Abstract: A seat mounted side impact airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle has an airbag with a first inflation chamber for engaging the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant and a second inflation chamber for engaging the thoracic region of the vehicle occupant. The inflation chambers are separated by a chamber separator. An inflator provides inflation gas to fill the airbag housed in a tubular housing manifold having a first aperture and a second aperture. The housing manifold is shaped to retain the inflator and create two discrete flows of inflation gas. A first flow of inflation gas goes into the first inflation chamber via the first aperture and a second flow of inflation gas goes into the second inflation chamber via the second aperture. The chamber separator is tightly sealed around the housing manifold to prevent the first flow and second flow to pass into the other inflation chamber.

Abstract: An airbag module, in particular for a frontal airbag, has a housing with at least one housing recess and a housing opening. The airbag has at least one opening therein for receiving an inflator. The inflator can be arranged in the housing opening and the opening in the airbag and the housing recess. The opening in the airbag for receiving an inflator is reinforced by a reinforcing member, which extends essentially around the opening in the airbag for receiving an inflator. The reinforcing member can be deformed and restored, to be guided from the interior of the housing through the housing opening, so that the reinforcing member at least partly is adjacent to the exterior wall of the housing in the region of the housing opening.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening an airbag assembly to a structural member of a vehicle has an abutment element with a front side and a reverse side. An expansion element is arranged on the reverse side of the abutment element and is designed so as to clamp the structural member between the abutment element and the expansion element. The expansion element can be arranged on the structural member of the vehicle in a detachable manner and from the front side can be directly or indirectly detached from the structural member with the help of unlocking means.

Abstract: An airbag is fastened to a structural member of a motor vehicle. The airbag has at least one strap arranged on a border region of the airbag. The strap has a portal therethrough for receiving a hanger element that is a part of the structural member of the vehicle. The hanger element projects at least partly through the portal in the airbag strap. A fastener is attached to the hanger element, so that the airbag is arranged between the structural member and the fastener. The airbag may have a plurality of straps and the portals are arranged in pairs and the fastener is a handle that extends through the portals arranged in pairs.

Abstract: An airbag attachment associated with a non-inflatable portion on a side curtain airbag provides loops that are sewn or otherwise attached to the non-inflatable portion of the airbag. The loops directly encircle a gas supply tube and are provided on the non-inflatable portion such that the non-inflatable portion of the airbag can be slipped over the gas supply tube and suspended similar to a shower curtain on a curtain rod. The use of mounting tabs in the region of the non-inflatable portions is eliminated. Additional attachment ties with frangible seams can be used to attach the airbag to the gas supply tube in the location of the non-inflatable portion near the loop such that the airbag can be properly folded and bundled for compact placement within the vehicle body. The loops can be passed through openings in non-inflatable portions of the airbag, each loop directly encircling the gas supply tube.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a spool for seat belt protraction and retraction. An energy absorption mechanism is provided for absorbing energy from the spool during seat belt protraction. The energy absorption mechanism has a first part for a relatively high rate of energy absorption and a second part for a relatively low rate of energy absorption. A shift mechanism for shifting between the first part and the second part is also provided. The shift mechanism is a link movable between a first link position wherein the first part is engaged with the spool and a second link position wherein the second part is engaged with the spool. The link is drivable between the first link position and the second link position by energy from seat belt protraction.

Abstract: A rotary drive device for a winding shaft of a seat belt retractor has preformed drive bodies arranged one behind the other, which are guided and can be driven in a guide path. Each drive body has engagement parts that can be brought into engagement in an essentially interlocking manner with engagement points located at the periphery of the drive wheel.

Abstract: A height adjuster for a vehicle safety restraint has a web guide (38) and a track (84) for the web guide. The web guide (38) is vertically moveable along the track (84). A lock (76) has a lock condition for preventing vertical movement of the web guide (38) along the track (84) and an unlocked condition for allowing vertical movement of the web guide (38) along the track (84). A release mechanism (50, 80) is operatively connectable to said lock (76). The release mechanism (50, 80) has a release position for placing the lock (76) in the unlocked condition and an unreleased position from maintaining the lock (76) in the lock condition. A lift mechanism (66) at least partially assists vertical movement of the web guide (38) along the track (84) and biases the release mechanism (50, 80) toward the unreleased position.

Abstract: A device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure has a bracket provided with a slot to engage the airbag tether and with a resilient tongue to couple the bracket with the vehicle structure at an opening provided in the vehicle structure.

Abstract: An air bag module has an air bag housing with an opening for deploying the air bag. The opening is provided with the cover. A connector attaches the cover to the air bag housing. The connector has an aperture and a protrusion for engaging the aperture. The aperture is located on one of the air bag housing and the cover while the protrusion is located on the other of the air bag housing and the cover. The protrusion has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion extends from a surface of one of the air bag housing and the cover while the second portion extends transversely from the first portion and the third portion extends transversely from the first portion.

Abstract: A cover for an airbag of an airbag module, in particular a side airbag, is made from at least sheet, preferably of a nonwoven material, which is folded along two edge regions to form a longitudinally extending passageway for receiving an airbag. The end regions of the cover are preferably open, with the result that in the region of the laid-together edge regions the two edge regions lie on top of one another and are connected by a frangible seam. The frangible seam is formed, at least in one end region, on only one of the edge regions.

Abstract: A method and a device for adjusting a supply current, which feeds an electric motor, the torque of which is transferred to a belt reel of a seat belt retractor of a motor vehicle, whereby the motor current of the electric motor is measured during the torque generation and compared as a controlled variable with a command variable, which is adjusted depending on at least one driving situation or at least one driving condition of the vehicle, for controlling the supply current for the electric motor situated in the control circuit.

Abstract: A vehicle seat weight sensing system includes a plurality of sensors mounted below a seating surface of a vehicle seat. Each sensor includes a tubular inner wall about which are coiled an activation coil and a detection coil. All of the weight of the seating surface is borne by the inner walls of the sensors. The activation coil induces a current in the tubular inner wall which is detected by the detection coil. Stress in the inner wall alters the signal detected by the detection coil. Analysis of the wave form of the signal indicates the amount of stress applied to the tubular inner wall and the weight upon the vehicle seating surface. A fastener connecting to vehicle seat components passes through the tubular inner wall and retains the sensors in the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a three point seat belt has a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of a vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder. A pyrotechnic means moves the piston in a direction that is longitudinal relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction. A slider bar is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder. A seat belt webbing is looped around the slider bar such that the seat belt webbing can freely move along a portion of the slider bar that is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder so long as the pyrotechnic means for moving the piston has not been activated. A cable extends from the piston and loops around the seat belt webbing to cause the seat belt webbing to move along the slider bar in a pretensioning direction when the pyrotechnic means for moving the piston is activated.

Abstract: An airbag module, in particular for a frontal airbag, has an inflator, an airbag and at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element. A first end of the measuring element is connected to an inside surface of the airbag and the second end of which is substantially arranged in a storage device for the measuring element. Between the first and the second ends of the measuring element is located a measuring device for the measurement of the advance movement distance, the advance movement velocity and/or the advance movement time of the measuring element. A tensioning device for the measuring element is arranged between the measuring device and the second end of the measuring element, or at the second end, to tighten the measuring element between its first end and the measuring device prior to the deployment of the airbag.

Abstract: A steering wheel or other component for motor vehicle interiors, is produced by pressure thermoforming an external layer of decorative material, together with an internal structural layer of support material that includes a matrix of thermoplastic material and a plurality of reinforcing fibers for the thermoplastic matrix. The matrix may be of polymer that impregnates the fabric or made of fabrics that are interwoven or mixed with the reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: A load-limiting device has a mechanical structure designed to dissipate forces applied by a vehicle occupant to a safety belt during a crash. The load limiting device comprises a housing and a deformable member, at least one of which is configured for connection to a vehicle safety belt and the other of which is configured for connection to a structural part of a vehicle. The housing and the deformable member are moveable relative to each other when force is applied to the one of those members. The housing supports a hardened member formed of a material which is harder than the deformable member and which is positioned to engage and deform the deformable member as the deformable member is being moved relative to the housing.

Abstract: An airbag assembly employs tape sensors to monitor the rate at which an airbag is deployed. The airbag is part of an airbag module that incorporates a vent that can be actuated if it is determined by logic associated with the airbag that the airbag has prematurely collided with an object. To better determine the dynamics of the airbag deployment, a sensor is positioned across a tear seam in the cover through which the airbag breaks. The sensor provides a direct indicator that the tear seam has opened, which is used as the starting time for monitoring the rate of airbag deployment. The tear seam sensor could also be used in conjunction with any airbag electronics to control a function of an airbag.

Abstract: An airbag (10) has an inflatable chamber (301) defined by a main front panel (12) and a pair of side panels (24), (26). The airbag (10) has a vertically oriented recessed portion (20) on the main panel (12) located on a lower portion of an airbag (10), preferably vertically at or below a gas inlet passageway (30). The recessed portion (20) divides the airbag (10) into two lower lobe portions (40, 42) on each side of the recessed portion (20). Upon inflation an internal tether (50) is attached to the recessed portion (20) and is anchored at or adjacent to the gas inlet passageway (30) thereby limiting forward movement of the recessed portion (20) upon inflation. The airbag (10) is useful as a frontal airbag, particularly a passenger frontal airbag.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag module engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding armature engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multiple of switch assemblies while the engagement members are separated by a clearance. The engagement members are only in contact if the airbag is fired. A clearance between each armature engagement member and each corresponding airbag module engagement member assures that there is no interference that may result in undesirable noise or vibration.