Abstract: A seat restraint tensioner for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a cable having a first end and a second end. The first end is operatively connected to a seat restraint of the seat restraint system. The seat restraint tensioner also includes a movable mechanism connected to the second end of the cable to apply a force for tightening the seat restraint when activated. The seat restraint tensioner further includes a rotatable cam cooperating with the cable to generate a clamping force toward the seat restraint to clamp the cable between the cam and a clamping surface to prevent reverse travel of the cable after tightening the seat restraint.

Abstract: A tethering restraint system is provided which restrains an inflatable air bag cushion during an extended period of inflation rather than limiting such restraint to the final stages of inflation. Maintaining tethering restraint during the inflation cycle increases the time over which energy is transferred between the air bag cushion and an occupant to be protected thereby reducing the instantaneous force transferred between the occupant and the air bag cushion as contact takes place.

Abstract: A vehicle door cinching apparatus for assisting the final closing motion of a sliding vehicle door includes an electromagnet, a ferrous metal plate, a cinch drive and a controller. The electromagnet mounts on either an outer periphery of a vehicle sliding door or an inner periphery of a vehicle sliding door frame that's shaped to receive the sliding door as the door moves along a final inward cinching portion of a door path to a final closed position within the door frame. The plate is supported on the other of the outer periphery of the door and the inner periphery of the door frame in a position where the plate can magnetically engage the electromagnet when the door is disposed along the final cinching portion of the door path. Whichever of the plate and electromagnet is supported on the inner periphery of the door frame is also supported for lateral movement in a direction generally parallel to the cinching portion of the door path.

Abstract: An over-molded beaded driving cable which has an inner core, a plurality of inner core structures. An outer jacket may encompass the inner core and inner core structures. Each of a plurality of outer beads concentrically surrounds an inner core structure. The outer beads are over-molded in this position, forming an interlocking inner core structure and outer bead configuration capable of high load and high flexible performance. An end fitting placed at each end portion of the inner core provides for a driving cable assembly with a variety of end fitting configurations, including a closed loop connection, for automotive and non-automotive applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module for motor vehicles, comprising an inflatable airbag (12) and a deflection pocket which is arranged in the region of an inflow opening of the airbag and which consists of at least two material layers, of which a lower layer (16a) has a flow-through opening (18) which is aligned with the inflow opening and is at least partly covered over by an upper layer (16b), and is secured at a holder element (22) for the airbag, with the upper layer being connected region-wise to the lower layer for forming radial gas propagation paths (24) for gas flowing via the deflection pocket into the airbag.

Abstract: A method of making an interior trim panel for attachment to structure of a vehicle includes the steps of loading a trim blank into a cavity of a first side of a mold and depositing a molten thermoplastic material onto a core on the first side of the mold. The method also includes the steps of closing the mold, moving the slide in a channel of the core, and injecting a molten thermoplastic material into a second side of the mold to form the interior trim panel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a passenger airbag housing using a continuous flow or constant cross-section process, the process will enable maximum design flexibility when multiple materials are capable of being used. The method will have a short design and tooling lead-time providing lean processing and a common footprint over a family of designs. A method of structurally reinforcing a passenger air bag housing by inserting a structural member into the continuous flow or constant cross-section process.

Abstract: An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event. The safety system includes a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion having at least one vent opening. A cover element of substantially pliable material is located in overlying relation to the vent opening. The cover element is selectively displaceable relative to the vent opening in response to the inflation depth of the air bag cushion so as to adjust venting characteristics.

Abstract: A method is for direct application of a brazing flux material to a brazing surface. The method includes the step of applying a brazing filler material to a substrate utilizing a kinetic spray process to form a brazing surface. Following application of the brazing filler material to the substrate brazing flux material can be directly applied to the brazing surface as either a dry powder or a wet slurry. The nature of the brazing surface allows the applied flux material to adhere to the surface without the utilization of additional binders or resin materials.

Abstract: A method of making a heated steering wheel comprises depositing an electrically conductive layer on at least a portion of a steering wheel substrate to produce thereon a heating element for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat. Also disclosed is a heating element for a steering wheel and a heated steering wheel assembly formed using this method.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt that moves between a latched position and an unlatch position and a detent that moves between a detent position where the detent holds the forkbolt in the latched position and a release position where the detent releases the forkbolt for movement to the unlatch position. The vehicle door latch includes a detent spring that biases the detent toward the detent position and a release mechanism that moves the detent against the bias of the detent spring to the release position to release the forkbolt. The vehicle door latch also includes an auxiliary detent spring that decelerates the movement of the detent to the detent position under the bias of the detent spring to reduce noise when the detent strikes the fork bolt. An auxiliary counter spring and an alternative auxiliary helper spring are shown.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a nozzle for a kinetic spray system that uses much lower powder pressures than previously used in kinetic spray systems. The method permits one to significantly decrease the cost of the powder delivery portion of the system, to run the system at higher temperatures for increased deposition efficiency and to eliminate clogging of the nozzle. The nozzle is a supersonic nozzle having a throat located between a converging region and a diverging region, with the diverging region defined between the throat and an exit end. At least one injector is positioned between the throat and the exit end with the injector in direct communication with the diverging region. The powder particles to be sprayed are injected through the at least one injector and entrained in a gas flowing through the nozzle. The entrained particles are accelerated to a velocity sufficient to cause them to adhere to a substrate positioned opposite the nozzle.

Abstract: A variable tether system adapted for use in an inflatable cushion of an airbag module having a first pair of tether elements each having a first end and a second end, the first ends each being secured to inner portions of the inflatable cushion and the second ends each being secured to inner portions of the inflatable cushion, the first ends each being secured to the inflatable cushion at positions remote from the second ends and the second ends being secured to the inflatable cushion at a location closer to an inflation opening of the inflatable cushion than the first ends, wherein each of the first pair of tether elements has a portion between each of the first and second ends which is not secured to the inflatable cushion; and a second pair of tether elements each having a first side and a second side, the first side of one of said second pair of tether elements being secured to a portion of one of the first pair of tether elements and the first side of the other one of the second pair of tether elements b

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.

Abstract: An airbag module is provided. The module includes a housing, an inflator, an inflatable cushion, a vent aperture defined in the housing, and a gas deflecting member. The vent aperture places the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing. The vent aperture is offset from exhaust ports of the inflator. The gas deflecting member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first portion of the deflecting member deflects a first amount of the inflation gas to the exterior of the housing. In the second position, a second portion of the deflecting member deflects the inflation gas towards the inflatable cushion. A second amount of the inflation gas is ventable from the housing through the vent aperture when the deflecting member is in the second position.

Abstract: A pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a housing for allowing belt webbing of the seat restraint system to pass therethrough. The pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly also includes at least one spring disposed in the housing and at least one magnet disposed in the housing. The pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly includes a Hall effect sensor disposed in the housing and cooperable with the at least one magnet. The pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly further includes a movable actuator disposed in the housing and cooperable with the belt webbing and the at least one spring to move the at least one magnet relative to the Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system.

Abstract: A vehicle has a storage compartment latch that includes a moveable detent member and a release actuator for moving the detent member to a release position that is operated from inside the storage compartment. The release actuator has a handle that pulls a cable to move the detent member. The cable is attached to the detent member by a cable attachment that comprises a retention slot in an end portion of the detent member and an end length of the cable that has a ferrule attached to it. The end length of the cable is loaded into the retention slot in a transverse manner via a loading slot and transition slots in the end portion of the detent member.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in capacitance of a capacitive sensing element having a nominal capacitance value is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes coupling the sensing element to a first oscillator, the first oscillator generating a first frequency dependent upon the capacitance value of the sensing element. The first frequency is compared to a reference frequency generated by a second oscillator. The change in capacitance from the nominal capacitance value is detected if the first frequency differs from said reference frequency by a determined frequency value.

Abstract: A badge is disclosed having a metallic emblem having a thickness about 0.01 to about 1 mm, adhesively attached to a mounting frame by an adhesive polymeric resin having a Shore D hardness about 20 to about 90. Also disclosed is a vehicular sub-assembly including a substrate with the badge attached thereto. Methods of making the badge and the sub-assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air bag restraint system for a transportation vehicle. The restraint system includes an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet, an upper edge, a lower edge and a perimeter. A gas emitting inflator is in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The inflatable curtain includes an inflatable flow channel in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The inflatable flow channel extends at least partially around the inflatable curtain in a path such that at least a potion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and along the lower edge.