Abstract: An actuatable fastener assembly is disclosed. The actuatable fastener assembly includes a fastener body and a fastener head attached to the fastener body. An initiator is embedded within the fastener body. Activation of the initiator causes the fastener head to separate from the fastener body. The actuatable fastener assembly also includes a retainer that is slidably movable along the fastener body toward the fastener head. The retainer includes a retention feature that resists movement of the retainer away from the fastener head.

Abstract: A seat belt system for motor vehicle applications incorporating a dual retractor restraint system with a portion of the seat belt webbing having a locally thick segment such as an inflatable seat belt portion. The dual retractors include electrically controlled actuating clutching mechanisms which operate to maintain the inflatable belt portion in a desired position relative to the upper torso of the seat occupant without requiring the inflatable belt portion to pass through the system D-ring or latch tongue or a high mounted retractor. When the occupant is donning the belt, the shoulder retractor is locked and the webbing is extracted from the lap retractor. Once the tongue is latched into the latch plate, the lap retractor is locked and movement of the occupant is permitted by allowing extraction of webbing from the shoulder retractor.

Abstract: An airbag cushion venting system is disclosed. The system comprises an airbag cushion body having a cushion vent formed therein. A vent cover is attached to the body such that the vent cover at least partially covers the cushion vent in its unconstrained state. A tieback structure holds the vent cover either away from the cushion vent opening or in a position such that a smaller portion of the cushion vent is covered than is covered in the cushion vent's unconstrained state and is adapted to release the vent cover once the body has expanded a sufficient amount to enable the vent cover to at least partially cover the cushion vent.

Abstract: An airbag module assembly including a module housing, a door and a door retainer ring. The module housing forms a compartment adapted to contain an inflatable restraint airbag cushion in a stored state. The module housing has at least one open end, and includes at least one side wall and at least one face wall generally perpendicularly disposed relative to the at least one side wall about the at least one open end. The door retainer ring is adapted to be joined to the module housing about the module housing open end. The door includes a circumference portion and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The door, in a static state, is disposed over the module housing to enclose the module housing open end with at least the circumference portion of the door disposed between the door retainer ring and the module housing. The circumference portion of the door includes at least one release portion and at least one hinge section.

Abstract: A buckle assembly for a motor vehicle belt restraint system. The buckle assembly includes a mounting plate and a buckle strap carrying the buckle which is rotatably affixed to the mounting plate. A torsion spring acts on the buckle strap to rotationally bias it toward a desired position. The buckle assembly includes a retainer for maintaining the buckle strap in a mounting position, allowing convenient mounting of the device to the motor vehicle structure. Following mounting, the retainer is released to enable the buckle strap to move to its normal range of positions, allowing the buckle assembly to operate in its normal manner.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for use in an airbag inflation system are disclosed. An explosively formable projectile piece is positioned adjacent to an opening and, upon deployment of an initiator, is forced through the opening, thereby changing the shape of the projectile piece. The projectile piece is projected towards a rupturable wall. Once the projectile piece has ruptured the wall, the airbag inflation gas can pass through the opening in the wall and inflate the airbag.

Abstract: A fabric deflector system is disclosed for use with airbags and airbag systems. The system comprises a deflector panel attached to an airbag cushion body. The deflector panel is attached to the airbag cushion body in a position such that the deflector panel at least partially deflects the inflation gas received from the inflator during inflation of the airbag cushion. The deflector panel comprises a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the inflator opening and at least partially deflects the inflation gas through the arms.

Abstract: A one-piece initiator device including an end closure having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The end closure forming a passage between the first end portion and the second end portion. A squib is at least partially positioned within the passage. A canister is mounted to the squib and extends outwardly from the end closure first end portion. The canister defines a charge chamber having a reactive charge disposed within the charge chamber. A permeable fill material is disposed within the passage and joins the squib to the end closure to form the one-piece initiator device. The permeable fill material insulates the squib from electrical contact with the end closure and provides a controlled gas flow path through the one-piece initiator device.

Abstract: An inflatable fabric cushion is disclosed that can maintain a high internal pressure while having an exposed inflator squib. The inflatable cushion has a precision opening sized to be commensurate with a diameter of the inflator squib. The precision opening tightly circumscribes the inflator to limit leakage of inflation gas when the squib projects out of the opening. The cushion also has a throat through which the inflator may be inserted into the cushion. After the inflator is inserted into the cushion, the throat is sealed closed by wrapping the throat around the inflator housing and being cinched when the airbag assembly is mounted on a vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag module may include an inflator, a cushion, and a deflection hood. When used as a passenger side, frontal impact module, the cushion deploys upward from a vehicle instrument panel. The deflection hood directs gas downward through a discharge opening and into the cushion to expedite inflation of the lower portion of the cushion to more uniformly cushion a vehicle occupant's body. The discharge opening may be sewn shut via a tear seam to ensure that the discharge opening is properly positioned when the tear seam opens to release inflation gas. Alternatively, the discharge opening may be sewn shut by a non-tearable seam, and perforations may be applied proximate the non-tearable seam so that the discharge opening opens along the perforations to release the inflation gas. According to one alternative, the deflection hood may be angled within the cushion to provide a significant asymmetrical, lateral gas flow.

Abstract: The application provides airbag cushion deployment restraint systems for use in inflatable airbag cushions. The deployment restraint systems of the invention regulate deployment of an airbag cushion to provide full radial expansion of the cushion prior to final expansion of the cushion toward a vehicle occupant. The deployment restraint systems of the invention thus increase the amount of contact surface area available to a vehicle occupant early in deployment and decrease the force with which the cushion is expanded toward a vehicle occupant during a collision event, thus reducing the likelihood of injury to an out-of-position vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A hood latch release mechanism for a motor vehicle of the type incorporating a hood which pivots at near the front edge of the hood. The hood latch release system enables the hood to be opened in a manner to provide enhanced pedestrian impact protection in the event of an impending pedestrian impact with the hood. The system incorporates a hood latch mechanism which is manually actuatable by the operator to permit access to the vehicle's engine compartment and operates automatically to the response to an impending pedestrian impact. The hood latch release system may be implemented with an active hood lifting actuator.

Abstract: An airbag module may have an inflator, a cushion, and a housing that contains the inflator and the cushion. The housing has an outer wall formed of a flexible material and a bracket designed to be attached to a vehicle. During deployment, the cushion is expelled out of the housing through the bracket. The inflator remains in the housing and inflation gas is conveyed to the cushion through the housing. The inflator may be retained by flaps wrapped around the inflator and secured to a perpendicularly oriented diffuser of the inflator. Alternatively, the diffuser may extend through an orifice formed in a fabric wall within the housing, and retention portions of the outer wall may be wrapped around the opposite side of the inflator. The airbag module may be mounted in an instrument panel to provide front seat, passenger's side impact protection without requiring a rigid module housing.

Abstract: Inflation assemblies, associated inflation assembly combinations and methods for inflating an inflatable restraint device and which assemblies, combination and methods employ a gas treatment element to effectively treat gas being discharged into an associated inflatable restraint device from either of at least two chambers, e.g., a hot gas-producing chamber and a cold gas-supplying chamber, such that heat is effectively conveyed to the cold gas such as to result in the desirable expansion thereof and the dissipation of residual heat from the gas treatment element.

Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus particularly adapted for motor vehicle front end structures for mitigating injuries of pedestrians struck by the vehicle. The apparatus incorporates a front grill which is moveable between extended and retracted positions. While it is in its extended position, the grill is designed to absorb energy from a pedestrian impact to reduce pedestrian injuries. The position of the grill is controlled by an actuator which responds to control inputs such as vehicle speed.

Abstract: An initiator assembly for an inflator device having at least one inflator device mating lug. The initiator assembly includes an initiator having an initiator cup at least in part defining a storage chamber containing a reactive charge. The initiator also includes at least one electrical connector in reaction initiating communication with the reactive charge. The initiator assembly has a molded body fitting over at least a portion of the initiator. The molded body includes at least one locking flange that is adapted to lockingly engage the at least one inflator device mating lug.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain is provided that may be mounted on or proximate to a vehicle's side roof rail. The inflatable curtain includes a first panel and a second panel that is attached to the first panel. The first panel and the second panel are generally made of fabric materials such as nylon and the like. At least one first pleat is added to the first panel. The first pleat is constructed such that when the inflatable curtain is inflated with inflation gas, the first pleat opens into at least one first bulge that changes the deployment trajectory of the inflatable curtain. At least one second pleat may additionally be added to the curtain. The second pleat is added to the second panel and is designed such that during inflation, the second pleat will open into a second bulge that further changes the deployment trajectory of the inflatable curtain.

Abstract: An inflator device including a housing defining a storage chamber and a supply of gas generant material disposed within the storage chamber. The inflator device includes an initiator assembly having an initiator in actuating communication with the supply of gas generant material. A moisture barrier member is disposed between the initiator assembly and the supply of gas generant material. The moisture barrier member acts to prevent moisture transmission from the initiator assembly to the supply of gas generant material. Upon actuation of the initiator, however, the moisture barrier member ruptures to permit reaction initiating communication between the initiator and at least a portion of the supply of gas generant material contained within the inflator device.

Abstract: The motion damper includes a damper wall, damper stages, and a damper head. The damper wall and damper stages are successively smaller in size and have a nested relationship. The damper wall and damper stages are each flexibly attached to an adjacent damper stage or the damper wall such that the damper stages may deploy in a telescopic fashion away from the damper wall. The damper head is attached to a smallest damper stage. As a result, the damper stages change in position relative to the damper wall and relative to each other to absorb the kinetic energy of objects attached to the damper head and damper wall.

Abstract: An improved accelerometer assembly including a circuit board and an accelerometer is provided. The accelerometer is configured to sense acceleration along a sensing axis. The accelerometer is attached to the circuit board and configured to sense acceleration along a sensing axis. A housing is configured to receive the circuit board in a first and second orientation, wherein the sensing axis in the first orientation is rotated 90° from the sensing axis in the second orientation.