Abstract: A seat belt assembly for use in a seat belt system of a motor vehicle to restrain a vehicle occupant. The assembly includes a belt webbing extending from a first end to a second end and includes tubular webbing extending from the first end and configured to open at a tear seam. An airbag is disposed within the tubular webbing and configured to inflate and deploy through the tear seam. A gas generator is fluidly coupled to the airbag and configured to provide an expanding gas to inflate and deploy the airbag in response to a control signal. A first part of the airbag is configured to inflate above the tubular webbing such that the first part of the airbag is disposed between a side or door of the vehicle and the thorax of the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An airbag system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle including an ejection mitigation device configured to substantially cover an inside surface of the motor vehicle such as the rear window or the front windshield. The ejection mitigation device may be attached to one or more deployment guides which can then be attached to a driver or passenger side inflatable airbag. The deployment guides may be configured to guide the deployment of the ejection mitigation device during inflation of the driver and passenger side inflatable airbags.

Abstract: An airbag inflation deflection device and airbag module is disclosed. The deflection device may be a deflection hood that covers a portion of the airbag inflator, and is positioned adjacent inflator exit ports to initially deflect inflation gas away from an intended occupant position. The airbag module also includes a housing that may have side wells on either side of the inflator, in which the deflection hood initially deflects the inflation gas. The housing and deflection hood in combination may direct a majority of the inflation gas into the lateral portions of the airbag instead of into the center portion.

Abstract: A seatbelt buckle system is disclosed that allows rotation of the seatbelt buckle in a transverse direction with respect to the vehicle body. The system includes a buckle fixed to a buckle attachment plate. The buckle attachment plate has a through aperture that cooperates with a fastener for attaching the buckle attachment plate to a vehicle structure such as a vehicle seat. Additionally, a spring is disposed between the buckle attachment plate and the head of the fastener. Further, the through aperture in the buckle attachment plate is oversized such that the buckle attachment plate and attached buckle can rotate along a longitudinal axis of the fastener.

Abstract: A multi-composition pyrotechnic material is provided for an inflatable restraint device (for example, an airbag system or pretensioner for a vehicle). The multi-composition pyrotechnic material can be a gas generant, a micro gas generant, or an igniter, for example. The multi-composition pyrotechnic material comprises a first pyrotechnic material that defines one or more void regions. A second pyrotechnic material, compositionally distinct from the first pyrotechnic material, is introduced into at least one of the void regions and forms a second region of the pyrotechnic materials. The second composition can be introduced to the void regions in the form of a slurry. Methods of forming such multi-composition pyrotechnic materials are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-composition pyrotechnic material is provided for an inflatable restraint device (for example, an airbag system or pretensioner for a vehicle). The multi-composition pyrotechnic material can be a gas generant, a micro gas generant, or an igniter, for example. The multi-composition pyrotechnic material comprises a first pyrotechnic material that defines one or more void regions. A second pyrotechnic material, compositionally distinct from the first pyrotechnic material, is introduced into at least one of the void regions and forms a second region of the pyrotechnic materials. The second composition can be introduced to the void regions in the form of a slurry. Methods of forming such multi-composition pyrotechnic materials are also provided.

Abstract: An airbag assembly is disclosed for use in an automobile. The disclosed airbag assembly adaptively vents gas from the interior of the airbag depending on whether an obstruction is encountered during airbag deployment.

Abstract: A process of determining target parameters of an object within a field of detection of an automotive radar system, the process comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a target range from a sequence of ranges; (b) dwelling on the target range for an initial dwell time to obtain sensor data; (c) determining if the sensor data corresponds to the presence of an object or to the absence of an object at the target range based on probability density distributions of an object being present and being absent at the target range, and if such the determination cannot be made, then repeating steps (b)-(c) until the determination can be made; (d) if the sensor data is determined to correspond to the presence of an object in step (c), then dwelling at the target range for an extended dwell time to obtain additional sensor data for determining the target parameters of the object before proceeding to step (e); and (e) establishing the next of the sequence of ranges as the target range before reiterating steps (b)-(e).

Abstract: A relief valve for use with a conduit includes a housing attached to the conduit and an engagement member slidably disposed within the housing and movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The engagement member pierces the conduit when moved from the retracted position to the extended position.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an airbag cushion and related airbag modules including a plurality of flaps that may be used to secure the airbag within a module housing. In one embodiment of the invention, first and second flaps are connected with the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion is adapted to be condensed into a compact configuration wherein the first flap extends adjacent to the second flap and in at least approximately the opposite direction as the second flap.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatus, methods, and systems for inflatable curtain venting. In one embodiment, an inflatable curtain airbag is tested using a 50th-percentile dummy. The inflatable curtain airbag comprises a vent opening positioned such that during the crash test, the head of the 50th-percentile dummy strikes the airbag at the location of the vent such that the exit of inflation gas through the vent is at least partially blocked. The same inflatable curtain airbag may then be used in a test involving a 5th-percentile dummy, in which case the head of the 5th-percentile dummy would not strike the airbag so as to block the vent, thereby allowing for venting of the airbag.

Abstract: A safety restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed. The safety restraint system has a seat belt webbing for restraining an occupant of the vehicle, a seat belt retractor, a deflector, a height adjuster, a latch plate deflector, a buckle and a communication link. The seat belt retractor mounted to a first structural member of the vehicle for securing the seat belt to the vehicle and allowing protraction and retraction of the seat belt. The retractor has at least two load limiting modes. The deflector receives the seat belt webbing and directs the seat belt webbing across the shoulder of the occupant. The height adjuster secures the deflector to a second structural member of the vehicle. The deflector is positionable between at least two locations along the height adjuster. The latch plate deflector receives the seat belt webbing and redirects the seat belt webbing across the lap of the occupant. The buckle receives and removably secures the latch plate deflector when the seat belt is in use by the occupant.

Abstract: An inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system. The inflator device includes a supply of gas generant material disposed within a sealed chamber, and an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material. A venting orifice connects the chamber to the surrounding ambient environment, and a rupturable seal seals the venting orifice. Upon reaction initiation of the gas generant material to produce inflation gas, the rupturable seal ruptures to vent the chamber to the ambient environment. A valve assembly can be disposed adjacent the venting orifice. A moveable valve piston, in combination with an actuator device, can block the venting orifice as needed to close the venting orifice and stop inflation gas venting. An optional tether release mechanism can be used in combination with the valve assembly to release a cushion tether upon closing of the venting orifice.

Abstract: A compound including at least one copper II complex of a material selected from the group of imidazole and imidazole derivatives is provided for use in a gas generant composition. An associated burn rate enhanced gas generant composition, in addition to such copper complex-containing compound, also includes a nitrogen-containing non-azide fuel. Additionally provided are methods for improving the combustion performance of a non-azide gas generant composition in at least one aspect selected from the group consisting of ignitability, burn rate and burn rate pressure sensitivity, through the addition of such copper complex-containing compound to the non-azide gas generant composition.

Abstract: An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes at least one gas deflector which directs gas to a closeable vent to allow gas to be vented out of the cushion when an obstruction is encountered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of gas generant that may be used in airbag inflators. This new type of gas generant is designed to be flexible such that it may be used in side-curtain airbag applications and other situations where flexibility of the gas generant is required or desirable. The gas generant will generally include a flexible igniter, which in some instances, will be an electrical wire. The gas generant also includes one or more beads that are made from a gas-generating material. Each of the beads has a connector passage that is designed such that the flexible igniter may be strung through the connector passage in the beads. In some instances, the connector passage will be a hole in the bead through which the flexible igniter may be passed.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of airbag cushion which deploys sequentially to have an initial volume to push an occupant away from an instrument panel and then a final volume.

Abstract: A multi-sensor network having a plurality of receivers and sensors connected to a common communication line is provided. A controller will activate one of the plurality of receivers, thereby allowing one of the plurality of sensors to transmit data to the communication line. The plurality of sensors each individually have a logic device preventing more than one sensor from transmitting data in a given time interval.

Abstract: The application provides non-circular steering wheel designs and steering wheel-mounted airbag housings, cushions, and modules for use in vehicles using non-circular steering wheels. The airbag housings and modules of the invention provide supplemental reaction surfaces to support an airbag cushion mounted on a non-circular steering wheel. Airbag cushions of the invention utilize the steering wheel, steering column or steering wheel shroud as a partial reaction surface to support an airbag cushion.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of methods for folding an airbag cushion into a housing. In one implementation of the inventive method, an airbag cushion defined by an upper panel and a lower panel is provided. A first portion of the airbag cushion is tucked into a second portion of the airbag cushion such that the upper and lower panels of the first portion are positioned in between the upper and lower panels of the second portion. The tucked portion is folded in towards the housing. First and second halves of the tucked airbag cushion are folded in towards the housing. Finally, the folded first and second halves of the airbag cushion are folded into the housing.