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: Overhead airbag cushions are disclosed suitable for installation to a vehicle having an alternative seating arrangement, e.g., “campfire” or “living room” style seating wherein vehicle seating positions face each other. The overhead airbag cushion deploys from above a vehicle seating position to be disposed to receive at least a head of an occupant of the vehicle seating position. A reaction surface of the overhead airbag cushion may engage a roof, a windshield, or other structure of the vehicle to limit deflection of the overhead airbag cushion during loading as the occupant impacts the overhead airbag cushion. Internal and/or external tethers may assist in positioning and supporting the overhead airbag cushion.

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.

Abstract: Airbag cushions and related assemblies comprising improved internal tethers for reshaping deployment. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflatable cushion and an internal tether comprising an elongated axis positioned within the inflatable cushion, wherein the internal tether comprises a first concave portion attached to a first internal surface of the inflatable cushion and a second concave portion attached to a second internal surface of the inflatable cushion. The first concave portion and the second concave portion may be configured to redirect inflation of the inflatable cushion to form, upon deployment, two enlarged deployment regions and a reduced deployment region between the two enlarged deployment regions.

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.

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: A vehicle sensitive retractor control system having reduced sensitivity to Z-axis acceleration experienced during normal driving. The retractor control system incorporates a rolling mass and a locking lever which, in a resting position, are arranged such that the locking lever does not engage a ratchet wheel of a seat belt retractor spool. In response to accelerations in the horizontal plane, the rolling ball mass becomes unseated from its resting position and allows the locking lever to rotate due to the position of its center of gravity relative to its pivot point allowing it to pivot and lock the retractor. In response to Z-axis acceleration, the rolling mass is prevented from contacting the locking lever by a mass restrictor.

Abstract: Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies, methods, and components. 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 aspiration ports. Each inflation conduit may comprise features to improve aspiration efficiency, such as two or more rows of ports per conduit 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: The present disclosure describes a roof-mounted airbag apparatus in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a roof, an instrument panel, and two passenger seats in a front row. The airbag apparatus includes an inflator and an airbag that is fluidly coupled to the inflator. The airbag is inflatable and deployable from the roof in an interior of the vehicle between the passenger seats and the instrument panel, and includes a cavity.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioner system for use in a seatbelt retractor assembly having a spindle includes a frame assembly having a frame and an attachment bracket adapted to be interlocked to have an inner space for receiving the spindle, a housing adapted for being mounted to the frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having a first tube end in fluid communication with a gas generator and a second tube end in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the housing, a pinion being rotatably mounted in the housing and fixedly coupled to the spindle adapted for taking up seatbelt webbing during pretensioning, and a pretensioner rod disposed inside the pretensioner tube. Further, the pretensioner rod has a proximal end disposed towards the gas generator and a distal end disposed away from the gas generator.

Abstract: An emblem assembly arranged in an airbag cover coupled with a vehicle structure such as a steering wheel in a motor vehicle includes an electronic unit, a decorative unit, and a control device. The electronic unit is held by the airbag cover and has at least one light source. The decorative unit is arranged in the airbag cover and attached to the electronic unit such that the decorative unit covers at least a part of the electronic unit. The control device is electrically connected to the electronic unit and is adapted to control illumination of the decorative unit. Further, at least one light source of the electronic unit is adjusted by the control device arranged in the vehicle structure.

Abstract: An initiator for a gas generator of a vehicle safety device includes a cup defining an interior, a primary pyrotechnic material disposed in the interior of the cup, and a secondary pyrotechnic material disposed in the interior of the cup. A separator member hermetically separates the primary pyrotechnic material from the secondary pyrotechnic material.

Abstract: Pyrotechnic compositions are provided herein. The pyrotechnic composition includes potassium nitrate (KNO3), potassium perchlorate (KClO4), an inorganic fuel including boron, an organic fuel including one or more of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and one or more binders. The pyrotechnic composition may have one or more of: a heat of explosion (HEX) of greater than or equal to about 5.000 J/g, a maximum flame temperature at combustion (Tc) of greater than or equal to about 2,500 K (2,227° C.), and a gas yield of greater than or equal to about 15 moles/kg. Methods of preparing the pyrotechnic composition are also provided including wet granulation methods.

Abstract: Decorative emblem assemblies and related airbag modules and methods. In some embodiments, a decorative emblem may be coupled to a plate having a plurality of holes formed therein. A plurality of non-threaded fasteners may extend from the decorative emblem, wherein each of the plurality of non-threaded fasteners is configured to extend through a hole of the plurality of holes formed in the plate. The assembly may further comprise a clip configured to engage each of the plurality of non-threaded fasteners to secure the emblem assembly to an airbag cover and compress the plate between the decorative emblem and the airbag cover.

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.