Abstract: This invention relates to an inflation device for automobile safety equipment with a container in which a charge chamber for acceptance of a gas-producing charge and a discharge chamber with a discharge opening for connection with the safety device are provided, where a separating wall with an inside opening separates the two chambers axially from each other and is connected in a fluid-tight manner with a wall of said container by interlocking connecting means. According to the invention, such an inflation device excels through the fact that the connecting means are formed elastically in the axial direction in such manner that, when a predetermined pressure is reached in the charge chamber, they fail elastically and the separating wall is movable in the axial direction in the discharge chamber. The connecting means are released free of any radial expansion of the container wall.

Abstract: An airbag module has an airbag made of two fabric layers each having a lateral offset. The two fabric layers are circumferentially connected to one another by a seam. The lateral offsets together form a receiving pocket into which a gas generator is inserted. The gas generator has projecting pin-shaped securing elements. The pocket has penetrating openings and at least one fabric flap. The flap has an auxiliary opening. The pin-shaped securing elements are received in the penetrating openings to thereby secure the gas generator in the pocket. The flap, after insertion of the gas generator into the pocket and of pin-shaped securing elements in penetrating openings, is folded over such that the auxiliary opening is placed onto one of the pin-shaped securing elements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is configured to counteract the occurrence of whiplash injury to a person sitting in a seat, which can occur due to a rapid change in velocity, such as in a rear-end collision. The device comprises guide means that, during a change in motion of a vehicle, provide for a change in position of the seat in the form of translation and rotational movement of the seat in a generally backward direction opposite the direction of travel of the vehicle. As the seat and the occupant of the seat move backward relative to the vehicle, the head of the occupant accelerates over a longer distance than the hips of the occupant.

Abstract: A device for counteracting whiplash injury to a person sitting in a seat (1) which can occur due to a rapid change in velocity, such as a collision, primarily from the rear, or similar. The device is characterized by containing means of allowing controlled displacement of the entire seat (1) against the direction of travel during rapid change of velocity, that the seat (1) is provided with control devices which are arranged to give the seat and its occupant an essentially simultaneous and essentially linear movement against the direction of movement and/or an essentially arcuate movement, and that the seat (1) is arranged to stay in a rear position after the change of velocity.

Abstract: A safety arrangement in a motor vehicle comprises a seat to be occupied by a passenger of the vehicle. The seat is supported by a framework (32, 33). The framework is mounted on to a carriage (6) by four deformable members (5) each having sensor means responsive to deformation of the deformable members. The sensor can determine the weight of a person sitting on the seat and also the position of that person within the seat. The sensors are associated with controls adapted to initiate and control the inflation of an air-bag when an accident arises. The inflation characteristic of the air-bag can therefore be adapted to the weight and position of the occupant of the seat.

Abstract: A passenger seat air bag module for supporting and deploying an air bag at a location relative to the instrument panel of a vehicle is provided, which includes a housing, an air bag sack, a gas generator for generating gas for inflating the air bag sack, and a cover element for covering a deployment opening through which the air bag sack is moved when it is deployed. To withdraw the cover element, a drive mechanism applies a pulling force to the cover element via a pulling force transmitting element. The drive mechanism includes a drive block having a plurality of paired cylinder bores and associated drive pistons and a push bar driven outwardly by the drive pistons. The outward movement of the push bar effects withdrawal of the cover element from its deployment opening covering position to its withdrawn position by the pulling force transmitting element.

Abstract: A safety arrangement in a motor vehicle comprises a safety device (38) adapted to protect an occupant of the vehicle in the case of a roll-over accident, and a roll sensor arrangement to provide a signal (33) to trigger activation of the safety device. A sensor (30) senses an angular parameter such as angular speed about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, or the actual angle of roll about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A further sensor (31) senses a velocity parameter relating to the vehicle speed, such as the total velocity of the vehicle, or the velocity of the vehicle in a predetermined direction. A processor (35) senses an angular speed in excess of a predetermined threshold, which activates a timing mechanism (36) which is associated with a processor (34) which compares angular velocity with a threshold, and provides a triggering signal if the threshold is exceeded. The threshold is a function of vehicle speed.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a squab and a back which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the squab. The seat incorporates an energy absorbing force limiter adapted to absorb energy as the back of the seat moves rearwardly when subjected to a force from the torso of an occupant of the seat, for example, during a rear impact. The energy absorbing force limiter provides a first resistive force resisting the pivotal movement, and a second resistive force during a second subsequent pivotal movement. The resistive force provided during the first pivotal movement is dependent upon the energy of the rear impact. If the rear impact is low energy rear impact, the resistive force is relatively low whereas if the rear impact is a high-energy rear impact, the resistive force is relative high.

Abstract: A safety-belt arrangement for a motor vehicle has a safety-belt (74) with an end fixing (73) in the form of a plate having an aperture (75). The end fixing may be inserted into a slot (72) formed in a rotatably mounted spool (55). A spring-biased catch (76) is provided which engages the aperture (75) to retain the end fixing in position. When the end fixing is in position a spring catch (70) is released permitting the spool (55) to rotate under the influence of a spring bias. If a severe force is applied to the belt (74), part of the belt is withdrawn from the spool under a force limiting effect. The spool may additionally be associated with a pre-tensioner.

Abstract: An inflatable seat belt for securing an occupant in a motor vehicle having a belt strap which is divided by way of a belt latch into a diagonal region resting against the occupant's upper body and into a horizontal region resting against the occupant's pelvis. A belt buckle is fastened to the vehicle and the belt latch is detachably connectable with the belt buckle. On the diagonal region of the belt strap, an air bag is mounted which extends from the occupant's upper body to behind the head. The air bag is made of a material which is shortened in an axial direction during inflation. The diagonal region of the belt strap is connected with an upper retractor fastened to the vehicle, and the horizontal region of the belt strap is connected with a lower retractor fastened to the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame includes: a gas generator; a sensor for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over for activating the gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to the gas generator for being inflated with gas from the gas generator upon activation of the gas generator. The inflatable element can thus assume a non-inflated mode and an inflated mode and can further be positioned adjacent the door in an inflated-mode thereof. The inflatable element is further made of fabric and includes: a first fabric layer defining a front part thereof; a second fabric layer defining a back part thereof, selected parts of the first fabric layer and second fabric layer being interconnected for defining one of linear and point shaped links where the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are directly secured together.

Abstract: A safety device in a motor vehicle comprises a roller retractor (2) mounted at the top of the back (1) of a vehicle seat. The roller retractor (2) has wound on it a sheet-like element or net (3) which is extractable from the roller to engage anchoring means secured in or adjacent the roof of the vehicle. The length of net (3) to be extracted from the roller retractor (2) is different in different positions of the back of the seat. The roller retractor mechanism is associated with a locking mechanism (5) which is actuated in at least one of the alternative positions of the back of the seat to lock the extraction of more than a predetermined length of the sheet-like element from the roller retractor (2). The length is sufficient to enable the sheet to be secured to connecting means provided in the roof of the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the safety arrangement comprising a rail (7) provided on the floor of the vehicle and a vehicle seat (1) movably mounted on the rail means, the rail means being associated with one or more transmitting antennas (9) and the seat being associated with one or more receiving antennas (10), and means (12) to supply a signal to at least one transmitting antenna to transfer power to at least one receiving antenna, there being a safety device (4) mounted in or on the seat, actuating means being provided to use the power transferred to the said receiving antenna to actuate the said safety device.

Abstract: A gas bag arrangement for a motor vehicle safety system is provided. A gas generator is disposed in a housing to which is connected an airbag that is unfolded and inflated by gas produced by the gas generator and guided to a gas discharge area of the housing. A first partial discharge area of the gas discharge area is formed by a discharge part that projects from the housing into the airbag. A second partial discharge area is formed by openings disposed about a location where the discharge part is attached to the housing. Two partial flows of gas from the gas generator are separately directed, in the same direction, onto the material of the airbag. The first and second partial discharge areas are staggered relative to the airbag when viewed in a direction of discharge of gas from the housing.

Abstract: A knee area protection apparatus for the protection of a vehicle occupant is provided which includes a deployment guiding plate and a support plate each having a top transverse edge, a bottom transverse edge, and side edges. The support plate is securable to the vehicle in a lower area of a seat compartment thereof. The knee area protection apparatus also includes retaining bands to retain and guide an air bag sack as it is deployed as well as to retain and guide the deployment guiding plate, which is moved by the deployment of the air bag sack.

Abstract: A safety belt winding device is provided having a tensioning mechanism with a cable that can be unwound from a pulley, and also having a force-limiting device for a predetermined belt withdrawal, wherein the connection between the belt winding shaft and the tensioning mechanism is adapted to be eliminated after conclusion of the tensioning movement. A retaining element is disposed on an end of the cable and is releasably fixed in position on the pulley, wherein an ejection arm is mounted on the pulley such that it can be pivoted out radially and that during a tensioning process in a belt winding direction is held in a pivoted-in position by the housing in which the pulley is accommodated. During rotation of the belt winding shaft in the belt withdrawal direction, the ejection arm pivots outwardly and is fixed from further rotation via a configuration of the housing and thereby displaces the retainer element of the cable out of engagement with the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises an inner framework, the inner framework defining a first portion (11, 12, 13, 14) to be received within the squab of the seat and the second portion (15, 16, 17) to be received within the back of the seat. The second portion (15, 16, 17) is mounted on the first portion (11, 12, 13, 14) for rearward pivotal movement about a predetermined pivotal axis (19). Connected between an element (20) which moves in response to movement of the second portion of the framework (15, 16, 17) and the first portion of the framework (11, 12, 13, 14) is an element that provides a mechanical advantage, in the form of a lever arm (27) and a damper in the form of a gas springs (32). The mechanical advantage provided by the lever arm element (27) changes as the second portion of the framework (15, 16, 17) pivots rearwardly about the pivot axis (19). Thus, in a rear impact, an occupant of the seat is given a gradual acceleration.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle comprises an inflatable element (8) which is initially stored in position in a recess in a door frame (4). A gas generator (5) may provide gas to inflate the inflatable element. When the inflatable element is inflated it extends between the head of a person sitting in the motor vehicle and the door, or a window in the door. The device provides protection in a side impact or roll-over situation.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a motor vehicle is provided that includes a seat belt retractable from a seat belt winding roller and having an extent which passes to and through a connecting tongue for releasably connecting the seat belt to a seat latch and having an end secured to an end fixture fixedly connected to the motor vehicle. An electrical lead extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the seat belt. A measuring device measures a variation in an electrical property of the electrical lead, which varies in correspondence with the extension of the seat belt due to the application of a pulling force on the seat belt. An evaluation device evaluates the measurements performed by the measuring device to yield an output representative of the pulling force applied to the seat belt.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle comprises an inflatable element(8) which is initially stored in position in a recess in a door frame(4). A gas generator(5) may provide gas to inflate the inflatable element. When the inflatable element is inflated it extends between the head of a person sitting in the motor vehicle and the door, or a window in the door, The device provides protection in a side impact or roll-over situation.