures for coating onto microelectronics substrate surfaces, a photosensitive oligomer for producing the crosslinkable copolyesters and MCM-L products produced using the crosslinked copolyesters.