Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a low-carbon steel tube (24). The low-carbon steel tube (24) yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about ?40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel tube sufficient to cause the low carbon steel tube to so yield.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device has a gas bag module with a housing and a gas bag having a free exit end, the gas bag moving into its fully deployed position with the free exit end first. At least one control element is provided which engages the gas bag and forces the gas bag to extend generally in an arc shape from the housing up to the free exit end in the deployed state.

Abstract: An insert tongue (10) for a safety belt buckle includes an insert section (12) which is intended to be inserted into the belt buckle and a safety belt section (14) which has a slot for receiving the safety belt (5). The safety belt section (14) generally extends in the extension of the insert section (12) and the slot extends at an angle of less than 25° relative to a plane defined by the insert section (12).

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint, especially for tie rods and steering rods of utility vehicles, has a housing, a ball pivot with an essentially spherical bearing section that is mounted in the housing, a cover that is installed on the housing, and a spring element that has a support section and a spring section. The spring section lies radially outside of the support section and the spring element rests on the cover and on the bearing section.

Abstract: An optical sensor device (10) is able to be coupled to a window (14), in particular to a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The optical sensor device (10) comprises a sensor unit (12), which includes a emitter (26), a receiver (28) and a light conductor unit (30). By the light conductor unit (30), a light beam (34) emitted by the emitter (26) is coupled into the window (14), coupled out of the window (14) and directed onto the receiver (28). The light conductor unit (30) includes Fresnel lens regions and associated reflecting regions.

Abstract: A belt spool comprising a spool body and a torsion rod having a first end and a second end, the torsion rod being provided with a torque transmission profile at the first end, in order to be coupled with the spool body, a transmission element being connected with the torque transmission profile of the torsion rod, and a stop element cooperating with the transmission element and being coupled with the spool body.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system. A central crash accelerometer senses crash acceleration at a central vehicle location provides a first crash acceleration signal. A side-satellite accelerometer senses crash acceleration substantially parallel with a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the side-satellite signal.

Abstract: A heatable steering wheel includes a steering wheel blank, a heating mat wrapped around the steering wheel blank, a first, visible hard sheathing whose surface is refinished after having been installed, a second, visible softer sheathing, both of the sheathings abutting each other in an abutting area, and a coupling element in the abutting area. The coupling element, as seen from the outside, has a depression and that, starting from the first sheathing, extends under the abutting area all the way to an abutting edge of the second sheathing. The heating mat extends continuously under the first sheathing and under the coupling element all the way to under the second sheathing.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a continuous wave (CW) signal including a demodulator demodulating a received CW signal and providing a demodulated signal, an edge detector for detecting an edge of the demodulated signal and thereby, detecting the CW signal and a switchable short-circuit of the demodulator, edges being formed in the demodulated signal when the demodulator is temporarily short-circuited during receipt of the CW signal.

Abstract: A steering wheel for a motor vehicle has a gas bag module (12) including a covering cap (14) and a gas bag (22). At least one vent opening (18) for diverting the gas is provided in the covering cap (14), in a foam (16) surrounding the steering wheel skeleton or in the hub region (20) of the steering wheel.

Abstract: The method operates with successive, continuously repeated measuring cycles. In a first cycle section, a measuring capacitor is charged up to a first threshold value by the current flowing in a light receiver of a first optical measuring section. In a subsequent, second cycle section the measuring capacitor is discharged to a second threshold value by the current flowing in a light receiver of a second optical measuring section. The light transmitters of the optical measuring sections are regulated over several measuring cycles to predetermined rated values for the charging time and the discharging time. A wetting of the pane is concluded from the momentary deviations between the rated values and the actually measured values of the charging times and discharging times. The available modulation range is adapted dynamically to the prevailing conditions by the systematic control of the intensity of the light transmitters in the two optical measuring sections.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to road wheels of the vehicle, a torque sensor (6) arranged to, in use, produce a torque signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism, an electric motor (1) operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a signal processing unit (7) arranged to, in use, produce from the torque signal a torque demand signal (8) representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor, the signal processing unit comprising a first calculating unit (12) arranged to calculate an initial torque demand signal (10) dependent on the torque signal, and a second calculating unit (13) arranged to, in use, calculate a torque damping signal (11) indicative of an amount the initial torque signal is to be damped in order to generate the torque demand signal, and a motor drive stage arranged to provide, in use, a drive current to the motor responsive

Abstract: A method is provided for determining tire location in a tire pressure monitoring system having the steps of generating an initiation frequency signal having a controllable output adapted to be received by a selected one of a plurality of tires of the tire pressure monitoring system. At least two tires of the tire pressure monitoring system have associated initiation signal receivers. The method also includes transmitting a response signal from the selected tire receiving the initiation signal, the response signal having at least a unique identification signal portion associated with the selected tire. The method also receives the transmitted response signal and associates the identification signal with a location of the selected tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for welding two welding parts (1, 3) by means of a fillet weld (11), wherein a first welding part (1), with a bearing surface at least in an edge area of an edge that is to be welded by means of a fillet weld, is brought into contact with a bearing surface of a welding part (3) and the welding energy (5) is supplied in an energy supply area during the welding process, exclusive of a surface (7) of the first welding part facing away from the bearing surface, said energy supply area being located at a predetermined distance from the edge of the first welding part. The welding energy is supplied in a direction, whereby the direction component thereof points perpendicular to the course of the fillet weld that is to be produced in the direction of an inner area of the first welding part, forming a welding angle of less than 90° with the contact plane of the bearing surfaces of the first and second welding parts.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes an elongated stud, a socket housing, and a boot and seal assembly having a seal lip. A boot and seal assembly for use in a ball joint assembly includes a body and a diaphragm extending therefrom. The diaphragm includes a seal portion having a seal lip that has an elongated profile of a substantially uniform section. The seal portion may be a first seal portion that is adapted to engage an elongated stud of a ball joint assembly. The diaphragm further may include a second seal portion that is adapted to engage a mating component connected to the ball joint assembly. The boot and seal assembly may include a third seal portion that is also adapted to engage the mating component.

Abstract: A system (10) is provided for monitoring a remote tire monitoring sensor. The system includes a tire-based unit (16) having a sensor (42) and transmitter (44) that receives power from a power supply (18) located within the tire-based unit (16). The transmitter (44) transmits a signal (22) relating to a parameter measured by the sensor (42). The system (10) further includes a controller (36) that evaluates the life of the power supply (18) by monitoring energy usage of the power supply (18) by counting the number of occurrences in which the energy usage is above a prescribed amount (59) and comparing the number of occurrences to an energy threshold (60).

Abstract: An airbag module has a module housing that has an airbag deployment opening with a predetermined opening dimension. An airbag is arranged folded in the module housing, the airbag having a first wall and a second wall situated opposite from the first wall. At least one holding means is arranged in the airbag. The at least one holding means is arranged in the unfolded airbag in the region of the airbag deployment opening and is attached on the airbag but not attached to the module housing. The holding means joins the first and second walls in the region of the airbag deployment opening and limits a distance between the walls in the region of the airbag deployment opening.

Abstract: A linear drive for a vehicle occupant restraint system, especially for a belt buckle tensioner, comprises a cylinder, a piston that can be moved in the cylinder and that has a locking part that is firmly connected to a traction element, and comprising at least one locking member that is arranged movably between the locking part and the inner wall of the cylinder. The locking part has at least one obliquely disposed clamping surface that is arranged in such a way that, when the traction element makes a pushing movement, the clamping surface clamps the locking member between the locking part and the cylinder.

Abstract: A cabinet catch (10) consists of an integrally molded plastic clip (14) and bracket (12) for mounting to a portion of a cabinet structure. The clip (14) is manufactured from a first plastic material. The clip (14) is rotatable relative to the bracket (12) about an axis of rotation (20). The bracket (12) is formed from a second plastic material different from the first material. The first and second plastic materials are dissimilar to each other so they do not bond to each other. A method of manufacturing the cabinet catch (10) includes the steps of injection molding the clip (14) with a first plastic material and then injection molding the bracket (12) with a second plastic material different from the first plastic material so that the clip and the bracket (12) are integrally molded.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel (10) includes a hub (12) and an airbag module (26). The vehicle steering wheel (10) further includes a plurality of switches (18, 20, 22) being integrated in a common housing (16). The housing (16) is fitted on the airbag module (26) and includes at least one mount (32) cooperating with a cover (28) of the airbag module (26).