Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for controlling actuation of a protection device for an occupant of a vehicle seat (12) includes the steps of: determining (44) when an output signal of a weight sensor rises from an initial value; waiting (46) a predetermined period of time (T2) after the output signal rises from the initial value; determining (48) the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time (T2); comparing (50) the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time with a first threshold weight (W1); enabling (52) actuation of the protection device if the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time exceeds the first threshold weight; and disabling (54) actuation of the protection device if the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time does not exceed the first threshold weight.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable in a first direction away from a vehicle roof (18) into a position between a side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An elongated member (70) is connected to the side structure (16) and has a first end (72), an opposite second end (76) and a length measured between the first and second ends. An element (100) is connected to the protection device (14) and at least partially encircles the elongated member (70). The element (100) is slidable along the elongated member (70) in the first direction when the protection device (14) is inflated. The element (100) includes at least one portion (150, 212) that engages the elongated member (70) and blocks the element from sliding along the elongated member in a direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises a seat belt system (50) having a buckled condition and an unbuckled condition, and a sensor (56) for determining the buckled condition of the seat belt system. An inflatable occupant protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition. An inflator (32) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (12). The protection apparatus (10) includes an electrically energizable mechanism (44) for venting inflation fluid from the protection apparatus (10). Electric circuitry (40) is responsive to a determination of the buckled condition of the seat belt system (50) and the inflated condition of the inflatable device (12), for actuating the electrically energizable mechanism (44) to vent inflation fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vehicle occupant protection device and a gas generating material, which, when ignited, produces gas to actuate the vehicle occupant protection device. The gas generating material comprises a cubane compound having the general formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H and NO2.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable device (12) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, and an inflator (14) with inflation fluid outlets (24). A vent member (30) connected with the inflator (14) has a vent wall (60) having at least one vent opening (62). A vent cover (100) includes an outer wall (110) having first and second end portions (112 and 114). The vent cover (100) has a closed condition clamped on the vent wall (60) and covering the vent opening (62), and an open condition enabling fluid flow through the vent opening. An actuatable device (130) has an unactuated condition connecting the first and second end portions (112 and 114) to maintain the vent cover in the closed condition, and an actuated condition releasing the end portions to release the vent cover to the open condition to vent inflation fluid from the apparatus (10).

Abstract: A method includes the step providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) between the side structure (16) of a vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (74). A thickness of the protection device (14) is determined by measuring between overlying points on overlying panels (40 and 42) of the protection device at location where an occupant's head having a given mass may contact the device. A pressure is determined as a predetermined function of the thickness of the protection device (14) and of a velocity at which the head may impact the protection device. The pressure has a magnitude sufficient to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure (16) through the thickness of the protection device (14) when the head impacts the protection device at and below the velocity. An inflation fluid source (24) is provided to inflate the protection device (14) to at least the determined pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises seat belt webbing (24). An elongated member (30) is connected with the seat belt webbing (24). Tension in the seat belt webbing (24) is transmitted to the elongated member (30). An arm (106) is associated with the elongated member (30). The arm (106) receives a force from the elongated member (30) when tension in the seat belt webbing (24) increases. The force acts on the arm (106) through a moment arm creating a torsion force on the arm (106). At least a portion of the arm (106) moves in response to the torsion force. A device (102) is responsive to movement of the at least a portion of the arm (106) due to the torsion force to provide an output signal indicative of the tension in the seat belt webbing (24).

Abstract: An inflator (10) includes an assembly (31) comprising a plurality of individually energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices (30) for, when energized, actuating the inflator. The assembly (31) further comprises a sensor mechanism (60) for sensing a condition of the inflator (10) and for generating a control signal indicative of the sensed condition. The plurality of MEMS devices (30) are responsive to the control signal to control actuation of the inflator (10).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable device (14) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle during a crash condition. A support structure (18) secures a portion of the inflatable device (14). A plurality of tethers (34, 36, 38, and 40) extend between the support structure (18) and the inflatable device (14). At least one sensor (62, 64, 66, or 68) senses a vehicle occupant condition and generates an occupant condition signal indicative of the sensed condition. A control module (72) receives the occupant condition signal and determines a preferred inflation volume and shape for the inflatable device (14). The control module (72) determines which of the respective tethers (34, 36, 38, and 40) to release for inflating the inflatable device (14) to the preferred inflation volume and shape and initiates the release of the respective tethers (34, 36, 38, and 40) from the support structure (18).

Abstract: A vehicle air bag (10) comprises an outer bag (50) having an inflation fluid volume (59). The outer bag (50) has a retainer portion (54) defining a central opening (56). The retainer portion (54) has a plurality of fastener openings (58) spaced apart around the central opening (56). An inner bag (60) is located in the inflation fluid volume (59) of the outer bag (50). The inner bag (60) has a retainer portion (110) defining an inflation fluid opening (114) for receiving inflation fluid. The retainer portion (110) has a plurality of fastener openings (79, 89, 99, 109) spaced apart around the inflation fluid opening (114). The inner bag (60) has at least one vent opening (130-136) movable from a closed condition to an open condition, in response to increase in fluid pressure in the inner bag, to enable flow of inflation fluid from the inner bag into the inflation fluid volume (59) of the outer bag (50).

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) includes first and second panel portions (12, 14) each having a plurality of discrete openings (44, 54). The first panel portion (12) overlies the second panel portion (14) when the device (10) is in the deflated condition. A tether (30) interconnects the first and second panel portions (12, 14). The tether (30) includes a single thread (60) extending through the plurality of openings (44) in the first panel portion (12) and through the plurality of openings (54) in the second panel portion (14) in a serpentine manner. The single thread (60) has loop thread portions located outside the inflation fluid volume (16). The panel portions (12, 14) move relative to the single thread (60) as the device (10) is inflated from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. Preferably, stop members (120, 122) on the end portions (62, 64) of the tether (30) block movement of the end portions through the openings (44, 54) in the panel portions (12, 14).

Abstract: An inflatable device (10) has a vent (42) for enabling venting of inflation fluid. A patch (50) covers the vent (42). A release thread (70) releasably secures the patch (50) to the device to close the vent (42). A holding mechanism (82) has a first condition in response to sensor means (30) sensing a condition requiring venting of inflation fluid, and a second condition when venting is not required. The holding mechanism (82) when in the first condition holds the release thread (70) so that at least a portion of it pulls away from the patch (50) and the device (10), when the device inflates, thereby releasing the patch to open the vent (42). The holding mechanism (82) when in the second condition releases the release thread (70) for movement with the patch (50) in a direction away from the holding mechanism, when the device (10) inflates.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflator (14) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (12). A retainer (40) is connected with the protection device (12). One of the inflator (14) and the retainer (40) is movable between a first condition blocking venting of inflation fluid from the apparatus (10) and a second condition venting inflation fluid from the apparatus. The apparatus (10) includes an electrically energizable mechanism (80) to release the one of the inflator (14) and the retainer (40) for movement from the first condition to the second condition to vent inflation fluid from the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (36) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (44) having a stored, deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the occupant. An inflator (46) provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (44). The apparatus (10) also includes a flap (80) made of fabric material. The flap (80) is stored with the protection device (44). The flap (80) is deployed by inflation of the protection device (44) into a position engaging and covering a head (38) of the vehicle occupant for guiding deployment of the protection device (44) over the head of the occupant.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (52) includes an inflatable device (20). The apparatus (10) also includes a primary inflation fluid source (32) and a secondary inflation fluid source (34) that are actuatable independently of each other. The apparatus (10) includes means (60, 70, 80, 90, 100) for actuating the primary inflation fluid source (32) to inflate the inflatable device (20) to help protect the vehicle occupant (52) without actuating the secondary inflation fluid source (34). The apparatus (10) also includes means (60, 70, 80) for sensing the position of the vehicle occupant (52) subsequent to actuation of the primary inflation fluid source (32) and for providing an output signal (64, 71, 82). The apparatus 10 further includes means (100, 38) for actuating the secondary inflation fluid source (34) in response to the output signal.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable device (12) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, and an inflator (14). The inflator (14) has a cylindrical configuration and a plurality of inflation fluid outlets (24). A vent member (30) connected with the inflator (14) has an annular vent wall (60) having at least one vent opening (62). A vent cover (100) has a closed condition clamped on the vent wall (60) and covering the vent opening (62), and an open condition removed at least partially from the vent wall and enabling fluid flow through the vent opening. An actuatable device (130) on the vent cover (100) has an unactuated condition maintaining the vent cover in the closed condition, and an actuated condition releasing the vent cover for movement to the open condition to vent inflation fluid from the apparatus (10).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (20). The apparatus (10) includes a vehicle occupant protection device (14) that has a lower edge (70) connected to the side structure (20). The protection device (14) is deployable from a stored position located in the side structure (20) to a deployed position in which at least a portion of the protection device is positioned above a sill (26) of the side structure and adjacent the vehicle occupant. A deployment device (16) is fixedly connected to the side structure (20) and includes an elongated rigid deployment member (52) connected to the protection device (14). The deployment device (16) is actuatable from a stored position to a deployed position in which the deployment member projects above the sill (26). The deployment member (52) moves the protection device (14) from the stored position to the deployed position when the deployment device (16) is actuated.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle seat (14) comprises a seat belt (20) and a seat belt retractor (30) including a spool (60) supported for rotation about a spool axis (64) in a seat belt withdrawal direction (68) and an opposite seat belt retraction direction (66). An electric motor (110) is energizable to rotate the spool (60) in the seat belt retraction direction (66) and is de-energizable. The electric motor (110) is energizable to rotate the spool (60) in the seat belt retraction direction (66) to apply a predetermined amount of tension to the seat belt (20). An electrically actuatable brake (140) associated with the motor (110) is actuatable to maintain the predetermined amount of tension on the seat belt (20) after the motor applies the predetermined amount of tension to the seat belt.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16), a roof (18), and A, B, C, and D pillars (22, 24, 26, 28) includes a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (50) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (50), when inflated, is positioned generally between only the C pillar (26) and the D pillar (28) of the vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) also includes an inflation fluid source (52) for providing inflation fluid for inflating the first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (50).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable away from a vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An anchor device (90) is connected to the side structure (16). A flexible elongated member (80) has a first end (82) connected to a first location (84) spaced from a rear edge (72) of the protection device (14) and an opposite second end (86) connected to the anchor device (90). The protection device (14) prior to inflation is folded along a first fold line (112) spaced from the rear edge (72) and extending proximate the first location (84) in a direction transverse to a lower edge (62) of the protection device (14). The protection device (14) is folded along at least one fold line (114, 116) located forward of the first fold line (112) such that the first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle (12), adjacent to and entirely forward of the anchor device (90).