Abstract: An energy absorbing seat belt retractor having a frame; a spool on which the seat belt is wound, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame; a first locking mechanism for initially stopping the spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction; a bias or rewind spring to retract the seat belt, and a first energy absorbing or dissipating member, associated with the first locking mechanism, for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to activation of the first locking mechanism for generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; wherein the first locking mechanism includes a mechanical inertial sensor for initiating the locking up of the first locking mechanism and wherein the retractor further includes a first non-inertial sensor (100, 200) for preventing the initiation caused by the inertial sensor.

Abstract: A safety system comprising: a buckle (22) secured to a pretensioner (20); the pretensioner (20) comprising: a stationary link (102) and stationary block (110); a housing slidably received upon the stationary link (102) and movable relative to the stationary block (110) and a pressure unit for causing the housing, and buckle operatively attached thereto, to move downwardly relative to the stationary block to thereby eliminate slack in a seat belt, and a second link (104) received through the housing for preventing rotation of the housing about the first link (102).

Abstract: A cylindrically shaped hybrid inflator comprising: a pressure vessel filled with pressurized inflation gas, comprising a center body (22) having a first (24a) and a second (24b) end, a first exit orifice (29) located between the first and second end, a frangible disk (32) closing the orifice (29) and a pyrotechnic element for causing the disk to rupture and permit inflation gas to exit the orifice; a first cylindrical portion (50) sealingly attached to the first end and a second cylindrical portion sealing attached to the second end.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle safety restraint having a cylindrical hollow tube and a piston connected via a cable to a part of the vehicle safety restraint for tightening the safety restraint in the event of a crash. The piston having a gas generator with gas vents directed with a component in the opposite direction to that of the piston movement for belt tightening. The piston also having locks and seals, the locks being operable only against the belt loosening direction, and wherein the gas generator is positioned forward of the locking mechanism in the direction of piston movement for belt tightening.A more compact, cost effective pretensioner is possible.

Abstract: An apparatus (20, 400) comprising: a gear (402) operatively linked to a rotationally supported spool (20) to rotate the spool (24) in a direction of retraction to cause a seat belt (22) wound thereabout to retract; a belt tightener comprising: a gear unit (410) having a first drive member (412) which is initially uncoupled from the gear (402) and which as it rotates is placed into driving engagement with the gear (402) and which upon further rotation is moved to a condition of disengagement with the spur gear to permit the spool to rotate free of the pretensioner and a rack (420) operably connected to the gear unit to cause same to rotate.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor (10) having an energy management mechanism (12) capable of transferring a portion of the impact energy to the retractor (10) during one or more collisions and a mode shift mechanism (18) capable of determining the severity of the collision(s) as a function of the amount of energy absorbed by the energy management mechanism (12). In addition, the mode shift mechanism (18) is capable of disabling the retractor (10) following retraction of the belt (40) to its stowed position when the amount of energy absorbed by the energy management mechanism (12) exceeds a maximum allowable limit.

Abstract: A torsion bar (50) and seat belt retractor (20). The torsion bar (50) has a circular cross section where the torsion bar is formed as a cold headed extruded part and wherein the grain structure of the metal is aligned along the axis (axial direction) of the bar generally in the center of the bar and the grain structure smoothly diverges from the axial direction near an end formation (52a,b). The seat belt retractor (20) includes: a frame (22) to rotationally support the torsion bar and spool (30). The torsion bar (30) is characterized by an elastic deformation zone and a sharp onset into a plastic deformation zone. The spool is operatively connected to rotate with the torsion bar. The retractor also includes a locking device, activated during a vehicle accident and operatively linked to the torsion bar for preventing one side of the torsion bar from rotating while permitting the other side and the spool to rotate once loaded by the occupant.

Abstract: An airbag module (10) employing a deflagration venting system (40) for adaptively changing the level of venting provided during airbag inflation is disclosed. The adaptively controlled airbag system (10) includes an airbag (12) in fluid communication with an airbag inflator (18). A manifold (16) is provided for directing the output of the airbag inflator (18) into the airbag (12), and a reaction canister (22) houses the airbag (12), the airbag inflator (18), and the manifold (16). A deflagration device (40) is provided for selectively venting the airbag module (10). The deflagration device (40) may be activated for creating at least one variable shaped vent (50, 52) for regulating output from the airbag inflator (18) and adaptively changing the deployment force of the airbag (12).

Abstract: A system and method for controlling adaptive vehicle occupant restraint devices use a processor for receiving input signals from a plurality of sensors, for generating control parameters using a predetermined program, and for generating control signals from the control parameters to adaptively control the restraint devices during an accident.

Abstract: An air bag (24) and method of folding an air bag (24) to protect an occupant during a side impact collision, the air bag being part of an air bag module (23) fitted within an outboard portion of a vehicle seat, the method including the step of folding the air bag (24) into a compact configuration such that when inflation gas is communicated into the air bag a resultant momentum vector, of the unfolding air bag sections, is directed forward of the seat and laterally away from a location of a seated occupant.

Abstract: An inflatable safety restraint arrangement is provided which is particularly helpful to protect vehicle occupants from transverse components of crash forces such as are experienced in side impacts. An inflatable cushion (8) in the deflated state is foldled and mounted in a flexible pocket and is fixedly attached to Ihe vehicle at at least two spaced positions. The flexible pocket comprises a line of weakness such as a tear seam along which the pocket opens when subjected to forces generated during inflating of the cushion and through which the inflating cushion deploys to a position between the vehicle occupant and the adjacent vehicle surface (e.g. door) in the event of a crash situation being detected. The flexible pocket is preferably fabric though it may be of a plastics material and the tear seam comprises a stitched seam the stitches of which either break or unravel when the airbag cushion is deployed.

Abstract: A side impact air bag (20) comprising: a lower portion for protecting the thorax region of an occupant, the lower portion including a neck portion through which inflation gas is received and a top portion which is sloped relative to a neck portion. An upper portion protects the shoulder and head regions of the occupant and extends generally perpendicularly from the lower portion.

Abstract: A side impact system adapted to be mounted upon a support member or pillar (26) of an upholstered vehicle seat (30), the frame including a mounting opening (27) comprising: a bracket (40) having a front face (42) and sides (44a,b), a socket (46) for receiving a snap fastener and receptacle (48) for receiving a tab (80), the receptacle having an open face (49) through which the tab (80) is inserted and a projection (52) extending outward from the front face; a generally rectangular housing (70) having a bottom (72), opposing sides (74a,b) extending from the bottom and ends (76a,b) extending from the bottom and joined to the sides, the bottom (72) including at least one fastener opening (78) and one of the ends (76a), wherein the tab (80) extends outwardly from the top of the housing (70); with the housing received upon the bracket (40) and with the tab (80) within the receptacle (48) and the mounting opening, the socket and the fastener opening (78) are in alignment.

Abstract: A pretensioning apparatus for a vehicular safety restraint, which includes a housing; a tube extending from the housing and defining an inner surface; a piston disposed within the tube in close proximity to the inner surface of the tube; a linkage connected at a first end to the piston and having a second end which is adapted for connection to a safety restraint; and a lock member having at least a portion thereof disposed between the piston and the inner surface of the tube, the lock member being configured and dimensioned such that upon application of a force to the piston in a first direction, the lock member permits free movement of the piston in the first direction and upon application of a force to the piston in a second direction being reverse to the first direction, the lock member biases against the inner wall of the tube to prevent movement of the piston in the second direction.

Abstract: A seat-integrated air bag deployment door (10) is provided having a rim (22) which defines a deployment opening. The deployment door (10) is configured for attachment to the seat material (18) of a vehicle seat (14) by sewing or gluing. A door conceals the deployment opening and tears at predetermined locations during deployment of the air bag (102) to allow the air bag to deploy therethrough.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system for vehicles with a sleeping compartment or bunk area, which uses airbags installed above and in front of the occupant of the bunk area to provide restraint and secondary collision protection during crashes and rollovers and other emergency conditions. A shelf assembly above the bunk is described, containing the airbag modules installed internal to the shelf. The covering of the shelf is such that deployment of the airbags would occur through the bottom cover, providing protection to the reclining occupant during crashes and rollovers. The shelf assembly containing the airbag modules has a fabric or mesh curtain connecting the front of the shelf to the lower bunk to restrict forward occupant motion during rapid deceleration, to provide privacy for the occupant and to secure the hinged movement of the upper shelf.

Abstract: A guide loop height adjustment arrangement for a driver's seat belt has a drive that raises and lowers a guide loop in response to a sensed change in the position of the driver's mirror. The change in the mirror position is indicative of the presence of a seat occupant with a different shoulder height from the preceding seat occupant and therefore causes the guide loop height to be adjusted.

Abstract: A system (20) for controlling the effective rate at which an air bag (24) is filled comprising: a housing (22) operatively communicated with the air bag such that as the air bag is pressurized by inflation gas such gas enters the housing increasing its internal pressure, the housing (22) including: variable vent (54, 50, 52) for defining an opening through which a quantity of inflation gas is controllably diverted from the air bag to thereby reduce its rate of inflation from that rate which is achieved when the vent means is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system for side impact protection includes an inflatable air bag having first and second chambers separated by a panel having an aperture to permit inflation gas to flow from one chamber to the other. A safety flap is partially secured to the separator panel and has an aperture initially aligned with the aperture of the separator panel. The air bag detects the presence of an out of position seat occupant in which case the safety flap partially breaks away and moves the apertures out of alignment, thereby at least partially limiting the flow of inflation gas through the separator panel.

Abstract: An apparatus (20, 100) comprising: a driven gear (102) operatively linked to a spool of a retractor (20) to rotate the spool (24) in a direction of retraction to cause a seat belt (31) wound thereabout to retract; an arcuate tube (108) having a flat exit end (302) proximate the gear; a flexible chain (130), moveable within the tube, having a front end (134a) initially maintained out of engagement with the first gear and pushed into engagement with the first gear to cause same to rotate; a piston (600) for pushing the chain (130) into engagement with the gear thereby causing the gear to rotate and catching mechanism for retaining the chain after it has exited the exit end of the tube.