Abstract: A steering wheel assembly has a container having a bottom and an upper end. The upper end has an opening delimited by a rim. A gas generator is mounted at the bottom in the container. A gas bag has a mouth with an edge portion. The gas bag is folded into the container so as to be positioned between the gas generator and the opening. the edge portion is placed onto the container rim. A steering wheel member is placed onto the edge portion and secured to the upper end of the container by clamping the edge portion of the gas bag between the container rim and the steering wheel member.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for introducing pressurized gas into a vehicle safety device, preferably an air bag, with a pressure container (10) for compressed gas which has at least one opening (12) closed by a gas tight foil cover (14). The foil cover (14) is supported over at least a substantial part of its free surface area in a flat manner by a support device (16) which can be retracted in a direction perpendicular to the opening plane and is in turn supported on the pressure container (10). Via the foil cover (14) the compressed gas generates an outwardly directed force perpendicular to the opening plane, this force acting on the retractable support device (16) and being balanced with a reaction force of the latter. The device has a trigger arrangement (34) which can be activated in the event of an accident and brings about the retraction of the support device (16) such that the reaction force is canceled.

Abstract: A knee protector for vehicle passengers has a securing member for securing the knee protector within the vehicle. An inflatable air bag is mounted in an initially folded position on the securing member. A deformable cage is connected to the securing member and encloses the air bag in the initially folded state and in the deployed state as well as in all intermediate states. A cover is connected to a side of the cage opposite the securing member and attached to the securing member when the air bag is in the initially folded position. The cover is designed to detach from the securing member and to perform a movement away from the securing member upon deployment of the air bag in order to provide a load distribution plate for knee protection. The deformable cage guides the cover during the movement away from the securing member upon deployment of the air bag and during a return movement toward the securing member.

Abstract: An air bag arrangement is provided, and includes a gas generator to which is connected an air bag. The gas generator has a combustion chamber for composite propellant, and walls of the combustion chamber are provided with discharge openings. A first filter unit is disposed in the gas generator housing and a second filter unit is disposed beyond the housing and surrounds the same at a distance to form a cooling and pressure-reduction zone for a gas stream coming from the first filter unit. The second filter unit separates out gaseous and/or liquid impurities resulting in a gas stream during combustion of the composite propellant in the combustion chamber. By reducing the temperature level of the gas stream and its pressure level to within the range of atmospheric pressure, the second filter unit effects a phase change of the gaseous and/or liquid impurities, whereby liquid and/or solid impurities are filtered out in the second filter unit. The gas stream then enters the air bag from the second filter unit.

Abstract: A safety seat for use in a motor vehicle has a squab (101) and a back (104) and a head-rest (105). There is a pivotal connection between the back (104) and the squab (101). The head-rest (105) is mounted on a series of levers (112). If the vehicle is involved in a rear impact, the back (104) of the seat may move rearwardly. Simultaneously, because of the levers (112) the head-rest (105) will move forwardly relative to the back of the seat. Thus, the head-rest will come into contact with the head of the occupant of the seat, thus minimizing the risk of “whiplash” injuries.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat frame having a pivot connection and a seat portion mounted on the seat frame. A backrest, having a head rest, is mounted on the seat frame such that the backrest is pivotable relative to the seat portion about the pivot connection. A lateral airbag system is mounted in the backrest and extends in a longitudinal direction of the backrest. The lateral airbag system has an elongate housing open at one side. The elongate housing has an elongate channel extending along a side of the backrest to an upper end of the head rest. The elongate housing is connected to the seat frame. The lateral airbag system has an airbag folded into the elongate channel such that a direction of folding is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elongate channel and such that the airbag is completely stretched out in the longitudinal direction. A cover covering the open side of the elongate housing is provided. The cover is adapted to open upon actuation of the airbag to release the airbag.

Abstract: An igniter composition for a gas generant and related methods of gas generation are provided in which the igniter composition desirably avoids or is not prone to being ignited by thermal means at ambient pressure conditions.

Abstract: A back support mechanism for supporting the back of a seat in a motor vehicle, wherein the seat back support mechanism includes at least one first component adapted to be connected to the squab of the seat or to a frame supporting the squab of the seat, and at least one further component adapted to be connected to the back of the seat. A connection between the components includes a linkage to permit the further component to move with first and second pivotal actions relative to the first component. The linkage includes two pivot link elements which are respectively mounted to effect a pivotal movement relative to the at least one first component. The pivot link elements directly or indirectly support the further component. The pivot link elements permit the further component to effect an initial rearward pivotal movement which constitutes the first pivotal action before effecting the second pivotal action. The connection includes a deformable element which resists the second pivotal action.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor mechanism has a housing and a spool rotatably mounted in the housing. A safety belt is wound onto the spool in a retracted position. A locking mechanism locks the spool in order to prevent further rotation of the spool when an accident occurs. A load-limiting device enables belt pull-out from the spool to a limited extent after activation of the locking mechanism. The load limiting device has a torsion bar having a first and a second end. The torsion bar is connected with the first end to the spool and with the second end to the locking mechanism. A rotation-limiting device for limiting an angle of rotation of the spool relative to the locking mechanism is provided. The locking mechanism has a locking head having a locking element. The locking head is connected to the torsion bar and thereby connects the spool to the locking mechanism. The rotation-limiting device is located between the locking head and an end face of the spool facing the locking head.

Abstract: Gas generant compositions, such as may be suited for use in inflating automotive inflatable restraint airbag cushions, are provided. Such gas generant compositions generally contain a mixture of guanidine nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and a transition metal ammine nitrate, such as copper diammine dinitrate and preferably also contain one or more ballistic additives.

Abstract: A head-rest for a motor vehicle seat defines a front face and two side faces. The headrest has two extendable elements which are initially totally retained in the head-rest, but which are adapted to move, with a sliding motion, to an extended position. The elements then extend laterally relative to the head-rest and forwardly relative to the head-rest providing additional support for the head of an occupant of the seat.

Abstract: A seat includes a squab and a back connected to the squab. At least a substantial part of the back of the seat is arranged to undergo a rearward movement relative to an initial position of the squab of the seat. The movement comprises at least one of a pivoting movement, a sliding movement, and a bending movement. A force limiter presents a first, relatively low level resisting force to the rearward movement, at a first predetermined amount of the movement, and a second, relatively high level resisting force at a second predetermined amount of the movement.

Abstract: In a method for folding an airbag of an airbag system connected to a gas generator a tailored fabric consisting of two fabric layers defining the airbag volume is laid out flat and then engaged by a tool at the center of the length of the tailored fabric. At least a portion of the tailored fabric laid out flat is rolled in the direction toward the gas generator by rotating the tool so that the portion of the tailored fabric positioned at a side of the tool facing away from the gas generator is rolled into a double-layer roll. The tool is removed upon completion of the rolling process.

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 and for obtaining a degressive force characteristic curve.

Abstract: A safety belt reeling device has a belt reeling shaft lockable by a vehicle-sensitive and/or belt-sensitive locking device. A tightening device is provided and a tightening coupling connects the tightening device to the belt reeling shaft when the tightening device is actuated. The tightening device has a drive disc and a drive device for driving the drive disc. A force limiting device having a torsion bar is connected to the belt reeling shaft and to a stationary abutment. A pawl coupling is activated by a tightening movement of the tightening device and the pawl coupling has at least one force limiting pawl for switching on or off the force limiting device as a function of functional states of the safety belt reeling device.

Abstract: An air-bag unit comprises a support plate (2) having an aperture (4) in it, and an air-bag (14) which also has an aperture (16) formed in it. A gas generator (7) has a radially outwardly extending flange (8) which is located so that a region (15) of the air-bag (14) surrounding the aperture (16) formed therein is trapped between the flange (8) and the support plate (2). A gas diffuser (10) is provided which, together with the flange (8) defines a diffusion chamber (18), the arrangement being such that in use of the device, gas from the gas generator (8) is injected into the diffusion chamber (18). A plurality of elongate connector elements (17) extend from a part of the gas diffuser (10) through the flange (8) and through the region (15) of the air-bag surrounding the aperture, also passing through apertures formed in the plate (2) so that the distance between the said portion of the diffuser (10) and the support plate is variable.

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: An ignition enhanced gas generant material and method of making the same utilizing a solvent effective to partially solubilize at least one component of each of a selected ignition composition and, upon application to the gas generant material, at least one component of an associated gas generant material.

Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) comprises a squab (2) and a back (3). The seat is associated with a roll-over sensor (11) which activates a pyrotechnic charge within a cylinder (12) to cause the seat (1) to move to an alternative configuration in which the head of the occupant of the seat is moved so that the clearance between the head of the occupant and the roof is increased. The head of the occupant is thus spaced further from the roof of the vehicle, since the roof of the vehicle may be depressed during a roll-over accident.

Abstract: A safety device has a grease reservoir for supplying grease to a functional part of the safety device. The grease reservoir includes a capsule containing the grease. The capsule consists of grease-resistant material. The capsule is arranged relative to the functional part such that a designated movement of the functional part during operation of the safety device destroys the capsule and releases the grease.