Abstract: A method of folding an airbag is provided for limiting allowable travel of the first portion of the airbag face panel as the airbag is deployed and for causing complete filling of the airbag prior to engagement with a vehicle occupant. The airbag includes a first end adapted to envelop an inflator. The airbag is laid substantially flat, with the first portion of the airbag face panel closely adjacent the first end. The remainder of the airbag is subsequently collapsed over the first portion while the first portion remains closely adjacent the first end.

Abstract: A safety device comprising: a retractor (22) for protracting and rewinding a safety belt to be worn about an occupant, having a lock wheel (42) and an associated lock pawl (74) movable into engagement therewith upon sensing an emergency condition by a sensing mechanism (50); a pretensioner for rotating the spool in a belt winding direction and a rotary element (80) for converting pretensioner motion to rotary motion and a spring loaded mechanism for providing for locking readiness of the lock pawl and operable after activation of and during rotation of the spool in the belt winding direction. Each of the frame sides includes a positioning hole or opening 70a and 70b through which the tie bar 72 of the present invention extends. If the retractor uses two lock wheels, two such lock pawls would be used.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (30) comprising: a frame (32) having a base and two parallel side walls (34,36) extending therefrom, each side wall includes an first opening (40 41) therein, a spool (50, 54), rotatably positioned relative to the side walls, first and second disks (92a,b) positioned relative to the spool, a plurality of bars or pins, the first and second disks positioned on opposite sides of the spool, the pins received within cooperating bores in the spool and joining the disks together, a shaft rotationally linked to the disks for providing an axis of rotation of the spool and disks, a locking mechanism for engaging the disks to prevent protraction of safety belt webbing.

Abstract: An air bag (20) having a face portion (22) and a rear portion (24) generally opposite the face portion which define a cushion inflatable in response to inflation gas. The rear portion is closed with the exception of two inflator receiving openings (28a,b) for receipt of an inflator (50). The body of the inflator is received through both openings.

Abstract: An inflator (20) comprising: a pressure vessel (22) made of a thin walled steel tubing (24), sealed at one end by an end plate or cap (30). The other end of the pressure vessel sealed by a propellant housing (50). A plurality of axial bores (56a-d) exiting through an adjacent part (58) of the housing (50) and a face of the adjacent part of the housing includes a second counter bore (70) and a plurality of radial bores (72a-d) radially extend therefrom. A rupture disk assembly (100) having a central portion (102) forms a rupture disk extending into the second counter bore (70) and a radially extending outer portion (104) fitted generally flat against the face (60) .

Abstract: An energy absorbing seat belt retractor comprising: a frame (22); a spool (24) rotatably mounted relatively to the spool including a lock wheel (71) having a plurality of lock teeth associated therewith and adapted to receive a seat belt thereabout; a lock pawl (77) for engaging the spool upon sensing a one of a vehicle deceleration and seat belt extraction above certain determinable levels; and movable nut (90) located in the spool and for prohibiting relative movement between the lock wheel and spool below a threshold input force level generated in part by occupant load on the seat belt and for generating a controlled energy dissipating reaction force on the seat belt after the input force exceeds the threshold level to permit a controlled rotation of the spool and the controlled pay out of the seat belt from the spool.

Abstract: A five point restraint system having a harness for securing an occupant to an occupant seat including: a first and a second belt, each of the first and second belts including first and second ends, and a shield plate slidably receiving each of the first and the second belts, each of the first ends of the belts fixedly secured relative to the occupant seat, the shield plate including first and second openings through which the first and second belts are through threaded, the shield plate including first lock member for lockingly engaging with second lock member positioned on the seat, the shield plate and belts extendable over the occupant's head and shoulder and the belts engagable with the occupant's shoulders, the belt portions extending toward the first ends engagable against the outside of the lower torso of the seated occupant; a belt tightener for receiving the second ends of the belts permitting the extension and retraction of each belt, wherein upon engagement of the first lock means to the second loc

Abstract: An emergency locking passenger seat belt retractor is fitted with a pyrotechnic pretensioner actuator (221) which acts via a cable wound on a drum (213), the drum being located on frangible supports in a clutch housing and having internally formed cam surfaces which can act upon frangibly supported intermediate rollers (215) to displace them generally radially inwards to drivingly engage a part of the webbing reel to tighten the belt. Advantageously the drum and the locking rollers are supported on frangible pegs moulded with shim or plate members (222a, 222b), disposed on each side of the drum (213).

Abstract: An air bag module (50) comprising an inflator (40) for generating inflation gas; an air bag (12) disposed about the inflator to receive the inflation gas exiting the inflator; a structure (52) for supporting at least the inflator. The inflator comprises: a pressure vessel (42) and a plurality of exit ports (16). The exit ports are arranged to render the inflator in a thrust neutral condition when the inflator is not attached to the structure. A plug (60) or plugs is provided for closing a designated set of exit ports to render the inflator in a non-thrust neutral condition when supported by the structure. Each plug is received in each of the designated exit ports and is preferably received though a portion of the structure such that if the inflator is removed from the structure each plug must also be removed, thereby opening all of previously closed exit ports and rendering the inflator in its thrust neutral condition once again.

Abstract: An air bag module (20) having a base plate (24), with opposingly situated open sided, channels (50a,b), each channel having at least one open end (61). The module includes a cover (100) for protecting an air bag (150) folded upon the base plate. The cover includes a top (102) and sides wall (106a,b), each side wall includes outwardly extending flanges or shoulders (114a,b) slidably receivable within the open end of each channel (50a,b).

Abstract: An air bag module (10) comprising: an extruded housing (12) having first and second side walls (24, 26) and ends (72, 74), and a bottom (23) linking the side walls, an integral hollow manifold (14) formed as an extending part of the first side wall (24), the manifold including a plurality of openings (18) therethrough, a first slot (32) formed as an integral part of the first side wall (24) proximate its top, a first notch (34) formed on an outside surface of the side wall (24) and a first rotatable flange (50) on the first side wall (24) movable toward the first notch (34), a first groove (52) formed between the first flange (50) and the outside surface of the first side wall, the second side wall (26) including a boss (60) at its top and a second slot(33) integrally formed therewith proximate the bottom (23), a wall portion (62) spaced from the second side wall (26) forms a second groove (66) therebetween, end plates (80a, 80b), each having an opening aligned with a hollowed portion (90) of the manifold for

Abstract: An emergency locking vehicle seat belt retractor has a locking arrangement operation of which is initiated by an inertial vehicle deceleration sensing mechanism constructed with one or more parts being a composite of at least two acoustically differing materials to minimize vibrating noise.

Abstract: A post activation device to indicate that pressure the existed within a pressure vessel just prior to the opening of the pressure vessel and the resulting loss of pressurization, having a diaphragm, plug or piston (62, 130, 160, 330) capable of rupturing, moving or deforming in response to a pressure differential thereacross above one or more low limit values and for providing an indication of the pressure within the pressure vessel just prior to its being opened, and a support member (70), within the pressure vessel for supporting the diaphragm, plug or piston means.

Abstract: A web guide (10) adapted to be secured to and removed from a post (12), the post of the type having a narrow part (14) and a larger head (16), the web guide comprising: a support frame (30) having a first end (32) and a second end (50,) the first end including an opening (34) comprising a wide portion (36) having a diameter larger than the head of the post and a small diameter portion (38) having a diameter smaller than the head. The thickness of the frame is not greater than the spacing between a post surface and a support surface (20). The second end (50) includes a slit (52) for receipt of a seat belt webbing (58).

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for safety belts having: a plate member (22) adapted to be mounted relative a cooperating structure, including a top (30) and sidewalls (24, 26) and a bottom (28, 50, 98) situated about an opening (47,47'). A roller is rotated by the shoulder belt (92) and is also supported by a flexible shaft (82) such that during a high level vehicle deceleration the shaft deflects and the roller is permitted to rest upon the bottom of the D-ring.

Abstract: A D-ring or seat belt apparatus (200) for safety belts comprising: a cradle (300) adapted to be mounted to a cooperating structure; a member (201, 204) supported by the cradle and having a roller (260) and flexible shaft (270) for supporting a shoulder belt portion of a seat belt. The member (201, 204) permitted to move or rotate side to side relative to the cradle, to move or rotate about a first axis of the cradle and to move or rotate about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: An air bag (32) adapted to be inflated comprising: an inlet portion (36) to receive inflation gas and a flexible walled portion (34,40) including at least one first vent hole (42) therein; a flexible member (50), joined at one end thereof to the walled portion on one side of the first vent hole and at another end thereof to the walled portion on an opposite side of the first vent hole, the flexible member including at least a second vent hole, expansion joints (60,70,62,72), formed in the flexible member and the walled portion for maintaining the first and second vent holes aligned during an initial phase of inflation so as to provide exhaust port (44) through which inflation gas may exit and for permitting the first and second holes to move relatively to one another during continued inflation so as to close of the exhaust port.

Abstract: A post depressurization device (30) for providing an indication of the pressure that existed within a fluid filled pressure vessel (22) just prior to depressurization of the pressure vessel, having a housing (102) and a piston (130) for temporality sealing an open end of the housing and outwardly movable in response to a pressure differential not less then a predetermined level generated subsequent to the depressurization of the pressure vessel. The piston and the housing cooperating to define a pressure storage cavity (156). The housing including a valve (122) for permitting the fluid within the pressure vessel to enter the pressure cavity and stabilize at a level substantially equal to the pressure level within the pressure vessel and for inhibiting a rapid decrease in the pressure within the pressure cavity immediately subsequent to depressurization of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A height adjuster (10) useful to adjust the height of a safety belt webbing, comprising: a frame (12) having a plurality of spaced locking formations (18); a carrier (16) movably mounted upon the frame comprising; a handle assembly (40) for locking the carrier into a designated one of the locking formations (18) comprising: a locking pin (50) movable into and out from the designated locking formation and biased by a first spring (134) toward the locking formations: and activation assembly (60,70,90), comprising variable height spring (90) for initiating retraction of the pin from the designated locking formation in response to a squeezing or clamping action, the carrier being movable along the frame with the locking pin (50) disengaged from any locking formation.

Abstract: An air bag comprising: an upper panel (102) and a lower panel (104) both of woven material sewn together forming a generally circular structure and a tether unit or assembly (116, 118a, 118b, 130a, 130b) of the same material as one of the upper and lower panels for controlling the shape of the air bag as same is inflated by inflation gas and for absorbing a shock load created upon inflation. The tether assembly comprises a central portion (116) secured to the upper panel and only two tethers (118a, 188b) extending oppositely therefrom all of integral construction and being of sufficient strength such that each tether can separately withstand the shock load created upon inflation without being damaged. Fabric reinforcements (130a, 130b) are also provided to secure the tethers to the lower panel.