Abstract: Provided is a torsion bar support structure of a seat belt retractor capable of smoothly rotating a rotary torsion bar and preventing deformation of the torsion bar due to moment applied to the torsion bar by coupling support members to both ends of the torsion bar. The torsion bar support structure of a seat belt retractor includes a housing constituting a main body of the seat belt retractor, a guide drum rotatably coupled to the housing, a torsion bar inserted into the guide drum, a base member fixed to one side of the housing, a locking member fixed to the other side of the housing, and a cylinder accommodating a piston therein to rotate a gear member fixed to the base member, the structure including: a bearing member coupled to the gear member, and a cap surrounding a cover fixing shaft projecting from the locking member, wherein the bearing member and the cap rotatably support the torsion bar when rotation moment is applied in a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the torsion bar.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising: forming a rim portion separately with a decorative outer coating via a first forming process; forming a hub separately from the rim portion via a second forming process, the hub having at least a pair of spoke portions; and securing the rim portion to the pair of spoke portions, wherein the decorative outer coating is applied to the rim portion prior to the rim portion being secured to the pair of spoke portions.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle may include an inflator, and an airbag cushion having a depressed head support portion formed in a rear portion of the airbag cushion so that when the airbag cushion may be deployed by gas supplied from the inflator, the head support portion receives a head of a passenger, and shoulder support portions protruding from lateral sides of the head support portion in a rearward direction and forming a space between the shoulder support portions to have the head support portion therebetween when the airbag cushion may be deployed, and a support tether provided in the airbag cushion and extending in a transverse direction across the shoulder support portions such that a gas path may be defined in a front portion of the airbag cushion below the support tether, the gas path guiding the gas downwards.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low friction composition for a seat belt, characterized in that it comprises the following components: a polyether polyurethane; a low molecular weight polyurethane, with free NCO groups, and containing an aliphatic chain; a polyurethane without free NCO groups; a polyethylene; a polydimethylsiloxane. It also deals with a seat belt which is coated with such a composition.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor for motor vehicles with a vehicle-sensitive or belt webbing sensitive controllable locking device, or both, for the belt shaft, having a profiled head that acts as a support for a displaceably mounted locking member that locks the belt shaft in the housing, and a two-stage force limiting device having two force limiting elements that are switchable between a high level and a low level of force limitation via an interposed coupling (19, 20) that is controlled by means of a control device having a countergear which determines an amount of belt webbing that is extended from the belt shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a curtain airbag cushion. The cushion has a length appropriate for being deployed to the chest of a passenger. A blocking part which partitions the interior of the cushion into portions is oriented in the vertical direction. The lower end of the blocking part is spaced apart from the bottom of the cushion by a predetermined distance. Thus, when an inflator explodes, gas discharged from the inflator is guided towards the lower portion of the cushion and then guided towards the front or upper portion of the cushion through the space between the lower end of the blocking part and the bottom of the cushion.

Abstract: An airbag module for installation in a motor vehicle has an airbag made of an airbag fabric and folded up before being triggered by an inflation device. The airbag fabric has at least one slit forming an adaptive ventilation opening and a retaining strap, which at one end is held releasably on a retainer on the airbag module and at the other end is connected fixedly to the airbag. The slit (11) is cut into the airbag fabric and has two ends configured to prevent the slit (11) from tearing when pressure is applied. The retaining strap is arranged on the inside of the airbag and is guided through a securing loop (17) attached to the airbag fabric opposite the fixed end (14) of the retaining strap across the slit (11) toward the retainer.

Abstract: Described is a belt tensioner for a seat belt having a belt retractor, a tensioner pinion (4) non-rotatably connected to the belt retractor, a tube (2) having a pyrotechnical gas generator arranged therein, and a plurality of mass bodies (6) driven by the pressure generated by the gas generator. The mass bodies (6) engage with the tensioner pinion (4) in a force transmitting manner and drive the belt retractor in the winding direction. A first and a second section (2a, 2b) of the tube (2) run parallel to each other.. A third section (2c) with a curved course that projects out of the plane (E) connects the first and second sections, thereby creating a space (7) between the first, second and third sections (2a, 2b, 2c), for accommodating at least one of the mass bodies (6a, 6b).

Abstract: A vision system (10) for a motor vehicle includes at least one imaging device (12) adapted to detect images from a region surrounding the motor vehicle, and an electronic processing means (14) for processing image data provided by the imaging device (12). The imaging device (12) includes an image sensor (21). The vision system (10) is adapted to input window parameters to the image sensor (21) for cutting out and outputting a window image part (32) of the complete image area (30) of the image sensor (21).

Abstract: An energy-absorbing force limiter for a safety device comprises a first component (5) and a second component (2), such as a seat-belt, that is moveable relative to the first component (5). The force limiter provides an energy-absorbing movement-resisting effect, for example by means of a frictional brake (4, 5), to resist movement of the second component relative to the first. An adjustable control element (6) actuates the brake. The magnitude of the frictional effect is a function of the degree of adjustment of the control element and at least one parameter, such as temperature, which influences the coefficient of friction. The control mechanism (9) adjusts the adjustable control element (6) to control the magnitude of the movement-resisting effect in response to a signal (12) representative of the desired resistance to movement together with a signal (10, 11) representative of that at least one parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle safety arrangement having a sensor unit (7) comprising at least one sensor (8, 9) responsive to acceleration; an actuator (13) for activating a safety device, the actuator being located remotely from the sensor unit; and a control unit (2) located remotely from the sensor unit and from the actuator, the control unit having no sensors responsive to acceleration and being operable to receive information from the sensor unit and to transmit an actuating command to the actuator to activate the safety device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety system for motor vehicles having sensor devices for detecting an accident and an apparatus for reinforcing a carrying construction (1) of a motor-vehicle roof (6), in particular the A, B or C column of the motor vehicle, which protrudes beyond a lower edge of a window opening (4), in which an inflatable reinforcing element (2) is deployed which is fastened to the carrying construction (1) and can be filled with gas via a gas generator (3) if corresponding sensor data are present. The invention also relates to a carrying construction (1) per se.

Abstract: A method of folding an inflatable cushion into a housing of an airbag module is provided, the method including: arranging the inflatable cushion in an un-inflated position to define a first pleat and a second pleat each extending from a first end of the inflatable cushion to a second end of the inflatable cushion, the second end being opposite the first end, the inflatable cushion also having a first flap portion extending from the first pleat and a second flap portion extending from the second pleat, the second flap portion being opposite the first flap portion; rolling the first end and the second end of the inflatable cushion towards each other and underneath a top surface of the inflatable cushion, wherein a first pocket is formed by the first pleat below the top surface and a second pocket below the top surface is formed by the second pleat; and folding the first flap into the first pocket and folding the second flap into the second pocket.

Abstract: A curtain airbag capable for preventing occupant ejection from a vehicle, particularly in the vicinity of a rearmost seat, while reducing the output required of an inflator associated with the airbag. The curtain airbag is stored at an upper position on a side surface portion of the occupant compartment of the vehicle, so as to be inflated and deployed along the side surface portion. The curtain airbag includes an inflation region and a wide portion in the form of non-inflatable cloth. The wide portion is attached to a rear edge portion of the inflation region and also attached to at least one point of the vehicle rearward of a front-side pillar, the front-side pillar being located forward of rearmost side window. The wide portion has a shape that allows it to be strained, by the inflated and deployed inflation region, into a generally planar configuration over an assumed strike area of the rearmost side window.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle seat (10) for a motor vehicle having a backrest (14) with a seat-mounted side airbag (20) having a first side wall (22) facing the occupant and a second side wall (24) facing the outside of the vehicle. The side airbag (20) is located on the side of the backrest (14) facing the outside of the vehicle, and the side airbag (20) includes a first ventilation opening (30) in the second side wall, the ventilation opening being at least throttled on lying against an object, so that a ventilation of the airbag is adapted as a function of the size of the occupant. The vehicle seat (10) is height adjustable so that, depending on the height adjustment of the vehicle seat, the first ventilation can be closed by the inner structure of the vehicle.

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.

Abstract: A safety airbag arrangement for a vehicle comprises a main airbag having an inlet for connection with an inflator and a gas deflector bag secured within the main airbag, having an inlet in register with the inlet of the main airbag, for connection with the inflator, the gas deflector bag having ventilator holes and the arrangement being such that gas supplied to the airbag arrangement via the inlets by the inflator must first pass into the gas deflector bag, to pass subsequently from the gas deflector bag through the ventilation holes. The wall of the gas deflector bag is secured to the main wall of the main airbag by a plurality of arcuate seams spaced progressively from inlets, to maintain the gas deflector bag in a predetermined position relative to the main airbag when the airbag arrangement is activated.

Abstract: An electrical connection part for electrically connecting first and second devices includes a casing having two arms oriented at 90° with respect to one another. This casing houses a pair of electrical connectors of which a first end is in the shape of a pin housed longitudinally in one of arms, while a second end is in the shape of a sleeve housed longitudinally in the other of the arms. These pins and sleeves may be electrically connected to matching sleeves carried by the first device, respectively to matching pins carried by the second device. The casing is formed by two independent parts including a body and a removable cover. The cover accommodates and/or locks the connectors. The arm which contains the pins is equipped with a shunt element that can connect the pins electrically in the absence of a connection at the sleeves of the first device.

Abstract: A airbag has a airbag envelope (10) having two side walls (12, 14) enclosing a gas chamber. The first side wall (12) constitutes herein the impact surface and the second side wall (14) constitutes the support surface. A traction element (20) furthermore extends from a first end to a second end, whose first end is connected to the outer side of the second side wall (14) in order to force the inflated airbag to assume a curved shape. In order to achieve an easy production and assembly, the second end of the traction element (20) is also connected to the outer side of the second side wall (14), wherein the operating length of the traction element (20) is smaller than the length of the section of the second side wall (14) that is spanned thereby.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement has an airbag module housing for receiving an airbag and a gas generator, and a firing channel (3) to which the airbag module housing can be fixed via form-fitting elements (21). The form-fitting elements (21) enter into engagement with correspondingly designed receiving devices (311), and a flange (20) with passage openings (200) for the passage of fastening means for the final fastening of the airbag module housing (2) to the firing channel (3) or an instrument panel is arranged on the airbag module housing (2).