Abstract: An airbag module comprising an airbag (50) having a passive adaptive vent on a rear panel of the airbag, the vent having a movable vane which when moved causes the vent (200) to change state from open to closed or from closed to open, the airbag further including a main tether (100) secured to a face panel (54) of the airbag, the main tether moving with the face panel, the main tether having an opening (130) into which is threaded a portion of a control tether (80), the control tether is connected to the vane (210) and to the face panel, wherein movement of the end of the control tether in a first direction generally that of the inflating air bag causes the other end of the control tether secured to the vane to be moved in a direction different than the first direction

Abstract: A seat belt retractor (10) having a frame with sides (14, 16) and a cover associated with at least one side, an inertial sensor (30) positioned between the at least one side of the frame and the cover, a seal located between the cover and the frame side to prevent contaminants from entering a space about the inertial sensor, the inertia sensor including a movable mass (34) and a magnet (36) spaced from the mass (34) to create a magnetic force upon the mass (34) preventing the magnet from moving excessively if the retractor is subject to predetermined levels of vibration.

Abstract: An assembly of a driver airbag module (102) and a steering wheel (104) having an airbag module including a housing (106) and a plurality of loop members (108) extending from the housing (106) and a steering wheel (104) having an armature (120) with a center or hub portion (122) onto which the airbag module (102) is attached. The armature (120) has hook members (110a, 110b, 110c), each hook member having a hook void (190). The hook void (190) is defined by a space above one or two base members (160a, 160b) and below a retaining member (180). The base member (160a, 160b) has a shallow ramped surface extending upwardly to an end wall and the retaining member (180) has a hook surface above the ramped surface and extending to the end wall. The loop member (108) is retained in the hook void (190) between the hook surface (186) and the ramped surface (168).

Abstract: A safety restraint adapted for securing a personal mobility vehicle in a transport vehicle, against movement in a direction opposite to the direction of normal motion of the transport vehicle, the safety restraint comprising: a retractor comprising a spool on which an elongate piece of material is wound; the elongate material being configured to be attached at one end to the personal mobility vehicle; a slider bar adapted to be fixed to the transport vehicle; and wherein the retractor is mounted on the slider bar, in a manner which allows the retractor to slide in the direction of normal motion of the transport vehicle, and prevents the retractor moving in the opposite direction on the slider bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator subassembly for a vehicle safety system having a pin release actuator unit and a cradle bracket for holding the actuator unit and attaching to an airbag module. Further the invention relates to an airbag module with said actuator subassembly and a method of mounting a releasable tether on an airbag module by means of said actuator subassembly.

Abstract: The present invention inflator (10) has an inflator housing (12), a diffuser (30), a frangible closure (40) and an igniter assembly (20). The igniter assembly (20) has an igniter housing (22), a squib (60) electrically actuated and fitted in an end of the igniter housing (22) and a retractable piston (50) affixed to the igniter housing (22). Upon actuation of the squib (60), the retractable piston (50) propels forward breaking the frangible closure (40) releasing gases pushing the piston (50) retractably back into or over the igniter housing (22) as the pressurized gas releases out of the diffuser (30).

Abstract: A curtain airbag (10A-10F) for a vehicle (2) has an inflatable cushion. The cushion (10A-10F) has one or more side inflatable portions extending along one side of the interior of the vehicle (2) adjacent the interior door or doors on the one side and an inflatable frontal portion (12) projecting inwardly directionally toward the interior of the vehicle positioned in front of a seated occupant (1) and between the occupant (1) and an instrument panel or dash of the vehicle. Preferably, the inflatable frontal portion (12) is positioned between the occupant (1) and the steering wheel (4) wherein the frontal portion (12) laterally juts into the passenger compartment forming an inflatable barrier between a front pillar (60) of the vehicle (2) and the occupant (1).

Abstract: A belt retractor comprising a safety belt reel (1) rotatably mounted on a frame (7) and a load limiter (2) which acts on a rotational movement of the belt reel (1) and has a switchable energy consumption, said load limiter having a granulate (3), which is enclosed in a closed load limiter chamber (8) and consists of dry, granular solid, and at least one rotating member (4) which can be rotated relative to the granulate (3), the energy consumption resulting from shear forces acts between the grains of granulate.

Abstract: A driver airbag module (20) comprising a cover (22), a housing (40) matably configured with cover (22), a pyrotechnic inflator (60) having a flange (70), and airbag fitted within the space between housing (40, 40a) and cover (22), the airbag inflating with gas provided by the inflator (60), wherein the heat shield (80) is positioned between the lower surface (42) of housing (40, 40a) and an upper surface (71) of flange (70), the heat shield protectively shielding surface (42) from the heat transfer from flange (70) to prevent surface (42) from melting.

Abstract: A side airbag cover (20) having a top surface (22) upon which can be positioned a decorative emblem (30), the top surface (20) and emblem (30) are configured to break when subjected to a determinable force pressuring on an undersurface (25) of the cover (20), the undersurface (25) including a tear seam (40) which breaks when subjected to a determinable pressure or load, the emblem (30) having its own tear seam (50), wherein the emblem tear seam (50) is displaced laterally relative to an adjacent portion of the tear seam (40).

Abstract: An airbag arrangement for closeable or openable roof opening 2 of a motor vehicle has a gas cushion arrangement which is to be anchored to the vehicle roof 1 and which is suitable in the inflated state for covering the surface of the roof opening 2, wherein the gas cushion arrangement has two inflatable gas cushions 3, 4 which are suitable in the non-inflated state for being arranged along lateral inside edges 5, 6 of the roof opening 2, that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: An assembly of a driver airbag module (102) and a steering wheel (104) having an airbag module including a housing (106) and a plurality of loop members (108) extending from the housing (106) and a steering wheel (104) having an armature (120) with a center or hub portion (122) onto which the airbag module (102) is attached. The armature (120) has hook members (110a, 110b, 110c), each hook member having a hook void (190). The hook void (190) is defined by a space above one or two base members (160a, 160b) and below a retaining member (180). The base member (160a, 160b) has a shallow ramped surface extending upwardly to an end wall and the retaining member (180) has a hook surface above the ramped surface and extending to the end wall. The loop member (108) is retained in the hook void (190) between the hook surface (186) and the ramped surface (168).

Abstract: An air bag having a tri-state vent, in an initial state the vent is configured to be closed, the vent in a medial state configured to be at least partially open or fully open as the air bag is starting to inflate permitting some inflator gas to exit through the vent and the vent in a final state configured to be at least partially closed or fully closed as the air bag continues to inflate.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system (20) has a seat belt webbing (22) which is attached to a tongue (30) that fastens into a buckle mechanism (6) fixed to a load bearing part of the vehicle. The belt system (20) has a seat belt retractor (40), a seat belt webbing (22) with a lap belt portion (23) appropriately anchored and shoulder harness portion (25), a self-adjustable webbing guide (65) and a vertical strap webbing (55). The self-adjusting webbing guide (65) includes a pivoting guide (66) connected to a locking mechanism (70) activated by a forward movement of the occupant (1, 100) extending the shoulder webbing (25).

Abstract: A ramp deflector mechanism (50) for attachment to a vehicle frame (20) has a metal housing (52) having a first wall or plate (54), a second wall or plate (56), a hinge (58) and an articulated third wall or plate (60); an inflatable member (70) situated in the housing (52); an inflator (72) operatively connected between the first wall or plate (54) and the inflatable member (70); and wherein the inflation of the inflation member (70) causes the articulated wall (60) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident.

Abstract: A multi-point safety belt system is provided with a tension sensor that opens and closes a switch to send a signal indicating the force securing a seat occupant secured by the safety belt system.

Abstract: An airbag inflator (10) has an inflator housing (20) with an internal chamber (11); a pyrotechnic gas generant (8) stored in the internal chamber inside the housing (20) for generating inflation gases upon ignition; a strainer (50) with openings through which the inflation gases pass prior to inflating the airbag; a primary nozzle wall (40) positioned between the strainer and the gas generator; a plenum chamber (12) between the primary nozzle wall (40) and the strainer (50). The primary nozzle wall (40) has a plurality of nozzles (40a, 40b) with nozzle openings (42, 44) oriented radially about the wall which directs gas flow tangentially spiraling laterally onto the strainer while preventing the inflation gas from flowing radially.

Abstract: The invention is an improved method of sealing a sewn seam (22) on an airbag (10, 60) or other inflatable device and apparatus to accomplish this method. The method has the steps of a) creating a sewn seam, b) applying a seam sealant (90) to an exposed portion of the seam on an exposed surface; and c) locally applying a pressure differential to an opposite exposed surface proximate a portion of the seam on this surface to urge the seam sealant to migrate along the thread from the first exposed surface to regions between the panels to the opposite exposed surface.

Abstract: An airbag (10) has a first tier of material (11) and a second tier of material (12). The second tier (12) at least partially overlaps the first tier (11). The first and second tiers (11, 12) are joined together by one or more rows of a sealed stitch seam (20). The sealed stitch seam (20) has a plurality of thread stitches (30) extending from one exterior side (14) through to the opposite exterior side (16) of the at least partially overlapped first and second tiers (11, 12). The thread stitches (30) are coated in each exterior side (14, 16) with a seam coating material (40). The seam coating material (40) is either applied over the stitches (30) on one exterior side (14 or 16) and flows through to the opposite side (14 or 16) through thread holes (52) formed upon the creation of the seam (20) or is applied to both exterior sides (14, 16) and flows into the thread holes (52) to encapsulate and seal the seam (20).

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprising a gimbaled vehicle sensor (100) having a gimbal (160) rotationally movable relative to a housing (120) fixed to a portion of the retractor, the retractor including a force generator (70) generating a radial force which upon movement of the gimbal creates a tangential torque to slow or damp the motion of the gimbal relative to the housing.