Abstract: A seat belt buckle assembly including a seat belt buckle, the buckle including: a frame (26) defining a tongue-receiving slot (40); a latch plate (34) operably positioned in relation to the tongue-receiving slot and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a latch spring (64) for biasing the latch plate toward the locked position; an ejector mechanism (28) located behind the tongue-receiving slot and rearwardly movable in response to inward movement of a tongue; the ejector including a first portion engageable by the tongue and rearwardly movable to a position beyond the location of the latch plate and a second portion (80) slidably receiving and supporting the latch plate, the second portion remaining in contact with the latch plate, preventing the latch plate from moving to its locked position even when the first portion has moved beyond the latch plate.

Abstract: An energy absorbing web guide assembly comprising: a web guide for slidingly supporting a section of a seat belt; and a pair of mounting fasteners for mounting the web guide to a mounting surface and for permitting the web guide to resiliently move, in response to forces input thereto, between a first position to a second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved buckle for a vehicle safety restraint from which more accurate and reliable information on seat belt usage can be obtained. The buckle comprises a buckle head with a passageway for receiving a buckle tongue, and releasable means for locking the tongue in the passageway. A tag such as a coded magnetic strip or a microchip is provided encapsulated in the material of the tongue and a detector is provided in the buckle head in close proximity to the tongue passageway. A detector is provided to suitably read the tag code.

Abstract: A device for testing the inflation state of an cold gas inflator for an airbag has a gas reservoir that is filled with gas at a high pressure, in particular an inert gas. Oscillations of frequencies varying within a particular frequency range are generated at the filled gas reservoir and the resonance frequency is measured. The measured resonance frequency is compared by a comparator with a resonance frequency which was determined at the gas reservoir filled with the desired pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a motor car steering wheel with an external shell made of carbon fibers begins with preparing a pile of sheet materials which is then hot molded to yield respective half-shells with a shape corresponding to that of respective halves of the steering wheel being manufactured. Next comes mechanical flattening of the front surfaces of the two half-shells, followed by mounting of the two half-shells above and under a steering wheel body formed by a metallic core covered by resin. The steering wheel body has lateral profile members which act as fixing supports for the two half-shells.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving an operating element has a guide surface along which the operating element may be guided. A drive means provides a driving pulse exerted on the operating element for the movement of the operating element along the guide surface. A gap between the guide surface and the outer surface of the operating element is filled by a layer of a material that acts as an adhesive layer when the operating element is at rest and as a lubricating layer when the operating element is in motion. The outside of the operating element may have a conical profile and the guide surface may have a cylindrical profile, with the gap between the guide surface and the outer surface of the operating element becoming progressively larger in the direction of movement of the operating element. The layer of material in the gap may be a dry or solid lubricant, comprising material such as MoS2 or polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: An ignitor has an outer metal can containing a quantity of reactive material for initiating a pyrotechnic material. A circuit board has a first side that is in contact with the reactive material and a second side that is isolated from the reactive material. A metal structure adjacent the circuit board is well grounded. At least two electrical pins are electrically connected to first electrical traces formed on the second side of the circuit board. Electrical discharge gaps are formed by second electrical traces extending from the first electrical traces to form sharp points which extend to within less than about 0.127 mm of a conductive path to ground.

Abstract: A side curtain airbag module is installed in a vehicle roof liner extending in a direction going between the front and rear of the vehicle. The side curtain airbag module has a gas supply device comprising a hose that is connected to a gas generator. The gas supply device extends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the module. A side curtain airbag is located laterally with respect to the gas supply device. The side curtain airbag is folded in a zigzag manner forming layers that extend essentially parallel to a direction in which the side curtain airbag is deployed when the side curtain airbag is inflated with gas. During deployment of the side curtain airbag the entire folded side curtain airbag packet is prevented from being ejected out of the side curtain airbag module at the beginning of the deployment process. An inflated side curtain airbag is provided as soon as the side curtain airbag is deployed into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A force sensor (50;50′;50a) for generating a signal indicative of the usage of a seat belt comprising:

Abstract: A vehicle door handle has a fixed part, a movable part and a sensor. The sensor is a magnet and a magnet-actuated switch. Movement of the movable part relative to the fixed part causes the magnet to activate the switch. A flux blocker is arranged between the magnet and the switch to prevent magnetic flux from the magnet actuating the switch. The flux blocker is arranged to expose the switch to magnetic flux when the movable part moves relative to the fixed part.

Abstract: An air bag module comprising an air bag, the air bag including: a face panel having a first central opening therein; a rear panel having a second central opening therein, that portion of the rear panel about the second central opening forming a neck portion; a tubular insert having an open end secured to the face panel about the first central opening, the tubular insert including a closed end opposite the open end, the tubular insert extending into the air bag.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a first (30) pillar to at least a second pillar (34) of the vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of a 50th percentile sized seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the air bag including a first and a second panel of material that are joined together to create at least one inflatable volume (101a,b) and a plurality of internal tethers or separators for forming corresponding bridges between predetermined regions of each of the first and second panel such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by an internal tether.

Abstract: The implementation of dual-stage inflators in some production vehicles is quickly becoming a common reality. A dual-stage inflator has two firing squibs that can fire independently, simultaneously or in a delayed mode. This tailorability provides the ability to fire a low level, high level or staged delay level depending on the impact velocity or other means. For each restraint condition, the inflator output threshold speeds are identified. A biomechanical gray zone, for each injury assessment reference value, is defined based on occupant performance. The upper and lower bound of each biomechanical gray zone is associated with a type of occupant, inflator output, belt restraint and injury parameter.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a frame with sidewalls and a rotatable spool extending between said sidewalls. The rotatable spool has seat belt webbing wound thereon. A locking pawl engages ratchet teeth on the outer periphery of the spool for arresting rotation of the spool. A secondary locking mechanism locks the spool against rotation.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a rotatable spool mounted in a frame, a primary locking mechanism for arresting rotation of the spool and a load absorbing mechanism arranged to come into effect at a predetermined load for absorbing a portion of the spool locking load. The load absorbing mechanism may be a section of an inwardly facing peripheral edge of the frame having a serrated or roughened texture and which is positioned and adapted so that above a predetermined load it co-operates with a smooth surfaced spool bearing face to absorb some of the load. Spool rotation is prevented on engagement of the primary locking mechanism and the load on the primary mechanism rises causing the frame side walls to deform and the serrated or roughened section is pushed closer to, and eventually against the spool bearing face, roughening the smooth surface and increasing its coefficient of friction to absorb some of the load and resist rotation of the spool.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a belt reel mounted rotatably on a frame for retracting and letting out the seat belt. A belt webbing and/or vehicle sensitive sensor activates a control element which in. turn actuates a blocking device that blocks rotation of the belt reel. A load limiter allows a load-limiting rotation of the belt reel relative to at least one part of the load limiter when the blocking device is actuated. The blocking device can be guided by the load-limiting rotation of the belt reel into a permanent blocking position or readiness for the blocking position.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a belt reel mounted rotatably around a reel axis on a retractor frame and biased by a motive spring. A load limiter is non-rotatably connected to a rotatable spool of the belt reel. A rotor can be coupled to the belt reel and/or its load limiter by a coupling. The coupling is supported against axial displacement on an adapter flange connected rigidly to the retractor frame. The rotor transmits a torque generated by an electric motor.

Abstract: A webbing guide for a vehicle safety comprises a guide surface in the form of a generally cylindrical bar (6) which has a continuous outer surface over which seat belt webbing passes in use following an upside-down U-shaped path. The surface comprises a top portion and two side portions (8) on either side of the top portion, and the top portion and at least one of the side portions are shaped so as to present a countered surface to the seat belt webbing. Preferably, the central area (7) of the top portion is raised, and the central area (9) of one or both side portions (8), is recessed, but the opposite contour arrangement could be provided with the central area of the top portion recessed and the central area of one or both side portions raised.