Abstract: An air bag device comprising an air bag that is disposed between an under-window panel and a lining that covers a cabin interior side thereof and deploys upward along an inside surface of the window; and an impact absorption member that interposes between the air bag and the lining.

Abstract: An airbag module in a motor vehicle having a modular casing installed behind at least one opening flap built into the instrument panel is characterized in that the disk-shaped gas generator, including the modular casing surrounding it, is arranged on-edge at an angle to the plane of the instrument panel, its narrow side being defined by the gas-discharge openings arranged on its perimeter, and the folded airbag is arranged at least partially between the narrow side of the gas generator and the opening flap.

Abstract: Safety arrangement comprising a unit to be located beneath a bonnet of a motor vehicle. The unit is adapted to become of increased length in response to a signal from a sensor and may comprise a bellows-sleeve and a gas generator. The unit has a catch arrangement adapted to engage part of the bonnet structure so that part of the bonnet structure is engaged and retained when the length of the unit is increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for making the combustion of a pyrotechnic compostion independent of the ambient temperature when combusting a pyrotechnic composition in a preinflator or combustion chamber (2) incorporating outlets but being otherwise enclosed. As claimed in the present invention this is enabled by controlling the burning pressure of the pyrotechnic composition so that it does not exceed a predetermined value. The characteristic feature of the present invention is that the preinflator (2), in which combustion of the pyrotechnic composition takes place, incorporates a plurality of gas discharge perforations (6–9) or outlets, each of which is initially sealed by a bursting disc or foil seal (10) that is designed to rupture when the said burning pressure in the combustion chamber (2) is exceeded.

Abstract: An inflatable air-bag (1) is disclosed which defines an inflatable chamber (3). The air-bag comprises an inner elastic membrane (5) provided in the peripheral wall of the air-bag, there being a vent-hole (7) formed through the elastic membrane (5). An outer membrane (8) is provided on the outside of the air-bag which extends across at atleast part of the inner membrane (5) and the vent-hole (7). The outer membrane defines a pucker (10) over the inner membrane and the vent-hole (7). The pucker (10) is open so as to define an outlet flow path from the vent-hole (7) when the inner membrane (5) is spaced from the pucker (10). The inner membrane (5) is configured to stretch and seal against the pucker (10) around the vent-hole (7) when tile internal pressure within the inflatable chamber (3) exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A safety device is disclosed which is configured to be actuated by the supply of gas. The safety device incorporates an outlet vent pipe which is sealed by a releasable clip. The releasable clip has a first elongate main gripping element and a second elongate moveable gripping element. The main gripping element has a retaining element to retain one end of the moveable gripping element. The safety device also includes an arrangement to retain the other end of the moveable gripping element in a predetermined position such that the clip may grip a fabric tube or the like between the main gripping element and the moveable gripping element. A mechanism is provided which responds to a supply signal to move the other end of the moveable gripping element to release the grip.

Abstract: A safety-belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle has a safety-belt (5), one end of which is connected to a retractor (8), a sensor (11) generates a signal representative of the amount of safety-belt paid-out from the retractor. A force limiter (10) is associated with the retractor to permit safety-belt to be paid-out with a variable force limiting effect. A control arrangement (12) changes the level of force applied by the force limiter (10) in dependence upon the length of safety-belt paid-out from the retractor.

Abstract: A triggering unit is disclosed for use in triggering a safety device in a motor vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle in an impact situation in which the vehicle impacts with an impacting object. The triggering unit is configured to actuate the safety device only for total stiffness between the vehicle and the impacting object exceeds a predetermined stiffness value. The unit incorporates a calculating arrangement to calculate stiffness from two or more sensed parameters.

Abstract: An air-bag is disclosed which has a vent hole formed therein. The periphery of the vent hole has first and second opposed part, wherein a tuck is formed in the air-bag. The tuck is formed in the region of the first part of the vent hole periphery such that the second part of the vent hole periphery extends past the first part in a direction extending substantially outwards from the interior volume of the air-bag, when the air-bag is inflated.

Abstract: An airbag system for jointly supporting at least two vehicle occupants inside a motor vehicle in case of an accident with at least two separate airbags inflatable with a gas supplied by a gas generator. The airbag system has at least two airbags (14, 15) folded into a common housing (10) to be arranged in the dashboard of the motor vehicle. The airbags are connected to a common gas generator (11) having at least two outflow areas (13, 18, 19) assigned to the at least two airbags (14, 15). Each airbag (14, 15) is sealed by a deflector (16, 17) inserted therein against the respectively other airbag (14, 15), and the airbags are fixed inside the housing (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator, which is used in a belt latch mechanism of restraint systems in motor vehicles and which indicates the proper locking of the tongue of the safety belt when the tongue is inserted into the belt latch mechanism. The actuator is provided in the form of a double-contact actuator, whereby the contact steel plates are arranged inside a contact space that is closed at the top, and the contact can be actuated by a slide by moving this slide into a channel situated to the side of the inner space of the housing.

Abstract: A one-piece woven air-bag in the form of an inflatable curtain has two inflatable regions separated by an uninflatable region which incorporates an expansion panel to relieve excessive tension that may arise within the inflatable curtain. The expansion panel comprises a region where there are two outer layers of fabric interconnected by an intermediate or third layer extending from the first layer to the second layer. Slit lines are provided in the outer layers so that the expansion panel may expand when subjected to tension.

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: An air-bag arrangement provides protection for the occupant of a motor vehicle. The air-bag arrangement incorporates an airbag (50) formed by two layers (51, 52) interconnected to form a first set of chambers (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58), having a plurality of elongated substantially parallel chambers. A further fabric layer (61) is connected to one of the two layers (52) forming the main part of the inflatable element to define a second chamber set including two chambers (62, 63). The chambers are off-set from the adjacent chambers (54, 55, 56) defined by the first two layers (51, 52). Apertures (59, 60) provided in the layer (52) allow for the inflation of the second set of chambers (62, 63).

Abstract: An airbag module with a gas generator, a gas bag, a housing containing an exit opening for the deploying gas bag, and a holder. The gas generator and holder are located inside the gas bag, and the gas generator is fixed to the housing. The holder (19) has a support area (20) and at least one deflector segment (21, 22) directed toward the exit opening (13). The holder is placed between the gas generator (14) and the housing (10). The deflector segment at least partially surrounds the gas generator (14) and directs the gas generated by the gas generator (14) into at least one of a plurality of fold packets (16, 17, 18) of the gas bag (15) placed on both sides of the deflector segment (21, 22).

Abstract: Safety belt winder with a locking system for the belt shaft as support for the belt webbing wound upon said belt shaft, which reacts to the vehicle or the safety belt. The safety belt winder has an integrated force limiting device for the safety belt force occurring in the belt webbing on locking the safety belt winder. The belt webbing has a breaking strain of less than 20 kN, with less than 35 warp threads per 10 mm, running in the longitudinal direction thereof and the twill-woven weft yarn is in the form of monofilament threads.

Abstract: An inflator (1) is disclosed for use in a safety device within a motor vehicle, for example, for inflating an air-bag. The inflator comprises at least one gas outlet (23) having an initial predetermined gas flow area. The or each gas outlet incorporates a deformable part (41) which is configured to deform, in response to a predetermined gas pressure, so as to increase the gas flow area of the gas outlet. The deformable part (41) may be surrounded by a slot (40) which initially constitutes the outlet. The deformable part includes a neck (42) which bends so that the deformable part (41) opens like a flap. The invention is particularly suited for incorporating in a hybrid multi-stage gas generator comprising two or more pyrotechnic charges that can be actuated in combination or independently. The variable-area gas flow outlet provides an arrangement to vary the cross-section or area of a gas flow passage in response to a high pressure of gas.

Abstract: A safety arrangement in a motor vehicle includes a sensor (10) and a component (17) of the suspension of the vehicle of adjustable length between a front wheel (16) and a fixed part (14) of the vehicle. The component of adjustable length (17) is associated with a chamber (20) to be filled with fluid, there being a fluid outlet (26) which includes a pilot operated diaphragm valve (36).

Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) as a head-rest (5) which is mounted for movement about a horizontal axis defined by a bar (7) depending arms (12) extend downwardly into the back of the seat and carry a pressure plate (13) at a position behind the torso of the occupant of the seat so that pressure applied to the pressure plate (13) will cause the head-rest (5) to move forwardly. The pressure plate (13) is pivotally connected (14, 15, 16, 17) to the arms (12) to enable the arrangement to pivot to the maximum extent in a situation where the rear part of the seat is rigid, for example if the seat is a rear seat in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement incorporating an air-bag (6) and means adapted to inflate the air-bag, so that the air-bag occupies a position generally in front of an occupant (2) of a front seat of the vehicle, and between the occupant (2) of the front seat of the vehicle and the windscreen or windshield (5) of the vehicle, that part of the air-bag (6) located to contact the interior of the windshield (5), when the air-bag (6) is inflated being provided with gas outlet means to inject gas, under pressure, between part of the air-bag and the inside surface of the windscreen or windshield (5).