Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps to protect an occupant (12) of a vehicle (14) having an instrument panel (34) by preventing a forceful impact between lower portions (48) of legs (50) of the occupant (12) and the instrument panel (34) during a vehicle collision. The apparatus (10) comprises an inflator (18) that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) for receiving inflation fluid from the inflator (18). The protection device (20) inflates from a stored condition to an inflated condition (46) engaging the lower portions (48) of legs (50) of the occupant (12). The protection device (20), when in the stored condition, includes a rolled lower portion (176) and an upper portion (178) that is folded into a stack (180) of pleated sections.

Abstract: A modular headliner assembly (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) adapted to inflate away from a roof (18) of a vehicle (12) into a position between a side structure (16) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The modular headliner assembly (10) also includes a headliner (36) for covering an interior portion (38) of the roof (18) and at least one support device (40) for supporting the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and the headliner in the vehicle (12). The support device (40) includes a bracket (42) having a portion (44) connectable to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), fastener (202) for connecting the headliner (36) to the bracket, and a fastener (222) for connecting the bracket to the vehicle (12).

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: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflation fluid source (50) for providing inflation fluid (152) for inflating the protection device. The apparatus (10) also includes an opening (170) through which the inflation fluid (152) flows from the inflation fluid source (50). A member (190) is movable to control flow of the inflation fluid (152) through the opening (170). A volume of a field responsive fluid (230) resists movement of the member (190). The field responsive fluid (230) has a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus (10) further includes means (232) for varying the viscosity of the field responsive fluid (230) to vary the resistance to movement of the member (190).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises a support plate (24) having a front surface (34) that is at least partially defined by first and second outer edge portions (26 and 28). Resilient locking members (166 and 182) extend laterally outwardly of the first and second outer edge portions (26 and 28). An air bag module (14) has a base plate portion (110) that is mountable on the support plate (24). The base plate portion (110) includes structure (126 and 134) for deflecting the locking members (166 and 182) laterally inwardly toward the first and second outer edge portions (26 and 28) during movement of the base plate portion (110) toward the front surface (34) of the support plate (24). The locking members (166 and 182) snap laterally outwardly over the structure (126 and 134) of the base plate portion (110) to lock the air bag module (14) on the support plate (24).

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 inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a vent panel (40) defining a first vent opening (42) for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of the device. A vent strap (60) has a second vent opening (72) movable relative to the first vent opening (42). The vent strap (60) has opposite ends (62, 66) that are fixed when the protection device (10) is in the deflated condition. The vent strap (60) has slack (80) due to the length of the strap being greater than the distance between the locations where its opposite ends (62, 66) are fixed. One of the ends (66) of the vent strap (60) moves as the protection device (10) is inflated to remove the slack (80) and move the second vent opening (72) relative to the first vent opening (42).

Abstract: An apparatus (12) comprises an instrument panel (30) for a vehicle (10), an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (60), and a deployment door (68). A portion (44) of the instrument panel (30) includes a rearwardmost point (54) of the instrument panel (30). The deployment door (68) includes a panel (72) that moves between a closed position and an open position on inflation of the protection device (60). An end (86) of the panel (72) is connected with the portion (44) of the instrument panel (30). The end (86) of the panel (72) is spaced from a farthest point on an end (84) of the panel (72) by a first distance (E). The rearwardmost point (54) is located in an imaginary vertical plane that is spaced horizontally from the end (86) of the panel (72) of the deployment door (68) by a second distance (D) that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed position between a side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device (14) includes an upper edge (50), an opposite lower edge (52), and inflatable front and rear portions (64 and 66) and an inflatable main portion (62) positioned between the front and rear portions. The main portion (62) is rolled up into a rolled condition extending along the intersection of the side structure (16) and the roof (18) when in the stored condition. The front portion (64) is folded into a folded condition extending along the A pillar (22) when in the stored condition. The rear portion (66) is folded into a folded condition extending along the C pillar (26) when in the stored condition.

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) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12). An inflator (14) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (12). A vent member (30) includes at least one vent opening (62) for venting the inflation fluid. A vent cover (100) has a closed condition for blocking fluid flow through the at least one vent opening (62) and an open condition for permitting fluid flow through the at least one vent opening. The vent cover (100) includes a side wall (110) that has at least one portion (134, 372) that projects from the side wall into the vent member (30) to help maintain the vent cover in the closed condition.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A housing (16) directs inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source (18) toward the protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes a vent opening (30) in the housing (16) for selectively venting inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus (10) also includes a member (50) movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from the housing (16) and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus (10) further includes an actuatable fastener (12) for holding the member (70) in the closed position. The actuatable fastener (12) comprises an air bag inflator initiator (100).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device (14) includes first and second overlying panels (40 and 42) that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume (50). The first panel (40) includes a first predetermined number of layers of material (94) and the second panel (42) includes a second predetermined number of layers of material (90 and 92) greater than the first predetermined number of layers.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable windshield curtain (14) inflatable away from the vehicle roof (40) to a position between the windshield (50) and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain (14) includes overlying panels (80 and 82) interconnected to define an inflatable volume (110) of the windshield curtain. The windshield curtain (14) includes a pleated portion in which at least one of the panels (80 and 82) has portions folded over to form at least one pleat (150) in the panel. In one embodiment, the windshield curtain (14) includes connections (154 and 180) that interconnect overlying folded portions of the at least one panel (80 and 82) along the at least one pleat (150). Portions of the at least one pleat between the connections (150 and 180) are unfoldable to allow expansion of the pleated portion upon inflation of the windshield curtain (14).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflator (70). The protection device (14) is inflatable from a stored position along a forward edge (62) of a vehicle roof (40) to a deployed position overlying the windshield (50). The protection device (14) while in the deployed position covers the windshield (50) from an A pillar (30) on a driver side (20) of the vehicle (12) to an A pillar of a passenger side (22) of the vehicle and from an upper edge (56) of the windshield to a position near a lower edge (58) of the windshield. The protection device (14) while deployed also covers the driver and passenger side A pillars (30).

Abstract: A method of folding an air bag (10) includes locating the air bag in a first configuration with front and back parts (140, 142) overlying each other and with a side part (70) folded and extending outwardly from the front and back parts. First and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) are on opposite sides of a top to bottom centerline (154). A retainer (114) is located adjacent the top edge (144) of the configuration. The air bag (10) is folded from bottom to top to a second configuration in which it overlies and has a height corresponding to the height of the retainer (114). The first and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) have portions (151, 153) that project laterally beyond the sides (124, 126) of the retainer (114). The laterally projecting portions (151, 153) are moved laterally inward to overlie the retainer (114), and the air bag (10) has a width corresponding to the width of the retainer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part, such as a steering wheel or an electric motor. According to one embodiment, an apparatus (26) for damping vibration of a vehicle part (12) includes at least one container (50) having a chamber (56) defined by at least one interior wall (58). The container (50) is associated with the vehicle part (12). A plurality of particles (52) is disposed in the chamber (56). The particles (52), when at rest, occupy a first portion (82) of the chamber (56) and define an unoccupied second portion (84) of the chamber. The particles (52) move back and forth between the first and second portions (82 and 84) of the chamber (56) in response to vibration of the vehicle part (12) and collide with each other and with the interior wall (58) defining the chamber to damp the vibration of the vehicle part.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) includes an air bag (30) and an inflator (40) for inflating the air bag. The apparatus (10) also includes a bracket (120) having an elongated back plate portion (122), a first flange portion (130), and a second flange portion (150). The flange portions (130 and 150) extend transverse to the back plate portion (122). The inflator (40) is insertable into the bracket. A first end portion (80) of the inflator (40) engages the first flange portion (130) and a second end portion (90) of the inflator engages the second flange portion (150) while the inflator is inserted in the bracket (120). The inflator (40) urges the first and second flange portions (130 and 150) to deflect away from each other while the inflator is inserted in the bracket (120). The first and second flange portions (130 and 150) are urged toward each other by resilience of the bracket and exert a clamping force on the inflator (40) to retain the inflator in the bracket (120).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable into a position between a part of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device (14) includes overlying panels (40 and 42) that are secured together. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The panels (40 and 42) include first overlying portions (100) subject to relatively low stress that extend across the inflatable device (14) when inflated. The panels (40 and 42) further include second overlying portions (102) subject to relatively high stress that extend across the inflatable device (14) when inflated. The first portions (100) have a woven construction of a first weave density. The second portions (102) have a woven construction of a second weave density, greater than the first weave density.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (30) comprises first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38). A buckle assembly (90) is provided for interconnecting the first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). At least one lap belt retractor (50) is operatively connected to the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and is electrically actuatable, in response to receiving a first electrical locking signal, for locking the at least one lap belt retractor (50) to prevent withdrawal of the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). An occupant actuatable mechanism (160) is operatively connected to the at least one lap belt retractor (50) and is responsive to actuation by the vehicle occupant for providing the first electrical locking signal to the at least one lap belt retractor (50).