Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a seat back of a vehicle seat. The airbag is inflatable between the seat back and an adjacent side structure of the vehicle to one of a first deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat, and a second deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a reclined condition of the vehicle seat. The airbag is configured to deploy to the first deployed condition in response to determining a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat and to the second deployed condition in response to determining a reclined condition of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device includes a first panel having a centerline and first and second openings. A second panel is secured to the first panel to define an inflatable volume. First and second self-adaptive vents are secured to the first panel over the first and second openings on opposite sides of the centerline for selectively releasing inflation fluid from the inflatable volume in response to penetration of the occupant into the protection device. A first reinforcing stitching extends through the first panel and around a portion of the first self-adaptive vent. A second reinforcing stitching extends through the first panel and around a portion of the second self-adaptive vent. Each of the first and second reinforcing stitchings is spaced entirely from the respective first and second self-adaptive vents.

Abstract: A propellant cage (10) for a tubular inflator (100), especially for a tubular inflator (100) of an airbag module, for forming a propellant chamber (14) and a flow passage (15) of the tubular inflator (100). The propellant cage (10) is in the form of a propellant cage spiral spring (11) having a gas inlet-side end (12) and a gas outlet-side end (13), the gas inlet-side end (12) having a smaller cross-section than the gas outlet-side end (13).

Abstract: A force limiting device (10) for a seat belt comprises a fitting (14), a tension transfer means (36) and a deformation member (12) directly abutting on the fitting (14), wherein the fitting (14, 114) comprises a deflection unit (20, 120) in the form of a deflection pulley for the tension transfer means (36, 136).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).

Abstract: A restraint system is provided for helping to protect first and second occupants of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with first and second seats for receiving the first and second occupants. The restraint system includes first and second airbags mounted to the vehicle roof. Each of the first and second airbags has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition aligned with the respective first and second occupants. The deployed first and second airbags are spaced from one another in an inboard-outboard direction. A tether is connected to the first and second airbags for limiting relative inboard-outboard movement between the airbags in response to occupant penetration.

Abstract: An elongate airbag module (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a folded airbag (12) which is received in an envelope (14), wherein the envelope (14) includes a weakened zone through which the airbag (12) can deploy out of the envelope (14) upon activation of the airbag module (10), and wherein the envelope (14) comprises at least one elongate flexible fixing tab (16) having at least one opening (24b) by means of which the airbag module (10) can be fastened to a vehicle via a fastening clip (18) which in portions extends through the opening (24b). Portions of the fastening clip (18) are wrapped in the fixing tab (16).

Abstract: A method for determining a coefficient-of-friction, the method including braking a first wheel of a vehicle such that a slip between the first wheel and a roadway is less than a slip between a second wheel of the vehicle and the roadway, and determining a coefficient-of-friction between the first wheel and the roadway based on the behavior of the first wheel during the braking. The method optionally including hazard braking the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame, a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter (14) which is detachably coupled to the belt reel (12), characterized in that for coupling the load limiter (14) at least one load-transmitting bar (28) is used which is arranged at the belt reel (12) and is retained in a coupling position by a support ring (32), wherein the support ring (32) can be moved from a supporting position to a release position by means of an actor (70).

Abstract: An electronic device includes a printed circuit board having at least one edge and a strain relief including a plurality of overlapping, spaced-apart slots that cooperate with the at least one edge to define a resilient tab for redistributing strain induced in the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A belt tensioner (10) for a seatbelt system comprises a tensioner tube (20) having an open outlet end and a force transmission element (22) which is guided in the tensioner tube (20) and which leaves the tensioner tube (20) via the open outlet end, a gas generator (18) providing compressed gas for displacing the force transmission element (22) within the tensioner tube (20) as well as a drive wheel (16) rotated by the force transmission element (22) leaving the tensioner tube (20). There is provided a guiding component (24) surrounding the drive wheel (16) into which guiding component the force transmission element (22) enters upon leaving the tensioner tube (20). At the guiding component (24) an energy-dissipating structure (50) is provided which the force transmission element (22) contacts when it has at least substantially completely left the tensioner tube (20).

Abstract: A safety belt retractor having a load limiting device is provided. The load limiting device comprises: a hollow spool (1) on which a webbing can be wound, a locking disk (2) having a flange (21) and a sleeve (22) attached thereto, and a torsion bar (3); the locking disk (2) can be mounted with the flange (21) on an end of the spool (1) and can extend with the sleeve (22) into a hollow chamber of the spool (1), and the spool (1) is rotatable in relation to the locking disk (2); the torsion bar (3) can be arranged in the hollow chamber of the spool (1) and is fixed on the spool (1) and on the locking disk (2) in a rotationally secured manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor (10) for automotive vehicles, comprising a housing frame (12) including two opposed side walls (14, 16) each having a wall opening (18, 20), a belt reel (22) being rotatable about a reel axis (A) and extending in the axial direction from a sensor-side reel end (24) through the wall openings (18, 20) of the housing frame (12) to an opposite spring-side reel end (26), as well as a housing cover (28) being tightly connected to the housing frame (12), wherein the housing cover (28) forms a radially elastic pivot bearing (30) for the spring-side reel end (26) and wherein the spring-side reel end (26) of the belt reel (22) is fixed in the radial direction in a guiding-free manner and, resp., without any further guideway on the housing cover (28).

Abstract: A front airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant (12), especially a passenger airbag, comprises a contact panel (22) facing the vehicle occupant (12) in the inflated state, wherein in the interior of the airbag at the contact panel (22) first tensile means (32) are arranged which in portions retain the contact panel (22) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and are disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms a side bulge on at least one of its two lateral edges and forms plural central bulges between the lateral edges which central bulges are smaller in cross-section than the at least one side bulge. At least a second tensile means (38) is disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms an upper bulge (36) which substantially extends in the transverse vehicle direction (y) and, with respect to a vertical vehicle axis (z), is disposed above the central bulges.

Abstract: A combined motor and gearbox assembly for an electric power steering system comprising an electric motor, a gearbox which includes a gearset that is connected on an input part to a rotor of the motor and in use is connected on an output part at least indirectly to a steering column shaft to transfer torque from the motor rotor to the steering column shaft, a motor drive circuit, a gearbox housing which in use accommodates the gearset of the gearbox, the electric motor including a motor housing, and a baseplate which connects an end face of the gearbox housing to an end face of the gearbox housing and which supports the drive circuit. At least one bolt having a stem passes through a central hole in a tubular rivet that secures the motor housing to the baseplate, the bolt securing the baseplate to the gearbox housing.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises (a) a rotatable spool on which seat belt webbing is wound and (b) a load-limiting system to limit a load applied to a vehicle occupant by the webbing. The load-limiting system includes a flow control orifice through which fluid is forced when a load in excess of a predetermined load is applied to the rotatable spool by the webbing. The cross-sectional flow area of the flow control orifice is adjustable in response to unwinding of webbing from the rotatable spool prior to a vehicle crash event and ceases to be adjustable after the crash event is in progress. The load-limiting system also includes a piston in a cylinder. The piston and cylinder are operatively coupled to the spool such that rotation of the spool causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder, which movement causes fluid to be forced through the flow control orifice.

Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants comprises a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state and including upper and lower edges (146, 148) as well as two lateral edges (150). In the interior of the airbag, tension means (30) that withhold portions of the contact panel (26) in the inflated state are arranged at the contact panel (26) so that the contact panel has plural indentations. The contact panel (26) is composed of plural interconnected cut parts (42, 44).

Abstract: A knee airbag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer housing (12) having a front side (14) including a deployment aperture (18) as well as an opposite rear side (16), an airbag (20) and an inflator (32) which provides filling gas for the deployment of the airbag (20). The airbag (20) is folded and in the folded state is retained by a flexible airbag wrapping (34) while forming an airbag package (24), wherein the airbag package (24) constitutes a pre-assembled unit and the flexible airbag wrapping (34) closes off the knee airbag module (10) at least in portions to the outside. There is provided a rigid outer housing part (42) which includes a first bearing zone (54) positioned in the area of the airbag package (24) against which the airbag (20) bears during deployment.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power assisted steering (EPS) system comprising one or more inverter bridges each connected to a multi-phase motor configured to provide power assist to steering of a vehicle, each inverter comprising a plurality of switching elements each associated with a phase of the motor, is provided. The method comprises, preventing current flow in said one or more affected inverters by applying a gate-source voltage to one or more of the switching elements of the affected inverter bridge(s) in response to detecting a predefined event affecting current flow in one or more of the inverter bridges. A control system for an electric power assisted steering apparatus comprising one or more inverter bridges and a control means configured to control the switching elements in accordance with the method is also provided.

Abstract: A front airbag for vehicle occupants, comprising a front face (16) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state, a rear panel (14) facing the vehicle front end and a chamber defining the interior of the inflated airbag (10) is characterized in that, relating to the front face (16), a central sub-chamber starting from the front face (16) is provided which is defined by a central front panel (20) forming part of the front face (16) and a circumferential central side panel (22), wherein the circumferential side panel (22) protrudes into the envelope of the inflated airbag (10), and in that at least one outer chamber (30) laterally adjacent to the central sub-chamber (18) and surrounding the sub-chamber (18) at least partially on the outside is provided which includes an outer front panel (32) forming part of the front face (16) and a side panel (34) which is adjacent to the central side panel (22).