Patents Assigned to Autoliv Development AB
  • Patent number: 7815256
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) having a squab (2) and the backrest (3) may be provided with a child squab or booster cushion (4). Various elements are provided on the seat which may move in response to the child squab (4) being provided. A first element that may move is a guide (10) which guides part of a seat belt (7). The guide (10) moves inwardly towards the central axis (8) of the seat. Other moveable restraints may be lateral restraints (62,63) which move forwardly from the backrest of the seat to be located to either side of the torso of a child occupying the child squab (4) and head restraints (64,65) which may move forwardly from the head rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development,AB
    Inventors: Christer Erlingstam, Christian Svensson
  • Publication number: 20100253048
    Abstract: To achieve reductions in required resources and weight in an air bag module, an air bag 1 held by a fabric housing 11 and an inflator 5 for supplying gas to the air bag 1 are housed in an air bag case 12. The fabric housing 11 is formed as a box having a bottom, an open ceiling and having a connecting hole 11a that communicates with the inflator in a floor surface thereof. The fabric housing is formed from a fabric having a strength that is equal to or greater than a strength of a cushion used as the air bag. The air bag case 12 comprises an engagement member 12a having an opening 12aa for inserting the fabric housing 11 and a hook 12ab provided in two opposing sides of the opening for engaging the air bag case to an instrument panel, and a lower surface plate member 12c that is fastened to the engagement member 12a via a bridge member 12b. Thus, side walls of the air bag case can be eliminated to a maximum extent, and therefore, reductions in resources and weight can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Masaki Ooshino, Masaru Narita
  • Patent number: 7806433
    Abstract: A supplemental inflation part is formed in a portion of an upper-end side inflation section of an airbag, the portion overlapping a B-pillar garnish. The supplemental inflation part has a semicircular shape that forms a push-out part. Folding the push-out part allows the upper-end side inflation section to be inflated largely at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag. Thus, the airbag is pushed toward the passenger compartment with greater force upon its deployment. Therefore, a terminal part of a headliner that covers the folded airbag is largely opened so that the airbag deploys smoothly downward along the side of the vehicle body in the passenger compartment without interference from the top end of the B-pillar garnish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Tetsu Mitsuo, Akihiko Narui, Mitsuo Nogami
  • Publication number: 20100236353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering wheel and to a method for producing a steering wheel having a dimensionally stable base body (10) that can be attached to a steering column of a motor vehicle and to which a plastic attachment (20) is attached. The plastic attachment (20) is embodied as a separate component that is mechanically attached to the base body (10) via fastening elements (31, 32, 33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Jacques Valentine, Michel Ricou
  • Publication number: 20100230940
    Abstract: In an airbag arrangement for a front seat passenger in a motor vehicle, an airbag 10 which is mounted, in its stowed condition, in the dashboard 18 of the vehicle, the airbag 10 is so configured that it its inflated, deployed condition in which it is interposed between, the dashboard and the front seat passenger, the inflated bag is wider on its upper side, over an impact region 24C nearer the front seat passenger, than on its lower side adjacent the dashboard, and is narrower at its end adjacent the vehicle dashboard than at its end nearer to the front seat passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Laurent Hellot, Damien Demulder, Marc Phillips, Mikolaj Niewodniczanski, Waldemar Jarosik
  • Patent number: 7796168
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating undesirable video flash in infrared camera systems are disclosed. A frame of video can be stored in a buffer and information related to the frame of video can be processed prior to displaying the video such that the processed information facilitates display of the video substantially without flashing. A display of a non-flashed frame can be frozen while a flash event would otherwise cause a flashed frame to be displayed. The shift in a histogram caused by a flash event or some portion thereof can be subtracted from pixels of an image. Thus, image quality can be substantially enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignees: Flir Systems, Inc., Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Joseph Kostrzewa, Peter Hall, Ognjan Hedberg, Tobias Höglund, Leonard S. Araki, Douglas R. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 7789415
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting an air-bag module to a hub of a steering wheel. The hub being provided with apertures and cutaway sections and a spring. The spring is moveable from a release position in which parts of the spring do not extend across the apertures or the cutaway sections to a locking position in which parts of the spring extend across the apertures and the cutaway sections. The spring is initially deformed and is held in the release position against blocking elements. The air-bag module is provided with hooks which are positioned on the air-bag module to correspond to the positions of the apertures and the cutaway sections on the hub. The air-bag module is provided with an actuation member which, when the hooks are inserted into the apertures, engages part of the spring to urge the spring out of engagement with the blocking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Laurent Groleau, Olivier Bertrand, Romain Chebret
  • Patent number: 7789185
    Abstract: A safety arrangement is provided in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a floor pan (1) terminating at its forward end with an inclined splash-wall (3, 4, 5). There is a moveable floor element (10) which has regions (12, 13, 14) which initially conform to and lie adjacent the splash-wall. There is a drive arrangement (15) associated with an accident sensor (16) to drive the moveable floor element rearwardly to a predetermined position. There is a fixed platform (17) located above a horizontal part of the floor pan to be located beneath the foot of a vehicle occupant and to provide a secure point for operation of a pedal. The movement of the moveable floor element (10) is restricted so that no part of the movable floor element impedes movement of a foot pedal (6) to the fully depressed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Magnus Eriksson, Erik Hjerpe
  • Patent number: 7789422
    Abstract: An inflatable cushion for an air bag module, the inflatable cushion comprising: an inflation opening for providing fluid communication to an interior of the inflatable cushion; a first tether having a cushion securement end and a mounting end, the cushion securement end being fixedly secured to the inflatable cushion and the mounting end having a mounting member, the mounting member being capable of pivotal movement with respect to the mounting end, wherein the mounting member is an integral portion of the first tether folded and secured upon itself to define the mounting member; and wherein the mounting member is capable of being positioned between a first position and a second position, the first position being orthogonal to a portion of the first tether and the second position being parallel to a portion of the first tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: James L. Webber
  • Publication number: 20100207363
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (1) having an upholstered component (3) which is covered by flexible covering (4), and a safety device which is arranged in the upholstered component (3) and has an airbag (5) which is coupled to a gas generator (6). The gas generator (6) is activated when sensor data relating to an accident or an imminent accident are present to inflate the airbag (5) with gas and unfold the airbag. An activator (8) is provided by means of which the airbag (5) or separate gas cushion (7) can be additionally repeatedly inflated with gas in a reversible fashion. The covering (4) is of an inelastic design, at least in certain areas, and has an elastic section (9) which is arranged in the covering (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Rikard Fredriksson, Ralf Zauritz, Frederic Charpentier
  • Patent number: 7775557
    Abstract: A personal restraint system for a seat in a motor vehicle including a three-point belt system and a two-point belt system. The three-point belt system including a first belt retractor, and a first belt web having a first belt latch plate, and a first belt buckle. The two-point belt system including a second belt retractor, and a second belt web having a second belt latch plate, and a second belt buckle. The second belt retractor including a blocking device which engages a spool of the second belt retractor when both belt webs are wound up on their respective retractors to prevent engagement of the two-point belt system if the three-point belt system is not engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ola Boström, Yngve Haland, Leif Ennerdahl, Thomas Blomberg
  • Patent number: 7770918
    Abstract: A curtain airbag for installation in the roof frame area of a motor vehicle exhibits at least one guide chamber which is located in the upper section of curtain airbag and which is connected with its inflatable area from the point of view of gas flow. The at least one guide chamber can be inflated on the outer side of the curtain airbag when this is in a mounted state. The upper section of curtain airbag is directed downwards when in the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Mats Berntsson, Fredrik Kjell, Börje Jacobsson, Ola Henriksson
  • Patent number: 7770921
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a side airbag for protection of a vehicle occupant. The side airbag is adapted to be inflated by gas from an inflator. The side airbag comprises a side panel which forms an exterior of the side airbag. The side panel defines a vent hole for venting the gas to outside the side airbag. A closing panel is disposed about the vent hole. The closing panel is configured such that the vent hole is unobstructed to vent the gas during inflation of the side airbag until the side airbag is substantially inflated. The side and closing panels cooperate to obstruct the vent hole with the closing panel such that the gas is substantially not vented. When the side airbag is obstructed from substantially inflating, for example due to the proximity of an out-of-position occupant, the vent hole remains unobstructed to vent the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Louis Mueller, Erik Sandwall, Henrik Öhrvall, Gustav Börjeson
  • Publication number: 20100193622
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor includes a sensor case having a supporting surface which is maintained horizontal. A self-standing inertia body whose bottom surface is placed on the supporting surface is installed inside the sensor case in a self-standing condition, and which tilts when a horizontal acceleration is exerted. An actuating member which, in accordance with a tilting movement of the self-standing inertia body, activates a lock mechanism to lock the extraction of the seat belt. An outer contour of a contact area where the supporting surface of the sensor case and the bottom surface of the self-standing inertia body are in surface contact is configured such that a distance from a center axis of the self-standing inertia body to the outer contour differ, in a horizontal plane, in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Junya Ono
  • Publication number: 20100194084
    Abstract: A side airbag (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose (20) has an outlet opening (22) and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening (16) to the outlet opening (22), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose (20) comprises a first section (20a), which is situated at the height of the opening (16), and a second section (20b), which connects the first section (20a) to the outlet opening (22). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening (16) and the hose (20) is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section (20a) is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section (20b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Ralf Zauritz, Ernst Wittmann, Udo Laube, Christoph Goertz
  • Patent number: 7765652
    Abstract: A buckle device includes a switch having a Hall element which outputs a signal in accordance with a magnitude of a magnetic flux density, a magnet which applies a magnetic field to the Hall element, and a shielding plate which is attached to an ejector so as to change the magnitude of the magnetic flux density transmitted from the magnet to the Hall element in accordance with a position of the ejector. The Hall element and the magnet are magnetically shielded by at least a frame and a latch member which are formed of a magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Toru Nakamuru, Ayaki Oyamada, Yukinori Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 7766369
    Abstract: An air-bag is disclosed which is formed from fabric (12, 13) and has an inflatable region (1), and at least one protruding mounting tab (9). The or each mounting tab (9) is formed from fabric woven to have a random or quasi-random, distribution of floats. In a preferred embodiment, the floats each pass over between two and eight underlying yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Alan Bradburn, Christopher McHugh, Hugh Finn
  • Patent number: 7766424
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a support plate (7) mounted on the squab (2) of the seat, and a support plate (11) mounted on the back rest (3) of the seat. There is a pivotal interconnection (10) between the plates to enable the back rest to be reclined. The pivotal interconnection is initially retained by a spring (20), in a retaining part (15) of an elongate slot (14). When the back rest (3) is subjected to a rearward force, such as by a seat occupant in a rear impact situation, the spring is deformed and the pivot shaft moves along the slot (14), enabling the back rest (3) to move rearwardly. An energy absorbing element (17) is provided which deforms, whilst absorbing energy, during this second movement of the back rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Lennart Haglund
  • Patent number: 7762575
    Abstract: Provided is a side airbag installed at a roof rail over a driver seat and a rear seat, which includes: a driver seat side airbag having a plurality of division chambers divided by chamber walls projecting therebetween, the chamber walls being curved in a direction opposite to a flow direction of a gas injected from an inflator, and a rear seat side airbag having a plurality of division chambers divided by chamber walls projecting therebetween, the chamber walls of the rear seat side airbag being curved in a direction opposite to the chamber walls of the driver seat side airbag. Therefore, it is possible to protect a driver and a passenger on the rear seat, when the side airbag is deployed, by aligning an inlet of the driver seat side airbag disposed at the driver seat to a flow direction of the gas to rapidly deploy the side airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Myung-ryun Jang, Byoung-sun Yoo, Tae-woo Kim, Dong-jun Lee, Eun-hwan Oh, Kyun-soon Choi
  • Publication number: 20100181745
    Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To improve expansion performance of an airbag. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A knee-restraining airbag device (B) has an inflator (11), the airbag (12), an aesthetically designed cover (13) installed at the lower part of an interior article ahead, in the front-rear direction of a vehicle, of an seated occupant, and a case (14) installed on the opposite side of the aesthetically designed cover (13) from the seated occupant and forming a space (15). In a cross section of the space (15) taken in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a cross section of an airbag receiving section (15b) in the space (15) has a vertically elongated shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Shimono