Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering wheel assembly. The steering wheel assembly has a center portion and an outer rim. The outer rim encircles the center portion. A cover and an upper housing are also added to the center portion. The cover goes over the top of the center portion whereas the upper housing is positioned below the cover. The upper housing is constructed such that it is capable of being depressed from a normal position to a compressed position. An intermediate portion is also added to the steering wheel. The intermediate portion is positioned between the outer rim and the center portion and forms an interface with the cover. The steering wheel is constructed such that when the upper housing is in the normal position, there is no gap at the interface between the cover and the intermediate portion. This may be accomplished by constructing the intermediate portion to include an overhanging portion that overlaps and fits together with the cover.

Abstract: An airbag module is disclosed which, in one configuration, inflates from a vehicle seat to protect a vehicle occupant against lateral impact. The airbag module has a cushion with a pelvic chamber and a thoracic chamber. The airbag module also has an inflation assembly including an inflator within a housing inside the cushion. The housing has an aperture disposed within each of the chambers such that, when the inflator deploys, the pelvic chamber is inflated to a relatively higher pressure. The inflator may be moved axially within the housing to control the pressure ratio between the chambers. The housing is attached to the vehicle seat via attachment features that may be located at a variety of positions with respect to the remainder of the housing to facilitate adaptation of the inflation assembly to multiple cushion and vehicle configurations.

Abstract: An assembly including a support housing and an actuator device. The actuator device includes an extendable initiator cup including at least one non-random fold and at least in part defining a storage chamber containing a reactive charge reactable to produce reaction products. The extendable initiator cup longitudinally extends from a first length to a second, greater length upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge. The extendable initiator cup is at least partially disposed within a longitudinally extending bore of the support housing. The support housing is effective to limit lateral expansion of the extendable initiator cup upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge. The assembly can include an electrical conductive member or an electrical switch. The extendable initiator cup can extend to sever the electrical conductive member or disengage the electrical switch, thereby interrupting the conduction of electricity through an electrical system.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicular steering wheel, the airbag module including a snap ring mountable to the vehicular steering wheel and a housing connected to the snap ring and pivotally movable with respect to the vehicular steering wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflator for inflating a cushion of an airbag module. The inflator induces expansion of a gas by application of an electric voltage to the gas or to a plurality of filaments disposed within the gas. The voltage may be applied between a nozzle and a conductor in such a manner that an arc forms within the nozzle. Gas passing through the nozzle then forms an arc-jet that further heats adjacent gas. Multiple gases may be used, including gases designed to combust and/or dissociate to produce additional moles of inflation gas. The voltage may alternatively be applied within the housing in such a manner that a corona is formed in the gas, thereby at least partially ionizing the gas to heat the gas. As yet another alternative, the voltage may be applied to some of the filaments to provide gas expansion via filament combustion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag cushion that is lighter-weight, smaller, and more compact than the previously known airbag systems, yet still capable of providing a vehicle occupant with ample impact protection during a crash. Generally, the airbag comprises a one-piece woven cushion with two or more inflatable chambers. These chambers have a generally flat two-dimensional shape in its uninflated and unfolded configuration. However, once gas is added, the airbag cushion rapidly inflates and converts into a three-dimensional shape capable of providing impact protection to the occupant. Preferably, the three-dimensional configuration of the inflated airbag is generally triangular, V-shaped, or polygonal in shape.

Abstract: Enhanced airbag modules and associated methods are provided. An airbag module according to the invention may have a cushion with an inflatable protection zone and a flexible venting tube coupled to the inflatable protection zone. A closure mechanism may be used to compress the flexible venting tube against an anchoring member, such as a housing of the airbag module or a vehicle feature, until venting through the flexible venting tube is needed. The closure mechanism may then be actuated, for example, by igniting a pyrotechnic within a specially designed bolt of the closure mechanism. The bolt may, for example, have a bore with a pyrotechnic initiator molded-in-place within the bore. The bolt may fracture to open the closure mechanism, thereby permitting inflation gas to flow out of the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube.

Abstract: A sensor for a vehicle belt retractor includes a housing, an excitation mass, a locking mechanism which locks the belt retractor, and a lever arm connected to the housing. The lever arm is in contact with the excitation mass and engages the locking mechanism when the excitation mass moves relative to the housing. The sensor further includes a damper that restricts vertical displacement of the excitation mass relative to the housing.

Abstract: A dual stage inflater for providing an extended flow of inflation gas to an airbag or inflatable curtain is disclosed. The inflator includes a first gas chamber having an exit orifice, the exit orifice having an open configuration and a closed configuration. Additionally, the inflator has a second gas chamber in gaseous communication with the first gas chamber. The first and second gas chambers are separated by a flow restrictor positioned between them. This restrictor controls the flow of gas out of the second gas chamber. The inflator includes an initiator in communication with the interior of one of the gas chambers that is configured to selectively initiate a flow of gas through the exit orifice of the first gas chamber. The exit orifice of the inflator may be disposed within an inlet port of an inflatable curtain to cause inflation gases exiting the inflator through the exit orifices to enter directly into the airbag or inflatable curtain.

Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for tethering that may be used to keep a cushion properly positioned for side impact protection, particularly in vehicles with limited space rearward of the cushion. A tethering assembly provides tension to keep the cushion in place. The tethering assembly may include a tether with first and second ends attached together such that the tether forms a loop. The first and/or second ends may also be attached to a lower portion of the cushion. Upper and lower anchors may be attached to a vehicle surface near the cushion to slidably retain the tether. When the cushion inflates, the first and second ends move downward. The lower anchor may be a locking mechanism that restricts withdrawal of the first end. During deployment and impact of a vehicle occupant with the cushion, the tensioning assembly exerts tension to keep the cushion in place.

Abstract: Folding methods and patterns for folding an inflatable airbag for use in vehicles are disclosed. The folding patterns and methods of the invention assist in controlling the trajectory of the airbag cushion during deployment. More specifically, the methods and patterns of the invention may be used to deploy an overhead airbag cushion forward and downward along a windshield to place a portion of the airbag cushion rapidly in front of a vehicle occupant before the cushion has the opportunity to inflate significantly in a longitudinal direction to provide support and deceleration to a vehicle occupant. These methods result in airbag deployment which may prevent injury to out-of-position vehicle occupants.

Abstract: A mounting system and method of attaching an a side impact curtain airbag to a vehicle is provided that is inexpensive, simple to use, and does not require fasteners or other connectors. The mounting system includes one or more airbag mounts comprising a plate that has been positioned within the vehicle. The plate may a separate structure that may be attached to a vehicle as a well as a surface of the vehicle's body to which an airbag may be attached. Preferably, the plate includes one or more first tabs and one or more second tabs which are configured to define a receiving area in the plate. The first and second tabs are also configured such that the second tabs are inverted relative to the first tabs. An airbag with one or more slits and a hemmed portion may also be added to the mounting system.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a height of a first road vehicle with respect to the ground prior to impacting a second road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a predictive crash sensor mounted to the first vehicle for sensing the second road vehicle, a control unit, and a height adjustment apparatus. The control unit is in communication with the predicative crash sensor for receiving a predictive crash signal and determining whether the first and the second road vehicles will collide. The height adjustment apparatus is mounted to the first road vehicle and in communication with the control unit. The height adjustment apparatus includes a shock absorber, a bladder, and a first valve. The shock absorber is mounted at a first end to a vehicle body of the first road vehicle and at a second end to a vehicle axle of the first road vehicle. The bladder is fixed at a first end to the first end of the shock absorber and at a second end to the second end of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A load distributing airbag module having an airbag, a load plate, and a fastener is disclosed. The airbag has an airbag mount and the load plate has a load plate attachment member. The fastener may define a generally enclosed shape to capture the airbag mount and the load plate attachment member. To capture the airbag mount and the load plate attachment member, the fastener has an unfastened and fastened state. In the unfasten state, the fastener may be a “U” shaped channel. In the fastened state, the fastener is generally box shaped.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion module is disclosed. The inflatable cushion module is configured to be combined with other inflatable cushion modules to form a modular airbag system. Such modular airbag systems may be used to protect passengers of a vehicle from impact with a side surface of the vehicle. In general, the inflatable cushion module has an airbag and an attachment mechanism for attaching the airbag to the airbag of another module. When combined, the inflatable cushion modules form a single airbag system which can be used to protect the passengers of a vehicle from lateral impact. The airbag system can be configured to protect passengers in a single row of seats as well as passengers in two or more rows of seats.

Abstract: A modular fire detection and extinguishing system is disclosed that is inexpensive, compact, and modular to allow easy aftermarket installation in a variety of vehicles. The system may include a detector, a trigger coupled to the detector and a gas generant fire extinguisher, a modular distribution line in fluid communication with the extinguisher and a nozzle. The system allows exhaust gas from the gas generant fire extinguisher to carry dry powdered fire suppressant from the fire extinguisher and through the nozzle to disperse the fire suppressant substantially uniformly throughout a fire hazard zone. The extinguisher is installed such that exhaust gas must aerate substantially all the fire suppressant before exiting the extinguisher.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing bracket is disclosed for use in a vehicle to absorb the impact of a vehicle occupant with an interior surface of the vehicle such as a vehicular pillar, an interior trim panel, and other potential areas of contact. The brackets of the invention generally include an anchor plate configured to allow attachment of the bracket to a surface, an extension arm extending from the anchor plate; and a support foot linked to the extension arm. The energy-absorbing brackets of the invention are generally incompletely tubular in nature, and configured to deform when impacted to dissipate impact energy and assume a configuration adapted to absorb additional impact energy.

Abstract: An integral initiator assembly and an inflator device including the integral initiator assembly. The integral initiator assembly including a body having a first end including an opening. An initiator canister including a reactive charge and a conductive pin is joined to the body in discharge alignment with the first end opening by an injection-molded material. At least two gas exit holes are included in the body and positioned radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the initiator canister. The gas exit holes in gas flow communication with a gas flow space between an inside surface of the body and the initiator canister to allow inflation gas to exit the integral initiator assembly. A rupturable disk seals the opening of the first end. The integral initiator assembly is attached to the body at the first end over the sealed opening and filled with inflation gas to form an inflator device.