Abstract: A folded rigid knee airbag for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision is provided. The folded rigid knee airbag includes a back panel and a front panel attached to the back panel. Both the front panel and the back panel may be made from a rigid material, such as sheet metal. The back panel may include first and second accordion folds, and first and second vertical folds. The airbag may be in communication with an inflator. During discharge of the inflator, the accordion folds and the vertical folds unfold to form four substantially planar walls. The accordion folds and the vertical folds enable the front panel to remain substantially flat and maintain a substantially uniform cross-sectional area during inflation.

Abstract: An airbag inflator system and method of manufacture is disclosed which may be stored in a small area, is simple to fabricate, directs exhaust gas from a standardized inflator, sufficiently cools and diffuses the exhaust gas, and catches hot gas generant residue. The system includes an airbag inflator within a sleeve. Solid sections of the sleeve circumscribe the inflator and are positioned to divert exhaust gas leaving an exit port of the inflator. The configuration of the solid sections provides that the inflator need not be rotated during assembly to position exit ports below solid sections. The diverted exhaust gas unrolls the sleeve to form an exhaust passage. The gas passes through the exhaust passage and is dispersed by the permeable section before entering the textile airbag. In this way, a simple, effective diffusion system for curtain airbag inflators is provided.

Abstract: An airbag inflator housing is disclosed that provides a multi-dimensional inflation surface. The housing may include a back wall, a front wall, and at least one side wall connecting the front wall to the back wall to enclose a volume within the housing. A nozzle array may be integrated with the front wall. The nozzle array may include a plurality of pre-formed and sealed nozzles. The nozzles may be arranged according to a two-dimensional array to provide an inflation surface to inflate a connected airbag. The nozzles may be formed using MEMS processes to provide very small and precise nozzles.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag cushion for protecting occupants of a vehicle in a side impact, rollover, or other crash situation is presented. The airbag cushion has at least two inflatable protection zones. Each protection zone is configured to protect an occupant in a different seat of the vehicle. An inflation channel receives pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas and directs the gas into the inflatable airbag. Each protection zone is separated from any adjacent protection zones by a connection zone. At least one communication channel allows the pressurized gas to flow between the protection zones. The gas flow between protection zones allows the pressure within the separate protection zones to equalize. The airbag cushion may have three protection zones and is configured to protect an occupant of a vehicle having pillars A through D. The first, second, and third protecting zones for protecting an occupant seated in the front, middle, and rear seats of the vehicle respectively.

Abstract: A severing apparatus for use with a battery cable is provided. The severing apparatus includes a housing that holds an initiator and a severing element. The battery cable is located through a lateral bore formed in the housing. The severing element is disposed on one side of the battery cable. A deformable blocker can be disposed on the opposite side of the battery cable. When it is desired to sever the battery cable and thereby discontinue the supplying of electrical power by the battery, such as when a predetermined vehicle collision occurs, the initiator is triggered and causes the severing element to move. Movement of the severing element removes a severed battery cable segment. Movement of the severing element and the severed battery cable segment is stopped using the blocker when present. The blocker can be part of a shell that surrounds the housing. Alternatively, the blocker can be held in the housing.

Abstract: A porous igniter body and a method of making the same are provided wherein a blowing agent component including at least one thermally decomposable blowing agent solid is mixed with at least one igniter fuel and at least one igniter oxidizer to form an igniter body precursor. The igniter body precursor is subsequently subjected to a temperature sufficient to decompose at least a portion of the blowing agent to form the porous igniter body.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of actuating a deployment of a vehicle airbag during an impact event of a vehicle. The method includes providing a vehicle impact sensor having a plurality of elements, wherein each element is adapted to generate an impact sensor signal having a sensor signal value representing a level of impact. The method further comprising receiving an impact sensor signal from each element during the impact event of the vehicle and summing the sensor signal values of the impact sensor signals to define an aggregate sensor signal value. The method further includes determining a number of impact sensor signals having respective sensor signal values greater than an active element threshold value to define a number of active elements and determining a threshold aggregate sensor signal value based on the number of active elements.

Abstract: A bumper assembly having a movable bumper is disclosed. A crash sensor is attached to the movable bumper. A linkage is provided to attach the movable bumper to a motor vehicle. When the movable bumper is attached to the motor vehicle, the linkage permits the movable bumper to be moved from a first position to a second position that is horizontally displaced from the first position in a direction away from the motor vehicle. Extending the bumper in this manner allows the crash sensor to provide early detection of a collision involving the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-contained, compact inflatable airbag deployment guide comprising an inflatable bladder attached to an inflatable airbag module. The inflatable bladder inflates early in the deployment of the airbag, thus filling, bridging, or covering void space located near the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion is then able to deploy properly on its intended route through the headliner trim of the vehicle without being delayed, damaged, or caught.

Abstract: A dual flow inflator for airbags is disclosed, together with related manufacturing, installation, and deployment methods. The inflator includes a primary gas chamber with a first exit orifice and a secondary gas chamber in gaseous communication with the primary gas chamber. The inflator also includes a flow restrictor positioned between the gas chambers. In use, the inflator provides primary and secondary flows of gas from the exit orifice. The primary gas chamber may include multiple exit orifices in order to provide axial gas flows in opposite directions upon activation so that each gas flow neutralizes the thrust of the other. The exit orifices may comprise frangible structures such as burst discs, scored surfaces, and compression closures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for gas generation via a water-supplying compound and a water-reactive fuel precursor.

Abstract: A pillar-mounted airbag module is disclosed. The frontal airbag module of the invention includes an airbag cushion configured to be deployed from a pillar of a vehicle and an airbag inflator coupled to the airbag cushion, the airbag inflator being suitable for attachment to a pillar of a vehicle. The frontal airbag module of the invention is configured to deploy the airbag cushion laterally along a windshield of the vehicle and then to subsequently inflate the airbag cushion toward the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain package that is made of an inflatable curtain wrapped around by a thin film is disclosed. The inflatable curtain has a number of mounting tabs that allows the inflatable curtain to be attached to a vehicle. The orientation of the thin film allows mounting tabs to extend out of a seam in thin film. The inflatable curtain package may be constructed by aligning a first edge of the thin film to a position near a location wherein the mounting tabs attach to the inflatable curtain. Next, the mounting tabs are positioned over the first edge of the thin film. Then a second edge of the thin film is positioned to overlap the first edge and the attachment location. The two overlapping edges cause the thin film to wrap around the inflatable curtain.

Abstract: A novel safety restraint system especially well suited to protect occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact is described. One or more cushion portions are provided and installed to inflate between an occupant and a lateral surface, such as a door or side window. The cushion portions may be connected to an air source or to each other through the use of sail portions and supply tubes, which may be attached to the cushion portions by chemical bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing, RF welding, or any other suitable method. The cushion portions may have an interior coating of a urethane based substance, mated to a similar substance coating the exterior of a supply tube or sail portion. The cushion portions may then be RF welded to the sail portion or supply tube without restricting gas flow into the cushion portions. The sail portions and supply tubes are preferably fabricated from a material different from that used to form the cushion portions, so as to reduce the cost and weight of the safety restraint system.

Abstract: A lighter, low-cost inflatable restraint module is disclosed. The inflatable restraint module may include an inflator positioned within a heat shield. The heat shield and inflator may be disposed within an inflatable cushion. A portion of the cushion containing the inflator and heat shield is situated within a chamber. The chamber may include an opening in the chamber and an extension that projects away from the opening. Attachment of a portion of the inflatable cushion to the extension keeps the portion of the cushion away from the opening of the chamber and, thus, away from potentially damaging heat generated by the inflator. Alternatively, the portion of the cushion may be kept away from the opening by attachment to a cover which is, in turn, attached to the extension. The inflator, heat shield, chamber, and cushion may be secured within an interior region of a canister.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain for protecting the occupants of a vehicle during a collision is provided. The inflatable curtain may include an inflatable portion. The inflatable portion may include a plurality of inflation chambers. The inflatable curtain may also include a non-inflatable portion. The non-inflatable portion may include one or more expandable sections disposed between adjacent inflation chambers. Deployment of the inflatable curtain typically causes the inflation chambers to contract in a horizontal direction. Deployment of the inflatable curtain also causes each of the expandable sections to expand horizontally, compensating for the contraction that occurs in the inflation chambers.

Abstract: Enhanced airbag covers are disclosed. Each of the covers permits deployment of a compacted airbag cushion along multiple axes, thereby decreasing the momentum of the vehicle occupant relative to the airbag, and enhancing the ability of the cushion to protect vehicle occupants who are out of their nominal positions. Covers may include a plurality of frontal portions separated by a frontal seam or seams that tear open to permit emergence of the cushion between the frontal portions. In some implementations, each cover has a peripheral skirt and/or a junction between the frontal portions and peripheral skirt that opens to permit emergence of the folded cushion along additional axes. The peripheral skirt and/or junction may open consistently, regardless of whether the frontal portions have separated.

Abstract: An occupant classification system for recognizing the type of occupant of a motor vehicle seat especially for use in controlling an inflatable restraint system. The classification system utilizes a number of on-off electrical switches arranged in a pattern on a seat cushion mat. Signals from the switches may be processed in a variety of manners to characterize the occupant.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain positioning system may include an inflator and an inflatable curtain. The inflator may have a neck for receiving the inflatable curtain. A protrusion, such as a hook or tab, may be disposed on the neck. The inflatable curtain may include a throat to be disposed around the neck of the inflator. An opening may be disposed within the throat. In one configuration, the opening may be positioned to receive the protrusion only when the curtain is situated at a desired location relative to the housing.

Abstract: A dual-function tire inlet valve mountable on a tire in communication with a compressor in a tire pressure maintenance system is disclosed. The inlet valve has a conduit extending from an ambient air supply to an interior chamber of the tire. A first check valve and a second check valve are positioned within the conduit to define a pump between the first and second check valves. The pump channel is in fluid communication with a compressor in the tire pressure maintenance system. The first check valve opens automatically only when the compressor is active and the tire is rotating about its axis with at least a pre-determined velocity. The second check valve only opens when it is manually actuated. Manually actuating the first check valve opens the second check valve to permit manual adjustment of the tire pressure.