Abstract: An air bag cover for an inflatable air bag system having an elastomeric body with a front surface and a rear surface, the body having a first aperture extending between the front and rear surfaces and a plurality of mounting pins or legs extending from the rear surface and located about the first aperture; and a badge assembly having a badge portion and a mounting rim about the badge portion, the badge portion fitting up through the first aperture from the rear surface, the rim extending under the rear surface proximate the first aperture with the legs disposed in at least some corresponding mounting opening in the rim. A light source within the cover can be provided to illuminate the badge.

Abstract: The autoignition compositions of the present invention ignites in the temperature range of 120° C. to 160° C. The autoignition compositions are thermally stable at 107° C. for 400 hours and are thermally stable during thermal cycling. The preferred composition for the autoignition composition comprises equal weight percentages of the following chemicals: nitroguanidine, Sb2S3, and AgNO3. An ignition temperature adjuster selected from the group consisting of teflon powder, graphite powder, ammonium perchlorate, MoS2, and FeS can be added to the preferred autoignition composition.

Abstract: A unique and simple method for attaching a steering wheel to a steering shaft includes a pair of securement members. The steering shaft is provided with a slot extending into an enlarged space. The first securement member extends across a bore in the steering wheel, and is threadably received in the second securement member. The steering wheel can be moved onto the steering shaft with the first securement member moving through the slot and into the space. The first securement member can then draw the second securement member into the space. Preferably, there is a tapered interface between the second securement member, the steering wheel, and the steering shaft. The tapered surface drives the steering wheel downwardly onto the steering shaft such that a wedge-lock is provided. In a further feature of this invention, an outer housing surrounds the steering shaft. The outer housing has a pair of spaced slots.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a two-piece belt reel rotatably mounted on a seat belt retractor frame. The two pieces of the belt reel are a spool and a spool insert. A tightening drive creates a torque. A force transmission device transmits torque to the belt reel for winding the belt webbing onto the spool. A load limiter connects the spool and spool insert for to limit force on a seat belt-wearing vehicle occupant during the accelerated forward displacement of the seat belt-wearing vehicle occupant. During effective force limitation, when exceeding a preselected force threshold resulting from the belt force limitation effect and the torque of the tightening drive, in the force transmission device the torque transmission from the tightening drive to the belt reel is interrupted.

Abstract: A force-sensing mechanism (20) comprising: a housing having first (22) and second (24) housing members; a slidable plate positioned between plate portions of the first and second housing members and moveable thereto; various spacers located between the first housing member and the sliding plate to space and stabilize the plate relative to the first and second housing members; a magnetic sensor stationarily mounted between the first and second housing members, a magnet moveable with the sliding member in response to forces applied to the first and second housing members and to the sliding plate; a spring assembly (250) having one end in operative engagement with the sliding plate and another end in operative engagement with the housing while biasing the sliding plate within the housing.

Abstract: A seat belt guide has a bearing axis for the pivotal mounting of a guide body on a vehicle structure. The guide body has a flexing bar around which the seat belt webbing is guided. A fixing plate can be fixed on the vehicle structure pivotally around the bearing axis with a fixing bolt. Two flexing bar carriers rigidly connect the flexing bar is to the fixing plate at its two ends. The guide body is deformable when a specific load originates from the seat belt webbing, the flexing bar bending substantially symmetrically with respect to the fixing bolt.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a rotatably mounted spool for supporting seat belt webbing. An emergency locking mechanism selectively locks the spool against rotation. An automatic locking mechanism selectively locks the spool against paying out webbing. A switch has a first position for activating the automotive locking mechanism in dependence upon a predetermined amount of webbing being wound off the spool, and a second position for deactivating the automatic locking mechanism in dependence upon a predetermined amount of webbing being wound back onto the spool. A gear connects the spool with the switch mechanism having a first and a second actuator tab on the gear. A pivotally mounted actuator member has an actuator pawl for locking the spool and parts engaging with the first and second tabs to move the switch between the first and second positions. The tabs and the engaging parts are radially oriented in line, one with the other.

Abstract: An air bag module comprising an inflator (350) having at least one exit port located on one side of a body, wherein inflation gas exiting the at least one exit port includes an axial component of flow, which exits the exit port in an axial direction; and an air bag assembly (200) comprising an outer air bag (202) and an inner air bag (300), the inner air bag disposed about the inflator to receive inflation gas before the inflation gas can substantially affect a trajectory of the inflating outer air bag (202), the inflation gas flowing within the inner air bag in at least the axial direction, the inner air bag including a first and second opening (306) to direct inflation gas into the inner bag with components of gas flow exiting the second opening(s) at at least a skewed angle while a portion of the gas flow may optionally flow in a vertical up and down direction, the inner bag also including a third opening (320) disposed near a remote side of the inner bag for directing inflation gas into the outer bag in a

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprising: a first and a second energy absorption mechanism each of which is selectively activatable and respectively configured to generate first and second levels of energy absorption and when activated define an output characteristic of the retractor; a switch mechanism for operatively selecting one or the other energy level and a mode shifter for shifting between the first energy absorption level and the second energy absorption level as a function of the rotation of a spool of the retractor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simulation based environment that allows a product based engineer, with a modest understanding of complex software programs, to use complex math models. The system provides an interface by which basic component models can be used within the simulation. Allowances are made for particular variables to be adaptable by the product based engineer.

Abstract: To improve the grasp on the tongue of a seat belt, a handle extends from the seat belt tongue in the forward direction of the seat belt and is attached in a rotating manner to the central or rear portion of the tongue to perform rotation of the tongue in relation to the handle when the handle is grasped and pulled forward to fasten the seat belt.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor operates in two distinct modes: a first, Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR), mode; and a second, Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR), mode. A toothed ratchet wheel is mounted to rotate with a spool that is biased in a seat belt webbing rewinding direction. A sensor detects an emergency condition of the vehicle. A vehicle acceleration sensor lever responsive to the sensor engages the ratchet wheel in the event of an emergency condition. The vehicle acceleration sensor lever performs two functions: it locks the retractor when the sensor detects accelerations and decelerations greater than a predetermined magnitude and it also prevents rotation of the spool in the seat belt webbing pay-out direction when operating in its second mode. A cam connected to the spool via a step-down gearing arrangement acts as a switch.

Abstract: An air bag module comprising: an air bag pack including an inflator and folded air bag, the air bag capable of inflating upon receipt of inflation gas and a tether having first portion fixedly attached in relation to one of the air bag and the inflator, the tether includes a second portion, which is loosely positioned relative to the first portion.

Abstract: An air bag assembly (20) comprising: an air bag (24) and means for inflating the air bag, and a partial hood or tether (40) for causing the air bag to inflate in an asymmetric manner during inflation, the hood or tethers operatively disengageable from the air bag.

Abstract: A device for inflating an airbag comprising a container for a compressed gas of a sealing device, which closes the container during normal operation and is provided in a gas release nozzle connected to the container in a gas tight manner, and a throttle opening, via which the released gas flows in a throttled manner out of the container via an emission opening and the gas release nozzle, whereby the throttle opening is formed through reshaping of a container wall part.

Abstract: A cold gas inflator having an opening device for rupturing a burst disk. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of a automobile accident, the opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture the burst disk. The stored gas flows into the diffuser and then exits the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.

Abstract: A force-sensing mechanism (20) comprising: a housing having first (22) and second (24) housing members; a slidable plate positioned between plate portions of the first and second housing members and moveable thereto; various spacers located between the first housing member and the sliding plate to space and stabilize the plate relative to the first and second housing members; a magnetic sensor stationarily mounted between the first and second housing members, a magnet moveable with the sliding member in response to forces applied to the first and second housing members and to the sliding plate; a spring assembly (250) having one end in operative engagement with the sliding plate and another end in operative engagement with the housing while biasing the sliding plate within the housing. An adjustment mechanism (350) is used to assist in the calibration of the bias force acting between the housing members and the sliding plate.

Abstract: A smart igniter bus system has a repeater connected by a bus to a controller, and one or more smart igniters connected by the bus to the repeater so that the repeater is between the smart igniters and the controller. The repeater receives data transmitted on the bus by the controller and processes the signal sent by the controller with onboard logic. Utilizing the onboard logic, the repeaters are preprogrammed to rebroadcast control signals sent by the controller or to only rebroadcast selected signals, or to generate and transmit new command signals.