Abstract: An impact protection device includes a cushion formed from a first material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and a second material having a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR). The first material and the second material can be layered or can be formed as a matrix of cells. The impact protection device can be an airbag with the cushion coupled to an inflation source or an expulsion source for deploying the airbag in response to an impact. The impact protection device can also be an impact vest with the cushions positioned on the vest body for absorbing impact forces to the vest body. The combination of the NPR and PPR materials improve the impact absorption of the impact protection devices compared to conventional materials.

Abstract: Provided is a belt assist device having a compact configuration and being configured to move a seatbelt to an easily reachable position. A vehicle seat includes a belt assist device attached to a lateral portion of a seat back and configured to move a portion of a seatbelt placed on the lateral portion to the easily reachable position. The belt assist device includes a rotary member attached to a recessed housing portion of the lateral portion via a rotary shaft and configured to rotate up and down between a housing position at which the rotary member is housed in the seat back and a protruding position at which the rotary member rotates to protrude forward of the seat back to push out a portion of the seatbelt. The rotary member is disposed forward of a belt guide provided at the periphery of an upper end of the seat back.

Abstract: An assembly includes a seat assembly defining a seat-forward direction. The assembly includes a middle console adjacent the seat assembly. The assembly includes a first airbag inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The first airbag is supported by the seat assembly in the uninflated position and the inflated position. The assembly includes a second airbag inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The second airbag in the uninflated position and the inflated position is forward of the seat assembly in the seat-forward direction. The assembly includes an inflator supported by the middle console, the inflator operatively connected to the first airbag and the second airbag to provide inflation medium.

Abstract: A decoupling carrier for an electro-hydraulic unit for a chassis of a motor vehicle. The decoupling carrier includes (i) at least one damper receptacle, which can be connected to an electro-hydraulic unit in a force-transmitting manner; (ii) a damper body for each damper receptacle; and (iii) a fastening receptacle for the power-transmitting connection to a chassis carrier of a motor vehicle for each damper body. The fastening receptacle includes a receptacle opening for a line carrier.

Abstract: A suspension assembly and method of use is provided. The suspension is for an axle on a trailer or other vehicle. The suspension assembly has a cross support member connected with or integrally formed with a hanger bracket at the first end of the cross support member. A trailing beam is connected to the hanger bracket. The trailing beam and a mount are coupled with a load air bag and a lift air bag, with the bags located on each respective side of a pivot axis for the trailing beam. This establishes a teeter-totter configuration of the suspension assembly allowing independent wheel travel side-to-side of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: A seat belt apparatus includes a main belt, a first buckle that is disposed on an extended part of the main belt and that can be buckled and fastened to a second side of the vehicle seat corresponding to a waist on the other side of the passenger, and an auxiliary belt extending from a second part of a backrest of the vehicle seat corresponding to an underarm of the passenger, where the second part is lower than the first part. The apparatus is configured such that in the event a body of the passenger slides forward relative to the vehicle seat, the underarm of the passenger is blocked by the auxiliary belt.

Abstract: A velocity dependent flow control unit for an air spring. The velocity dependent flow control unit including a compression fluid pathway with a one-way valve and a rebound fluid pathway with a one-way valve. The velocity dependent flow control unit can be fixed and coupled between two additional air chambers of the air shock. A spring curve of said air shock can be dependent upon a velocity of a compression of the air shock and can be controlled by a flow rate of a fluid passing the two additional chambers and the velocity dependent flow control unit.

Abstract: A buckle apparatus for a seat of a vehicle and associated system and method. The buckle apparatus includes a locking mechanism and a retention mechanism arranged within a casing. The locking mechanism is configured to operably engage with a latch coupled to a seat belt webbing of the vehicle such that, in a locked mode, the latch is secured within an insertion slot defined in the casing. In an unlocked mode, locking mechanism is configured such that the latch is removable from the insertion slot of the casing. The retention mechanism is operable with the latch such that, in a retention mode, the retention mechanism is configured to cause the latch to be retained within the insertion slot of the casing when a withdrawal force applied to the latch is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: The adjustable track-width system may include a first axle member having a top section and a bottom section and a second axle member having a top section and a bottom section, where the second axle member is receivable by the first axle member and movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first axle member. The adjustable track-width system may further include two or more shims that determine a clearance between the first axle member and the second axle member at the first and second positions, where at least a portion of a first shim may be between the top section of the first axle member and the top section of the second axle member and at least a portion of a second shim may be between the bottom section of the first axle member and the bottom section of the second axle member.

Abstract: A drive device for a pivotable vehicle flap includes a flap part associated with the vehicle flap, a body part associated with a vehicle body and a hinge arrangement which hingedly connects the flap part and the body part, the hinge arrangement allowing the flap part to be pivoted about a first axis of rotation for opening and closing the vehicle flap and about a second axis of rotation for raising the vehicle flap into a pedestrian protection position. The device drive also includes a first actuator for opening and closing the vehicle flap during normal operation, a second actuator for raising the vehicle flap into a pedestrian protection position and a coupling device for coupling the first actuator to one of the flap part and the vehicle flap. The coupling device includes a fastening part and a first coupling element coupled to the first actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pneumatic adjustment apparatus for a vehicle. The pneumatic adjustment apparatus includes a block including a flow path formed therein, the flow path being configured for a fluid to move through the block, a compressor coupled to the block and configured to communicate with the flow path and to compress the fluid, a driver coupled to the block, connected to the compressor, and configured to drive the compressor, and a controller coupled to the block and configured to open and close the flow path.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to reducing the likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. In one example, a computing device may determine that an impact between a vehicle and an object external to the vehicle is imminent. The computing device may determine a protection range for a vehicle's airbag based on characteristics of the passenger, including the passenger's seating location within the vehicle. An airbag extension system may position an airbag package, including the vehicle's airbag, such that the vehicle's airbag is within the protection range of the passenger's seating location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a power take-off (PTO) assembly. The PTO assembly, in one example, includes a bi-directional pump in fluidic communication with a fluid reservoir and a hydraulic system and a disconnect clutch configured to mechanically disengage and disconnect the bi-directional pump from a transmission when a prime mover is in operation, and mechanically engage and connect the bi-directional pump to the transmission when the prime mover is shut down. The PTO assembly further includes an electro-mechanical valve configured to trigger engagement and disengagement of the disconnect clutch.

Abstract: An interior panel for a vehicle includes a first plate, a second plate, and a hinge extending between and interconnecting the first plate and the second plate. The hinge establishes a plate pivot axis about which the first plate is configured to pivot from a closed position to an opened position.

Abstract: A chassis assembly for a vehicle is provided. The chassis assembly includes: an upper frame structure having at least two longitudinally extending upper side regions arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal centre line. The upper side regions are connected to each other by upper connection portions. A front crash structure is configured to absorb energy during an impact generated from a vehicle collision, and extends in a transverse direction. The upper frame structure is connected to said front crash structure; wherein said chassis assembly further comprises: a lower frame structure having at least two longitudinally extending lower beams arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal centre line, said lower beams being connected to each other by lower connection portions, and said lower frame structure is connected to said upper frame structure and to said front crash structure.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a steering apparatus including a steering wheel which is manipulated by a driver of a vehicle and a steering column which is turned by the steering wheel. The steering apparatus may include a rotation restraint mechanism which is able to restrict the rotation of the steering column by providing mechanical feedback to the steering column.

Abstract: A vehicle ensures deployment stability of a compact knee airbag while improving design flexibility, by disposing the knee airbag in a lower portion of a storage box. The vehicle includes a knee airbag arranged in front of a passenger seat in a lower portion of a glove box. The glove box has a housing which is fixed to an instrument panel by a plurality of support portions and which demarcates a storage space. An instrument panel member fixed to the vehicle body is disposed above a ceiling wall of the housing. The ceiling wall has a displacement regulation wall portion which bulges upward compared to another portion of the ceiling wall and is spaced apart from the instrument panel member such that the displacement regulation wall portion abuts the instrument panel member when the knee airbag is deployed.

Abstract: A seat belt energy management loop to reduce off-axis loading is disclosed. The seat belt energy management loop includes a substantially flat bracket welded to the chassis of a vehicle and including a plurality of openings for mounting a roll hoop and a seat belt retractor to the bracket. An integral loop is formed as an integral part of the bracket and extends from the bracket in substantially perpendicular relation to the bracket. The integral loop includes a seat belt guide segment extending from the bracket, a pair of curved end segments extending from the seat belt guide segment, and a straight segment extending between the pair of curved end segments, together forming a seat belt opening through which a retractable seat belt of the retractor extends.

Abstract: A wheel suspension for a wheel of an axle of a motor vehicle, including a pivot bearing supporting the wheel, which is articulated in an upper link level via at least one link on the motor vehicle body. The pivot bearing includes a pivot bearing arm on which the link is mounted by a ball joint having a ball pin, the ball pin is aligned extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle and the ball of the ball pin is received in a receptacle on the link side and the shaft of the ball pin is received in a receptacle on the pivot bearing arm side. The receptacle on the pivot bearing arm side is formed as a longitudinally slotted clamping hole.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for a vehicle interior. The safety arrangement includes a seat with an airbag configured to be deployed in the vehicle interior in case of an impact and a console box arranged adjacent/beside the seat. The console box may include a storage compartment for storing articles and a lid for closing/opening the storage compartment. The lid is moveable between a fully open position and a close position. Particularly, the lid is coupled to the console box by a hinge assembly facilitating the lid to move between the fully open position and the closed position. The hinge assembly biases the lid in a first position to prevent the lid from overlapping a deployment path of the airbag.