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.

Abstract: A vehicle seat, the seat comprises a squab and a back. The back is mounted for pivotal movement, relative to the squab, about a predetermined pivotal axis (19). The back is provided with a frame (42) supporting a head-rest, the said frame is movable between a lower position and an upper position. The head-rest carried by the frame (42) is located a greater distance from the top of the back of the seat when the frame (42) is in the elevated position. Means are provided to move the frame (42) from the lower position to the upper position in response to said rearward pivotal movement of the back of the seat about the predetermined pivotal axis (19).

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a support structure located beneath the seat and a squab located above the support structure. A back-seat extends substantially upwardly from the rear part of the squab. A mechanism pivotally connects the rear part of the squab to the support structure to permit the rearward tilting of the back-rest while tilting upwards the squab. A kinetic energy absorbing mechanism absorbs energy when the seat executes a tilting movement. The energy absorbing mechanism is located beneath the squab and is connected to a pivotal linkage between the support structure and a forward part of the squab of the seat.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag system in a safety system, especially in motor vehicles, including a gas generator arranged in a gas guide housing (10), and at least one airbag connected to an assigned connection opening (11). The inventive airbag system also has a sliding element (16) which can be relatively displaced in the gas guide housing. The sliding element is provided as a valve element for controlling the inflation process of the airbag. An additional opening for connecting an additional airbag is configured in the airbag system. The sliding element is also configured as a sliding sleeve (16) which encompasses the tubular gas generator in a concentric manner and which can be displaced between an opened position and a closed position for the connection opening (11), the opening being radially configured in the wall of the gas guide housing (10).

Abstract: A safety device in a motor vehicle, the device comprising an inflatable element adapted to be disposed between an occupant of the vehicle and the side of the vehicle when inflated to afford protection in the event of a side impact or a roll-over, means for inflating the inflatable element and means for sensing a side impact or a roll-over and for activating the inflating means, the inflatable element being formed from two layers of fabric which define a front part and a rear part of the inflatable element, selected regions of the two layers of fabric being interconnected by means of straps disposed internally within the inflatable element, the inflatable element having an edge portion secured to part of the door frame of the vehicle, the said part of the door frame being non-linear.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame. The safety device 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 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 method of folding an air-bag is disclosed. The air-bag is initially located in a substantially flat condition. Two side portions of the air-bag are rolled inwardly towards the gas generator and are then folded back (9, 10) towards the centre of the air-bag, thus releasing tension in the upper layer of fabric between the two rolls. The rolled regions are then themselves rolled inwards form the opposed ends thereof and are again finally turned back, again to release any tension in the central region of the fabric. Consequently, the central region of the fabric, which is located opposite the gas generator, is slack, enabling that part of the fabric to move away from the gas generator relatively easily when the gas generator is activated.

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: The present invention concerns a switch device for verifying the locking position of an automobile seatbelt lock having at least two switch elements whose switch condition can be determined, as well as a control element that can be moved in the seatbelt lock and through which the switch condition of the switch elements can be changed. A switch device with high operating reliability is created by the fact that the switch elements are designed as sensors and the switch condition of the switch elements can be changed by an interaction between control element and sensors.

Abstract: An occupant impact protection system with an airbag that inflates when triggered whereby the protective effect of the inflated airbag is to be maintained beyond its service life. For this purpose it is provided that the airbag be foamable by means of particles introduced therein that are made of plastic that foam when activated and that are activated together with the introduction of the gas produced by the gas generator and a solid structure is formed for impact protection after the plastic foam hardens.

Abstract: A self-locking belt roller has a housing and a belt winding shaft rotatably mounted in housing. A torsion rod has a first end connected in the belt winding shaft. A profile head is connected to a second end of the torsion rod. A blocking member, that is vehicle-sensitive and/or belt-sensitive, is mounted on the profile head and moveable into a locking position at the housing in which rotation of the belt winding shaft is blocked. An energy-dissipating structure is positioned within a force transmission path, including the profile head, the torsion rod, and the belt winding shaft, for increasing a restraining force before the torsion rod becomes effective or simultaneously to the torsion rod becoming effective and for obtaining a degressive force characteristic curve.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle comprises a gas generator(9) which generates gas when an accident occurs. An air-bag is provided to be inflated by the gas. The air-bag comprises three super-imposed fabric layers(2,3,4), the outer peripheries of which are conjoined by a seam(5). A central aperture(6) in the lower-most layer receives the gas outlet(8) of the gas generator. A plurality of apertures(12) are formed in the intermediate layer and seams(13) interconnect the intermediate layer(3) and the lower-most(2) adjacent the apertures. The seams(13) partially surround each aperture, but are not present in a region(14) which is radially outwardly positioned relative to the center of the intermediate layer(3). This arrangement causes the bag, on inflation, to inflate laterally outwardly before inflating towards the occupant of the vehicle to be protected by the bag.

Abstract: An inflatable element adapted to be inflated with gas from a gas generator (2) includes a gas flow duct (6) leading from the gas generator to a plurality of cells (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) which are to be inflated. An elongate element (20) having a plurality of substantially helical turns is within the gas flow duct, the axis of the elongate element being substantially coincident.

Abstract: A self-locking belt retractor has a belt reeling shaft having a belt connected thereto. A locking device, activatable in a vehicle sensitive and/or belt-sensitive manner for preventing belt removal from the belt reeling shaft is provided. The locking device has a locking member and a profiled head connected to the belt reeling shaft. The belt reeling shaft is locked when the locking member engages the profiled head. At least two force-limiting elements are arranged in parallel or in series to one another, wherein one of the force-limiting elements is a torsion bar allowing a limited belt removal when the locking device locks the belt reeling shaft. A switching device for selectively engaging at least one of the force-limiting elements is provided to thereby connect the belt reeling shaft and the profiled head.

Abstract: An electronic control circuit for a vehicle safety device includes an electrical activator responsive to a flow of current therethrough to activate the safety device. The electrical activator is present in a series connection including the activator and two switches. The series connection forms at least part of an electric circuit. The control circuit further includes a crash sensor producing an output signal when an accident is detected. A crash risk sensor produces an output signal when a certain crash risk is detected. One of the switches is closed in response to at least the output signal from the crash sensor. The other switch is closed in response to the output signals coming from both the crash sensor and from the crash risk sensor.

Abstract: A method of making a gas generant formulation which contains a transition metal diammine dinitrate is provided wherein a transition metal nitrate is reacted with an ammonia source to form an aqueous slurry containing a corresponding reaction mixture. A spray dryable precursor to the gas generant formulation is formed including at least a gas generating fuel and a sufficient quantity of water to render the precursor spray dryable. The precursor is subsequently spray dried to form a gas generant powder. The method may also include a relatively mild heat treatment of the dried material, either as a part of the spray drying or subsequent to such spray drying.