Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a support structure of the vehicle. The airbag is inflatable to deploy from a stored condition away from the support structure toward a vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated 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: A driver airbag mounting verification system comprises a portion of an electrical circuit configured to connect a vehicle horn to a vehicle-mounted power source. The portion of the electrical circuit includes two electrical contacts resiliently biased into contact with one another so as to complete electrically the electrical circuit and thereby to actuate the vehicle horn. The portion of the electrical circuit including both of the electrical contacts is mounted on one of a driver airbag module and a vehicle steering wheel. At least one of the electrical contacts is mounted such that said at least one of the electrical contacts is moved and held out of contact with the other of the electrical contacts when the driver airbag module is securely mounted on the vehicle steering wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the curtain airbag is positioned between a side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. The curtain airbag comprises a mounting tab for mounting the curtain airbag to a support structure of the vehicle. A tether has first and second tether end portions. The first tether end portion is connected to an inboard side of the curtain airbag at and/or adjacent to the mounting tab. The second tether end portion is connected to an outboard side of the curtain airbag. In the deployed condition of the curtain airbag, the tether is tensioned and holds a portion of the curtain airbag proximate to the second tether end portion folded in an inboard direction away from the side structure.

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 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: 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 seatbelt arrangement for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a seat. The seatbelt arrangement has a latch plate and a buckle to which the latch plate can be locked. The buckle includes a housing having a plurality of sidewalls, a biasing member anchor provided on one of the plurality of sidewalls, and a mounting anchor. A mounting member is connected to the mounting anchor. The mounting member secures the buckle to the vehicle. A biasing member is attached to the biasing member anchor. The biasing member biases the buckle to a stowed position when the seatbelt arrangement is unfastened.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises an airbag inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the airbag is positioned between a reaction surface of the vehicle and the occupant. The airbag comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. Each of the upper and lower portions is at least one of rolled and folded. The upper and lower portions are positioned overlying each other when in the stored condition. A deployment flap comprises a sheet of material having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion. The first end portion is secured to the vehicle. A portion of the deployment flap is positioned between the upper and lower portions. The deployment flap has a notch with opposite side edges converging in a direction toward the first end portion of the deployment flap and terminating at a vertex.

Abstract: A module for a vehicle including a roof and a cabin includes a housing defining a chamber and having an opening in fluid communication with the chamber. The housing is configured for placement in the roof. An airbag is provided in the chamber and is inflatable to a deployed condition extending through the opening into the cabin. A door pivotably connected to the housing closes the opening. The door is pivotable away from the roof in response to deployment of the airbag to provide a reaction surface for the deploying airbag. The door has a first length while closing the opening and a second length greater than the first length when pivoted away from the roof.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag, an inflator, a first deployment flap, and fasteners. The airbag includes an upper portion and a lower portion. In a stored condition of the airbag, the lower portion is rolled and/or folded and positioned at least partially overlying the inflator, the upper portion is rolled and/or folded separately from the lower portion and positioned at least partially overlying the lower portion, and the first deployment flap extends from the fasteners and has a portion positioned between the upper and lower portions of the airbag. The first deployment flap is at least one of formed from and coated with a material that provides a frictional engagement between the first deployment flap and the lower portion sufficient to at least partially restrict and delay the initial deployment of the lower portion.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a curtain airbag having an upper edge portion for securing to an interior of a vehicle for deployment between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. Indicia extends along the length of the curtain airbag for indicating twisting of the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is rolled up along its length. The indicia includes a bar code printed on the airbag.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises an airbag having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber. The primary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover a portion of the vehicle. The secondary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover portions of the vehicle left uncovered by the primary chamber. At least one passive vent provides fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. At least one active vent is actuatable to provide fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. An inflator is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the primary chamber. The at least one passive vent directs inflation fluid from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber. The at least one active vent is actuatable to direct inflation fluid from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety system helps protect front seat occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that results in oblique forward occupant movement. The safety system includes a frontal air bag inflatable between on instrument panel end the front seat vehicle occupant, and a central air bag inflatable adjacent and inboard of the frontal air bag. The frontal air bag can be configured and positioned to receive and cushion the vehicle occupant moving in an oblique direction in the vehicle as the result of a vehicle collision. The central air bag can be configured and positioned to support an inboard portion of the frontal airbag against flattening out in response to receiving the obliquely moving occupant, and to engage the obliquely moving occupant's head and resist rotation of the vehicle occupant's head resulting from moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal air bag.

Abstract: A filter for an inflator includes a rolled sheet centered on an axis or three dimensionally printed as a whole and including a plurality of openings. A deflector is associated with each opening for directing inflation fluid in a non-radial direction relative to the axis.

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: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) having a seat (16 or 22) for receiving the occupant (20) includes an inflatable protection device (14) inflatable from a stored condition in the vehicle (12) adjacent a reaction surface (19, 23, 36) to a deployed condition between the reaction surface and the vehicle occupant (20). The protection device (14) includes a front portion (62) presented toward the seat (22) and an inflatable volume for receiving a penetrating occupant (20?) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition. A rear portion (64) connected to the front portion (62) has an inflatable volume spaced from the front portion (62) by a space (110). The front portion (62) is positioned between the vehicle occupant (20) and the rear portion (64) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a main airbag inflatable to cover a portion of a vehicle and to help provide protection from impacts with the covered portion of the vehicle, and an auxiliary airbag connected to the main airbag, the auxiliary airbag being inflatable to cover portions of the vehicle left uncovered by the main airbag. The auxiliary airbag includes a deployment portion and a restriction panel. The deployment portion is inflatable to extend from the main portion and having a first length. The restriction panel has a second length that is shorter than the first length. The restriction panel overlies the deployment portion and has opposite ends connected to opposite ends of the deployment panel. The deployment portion, when inflated, is configured to tension the restraining panel between the opposite ends of the deployment portion and position the restraining panel for receiving and absorbing impacts.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of vehicle (12) having a seat (16 or 22) for receiving the occupant (20) includes an inflatable protection device (14) inflatable from a stored condition in the vehicle (12) adjacent a reaction surface (19, 23, 36) to a deployed condition between the reaction surface and the vehicle occupant (20). The protection device (14) includes a front portion (62) presented toward the seat (22) and an inflatable volume for receiving a penetrating occupant (20?) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition. A rear portion (64) connected to the front portion (62) has an inflatable volume spaced from the front portion (62) by a space (110). The front portion (62) is positioned between the vehicle occupant (20) and the rear portion (64) when the protection device (14) is in the deployed condition.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven air bag includes weaving yarns into a one-piece woven fabric air bag structure having single layer portions and two layer portions in which an inflatable volume is defined between the two layer portions and in which the single layer portions are non-inflatable portions that help define the shape and configuration of the inflatable volume. The step of weaving yarns is performed using a water-jet loom.