Abstract: A knee airbag includes a front panel, a rear panel and an intermediate panel. The rear panel is coupled to the front panel to define an inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is disposed between the front panel and the rear panel and within the inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is connected to the rear panel by rows of first attachment points extending in a lateral direction across the knee airbag and connected to the front panel by rows of second attachment points extending in the lateral direction. The airbag includes a proximal bending area proximate a proximal end thereof. The longitudinal distances between adjacent rows of first and second attachment locations are greater than longitudinal distances between adjacent rows of second attachment locations.

Abstract: Airbag cushion modules for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise an aspirating airbag cushion assembly comprising a housing comprising an inner portion and an outer portion and an inflator fluidly coupled with the inner portion of the housing. An airbag cushion may be stored in the housing, which airbag cushion may be configured to extend from the inner portion to the outer portion such that a peripheral edge of the airbag cushion, such as a portion of the throat region of the cushion, is coupled with the housing along the outer portion.

Abstract: Decorative emblem assemblies having lighting control features and related airbag modules and methods. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a cover comprising a pocket for receiving an emblem assembly therein and an emblem assembly coupled to the cover within the pocket. The emblem assembly may comprise one or more plates configured to engage at least a portion of the pocket and a decorative emblem configured to be coupled with the one or more plates. The assembly may further comprise an LED or other lighting element configured to illuminate at least a portion of the decorative emblem. In some embodiments, the plate may be configured to create a light seal about at least a portion of a periphery of the plate to at least substantially prevent light from exiting the pocket adjacent the at least a portion of the periphery of plate.

Abstract: Airbag cushions and related assemblies configured to protect the lower extremities of a vehicle occupant and reduce the chances of leg slide off during deployment using one or more side panels. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflatable cushion comprising a top panel, a bottom panel coupled with the top panel, and two side panels, which may be coupled with the top and bottom panels. The side panels may be positioned, in an inflated configuration, opposite from one another and may be configured, upon deployment, to increase surface area contact with the occupant's lower extremities and/or to inhibit the occupant's lower extremities from sliding off of the inflatable cushion during deployment.

Abstract: A knee airbag includes a front panel, a rear panel coupled to the front panel to define an inflation chamber, and an intermediate panel between the front panel and the rear panel and within the inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is connected to the front panel and the rear panel at various locations between a proximal end and a distal end of the intermediate panel to control an inflated configuration of the knee airbag. The knee airbag has a two-layer construction only including the front panel and the rear panel in a depth direction, a three-layer construction including the front panel, the rear panel, and the intermediate panel in the depth direction, and a transition construction including the front panel, the rear panel, and an air permeable portion in the depth direction. The knee airbag includes the two-layer construction in at least first and second two-layer areas that extend at least substantially along first and second lateral sides of the knee airbag.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioner system includes a pretensioner tube in fluid communication with a gas generator and a pretensioner rod having a proximal end portion disposed toward the gas generator and a distal end portion disposed at an exit of the pretensioner tube. The pretensioner rod is disposed inside the pretensioner tube in a pre-actuation state and adapted to travel within the pretensioner tube toward a pretensioner wheel upon an actuation of the gas generator in a post-actuation state. The pretensioner rod includes a protrusion formed in a radial direction of the rod to couple with the pretensioner tube to restrict the rod from moving out from the pretensioner tube in the pre-actuation state. The pretensioner rod is configured to avoid the stripping of the rod and reduce energy consumption when the polymer rod is deformed during pretensioning.

Abstract: An initiator for a gas generator of a vehicle safety device. The initiator is actuatable by an electrical power source having a ground wire and includes a cup defining an interior for receiving a pyrotechnic material and a pair of electrical pins extending from the cup and arranged to be in reaction initiating communication with the pyrotechnic material through a bridge wire. The initiator additionally includes an over-molded body having a first end defining a pocket for receiving the electrical power source and a mounting ring extending around a least a portion of a periphery of the over-molded body. The initiator further includes an electrically conductive member providing electrical communication between the mounting ring and an inner diameter of the pocket. The electrically conductive member is molded in place within the over-molded body.

Abstract: Actuator housings for airbag modules and related assemblies. In some embodiments, an airbag assembly may comprise an electrically conductive piece and an electro-explosive device coupled with the electrically conductive piece and positioned adjacent to the electrically conductive piece. The assembly may further comprise a housing for the electro-explosive device. The housing may be at least partially defined by a conductive plastic material having an electrical conductivity less than that of the electrically conductive piece.

Abstract: Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise an aspirating airbag cushion assembly comprising an airbag cushion, which may be configured to deploy from a housing or the like. The assembly may further comprise one or more inflation conduits configured to deliver inflation gas into the airbag cushion through a plurality of inflation ports. Each inflation conduit may comprise one or more features to improve aspiration efficiency, such as expanded distal portions and/or angled features to redirect inflation gases in a manner to improve the efficiency of the inflation gas to aspirate ambient air into the cushion.

Abstract: A knee airbag includes a front panel, rear panel coupled to the front panel to define an inflation chamber, and an intermediate panel between the front panel and the rear panel and within the inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is connected to the front panel and the rear panel at various locations between a proximal end and a distal end of the intermediate panel to control an inflated configuration of the knee airbag. First and second suspension portions suspend the proximal end of the intermediate panel between the front panel and the rear panel and are permeable to the passage of inflation gases. The first suspension portion extends between the front panel and the proximal end of the intermediate panel. The second suspension portion extends between the rear panel and the proximal end of the intermediate panel. An inflator for inflating the knee airbag is disposed in the inflation chamber at a proximal end of the knee airbag.

Abstract: A knee airbag includes a front panel, rear panel coupled to the front panel to define an inflation chamber, and an intermediate panel between the front panel and the rear panel and within the inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is connected to the front panel and the rear panel at various locations between a proximal end and a distal end of the intermediate panel to control an inflated configuration of the knee airbag. First and second suspension portions suspend the proximal end of the intermediate panel between the front panel and the rear panel and are permeable to the passage of inflation gases. The first suspension portion extends between the front panel and the proximal end of the intermediate panel. The second suspension portion extends between the rear panel and the proximal end of the intermediate panel. An inflator for inflating the knee airbag is disposed in the inflation chamber at a proximal end of the knee airbag.

Abstract: Airbag cushion chutes and related assemblies comprising airbag cushion chutes for controlling airbag cushion deployment and/or protecting screens or other equipment in a vehicle. In some embodiments, an airbag cushion assembly may comprise a housing and an airbag cushion chute positioned within the housing. An inflatable cushion may be positioned within the airbag cushion chute, which airbag cushion chute may be configured to, upon deployment of the inflatable cushion, extend out of the housing to restrict expansion of the inflatable cushion in a lateral direction, which may allow for protecting, for example, a disassociated screen of a vehicle.

Abstract: Airbag assemblies, such as inflatable curtain airbag assemblies, comprising integrated fastener/stiffener pieces, such as stiffener plates combined with pushpins extending therefrom. In some embodiments, a mounting plate for mounting an inflatable curtain airbag assembly to a vehicle may comprise a plate having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of a tab of an inflatable curtain airbag assembly to which it is attached. An opening may be formed in the plate, the opening being configured to receive a first fastener therethrough. A second fastener, such as a non-threaded fastener, may be fixedly and/or integrally coupled with the plate and may extend from one side of the plate.

Abstract: A seatbelt of a vehicle includes a buckle tilt mounting device for a tongue plate coupled with a seatbelt webbing restraining an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. The buckle tilt mounting device includes a buckle assembly having a buckle and a buckle cable, and further includes a pre-tensioner system having a housing, a driving member, and a pre-tensioner cable. When the pre-tensioner system is actuated at a time of a vehicle collision or at a time a vehicle collision is anticipated, the driving member retracts the pre-tensioner cable inside the housing such that the buckle assembly is rotatably moved and configured to reduce submarining load on the occupant.

Abstract: A seatbelt buckle for receiving a tongue of a latch plate in an occupant restraining system of a vehicle includes a housing having a frame and a locking mechanism operatively connected with the frame, an ejector operatively coupled to the locking mechanism, a button in sliding engagement with the locking mechanism, an opening formed in the housing for inserting the tongue of the latch plate into a passage formed in the housing, and a gate securely attached to the ejector and sized to fit in the opening of the housing. The ejector releasably retains the tongue of the latch plate and the button releases the locking mechanism. Further, the gate moves in a linear fashion along with the tongue of the latch plate.

Abstract: An airbag arrangement for a vehicle includes a housing, an airbag cushion and a guide arrangement. The housing is mountable to a roof of the vehicle. The airbag cushion is normally stored within the housing and deployable from the housing. The guide arrangement guides the airbag cushion from a stowed position within the housing to a deployed position and includes a continuous cord having a first end attached to a first point on the airbag cushion and a second end attached to a second point on the airbag cushion. The guide arrangement further includes a plurality of mounting member for attachment to the roof. The plurality of mounting members slidably receive the continuous cord, The mounting members and the continuous cord cooperate to fix the airbag cushion in free space upon deployment with only the roof as structural support.

Abstract: An actuator device with an actuator cup having a first end and a second end. The actuator cup defines a storage chamber containing a pyrotechnic material to produce gas. The storage chamber also includes a coolant. At least one electrical connection coupled to the first end, the electrical connection in reaction initiating communication with the pyrotechnic material. The second end of the actuator cup includes a concave surface before actuation of the pyrotechnic material and during the actuation of the pyrotechnic material the second end transitions from the concave surface to a convex surface.

Abstract: Seat centric airbag restraint systems having pelvis restraint features, along with related methods. In some implementations, a first seat-mounted airbag cushion may be deployed along a first side of a vehicle occupant and a second seat-mounted airbag cushion may be deployed along a second side of the vehicle occupant. At least one wrap-around belt engaging at least one of the first and second seat-mounted airbag cushions may be released, either partially or fully, to inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within a vehicle seat.

Abstract: A gas generant formulation for a side impact airbag that includes a primary fuel, a primary oxidizer, a secondary fuel, and a secondary oxidizer. The secondary fuel includes at least melamine nitrate in an amount that is in a range of about 1.00% by weight to about 10.00% by weight. The secondary oxidizer includes at least potassium perchlorate that is in an amount that is in a range of about 1.00% by weight to about 10.00% by weight. The formulation provides a burn rate that is at least 50 mm/sec at 40 MPa and a burn rate slope that is equal to or less than 0.40.

Abstract: A ramp bracket for a curtain airbag of a vehicle includes a back wall, at least a first trim pushing portion, and a ramp portion. The back wall extends along a length of the ramp bracket and attaches to the vehicle. The first trim pushing portion longitudinally extends along a first length portion of the length of the ramp bracket, depends from the back wall and has a downwardly or side opening shape. The ramp portion extends along a second length portion of the length of the ramp bracket, also depends from the back wall, and has an upwardly opening shape.