Abstract: A side air bag is disclosed for a motor vehicle, and takes the form of a three-dimensional airbag which is formed from two super-imposed layers of fabric. The super-imposed layers of fabric, when laid flat, have a substantial common area of super-imposition. Infill pieces formed from either at least one gusset forming insert or from a portion or portions of fabric of one or both of the fabric layers which extend beyond the area of super-imposition are provided. The air-bag has an inflatable region towards the upper part of the air-bag and an inflatable region towards the lower part of the air-bag. The two inflatable regions are separated by a part of the air-bag which is constrained when the air-bag is inflated, to have a thickness less than the thickness of either of the said regions.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant is provided. The airbag module comprises at least one airbag. A gas generator is in fluid communication with the airbag to inflate the airbag with a gas. A deformable ribbon interfaces with the fluid communication between the gas generator and the airbag. The deformable ribbon has a spiral form with a first radial end covering a second radial end when the gas generator is deactivated.

Abstract: An airbag system is disclosed comprising a gas generator and an airbag having at least two inflatable airbag regions. The airbag regions are attached to the gas generator by an interconnecting a T-shaped connecting piece having symmetrically opposed outlet stubs with differently sized outlet cross-sections for inflating the airbag regions. In order to neutralize the thrust of the system in case of accidental fire, several means for controlling the outlet cross-section on at least one of the outlet stubs are disclosed.

Abstract: An inflator for an air-bag comprises at least one gas bottle (1, 2) containing pressurized gas. The gas bottle is sealed by a rupturable foil (9). There is a support member (15) engaging the rupturable foil to maintain it in an unruptured state. The support member (15) is retained in an initial position by a part (23) of a piston element (20) which directly engages the support member (15). The piston element (20) is associated with a squib (11) to drive the piston element from an initial position to a release position in which the piston element no longer engages the support member (15). This permits the support member (15) to move to a position in which the foil (9) will rupture to permit gas to escape from the bottle. The preferred embodiment has two gas bottles each sealed by a respective foil each maintained by a support member which directly engages a single piston member.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an airbag unit is provided. The airbag unit comprises an airbag made of fabric. The unit has fastening devices for attaching the airbag to a motor vehicle. A cover section is proximate to the fastening devices and is fastened to the airbag. The cover section is configured to not completely cover the airbag when the airbag is in an unrolled state and forms a wrapping of the airbag when the airbag is rolled-up with the cover section to define rolled-up state.

Abstract: A fabric for an air-bag is disclosed, the fabric being woven in a special pattern which comprises a plurality of fields (57-65), at least one of the fields (59) having a first weave pattern, and at least another of the fields (57) having a second weave pattern. The second weave pattern is relatively loosely-woven compared to the first weave pattern. The invention also relates to an air-bag formed using such a fabric, preferably in the region of one or more mounts of nine of the air-bag.

Abstract: To provide a buckle switch and buckle device wherein a first switch section and a second switch section are unitized to provide improved assembling workability and increased production efficiency. As a tongue plate is inserted to a buckle body to move a slider, a pressing segment 23b of the slider rotates a leaf spring 46 in a direction a and, hence, a depressible portion 44c is depressed to cause a movable member 44 to move in a direction X2. At this time, a stationary contact 71a moves into and is pinched by pinch members 53 of a movable contact 50 disposed on the movable member 44, rendering the switch section SW1 to assume a conductive state. Concurrently, since a magnet M2 is placed in opposition to a magnetic detecting element 61, a second switch section SW2 is switched over. By unitizing the first and second switch sections, assembling workability of a buckle switch 40 to the buckle body can be improved, enabling an increase in production efficiency.

Abstract: An airbag is disposed over almost the entire length along a roof side rail. The airbag comprises a duct formed with a gas introduction hole and a plurality of chambers communicating with the duct. The duct comprises a long first duct part and a short second duct part arranged with the gas introduction hole being provided therebetween. The inlet of a chamber closest to the gas introduction hole in the first duct part has a shape that becomes narrower gradually from the upper part toward the lower part. The passage width of the uppermost part of the inlet of the closest chamber is greater than the depth to the narrowest part thereof, and the passage width of the narrowest part is narrower than the passage width of the first duct part around the inlet thereof.

Abstract: An airbag having an airbag fabric skin (10) enclosing an interior gas space with a first edge (11) extending from a first end (11a) to a second end (11b), whereby an accommodation area (A) for a gas generator (20) is located at the first edge outside the gas spaced extending parallel the first edge (11), which exhibits an area (32) of a deflector element 930) which accommodates the gas generator. In order to ensure that the airbag unit consisting of gas generator and airbag halves in a thrust-neutral manner in case of a fire, deflector element (30) consists of a tubular, flexible element, whereby the deflector element (30) exhibits an upper and lower area (32, 36) whose lower area (36) is located inside the gas space (G). The deflector element is connected with the airbag skin in an intermediate area (34) which is located between upper and lower areas.

Abstract: Described is a gas generator unit comprising of a cylindrical gas generator (10), the lateral surface (10a) of which demonstrates emission holes (12) arranged in a thrust-neutral manner within a ring-shaped area (10b), and a deflector element (20), which is rigidly connected to the gas generator (10) and is made of a heat resistant material and at least surrounds the ring-shaped area (10b) at least partially. To make the gas generator harmless in the event of a fire, the deflector element (20) demonstrates, in an inflow area (20a) opposite the ring-shaped area (10b), borings (22), which are sealed by at least one blocking element (24, 32) made of a meltable or combustible material, the borings being arranged in such a manner that the gas generator unit is thrust-neutral in the absence of the blocking element (24).

Abstract: It is to provide a structure in which impact to the lower limbs of a vehicle occupant can be reduced effectively as compared to the prior art. A structure for reducing impact force according to the present invention is to protect an occupant in a vehicle interior, which reduces impact force, occurred when a structural body located out of and in front of the vehicle interior comes toward the vehicle interior. And the structure for reducing impact force is characterized by comprising: a pressing mechanism, which is arranged out of and in front of the vehicle interior to apply a pressure downwardly to the structure in order to restrict the structure from entering into the vehicle interior; and a drive member to drive the pressing mechanism in the case of emergency.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electropyrotechnic initiator whose circuit board (15) supports on a first face (18) a resistance element (21) for heating a pyrotechnic charge (22, 23). According to the invention, the second face (19) of the circuit board (15), opposite the first face (18), supports means (30) of protection against the electrostatic discharges, housed between the two electrodes (10, 11) powering the element (21) in a recess (91) of an insulating structure (9) through which the electrodes (10, 11) pass.

Abstract: An airbag unit with an airbag exhibiting an impact surface, a housing, a gas generator, a first tensioning element extending from housing to impact surface, which is interrupted when the airbag is fully expanded, and a second tensioning element extending from impact surface to an outlet valve with variable cross section located in airbag. The cross section of the outlet valve becomes smaller when the second tensioning element is under tension. In order to ensure a high degree of functional reliability, outlet valve exhibits a nozzle extending around an opening, around which the second tensioning element is guided.

Abstract: A steering wheel unit for a steer-by-wire steering system in motor vehicles, consisting of a steering wheel (12), an airbag module, a steering wheel angle sensor unit (24) as well as a force feedback unit, is characterized in that steering wheel (12) is located in rotatable fashion on module housing (10) of the airbag module, which is fixed to the vehicle, and that module housing (10) forms the stator and steering wheel (12) the rotor of the force feedback unit formed as an electric motor.

Abstract: A tubular gas guide element for a side curtain airbag for guiding gas coming from a gas generator comprising at least two layers of fabric. With the use of such a gas guide, thrust of the gas inflowing into an airbag can be balanced.

Abstract: A gas deflector (24) is disclosed for use with a cylindrical gas generator (20). The gas deflector (24) comprises a generally tubular housing to accommodate the cylindrical gas generator (20). The housing has two terminal portions (25, 26) of generally circular cross-section and has an intermediate region provided with an outwardly-extending formation (28). The outwardly-extending formation (28) defines, at either end thereof, an opening (31, 34) through which gas may flow in the direction substantially parallel to the axis of the housing.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for detecting the position of an occupant (4) of a seat (1) which is provided with a safety belt (9) which is mounted on a retractor (10) includes a sensor (11) which measures the length of belt withdrawn from the retractor The sensor is associated with a processor unit (8) which is associated with a seat position sensor (7). By determining the position of the seat and by determining the minimum length of belt paid-out from the retractor (10) after the seat belt has been buckled in position, and by determining how additional belt has been paid-out at any incident, the position of the seat occupant (4) relative to an air-bag (19) can be determined. If the seat occupant is very close to the air-bag, the nature of deployment of the air-bag can be moderated by the central processor unit (8).

Abstract: A side airbag module for use in a motor vehicle. The module includes a gas generator attached to a folded airbag. The folded airbag unfolds into an interior of the motor vehicle when the gas generator is activated. A large guide fin is disposed within an interior of the airbag such that the airbag is disposed around the guide fin. The guide fin is connected to a component attached to the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A seat-belt pretensioner arrangement comprises a pretensioner (7) and a control system (3-6) to control the tension applied to a seat-belt by the pretensioner (7). The control system (3-6) controls the pretensioner (7) in response to at least the rate of change of steering angle (??). A first processor (4) provides an output indicating a desired level of force to be applied to the seat-belt determined from the steering angle and the velocity of the vehicle. A second processor (5) provides a corresponding output indicative of a desired force level, determined from the rate of change of steering angle (??) and the velocity of the vehicle (vx). A selector (6) selects the highest of the two force levels, and provides an appropriate signal to the pretensioner (7).

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an air bag system comprises an air bag having an impact surface which in a non-inflated state is arranged in a housing located below the upper edge of a windowsill of a vehicle door. In an inflated state, at least part of the impact surface is positioned above the windowsill. There is a supporting surface for the air bag below the upper edge of the windowsill. The air bag defines a main chamber and a supporting chamber. The impact surface forms part of the main chamber. The supporting chamber, in an inflated state, is situated between the main chamber and the supporting surface and is supported at least in part by the supporting surface.