Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (12) seated in a vehicle seat (14). The apparatus (10) includes first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32), first and second lap belt portions (74, 85), and a buckle mechanism (49). The first and second shoulder belt portions (30, 32) are connected with the vehicle (16) and extend from an upper portion (20) of the vehicle seat (14) adjacent the shoulders of the occupant (12). A first end portion (62) of the first lap belt portion (74) is connected at a first location (64) with the vehicle (16) adjacent a first side (22) of the vehicle seat (14). A first end portion (66) of the second lap belt portion (85) is connected at a second location (68) with the vehicle (16) adjacent a second side (24) of the vehicle seat (14). Each of the first and second lap belt portions (74, 85) extends from one of the first and second sides (22, 24) of the vehicle seat (14) and partially across the lap of the occupant (12).

Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering column (40) connected to a vehicle steering wheel (42) to turn rotatable steerable vehicle wheels. A module (32) has an inflatable device (34) for helping to protect an occupant (36) of a vehicle (11) and an inflator (30) is connected with the inflatable device to provide inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The apparatus (10) also includes at least one actuatable fastener (20) connected between the steering column (40) and a vehicle part (52). The actuatable fastener (20) has an unactuated condition blocking movement of the steering column (40) in a forward direction (58) in the vehicle (11) relative to the vehicle part (52). The actuatable fastener (20) has an actuated condition releasing the steering column (40) for movement in the vehicle (11) relative to the vehicle part (52) under load applied to the inflatable device (34) by the vehicle occupant (36).

Abstract: An energy management device (10) for seat belt webbing (18) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a base (40) for attachment to the vehicle. The device (10) also includes a plastically deformable torsion bar (60) having a first portion (66) fixed relative to the base (40) and a second portion (72) rotatable relative to the first portion and the base. The torsion bar (60) twists upon rotation of the second portion (72) relative to the first portion (66). A spool (80) is supported on the base (40) and is fixed for rotation with the second portion (72) of the torsion bar (60) relative to the first portion (66) of the torsion bar. The spool (80) has an outer peripheral surface (90). A flexible member (100) is wound on the outer peripheral surface (90) of the spool (80). The flexible member (100) has a first end portion (104) connected with the spool (80) and a second end portion (110) extending from the spool (80) for connection with the seat belt webbing (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The vehicle occupant 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. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device (14). The vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprises a pair of overlying panels (40 and 42) that have overlapping portions secured together along at least a portion of the periphery of the panels to form a substantially airtight volume defined by the panels. The panels (40 and 42) are made of gas impermeable elastomeric material.

Abstract: A foot pedal (12, 42) for controlling operation of a vehicle is supported for movement relative to the vehicle. A cushion (22, 60), inflatable by inflation fluid, is connected with and, when inflated, extends from the pedal (12, 42).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable protection device (14), an inflator (50), and a fill tube (22). The inflator (50) is electrically actuated to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). The inflator (50) has a longitudinal axis (60), a first end portion (54) with a fluid outlet (62), a central portion (52), and a second end portion (56) opposite the first end portion. The fill tube (22) extends from a location adjacent the second end portion (56) of the inflator (50) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator (50) into the protection device (14). A directing assembly (20) directs inflation fluid from the fluid outlet (62) of the inflator (50) to the fill tube (22). The directing assembly (20) includes a shroud (90) with a chamber (95). The chamber (95) receives the inflator (50). A manifold (70) is located at the second end portion (56) of the inflator.

Abstract: A vehicle safety device comprises a seat mounted within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the seat is movably connected to a vehicle frame by a seat position adjusting mechanism which allows the seat to move along an axis between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position. An air-bag is mounted within the passenger compartment in front of the forward-most position of the seat, with the forward-most position of the seat defined as a position of the seat in which a distance between a passenger seated in the seat and the air-bag is equal to a minimum safe clearance.

Abstract: A system (10) for controlling a vehicle occupant protection device (52) associated with a vehicle seat (12) includes a weight sensor (40) operative to sense a weight condition of an occupant (26) of the vehicle seat (12) and provide a weight sensor signal. A second sensor (50) is operative to sense a second condition of the occupant (26) and provide a second sensor signal. A controller (34) receives the weight sensor signal and the second sensor signal. The controller (34) analyzes the weight sensor signal and the second sensor signal to determine inconsistencies between the weight sensor signal and the second sensor signal and enables actuation of the occupant protection device (52) if the weight sensor signal and the second sensor signal are inconsistent.

Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable occupant protection device (12) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus also comprises an inflator (14) for providing inflation fluid to the inflatable device (12) to inflate the inflatable device. The apparatus further comprises a heater (30) with an electrically energizable heating element (32) for controlling the temperature of the inflator (14). Preferably, an adhesive material (40) secures the heating element to the inflator. Alternatively, or additionally, the heater (30) is flexible and conforms to a surface (22) of the inflator (14).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The protection device (14) has a panel structure (52). The panel structure (52) has an open end portion (70) that is axially separated from a portion for attaching a body structure (50). At least one pair of axially aligned apertures (72 and 74) extends through the panel structure (52). The apparatus (10) further comprises a retainer (60) for supporting the open end portion (70) of the panel structure (52) of the protection device (14). The panel structure (52) is coiled around the retainer (60) such that the axially aligned apertures (72 and 74) become aligned on a same side of the retainer (60).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable device (8) includes a container (12) defining a chamber (14) containing gas. The container (12) includes a rupturable wall (24) which is rupturable when the pressure in the container reaches a predetermined level. An igniter (46) spaced from the rupturable wall (24) produces a shock wave in the gas which ruptures the rupturable wall (24) prior to the gas pressure in the container (12) reaching the predetermined level.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable from a stored position into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes a guide (90) connected to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and a flexible elongated member (70) that extends through the guide. The flexible elongated member (70) has a first end (72) connected to the vehicle (12) at a first location (76) and an opposite second end (74) connected to the vehicle at a second location (82).

Abstract: An assembly (10) for use in a vehicle (16) includes a webbing guide (30) for guiding movement of seat belt webbing (14) in the vehicle (16), a fastener (70), a resilient cover (80), and an energy absorbing structure (100). The fastener (70) mounts the webbing guide (30) in position in the vehicle (16) and includes a head portion (76) and a longitudinal axis (75). The resilient cover (80) includes a cover portion (82) covering the head portion (76) of the fastener (70) and at least a portion of the webbing guide (30). The energy absorbing structure (100) is insertable between the webbing guide (30) and the resilient cover (80). The energy absorbing structure (100) is a part separate from the resilient cover (80) and has ribs (110, 120) that deform to absorb energy from an impact to an outer surface portion (96) of the resilient cover (80). Preferably, the energy absorbing structure (100) includes multiple ribs (110, 120) that intersect each other and extend transversely to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (56) having a deflated condition stored in an instrument panel (24) of a vehicle. The device (56) has an inflated condition extending out of the instrument panel (24) for helping to protect an occupant of the vehicle. A door (62) connected with the vehicle instrument panel (24) is movable between a closed condition covering the inflatable device (56) when in the deflated condition and an open condition. A knee bolster (20) is supported on the vehicle instrument panel (24) for movement in the vehicle from a stored position adjacent to the instrument panel of the vehicle to a blocking position spaced apart from the instrument panel. The knee bolster (20) when in the stored position helps to maintain the door (62) in the closed condition.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes an inflatable bladder (40) contained within an outer shell (42) and completely unattached to the outer shell. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable bladder (40). The inflatable bladder (40) is made of gas impermeable material having overlying portions (48) that are sealed together in an airtight manner by a radio frequency weld (50). The outer shell (42) provides structural support for the inflatable bladder (40).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a retainer ring configured to overlie an edge portion (52) of an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) adjacent to an opening (53) defined by the edge portion (52). A mounting stud projects from the retainer ring. In a one embodiment, the mounting stud (64) has a central axis (71) and a free end (72) spaced from the retainer ring (54) along the axis (71). The peripheral size and shape of the mounting stud (64) are uniform fully between the retainer ring (54) and the free end (72). The mounting stud (64) further has an axially extending bore (85) configured to receive a screw-threaded fastener (66). In an additional embodiment, the mounting stud (124) is receivable through an aperture (76) in a reaction structure (28). The mounting stud (124) and a key (140) are configured to snap together into an interlocked condition in which the key (140) blocks withdrawal of the mounting stud (124) from the aperture (76) in the reaction structure (28).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant 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. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). A plurality of arc-shaped connections (60) define a plurality of arc-shaped chambers (70) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. Each of the arc-shaped chambers (70) includes an arc-shaped upper side wall defined by one of the arc-shaped connections (60) and an arc-shaped lower side wall defined by another of the arc-shaped connections.

Abstract: An apparatus (22) includes a webbing roller (32), a brake structure (80), and a support structure (62, 62). The roller (32) includes a spool (50) and a pair of axially opposite spindle structures (52) centered on an axis of rotation (53). A rotatable outer surface (54) of the spool (50) is configured to engage seat belt webbing (16). The support structure (62, 62) is configured to support the roller (32) in an ordinary operating position in which the outer surface (54) of the spool (50) is spaced radially from a braking surface (82) on the brake structure (80). The support structure (62, 62) is further configured to support the roller (32) for movement under the influence of tension in the seat belt webbing (16). Such movement of the roller (32) includes uniform movement radially from the ordinary operating position to a restrained position in which the outer surface (54) of the spool (50) engages the braking surface (82) on the brake structure (80).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes structure (96, 98) for sensing and responding to vehicle acceleration by providing an electrical actuation signal. The apparatus further includes a blocking device (36) which is responsive to the electrical actuation signal to block at least a portion of a vehicle seat frame (18) from moving under the influence of vehicle crash forces upon the occurrence of the crash-indicating acceleration. The sensing and responding structure (96, 98) is operative so as not to provide the electrical actuation signal if the crash-indicating acceleration is below or within a specified range of intermediate levels that indicate crashes having corresponding intermediate levels of severity. The sensing and responding structure (96, 98) is further operative to provide the electrical actuation signal if the crash-indicating acceleration has a relatively high level above the specified range of intermediate levels.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflator (12) and an air bag (20). The air bag (20) comprises a front panel (50) and a back panel (52) having generally circular outer peripheral portions (54, 56) sewn to each other. The front panel (50) of the air bag (20) has a retainer portion (60) defining a central opening (62) through which the inflator extends. The retainer portion (60) of the air bag (20) has a plurality of fastener openings (66) spaced apart around the central opening (62) of the retainer portion. A tether (70) extends inside the air bag (20) between the front panel (50) and the back panel (52). The tether (70) has opposite front and back end portions (76, 96). The front end portion (76) of the tether (70) has a configuration extending around the central opening (62) of the front panel (50) and around the inflator (12). The front end portion (76) of the tether (70) has an opening (78) through which the inflator (12) extends.