Abstract: The cushion retention system includes a cushion, at least one tab attached to the cushion, and a supporting member having an intermediary region and at least one aperture. The cushion is positioned in a folded condition. The supporting member is disposed along an outer periphery of the cushion. The tab, which includes a head and a narrow neck, interlocks with the aperture on the supporting member to retain the supporting member along an outer periphery of the folded cushion. In this interlocked condition, the supporting members apply an inward compressive force to retain the cushion in a folded condition.

Abstract: A seat mounting structure is disclosed for reducing injury to vehicle occupants in side impact collisions. The seat mounting structure may include an inflation module, a linkage system, a sensor system, and a side airbag. The inflation module may include an inflatable structure and inflator or a piston device. The linkage system attaches the seat mounting structure to a seat and may help guide the movement of the seat. The sensor system may include a radar sensor and an optical sensor to help the sensor system anticipate an impending side impact. The seat mounting structure mitigates injury to the occupant by moving the occupant vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle, thus increasing the space between the sidewall of the vehicle and the occupant. Additionally, the inflation module may comprise an inflatable structure that stiffens a floor structure of the vehicle upon inflation.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag curtain assembly that includes an inflatable curtain and a stiffening member is provided. The stiffening member is a bar-shaped plastic, metal, or similar component with a stiffness greater than the inflatable curtain. The stiffening member extends along a length of the inflatable curtain adjacent the inlet port and the closest mounting location to the roof rail of the vehicle. The stiffening member can be disposed within a channel formed near the top edge of the curtain. The inlet port of the inflatable curtain can receive a gas guide that extends from an inflator. The stiffening member has an attaching portion that connects to a defined location on the gas guide. The stiffening member thereby resists twisting of the inflatable curtain between the gas guide junction and the closest mounting location.

Abstract: An airbag retention collar for attaching an inflatable airbag cushion in an airbag module assembly including a module canister and a side discharge inflator device. The retention collar includes a bent plate adapted to overlie the side discharge inflator device. A first mounting flange is disposed at a first end of the bent plate and a second mounting flange is disposed at a second end of the bent plate opposite the first end. The first and second mounting flanges each extend at an angle from the bent plate. The retention collar also includes a diffuser flange extending from the bent plate and a plate opening in the bent plate. The plate opening is disposed between the diffuser flange and the first mounting flange and is adapted to receive an inflator diffuser of the inflator device, such that the inflator diffuser extends through the plate opening to be disposed between the diffuser flange and the first mounting flange.

Abstract: An airbag module for installation in a motor vehicle is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the airbag module includes an airbag cushion. A diffuser is positioned inside the airbag cushion. The diffuser includes a diffuser panel that has a plurality of venting apertures disposed throughout. An inflator is provided for inflating the airbag cushion. The inflator includes an inflation gas dissemination portion that releases inflation gases upon activation of the inflator. The inflator is attached to the diffuser in such a way that the inflation gas dissemination portion of the inflator is located inside the airbag cushion.

Abstract: An enhanced fastening assembly may be used, for example, to attach an emblem to an airbag cover. The fastening assembly may include the emblem and a backing member. The emblem may have a panel with a decorative surface and one or more protrusions extending from the opposite side of the panel. Each protrusion has a proximal end adjacent to the panel and a larger distal end. The protrusions extend through openings in the cover. The backing member has open-ended slots that receive the proximal ends to interfere with withdrawal of the distal ends through the openings. Tabs adjacent to the slots snap into position to abut the distal ends to restrict removal of the backing plate from the emblem. In one alternative embodiment, the emblem also has hooks that pass through additional holes in the cover and engage supplemental slots of the backing member to provide for more secure attachment.

Abstract: An Impact sensor assembly provides a modular housing for vehicle impact sensors. The assembly comprises an impact sensor, an upper housing member, a lower housing member and a connector for establishing an electrical connection between the assembly and an appropriate vehicle system. The assembly may further include electronics for processing signals received from the sensor. The lower housing member receives and retains the sensor, and closeably interacts with the upper housing member to encase the sensor. The assembly defines structural features that ensures its proper installation into a vehicle. The preferred embodiment assures proper functioning of deformation impact sensors. A method of installing the assembly provides a process for rapid and proper installation of the assembly into a vehicle.

Abstract: The application provides a bracket for regulating the deployment characteristics of a deploying airbag cushion. The brackets of the invention provide at least local control over the deployment path of an airbag cushion by rotating at least a portion of the cushion along its length either away from a vehicle occupant, or more generally, away from a structure, person, or object possibly positioned in the path of a deploying airbag cushion. Such brackets may be structured to rotate a deploying cushion in part by providing an additional reaction surface and by partially surrounding the cushion.

Abstract: A range discriminating optical sensor for use in a vehicle safety system is provided. The range discriminating sensor is designed to create a small depth of field such that objects at a range outside of the depth of field are eliminated from the image. Generally, the optical sensor uses a large aperture to limit the depth of field. An electronic imaging element is used to detect the image projected by the lens. The electronic imaging element may have a small pixel size which further reduces the depth of field. A signal processor can be used to determine the distance from the image sensor with objects with the selected depth of field appearing in focus and those outside of the depth of field appearing out of focus.

Abstract: An airbag module may include an inflator, a cushion, and a retention apparatus that keeps the cushion in a stowed configuration until deployment. The retention apparatus may include a flexible member wrapped around the cushion and a hook-and-loop fastening strip attached to the flexible member via a sewn seam. The hook-and-loop fastening strip has hooks fastened to the flexible member to secure the flexible member around the cushion. The sewn seam is weak enough to permit the hook-and-loop fastening strip to break away from the flexible member. When the cushion begins to inflate, the sewn seam breaks to allow the hook-and-loop fastening strip to separate from one side of the flexible member while remaining attached to the opposite side. The cushion is able to inflate through the corresponding opening formed in the retention apparatus. In alternative embodiments, the flexible member, fastener, and attachment mechanism may be reconfigured or omitted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering wheel assembly. The steering wheel assembly has a center portion and an outer rim. The outer rim encircles the center portion. A cover and an upper housing are also added to the center portion. The cover goes over the top of the center portion whereas the upper housing is positioned below the cover. The upper housing is constructed such that it is capable of being depressed from a normal position to a compressed position. An intermediate portion is also added to the steering wheel. The intermediate portion is positioned between the outer rim and the center portion and forms an interface with the cover. The steering wheel is constructed such that when the upper housing is in the normal position, there is no gap at the interface between the cover and the intermediate portion. This may be accomplished by constructing the intermediate portion to include an overhanging portion that overlaps and fits together with the cover.

Abstract: The inflatable cushion of the present invention includes at least two panels and one or more heat shield strips. Each panel has an inflatable region, an attachment region, and a peripheral edge. The attachment region is positioned between the peripheral edge and the inflatable region of each panel. An inward fold is disposed between the inflatable region and the attachment region of each panel. The attachment regions of each panel are disposed proximate each other. A heat shield strip is disposed on a portion of the attachment region and the inflatable region of the same panel. A secure fastener secures the attachment regions of each adjacent panel together and secures the heat shield strip to the attachment region on which it is disposed. A frangible fastener secures the heat shield strip to the adjacent inflatable region on which it is positioned.

Abstract: An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.

Abstract: An assembly including a support housing and an actuator device. The actuator device includes an extendable initiator cup including at least one non-random fold and at least in part defining a storage chamber containing a reactive charge reactable to produce reaction products. The extendable initiator cup longitudinally extends from a first length to a second, greater length upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge. The extendable initiator cup is at least partially disposed within a longitudinally extending bore of the support housing. The support housing is effective to limit lateral expansion of the extendable initiator cup upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge. The assembly can include an electrical conductive member or an electrical switch. The extendable initiator cup can extend to sever the electrical conductive member or disengage the electrical switch, thereby interrupting the conduction of electricity through an electrical system.

Abstract: An airbag module is disclosed which, in one configuration, inflates from a vehicle seat to protect a vehicle occupant against lateral impact. The airbag module has a cushion with a pelvic chamber and a thoracic chamber. The airbag module also has an inflation assembly including an inflator within a housing inside the cushion. The housing has an aperture disposed within each of the chambers such that, when the inflator deploys, the pelvic chamber is inflated to a relatively higher pressure. The inflator may be moved axially within the housing to control the pressure ratio between the chambers. The housing is attached to the vehicle seat via attachment features that may be located at a variety of positions with respect to the remainder of the housing to facilitate adaptation of the inflation assembly to multiple cushion and vehicle configurations.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicular steering wheel, the airbag module including a snap ring mountable to the vehicular steering wheel and a housing connected to the snap ring and pivotally movable with respect to the vehicular steering wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflator for inflating a cushion of an airbag module. The inflator induces expansion of a gas by application of an electric voltage to the gas or to a plurality of filaments disposed within the gas. The voltage may be applied between a nozzle and a conductor in such a manner that an arc forms within the nozzle. Gas passing through the nozzle then forms an arc-jet that further heats adjacent gas. Multiple gases may be used, including gases designed to combust and/or dissociate to produce additional moles of inflation gas. The voltage may alternatively be applied within the housing in such a manner that a corona is formed in the gas, thereby at least partially ionizing the gas to heat the gas. As yet another alternative, the voltage may be applied to some of the filaments to provide gas expansion via filament combustion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag cushion that is lighter-weight, smaller, and more compact than the previously known airbag systems, yet still capable of providing a vehicle occupant with ample impact protection during a crash. Generally, the airbag comprises a one-piece woven cushion with two or more inflatable chambers. These chambers have a generally flat two-dimensional shape in its uninflated and unfolded configuration. However, once gas is added, the airbag cushion rapidly inflates and converts into a three-dimensional shape capable of providing impact protection to the occupant. Preferably, the three-dimensional configuration of the inflated airbag is generally triangular, V-shaped, or polygonal in shape.

Abstract: A load distributing airbag module having an airbag, a load plate, and a fastener is disclosed. The airbag has an airbag mount and the load plate has a load plate attachment member. The fastener may define a generally enclosed shape to capture the airbag mount and the load plate attachment member. To capture the airbag mount and the load plate attachment member, the fastener has an unfastened and fastened state. In the unfasten state, the fastener may be a “U” shaped channel. In the fastened state, the fastener is generally box shaped.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a height of a first road vehicle with respect to the ground prior to impacting a second road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a predictive crash sensor mounted to the first vehicle for sensing the second road vehicle, a control unit, and a height adjustment apparatus. The control unit is in communication with the predicative crash sensor for receiving a predictive crash signal and determining whether the first and the second road vehicles will collide. The height adjustment apparatus is mounted to the first road vehicle and in communication with the control unit. The height adjustment apparatus includes a shock absorber, a bladder, and a first valve. The shock absorber is mounted at a first end to a vehicle body of the first road vehicle and at a second end to a vehicle axle of the first road vehicle. The bladder is fixed at a first end to the first end of the shock absorber and at a second end to the second end of the shock absorber.