Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a side airbag apparatus for a vehicle having a seat with a back rest part and a hinge mechanism. The side airbag includes a separation means defining a front airbag chamber and a rear airbag chamber within the side airbag. A connecting passage connects the front and a rear airbag chambers adjacent a lower extremity of the separation means. An attaching portion provided on the rear portion of the rear airbag chamber attaches the side airbag to the backrest part. An inflator proximate said attaching portion injects gas into the rear airbag chamber which flows through the connecting passage into the front airbag chamber.

Abstract: A fender cover is mounted on a fender of an industrial vehicle. A step is attached to a side of the vehicle body to be located rearward relative to the fender cover. The fender cover and the step are made of resin and shaped as one body through molding. The step includes a floor panel and a side wall. The fender cover is integrated with a front edge of the floor panel. The side wall is integrated with an inner edge and rear edge of the floor panel. The floor panel is open to the side of the vehicle body through its outer edge. The integrally molded fender cover and step prevent foreign objects from entering a space below the step and are easily installed in the vehicle body.

Abstract: A simplified multi-chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two initiator chambers 42 and 44 respectively formed within an initiator assembly 18. The initiator assembly 18 may be formed from a one-piece component or alternatively, may be formed by coupling a first component 26 and a second component 28 in nested relationship within the housing 12. A primary propellant chamber 52 fluidly communicates with initiator chambers 42 and 44 upon actuation of inflator 10.

Abstract: A novel airbag device, especially well suited to protect occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact is described. The airbag device includes an inflatable curtain and a wrap having a first edge and a second edge. The edges are configured such that the wrap can be secured about the curtain when the curtain is in a folded state. One edge of the wrap includes a securement portion which may be two-sided tape secured along an edge of the wrap. The securement portion allows the edges of the wrap to be secured to each other. Attachment tabs extend from an edge of the curtain through slots in the wrap to facilitate attachment of the curtain airbag to a vehicle as part of an airbag system. The curtain is folded into a predetermined configuration. The wrap is then secured about the curtain by removing a backing of the two-side tape, cinching the wrap about the curtain, and then securing one edge of the wrap to the second edge about the curtain.

Abstract: A rear underside structure of a vehicle as a rear undercover main body, an air flow path, an air intake opening, and an air exhaust opening. The rear undercover main body has an inclined planar part that rises toward the rear of the vehicle, and is disposed further to the rear of than the fuel tank, between the front and rear axles, so as to cover a drive element of the vehicle. The air flow path is disposed between the rear undercover main body and the drive element. The inclined planar part delineates at least a rear part of the air flow path. The air intake opening is disposed further to the front than the drive element, and the air exhaust opening is disposed to the rear of the inclined planar part. Air which flows in from the air intake opening passes through the air flow path, and is exhausted from the exhaust opening.

Abstract: A vehicle has a seat (2) for a vehicle occupant, a vehicle floor pan (4) for supporting the seat (2), and a load sensing apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) includes a vehicle seat frame (20), a bracket (30), a first member (60), a second member (70), a lever (90), and a sensor (99). The vehicle seat frame (20) supports a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (2). The load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (2) is transmitted through the bracket (30) from the vehicle seat frame (20) to the vehicle floor pan (4). The first member (60) is interposed between the vehicle seat frame (20) and the bracket (30). The first member (60) is compressible as the seat frame (22) moves downward and is expandable as the seat frame (20) moves upward. The second member (70) is interposed between the vehicle seat frame (20) and the bracket (30). The second member (70) is compressible as the seat frame (20) moves upward and is expandable as the seat frame (20) moves downward.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non return valve for an airbag of a vehicle passenger retention system, which is provided with a connection hose between two chambers of the airbag, wherein in the connector hose a fabric inlay is accommodated. The fabric inlay subdivides the connection hose into a flow passage between the first and the second chamber and a pressure chamber which is in connection with the second chamber. As soon as the internal pressure in the first chamber is greater than that in the second chamber the fabric inlay opens the flow passage. If on the contrary the internal pressure in the second chamber is greater than that in the first chamber the fabric inlay closes off the flow passage by means of the internal pressure which acts in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning a seatbelt has a piston that is driven in a guide tube and is connected to the belt webbing of the seatbelt via a traction cable and with a cable guide for the traction cable. The traction cable acts on one end of the belt webbing of the seatbelt and is looped around the cable guide 180°. The portion of traction cable extending between the cable guide and the belt webbing is guided substantially parallel to the axial direction of the guide tube.

Abstract: A side-impact airbag device for a passenger cell of a motor vehicle includes a window bag which, in the active, inflated state, has a window portion which at least partially covers a side window and extends between roof support pillars. At least one of the window portions of the window bag is assigned an additional window bag pillar portion which, in the active, inflated state, at least partially covers the associated pillar relative to the passenger cell and provides a cushion against the impact, in particular, of the head and shoulder area of a passenger. In the folded-up, uninflated fitted state, the window portion of the window bag lying stowed under a lateral end portion, is bounded at the front and rear by a windscreen and a rear window respectively, of the interior lining headliner which is mounted on the roof frame and the lateral end portion of which is moved when the window bag is triggered to free the deployment path.

Abstract: A device for fixing a boot onto a sporting article, such as a snowboard. The device includes a base, front and rear boot retaining assemblies having abutment surfaces, front and rear guides, and mechanisms for releasing the boot, as well as a structural arrangement to attach the device onto the sporting apparatus. The device also includes the boot with its sole capable of being supported on the base, the boot having front and rear catching members. The front and rear catching members are applied respectively to the front abutment surfaces and the rear guides when the boot is first put on, then the rear catching members follow a trajectory that modifies the distance which separates them from the front catching members to come to rest on the rear abutment surfaces when the boot is completely on.

Abstract: A wheel frame for use with in-line roller skates, and in particular, in-line roller skates with eccentrically mounted, single pivot wheel frames. The eccentrically mounted frame is configured such that the moment arm of the front wheel about the pivot point of the frame is greater than the moment arm of the rear wheel about the pivot point.

Abstract: The tow shield and underskirt device comprises a flexible deflecting member that is adapted to be attached to the towing vehicle and the vehicle in tow to protect both vehicles and the tow bar from road debris that is thrown by moving vehicles during travel. Tensioned elastic members on the forward and rearward edges of the deflecting member hold the respective edges adjacent to the rear of the towing vehicle and adjacent to the front of the towed vehicle. The longitudinal sides of the deflecting member are supported by additional elastic members which lengthen and shorten as the vehicles maneuver around corners.

Abstract: Smart shuttles are used to complete oil and gas wells. Following drilling operations into a geological formation, a steel pipe is disposed in the wellbore. The steel pipe may be a standard casing installed into the wellbore using typical industry practices. Alternatively, the steel pipe may be a drill string attached to a rotary drill bit that is to remain in the wellbore following completion during so-called “one-pass drilling operations”. Using typical procedures in the industry, the well is “completed” by placing into the steel pipe various standard completion devices, many of which are conveyed into place using the drilling rig. Instead, with this invention, smart shuttles are used to convey into the steel pipe the various smart completion devices necessary to complete the oil and gas well. Smart shuttles may be attached to a wireline, to a coiled tubing, or to a wireline installed within coiled tubing.

Abstract: An annular seal is made of a collapsible bellows. The bellows can function as an anchor or a seal and is easily set into position using relative component movement. The bellows folds can be slanted and their outer sealing edges can have different profiles to meet expected conditions. The bellows is expanded for insertion to reduce its outer dimension and sets by compaction as a result of relative movement. The bellows can be straight or tapered and is settable with a minimal axial force.

Abstract: A device for reducing impact to a pedestrian involved in a collision with a motor vehicle includes a displacement mechanism to raise a hood from a rest position to an impact position elevated relative to the rest position, and an air bag module including an air bag. The air bag module is operative to inflate the air bag after displacement of the hood from the rest position to the impact position has begun. When inflated, the air bag has its first cushion portion extending beneath the hood and its second cushion portion extending out from the rear of the hood. The second cushion portion extends over a lower portion of a windshield of the vehicle.

Abstract: A directional drilling apparatus can be used in confined spaces or utilized in locations close to obstacles such as fences, houses, buildings, etc. A drill head is pushed forward or advanced. The drill head is of a design which provides a large amount of forward thrust for the size of the actuating unit and the drilling apparatus. The drilling apparatus is articulated from a source of power such as a prime mover and thus can be used in confined spaces.

Abstract: A skateboarding vehicle including a rear wheel and a brake shoe, which are pivoted to the rear end of a deck board. The deck board is provided at the front end with two guide plates and an arresting wheel set which is disposed between the two guide plates such that the arresting wheel set is connected to the handlebar frame by a link member.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for boring a hole through a solid body is disclosed. The drill bit comprises a collar and a penetrating member. At a proximal end, the collar is attachable to a drill shaft. At a distal end, the collar is attachable to the penetrating member. The penetrating member has a connecting end for attachment to the collar and a cutting end for engaging the solid body. A pilot drill is fixedly attached to the cutting end for initiating contact with the solid body.

Abstract: A two-way repeatable flushing device, comprising a flushing member for flushingupwards into the annular space between drill pipe and bore hole wall or lining pipe. Flushing is ensured by means of a remotely controlled valve and a balanced pressure control by associated valve parts and by means of pressure liquid to provide a controlled distribution of the flow downwards and upwards respectively, and the hydraulic conditions are thereby improved by hole cleaning during the drilling operation itself. The solution is particularly of interest for use in particularly complicated, long-range wells having significant paths in a horizontal direction. The flushing member ensures a satisfactory hole cleaning as a consequence of improved hydraulic conditions in the annular space.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes a floor pan, an inflatable airbag and inflator integrated into the carpet and positioned on the floor pan. The airbag is positioned on the floor pan in a footwell area to selectively raise the foot of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed.