Abstract: An arrangement for forming an opening in an auto interior trim panel or piece normally having no visible indication of the opening just prior to inflation of an inflatable air bag, allowing deployment of the air bag into the passenger compartment of vehicle, the arrangement including a linear element positioned below the skin of the trim panel or wheel cover in a pattern corresponding to the opening. In a first embodiment a heat generating element is employed as the linear element which when activated degrades the covering skin layer of the trim piece in pattern shape. In a second embodiment detonating cord enclosed in a metal tube is employed with a series of holes directing the energy of detonation to sever the panel skin material. In a third embodiment a split sleeve having explosive coating on the inside is used to create a flame front severing the panel skin in the appropriate pattern.

Abstract: A device for preventing an accelerator from being erroneously operated when an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle is erroneously pushed down includes a magnetic coupling device comprising an accelerator interlocking member interlocking with an accelerator pedal and a throttle interlocking member connected to a throttle cable. When the accelerator pedal is pushed down during normal operation the throttle cable is operated through the magnetic coupling device to cause the motor vehicle to be accelerated. When the accelerator pedal (14) is erroneously pushed down in spite of the brake pedal being intended to be pushed down, the magnetic coupling device decouples and prevents the throttle valve from being operated and the motor vehicle from being accelerated.

Abstract: A low cost, high bandwidth "smart skin" impact sensor is developed for application to vehicle side impact detection and diagnostics. The sensor is based on a piezo polymer smart skin technology and can sense impact location and impact energy in real time (i.e., fractions of a millisecond) along a vehicle side panel. The sensor is simple to manufacture, is low cost in production quantities, and can be used in concert with other devices in a sensor suite to provide, reliable, efficient, energy managed airbag development. With proper spatial shading techniques it is shown that the sensor can be designed also to report impact angle and the velocity of the impacting body.

Abstract: A method of supplying driving energy to subassemblies of a vehicle having an engine, a braking system including a brake pedal, a hydraulic machine, a hydraulic accumulator and a clutch having an engaged state for connecting the engine to the hydraulic machine for driving the hydraulic machine from the engine and a disengaged state for disconnecting the engine from the hydraulic machine.

Abstract: A motor vehicle impact protection arrangement protects persons and has an impact protection device which is rendered operative in a defined protection area only when the danger of an impact is signalled. An energy-absorbing material is provided so that, when a danger of an impact has not yet been signalled, the material is situated in a closed space below the impact protection area and emerges only when the danger of an impact is signalled as an energy-absorbing impact protection device in the defined impact protection area.

Abstract: A portable air bag device that can be connected to a person and/or vehicle. The portable air bag device includes an enclosure containing a pressurized gas cylinder, controllable gas release valve and control/sensor for activating the device during a crash.

Abstract: An adjustable, rotatable boot-binding mount (20) includes a swivel plate (40) having threaded mounting holes (24) therein to which a conventional boot binding (60) or boot may be mounted. The swivel plate (40) is rotatably retained within a base plate (30) which is securely fastened to the top surface of a snowboard (10) or other recreational board. During normal use, the swivel plate (40) is automatically and continuously locked against rotation within the base plate (30), thereby securely maintaining the boot binding in a desired angular position relative to the snowboard. At other times, e.g., while standing in lift lines or riding a lift, a quick release mechanism (27, 48) allows the swivel plate to be temporarily unlocked so that a different angular position of the swivel plate (and hence a different angular position of the boot binding or boot) relative to the snowboard may be quickly and easily realized.

Abstract: A hood control apparatus comprises at least one counterbalancing spring engaged between a forward tilt hood and a top surface radiator frame mounted under the hood. The spring is chosen to have a spring rate such that, when the hood is opened, the spring supports the hood in an open equilibrium position less than fully open. A locking latch device is provided for latching the hood in the open position against unintended closure thereof.

Abstract: Garnish members according to this invention are installed and fixed to peripheries of a door opening in the interior of a vehicle body. The garnish members have an air bag therein and include elongate garnish bodies disposed in the interior of a vehicle body fixing portions. The fixing portions are hinged to the garnish bodies at a rear side of the garnish bodies and can be fixed to the body. The fixing portions include brackets capable of maintaining folding conditions of the air bag, which brackets can be ruptured when the air bag is inflated.

Abstract: A vehicle seat equipped with a side air bag assembly the air bag of which is assembled within a side cavity formed in one side of a back rest of the vehicle seat in a folded condition. A rear attachment board is mounted on a support frame of the back rest, the rear attachment board having a back portion formed to cover the rear face of the back rest and a side portion formed to cover the air bag in the side cavity. The side portion of the rear attachment board is formed with an opening which is opposed to the air bag in the side cavity and closed by a door plate hinged at one side thereof to the rear attachment board at one side of the opening to be opened outwardly when a thrust force caused by inflation of the air bag is applied. The door plate is normally retained in a closed position by engagement with the other side of the opening.

Abstract: An air bag safety device made up of a collision sensing system and an air bag deployment system. The air bag deployment system is activated by the collision sensing system and is positioned within a vehicle seat. An air bag having a shape corresponding to a lumbar spine and shoulder blade region of a human is deployed by the air bag deployment system into the region between the vehicle seat and a lumbar and shoulder blade region of an occupant of the vehicle seat following an impact.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a safety system for protecting an occupant of a motor vehicle measures the acceleration of the vehicle with a first sensor along a first axis oriented substantially parallel to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle. The acceleration of the vehicle is also measured with a second sensor along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis. The acceleration signal generated by the first sensor is evaluated by an analog processor and the acceleration signal generated by the second sensor is evaluated by a digital processor. The safety system is then actuated based upon both the analog and digital evaluations.

Abstract: An active roll control and leveling system operating between the sprung and unsprung masses of a vehicle or the like includes a plurality of shock absorbers attached between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass, a hydraulic source for supplying fluid at two hydraulic pressures, a sensor for detecting the vehicle's inertial change induced when the vehicle is turning, and a control unit for actively introducing fluid at hydraulic pressure to each shock absorber. The active roll control and leveling system includes a pump with a reservoir and a high pressure accumulator for delivering two separate hydraulic pressures. The active roll control and leveling system also includes an accumulator for each shock absorber and a controlling plunger for directing the pressures simultaneously to the shock absorbers.

Abstract: A lock arm is rotatably provided on a base bracket. A ratchet is rotatably disposed on a shaft member provided at an end portion of the lock arm. A distal-end claw portion of the ratchet is shaped to be engageable with reverse motion preventing teeth formed on the base bracket. A stopper wall is provided on a proximal end portion of the lock arm. In the state in which an engaging portion of the trigger lever abuts upon the stopper wall, an end portion of the trigger lever is supported by a movable body. Thereby, the lock arm is held in a normal position. The movable body moves from a first position toward a second position at the time of a collision. A support shaft or the center of rotation of the trigger lever is located on a higher level than a location where the lock arm is engaged with the trigger lever. The movable body is provided with a recess in which the end portion of the trigger lever is put when the movable body has moved from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting mechanism is provided for an automotive seat belt assembly which employs an energy absorbing cushion locally overlying the mounting bolt joining the seat belt assembly to a vehicle body pillar. The cushion is carried in a moveable trim portion which operates to move the mounting bolt vertically while maintaining juxtaposed relationship between the cushion and the mounting bolt.

Abstract: A driver side inflator housing for a vehicle safety system which includes a base which is stamped from a thin sheet of aluminum The base includes a central axis, a plurality of stamped concentric rings extending upwardly from a bottom of the base and spaced from the central axis. An interface attachment flange is provided for mounting the inflator, and a squib pocket extending about the central axis of the base is capable of holding the squib of the gas generating inflator. The concentric rings, attachment flange and squib pocket are all formed during the stamping of the base; thus excessive machining is not required. Only minor machining is necessary to complete the base. The base of the present invention is designed to reduce the overall inflator cost, while maintaining the processing capability and quality of current bases.

Abstract: A roll-over protection system for a vehicle is provided having a handle and a lift assist assembly. The roll-over protection system includes a support structure and a cross member pivotally coupled to the support structure. The handle is mounted to the cross member, and the lift assist assembly is coupled to the support structure and to the cross member. The handle and the lift assist assembly aid an operator in moving the cross member between folded and upright positions.

Abstract: A deployment door assembly for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (14), includes a panel (40) for covering the air bag (14) in a vehicle. The panel (40) has layers including a scrim layer (68). The scrim layer (68) has an edge (98) defining a boundary (110) between first and second portions (42,44) of the panel (40) which have first and second shear strengths, respectively. The scrim layer (68) imparts a difference between the first and second shear strengths such that the panel (40) is rupturable along the boundary (110) under the influence of the air bag (14) as a result of the difference in shear strengths.

Abstract: A passive vehicle occupant restraint system is provided for an automotive vehicle having a front seat including a seat back defining generally a front passenger area to one side thereof and a rear passenger area to the other side thereof, and a roof having an outer roof surface, a quantity of insulation material inside of the outer roof surface and a headliner beneath and overlying the insulation material. The restraint system includes a first inflatable cushion mounted between the insulation material and the headliner and overlying at least a portion of the front passenger area of the vehicle, and an inflator operatively connected with the inflatable cushion and responsive to a predetermined triggering signal for producing a quantity of inflating gas for inflating the cushion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an emergency driver system for a motor vehicle. The emergency driver system allows a passenger in the motor vehicle to safely maneuver the motor vehicle should the driver become incapacitated by exposing a brake actuator and an accelerator actuator concealed by a cover. Upon opening the cover, a cover sensor actuates emergency lights, headlights, and a horn, and disengages the operation of the driver brake pedal and accelerator pedal. This allows the passenger to control the steering with the left hand and the acceleration and braking of the motor vehicle with the right hand, via the brake actuator and the accelerator actuator positioned on an emergency control panel located under the cover.