Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises two superimposed plies of fabric (12, 14) and a tether secured to the plies of fabric and defining the spacing between them in the inflated condition. The tether is formed by a seam (22b) implemented with a thread slack.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use in a vehicle comprises a steering shaft (12) rotatable about a first axis (B) and an activatable lock (18) operatively coupled with the steering shaft for preventing rotation of the steering shaft. The lock (18) is deactivated by a key (19). A vehicle steering wheel (20) includes a hub portion (130) and is non-rotatably connected to the steering shaft (12) by the hub portion for joint rotation with the steering shaft. The apparatus (10) further comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (70) attached to the steering wheel (20). A movable member (200) blocks axial movement of the steering wheel (20) relative to the steering shaft (12). A housing (160) encircles a portion of the steering shaft (12) and the hub portion (130). The housing (16) includes at least one opening (194).

Abstract: A system (10) for controlling an actuatable occupant protection device (44, 46, 52, 48, 50, 54) includes an actuatable headrest device (44, 48) which, when actuated, helps protect an occupant of a vehicle seat (42, 43). A crash sensor (22) is operative to sense a condition of a vehicle (20) and provide a crash sensor signal having an electrical characteristic indicative of the sensed vehicle condition. A controller (24) is coupled to the actuatable headrest device (44, 48) and the crash sensor (22). The controller (24) determines a crash velocity value and a crash displacement value based on the crash sensor signal. The controller (24) has a threshold value functionally related to the determined crash displacement value. The controller (24) controls actuation of the actuatable headrest device (44, 48) in response to the determined crash velocity value relative to the threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) having a roof (60) and a side structure (40) includes an inflatable device (16) having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, a head portion (22) of the inflatable device is inflated between the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and a side portion (20) of the inflatable device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) further includes an actuatable inflation fluid source (14) for upon actuation directing inflation fluid into the inflatable device (16) to inflate the inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. The head portion (22) of the inflatable device (16) is inflated by inflation fluid flow in a direction transverse to the vehicle side structure (40).

Abstract: An RF amplifier system comprising a plurality of actuatable switches, each switch being normally OFF and being actuated to an ON condition by a received turn ON pulse and remains ON for the duration of the turn ON pulse. The switches are connected in a series circuit with a load across a DC voltage source. An RF source provides a train of RF pulses exhibiting a fixed frequency and fixed duty-cycle and wherein each RF pulse is of a fixed magnitude and duration. A control circuit receives the RF pulses and provides therefrom the turn ON pulses which are of equal duration and which are synchronized to the RF pulses. The control circuit simultaneously applies the turn ON pulses to the plurality of transistor switches. The control circuit includes a pulse duration modulator that varies the duration of the turn ON pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) determines a target (e.g., a vehicle occupant 22) beyond a predetermined distance. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus (20) determines a distant target for use in control of air bag deployment. The apparatus (20) includes a sensor (44) for emitting and receiving first (52, 56) and second (54, 58) signals in an interspersed predetermined emission sequence toward the target. A controller (60) successively determines a time interval between the emission of a current signal and the reception of an echo. The controller (60) successively compares at least two time intervals to determine whether a sufficient difference exists to indicate that the target is beyond the predetermined distance and outputs a signal to the air bag actuation system (62).

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a frame (10), a spool (12) rotatably mounted in the frame and a blocking mechanism for selectively blocking rotation of the spool to prevent belt webbing from being withdrawn from the retractor. The frame has a threaded hole for a screw bolt permitting safe connection of the frame (10) to the vehicle bodywork. Mounting condition sensing devices are functionally inserted between the blocking mechanism and the screw bolt and effective to maintain the blocking mechanism in a blocking condition if and as long as an incomplete mounting condition is detected. The mounting condition sensing devices comprises a sleeve (22) adapted to be contacted by a front end of the bolt and to be pushed into a predetermined position by the bolt when a completed mounting condition is detected, therapy allowing release of the blocking mechanism.

Abstract: A cast product is a housing for a power steering comprising a pair of large holes for both a contact valve and a cylinder, and a small hole connected to the large holes. In order to mold such a cast product, a composite core has large core portions for the large holes and small core portions for the small hole. The large core portions include resin films used to coat the outer periphery of metal bases exposed in a cavity. The small core portions include a resin body formed of a resin connected to the resin films on the outer periphery of the metal bases.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for providing fluid under pressure for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device comprises an electrically actuatable initiator (80) having terminal pins (100). A hermetically sealed metal propellant container (130) contains a propellant (82) ignitable by the initiator (80) to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (130) is secured to the initiator (80) by crimping. The apparatus (10) also comprises a member (86) electrically insulating between the metal propellant container (130) and the terminal pins (100) of the initiator (80) to isolate the initiator electrically from the propellant container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable gas bag, a gas-carrying distributor pipe projecting into the gas bag and a piston housed displaceably in the distributor pipe. The restraint system further comprises a power transmission means which connects the piston and the gas bag with each other and via which a force for tensioning the gas bag is transferred onto said gas bag. A deflection member for the power transmission means is provided in the distributor pipe. The power transmission means is constructed as a traction means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing units that are subject to rotational force, such as automotive tire-mounted units. The apparatus (30) includes a rotational drive motor (36), a rotating member (32), and a drive interconnection (42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 56) operatively connected between the drive motor and the rotating member. The drive interconnection includes a first constant velocity joint (44), a longitudinal spline interconnection (56), and a second constant velocity joint (46). The apparatus (30) also includes a stationary motor mount (38) fixed to the drive motor (36), a test unit holder (34) located on the rotating member, and a three-dimensional motion drive (40) operatively connected to the rotating member (32).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the detachable fastening of a steering wheel on a steering shaft having an axis. The steering wheel has a hub provided with a through-bore arranged perpendicularly to the axis of the steering shaft and the through-bore intersects a groove arranged in the steering shaft. The device comprises a fastening member arranged in the through-bore. The fastening member has a bolt with a head and a shaft provided at least partially with an external thread and has a nut able to be screwed onto the shaft of the bolt. The nut is able to engage into the groove and the through-bore has two oppositely directed radial support surfaces arranged between the bolt head and the nut. One support surface is arranged on the bolt head side and the other support surface is arranged on the nut side. A spring element is provided which engages one of the bolt and the nut and exerts a force onto one of the bolt and the nut. The force aims for an increase of a distance between the bolt head and the nut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a covering cap for a gas bag module of a vehicle occupant restraint device. The covering cap comprises at least one plastic layer and is provided at least in places with a heating means.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes seat belt webbing (12) for restraining an object (14) in a vehicle seat (16). A sensor (50) associated with the vehicle seat (16) senses a sensed weight of the object (14) in the vehicle seat. A seat belt tension sensor (60) senses the tension in the seat belt webbing (12). A controller (44) determines a computed weight of the object (14) as a function of both the sensed weight and the tension in the seat belt webbing (12).

Abstract: A belt retractor comprises a belt spool rotatably mounted in a frame, a locking mechanism for the belt spool with at least one locking disc connected to the belt spool, and a torque limiting member arranged in a force flow path between the belt spool and the locking disc. The torque limiting member is constructed as a friction clutch comprising two clutch faces lying opposite each other and a friction member arranged between the clutch faces. The friction member is constructed as a flat spring part having shaped sections. The shaped sections lie at least partially against at least one of the clutch faces.

Abstract: An article (10) comprises a transparent material (42) having interior and exterior surfaces (44 and 46). A coating of paint (48) is applied to the exterior surface (46) of the transparent material (42). Indicia (12) are formed in the coating of paint (48) by a plurality of interrelated line segments (50). Each line segment (50) of the plurality of line segments (50) extends parallel to each other line segment (50). The article (10) further comprises a light source (40) actuatable for directing light against the interior surface (44) of the transparent material (42) and through the line segments (50) to illuminate the indicia (12). The indicia (12) are discernible from the coating of paint (48) when illuminated by the light source (40) and are indiscernible from the coating of paint (48) when not illuminated.

Abstract: A vehicle (12) includes an ultrasonic intrusion alarm system (11). A linear electric motor (60) has a movable part (64) that moves linearly relative to the alarm system (11) upon actuation of the linear electric motor. A computer (120) controls operation of the linear electric motor (60). A plurality of different test devices (80, 90, 100, 110) are selectively connectable with the movable motor part (64) for performing different tests of the alarm system (11).

Abstract: A vehicle has a seat (12) for a vehicle occupant (14) and a vehicle floor pan (16) for supporting the vehicle seat (12). An apparatus (40) includes a vehicle seat frame (42) for supporting a weight load of the vehicle occupant (14) in the vehicle seat (12), a support mount (60) connected to the vehicle floor pan (16), a lever (70), and a sensor (80). A support mount (60) transmits the weight load of the vehicle occupant (14) in the vehicle seat (12) from the vehicle seat frame (42) to the vehicle floor pan (16). The vehicle seat frame (42) moves vertically relative to the support mount (60) as the weight load on the vehicle seat frame (42) changes. The lever (70) has a first end (72) and a second end (74) opposite the first end (72). The lever (70) is rotatably attached to the vehicle seat frame (42) and rotatably attached to the support mount (60).

Abstract: An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes containing means for receiving gases to provide a combustible mixture of the gases. An igniter is activated to effect ignition of the mixture of gases in response to sudden vehicle deceleration. A directing means directs a flow of gas from containing means into the inflatable occupant restraint. In the preferred embodiment the gases are an inert gas, a fuel gas, and an oxidizer gas. Also, a lean mixture of a fuel gas and oxidizer gas could be used. An improved igniter transmits energy through an imperforate portion of a wall of the containing means to ignite a charge in the containing means. The igniter may include an elongate core disposed in a frangible sheath which is shattered as the core is burned.