Abstract: A device for holding a plurality of pieces of fabric a preferred orientation to enable adjacent pieces to be sewn together along pre-determined sew lines (47) comprising: a plate (62) including a plurality of slits (66a-i), the positions of each slit corresponds to the location of the desired sew lines. An outer frame (64) is secured about the periphery of the plate (62) with the fabric to be sewn being laid upon the plate (62) with edges of an adjacent pieces overlaying a corresponding slit (66a-i). A plurality of pins and blocks are placed upon the plate (62) for locating certain pieces of fabric relative to the plate (62) in a pre-determined orientation. The device additionally includes at least one positioning frame (80,82,84) movably secured relative to the outer frame (64); the positioning frame including specified sets of bars (98; 100; 110), positioned adjacent a corresponding slit (66a-i) and above the location of the overlaid fabric pieces.

Abstract: An inflator comprising: a pressure vessel (10) for storing a quantity of stored inflation gas under pressure. The pressure vessel comprising a first burst disk (46) and a seal disk (310) both for selectively sealing same. The inflator (10) including a gas release mechanism (52, 300) for permitting the controlled, staged release of the inflation gas at determinable inflation rates. The gas release mechanism includes: a first pyrotechnic device, positioned outside of the pressure vessel and spaced from the first burst disk (46), including a piston (72) moved into a disk piercing position to rupture the first burst disk (46) in response to the buildup of pressure caused burning of a first quantity of propellant material (218).

Abstract: An air bag module (200) comprising: a housing (204) having an open top and a plurality of tabs (270) extending from an outer wall (102) proximate the open top, each tab including a slot (280); a deployment door (202) including a top portion (208) for enclosing the open top of the housing, a flange portion (220) engageable with the tabs and a hinge portion (210) securely fastened to the housing 204; the flange portion including openings (222) for receiving a corresponding one of the tabs, and a boss (290) that extends into each opening restricting a portion of each opening, such that upon full insertion of a tab within a corresponding opening the boss enters it s slot (280) securing the flange portion to the housing and; a tear seams, formed on the door which when torn permits the door to rotate about the hinge portion (210).

Abstract: An air bag module (10) having a housing 12) having an open end (14) defined by first (20) and second (22) side walls and first (30) and second end walls (32); the first and second side walls and first and second end walls, proximate the open end, each comprising an extending boss (40a-d), each boss (40a-d) comprising at least one slit (42), each slit at a lower portion thereof including an enlarged portion (44); an air bag (50) including an inlet portion (52) approximately the size and shape of the housing open end (14), the air bag proximate ends of the inlet portion being formed with looped portions, each looped portion being inserted within a slit (42) in a corresponding boss (40a-d); a plurality of bars inserted within each looped portion of the air bag after the looped portion is within a designated slit, for preventing the looped portion from being dislodged therefrom; a cover (100) including a top (102) having a frangible tear portion (104) torn open upon inflation of the air bag, side walls (106a-d) a

Abstract: An assembly for an air bag (56) adapted to fit within an opening (22) of a vehicle part (20) including: a housing (44) including: a first wall (100) and an opposite second wall (102), a flexible wall member (106) secured to the first wall (100) defining a space (150) therebetween, one of the first wall (100) and flexible wall member (106) including a plurality of first tabs (112) extending into the space (132), the second wall (102) including a plurality of locating tabs (120) and latching tabs extending outwardly therefrom; a deployment door or cover (30, 40, 42) for enclosing the housing including a hinge portion (40), received in the space, engagable with the first tabs (112) to provide a snap connection therebetween and a seam portion (42) including seam flange (76) engageable with the locating tabs, the seam flange being latched in place by the latching tabs (122) to secure the seam portion (42) to the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt buckle mechanism designed for use with belt pretensioning means and being rendered immune to the effects of rapid buckle deceleration following pretensioning action the mechanism having a resiliently movable plate 82 carried by the buckle release button, the resilience being effectively much lighter than release button return springs 49c so that although the plate 82 normally has no effect, in the event of pretensioning action, it slides into an abutting position in the mechanism to inhibit subsequent spurious release resulting from button movement in a crash situation.

Abstract: A cover for protecting at least one wire extending from an air bag inflator comprising: a top (52), including a circular shaped first portion (54) and a narrow three-sided flange portion (56) extending radially outward from first portion; a circularly shaped first wall (58) having first (60) and second ends (62) and a bottom surface defining a shoulder (64) extending downwardly from the first portion, the first wall terminating proximate the location of the flange portion to define a space (65) between the first and second ends of the first wall. An inner surface (66) of the first wall includes a diameter smaller than the diameter of an the end portion (24) of the inflator. The cover additionally includes a circularly shaped second wall (70) extending downwardly from the first wall, having an inner (72) surface. A groove (74) is formed within the inner surface, to receive an edge of the end portion (24).

Abstract: An assembly comprising: an inflator (20) for providing inflation gas, including a cylindrical body (22, 44) having at least one exhaust port (42a,b) located on a wall thereof through which a stream of inflation gas (40) exits, and a retainer (140) for securing the inflation means, including a hollow cylindrical retainer body for receipt of the inflation means and for diverting the inflation gas stream into a diffuser. The diffuser (210) comprises an inflatable gas permeable portion (212) for receiving the inflation gas stream such that when the inflation gas exits the gas permeable portion such inflation gas is generally uniformly distributed therethrough and communicated to an air bag. The diffuser includes a first portion (216a,b) attached the gas permeable portion and secured to the retainer. The air bag (230) is secured about the diffuser, for receipt of the inflation gas exiting the diffuser.

Abstract: A seat belt system comprising a length of webbing (20) adapted to secure an occupant to a seat; first locking element such as a tongue (24) receivable into second locking element such as a buckle (26), a portion of the buckle being fixedly positioned relative to the seat; a retractor (22) for retracting excess webbing; the webbing supporting a loop (40) of elastic material for resiliently coupling the webbing (20) to the tongue such that the webbing can move relative to the tongue in response to occupant motion and wherein a portion of the webbing (20) proximate the tongue is formed into a second loop (42), which limits the extension of the elastic loop (40) when the webbing is under tension.

Abstract: A brake system (10) comprising: a master cylinder (20) including a primary (24) and a secondary (26) chamber and a reservoir (26); an accumulator (40), a pump (42) having first inlet port connected to a reservoir (26) of the master cylinder (20) and the second outlet port (b) connected to the accumulator (40), a motor (50) for selectively driving the pump as a function of system pressure, a pressure boost mechanism (60) connected to the accumulator (40) and the primary and secondary chambers of the master cylinder for generating a boosted pressure at a fixed multiple of the pressure in either the primary or secondary master cylinder chambers.

Abstract: A reaction can (40) formed from a light weight typically non-structural material, comprising: a housing (42) comprising sides (24a, b, 26a, b) defining an open mouth and a bottom (28) generally opposite the mouth; and a reinforcement collar the sides, about the mouth to reinforce the housing.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention comprises a system (50; 200) for controlling service brake and parking functions of at least one wheel of a vehicle comprising: an electric motor (64) drivingly connected to a hydraulic pump (66) for pressurizing hydraulic fluid; the output of the pump communicated to at least one service brake (58a,b), comprising a first hydraulic cylinder (62a,b), an electronics circuit for controlling the speed of the motor (64) to regulate hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic cylinder in response to operator braking activity (56, 64, 62), the motor and pump providing the primary means of service brake activation.

Abstract: An air bag (20) formed of a woven panel of material comprising a main panel portion (22) having straight parallel sides (42), a first neck portion (24) extending from a first end (26) of the main panel portion and a second neck portion (28) extending from an opposite or second end (30) of the main panel portion having straight edges, the air bag sewn together using only straight line sew patterns.

Abstract: A manifold (10) for holding a generally cylindrically shaped gas generator (12), the gas generator including inflation ports (26a, b) through which inflation gas exits to inflate an air bag, the manifold being a hollow extruded structure (14) having a cylindrical middle portion (16) and first (32) and second (34) ends, the middle portion formed having a diameter section slightly larger than the diameter of the gas generator, a diameter of the first end being smaller relative to the diameter of the middle portion to provide an interference fit with a mating portion of the gas generator upon insertion of the gas generator; the middle portion further having two opposingly positioned outwardly flared portions (18a, b), the flared portions in cooperation with walls of the gas generator, defining open chambers to receive inflation gas from the gas generator, the flared portions each including at least an exit port (44a, d, 46a) to direct inflation gas out of the manifold.

Abstract: A pressure switch (30) adapted to be placed within a pressurized chamber for generating a logical signal when the pressure within the chamber reduces to a determinable pressure P.sub.1. The pressure switch (30) comprises: a pressure vessel (32) sealed at one end (34) by a snap action diagram (40) and having an inner stop (42) and an outer stop (60, 62) respectively positioned on opposing sides of the diaphragm (40) for limiting diaphragm motion. The outer stop comprises: a first cylindrical portion (78), a first pair of parallel slots (80a, b) formed therein and a through bore (70, 72, 74) extending therethrough. A switch assembly is loosely mounted to the outer stop. The switch assembly (90) comprises an upper housing member (92), a lower housing member (94), first and second electrical contacts (96a, 96b) and a pin (98).

Abstract: An assembly for an air bag (56) adapted to fit within an opening (22) in a panel in the vehicle interior such as an instrument panel. The assembly comprises a housing (44) including a first wall (100) and an opposite second wall (102), a flexible wall member (106) secured to the first wall (100) defining a space (132) therebetween to receive a hinge portion of the deployment door. One of the first wall (100) and flexible wall members (106) includes a plurality of depressions or first tabs (112) which extend into the space (132) to provide a mechanism to engage and lock the hinge portion of the deployment door in place. The second wall (102) includes at least one louver (122) forming a pocket (123) and a plurality of outwardly extending tabs (120) which provide a mechanism to engage and lock in place a tear seam portion of the deployment door.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling pressure in a wheel brake cylinder of a brake. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to an electrically driven pump and a flow control valve is connected between the pump and the wheel cylinder. The system and method operate to control the speed of a motor driven pump to generate a desired pressure in a cylinder of the brake; generate a differential pressure, in the flow control valve, proportional to pump flow and communication same to a spring biased valving element; cause the valving element to move, in response to pressure forces acting on the valving element, generated by the pressure differential, and the force of the bias spring, so as to selectively open and close an associated exhaust port, connected to a drain or sump, such that in the steady state an equilibrium condition is achieved where the pressure forces balance the spring force and the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder is constant.

Abstract: A cover (10) of integral construction for an air bag comprising: a panel (20) and a hinge (26) formed in a first side (28) of the cover (10) for enabling the panel to rotate thereabout after the panel separates from a seam on the opposite side of the panel in response to forces imparted thereto by an expanding air bag. The seam includes stress enhancing features for increasing stresses in the material causing same to tear and separate. These stress enhancing features includes a laterally extending narrow first portion (42), a closely spaced laterally extending narrow second portion (44) and a thin bridge (46) joining the first and second portions (42,44). The first portion, second portion and bridge are relatively movable one to the other so as to generate in the material at least two zones of increased tensile stress and at least two zones of increased compressive stress sufficient to cause the material to tear.

Abstract: An apparatus for an air bag safety restraint system comprising a deployment door (70), a chute (30) adapted to fit within an opening (24) within a component (20) of a vehicle and receive a deployment door (70). The chute (30) includes a first side (32a) and second side (32d). The second side (32d) includes a wall portion (34d) a snap-fit mechanism (125). The deployment door (70) including a substrate (70) including a cover member (74), a hinge member (78) formed along one side of the cover member (74), a flange (124) extending from the cover member (74) from a second side thereof and a tear seam (122) between the second side and the flange. The tear seam (122) being stressed and broken upon inflation of the air bag (69) permitting the cover member (74) to rotate about the hinge member permitting the air bag (69) to deploy, the flange (124) including receptacles 134a-c for engaging the snap-fit mechanism (125).

Abstract: A safety belt system (20) comprising a spool having safety belt webbing (26) attached to a spool (24) retraction mechanism that is spring biased to retract the webbing. The spool is associated with a ratchet wheel (28a,b) and a locking member (42). The locking member is movable into engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent extension of the webbing under certain vehicle operating conditions. A pendulum-type inertial member (44) associated with the locking member is operable to move the locking member into engagement with the ratchet wheel. The system includes a noise inhibitor assembly (50) which prevents the locking member from rattling under certain operating conditions.