Abstract: A side airbag extends along a side of an interior roof of a vehicle and is configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The airbag includes an inboard panel, an outboard panel, and one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel. The at least one or more seams include first seam portions and second seam portions. The first seam portions are subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates. The first seam portions are reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes an outer housing portion defining a chamber therein, an end closure coupled to the housing portion to close the chamber, and a resilient seal positioned between the housing portion and the end closure to seal the chamber. The system is configured to permit a flow of pressurized gas from the chamber to an exterior of the outer housing portion along at least a portion of the seal.

Abstract: A buckle assembly for a vehicle includes a seat belt tongue, a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism and a manual release button, and a remote buckle release mechanism. The blocking mechanism is configured to latch the tongue in the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism includes a buckle release cable and a motor module configured to pull the cable to release the blocking mechanism to thereby release the seat belt tongue from the buckle. The buckle assembly is also configured to be actuated by an occupant via the manual release button on the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism does not interfere with the operation of the manual release button. The remote buckle release mechanism may also be configured to automatically release the buckle a predetermined time after an airbag deployment.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions include a primary fuel selected from fumaric acid, succinic acid, cyanuric acid, barbituric acid, and mixtures thereof; an oxidizer selected from phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, and mixtures thereof; a secondary fuel selected from tetrazoles, bitetrazoles, salts of bitetrazoles, derivatives of bitetrazoles, and mixtures thereof; and an oxide selected from molybdenum trioxide, ferric (III) oxide, and mixtures thereof. Gas generators and vehicle occupant protection systems incorporating the present compositions are also described.

Abstract: An airbag assembly for use within a vehicle includes an airbag, an inflator configured to provide gas to the airbag, and a housing configured to retain the inflator and the airbag in position. The housing includes first and second portions configured to be separably coupled together. The second housing portion includes a second snap mechanism for engaging with a first snap mechanism located on the first housing portion. The engaged housing portions surround and retain the inflator and the airbag in position.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflatable rear curtain airbag configured to deploy adjacent a rear window positioned between rear pillars in the vehicle, a housing for the rear curtain airbag, and an inflator to inflate the rear curtain airbag. The housing, rear curtain airbag, and inflator are mounted to a roof of the vehicle. The rear curtain airbag is configured to deploy to prevent ejection of an occupant out of the rear window and to prevent objects intruding through the rear window from contacting an occupant.

Abstract: An airbag module includes a bag wrap, a retainer, an airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The airbag includes at least one vent hole, and a deployment control flap to change trajectory of the airbag such that the airbag will deploy upwards and laterally to left and right sides. The deployment control flap is fixed at both ends to the retainer, airbag, or bag wrap.

Abstract: A seat belt monitoring system is provided. The seat belt monitoring system includes a seat belt system. The seat belt system has a first portion including a seat belt webbing and a tongue. The seat belt system also includes a buckle. A radio frequency device is associated with the first portion. The seat belt monitoring system further includes a radio frequency receiver that detects either a signal from the radio frequency device or a particular spatial relationship between the radio frequency device and a second radio frequency device placed near the buckle of the seat belt system.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag including an inflatable portion and an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag. The airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant. The stiffness of the inflatable portion varies along the surface facing the occupant based on a changing distance from the surface to the non-inflatable portion.

Abstract: A pressure vessel for a gas generating system is provided. The vessel is formed from a material and has a first portion and a second portion. A property of the material along the first portion has a value within a first range, and the same property of the material along the second portion has a value within a second range different from the first range.

Abstract: A gas seal for containing a pressurized fluid in a container. The gas seal includes a rupturable portion having a stress riser formed therein, and an extension coupled to the rupturable portion proximate the stress riser such that a predetermined minimum force applied to the extension is transferred to the stress riser to produce a rupture of the rupturable portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for releasably blocking a flow of pressurized fluid through a housing. The apparatus includes a seal member having a rupturable portion, and a support structure configured for supporting the seal member along the rupturable portion so as to substantially prevent outward bulging of the rupturable portion.

Abstract: An airbag for use within a motor vehicle, which includes a gas generator for supplying inflation gas; a lower chamber configured to be inflated directly by the gas generator; an upper chamber located above and proximate to the lower chamber; and a diffusing panel configured to separate the lower and upper chambers and allows inflation gas to pass through. The upper chamber is to be indirectly inflated by the gas generator through the diffusing panel, and upon completed deployment will have an internal pressure lower than the deployed internal pressure of the lower chamber.

Abstract: A magnetic field is generated by at least one coil in magnetic communication with at least a portion of a vehicle responsive to a first time-varying signal operatively coupled to the at least one coil in series with a sense resistor. A second signal is generated responsive to a voltage across the sense resistor and is response to a magnetic condition of the at least one coil, which is response to the magnetic communication of the at least one coil with the portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: An initiator housing assembly includes a preformed initiator receiving portion defining a first cavity and a body portion affixed to the receiving portion and defining a second cavity. An opening leading into the first cavity is positioned within the second cavity. An initiator assembly, as gas generating system, and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the initiator housing assembly are also provided.

Abstract: An inflatable safety system for a vehicle, the safety system including an inflator assembly and an airbag assembly. The safety system further includes an airbag inflator connector securely connecting the inflator assembly to the airbag assembly. The inflator assembly and the airbag assembly may be connected to one another at a connection in which a male portion that includes a first exterior projection extends into a tube having a second exterior projection. The airbag inflator connector has, among other elements, a first and second reaction surface, such that the first reaction surface is positioned adjacent a surface of the first projection, and the second reaction surface is positioned adjacent a surface of the second projection.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a filter is provided including a first layer of sheet material having a first base portion, and a plurality of first raised portions extending from the first base portion and defining a corresponding plurality of first openings through the first layer. A second layer of sheet material also has a second base portion and a plurality of second raised portions extending from the second base portion and defining a corresponding plurality of second openings through the sheet material. The second layer of sheet material is positioned adjacent the first layer of sheet material such that the first raised portions extend from the first base portion toward the second layer, and the second raised portions extend from the second base portion toward the first layer. A gas generating system and a vehicle occupant protection system utilizing the filter are also described.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a housing having a passage and a forcing member positioned in the passage. A flowable material is positioned in the passage to resist motion of the forcing member. The housing is configured to enable a flow of flowable material out of the housing responsive only to a motion of the forcing member.

Abstract: An occupant side-impact protection apparatus for a motor vehicle, including an inflatable cushion stored in a folded configuration and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate to form a curtain to protect the head and upper torso of the occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a tension tether, having a first end coupled at a first portion of the cushion and a second end coupled to a second portion of the cushion, to provide tension to the cushion during its unfolding. The cushion is further configured to deploy along the internal side of the vehicle, wherein the first portion of the cushion is located proximate to the rear of the cushion along an edge of the cushion that trails the remainder of the cushion as the cushion unfolds, and wherein the second portion of the cushion is located proximate to the rear of the cushion along an edge of the cushion that leads the remainder of the cushion as the cushion unfolds.