Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for motor vehicles with level adjustment of the body, having a vertical adjusting device (22; 80) which is disposed between a wheel guide element and the superstructure of the motor vehicle and which is particularly designed as a ball screw mechanism driven by an electric motor and acts on an adjusting plate spring (34) of at least one support spring (14), wherein the vertical adjusting device (22; 80) is outwardly sealed by at least one enclosing rubber-elastic bellows (50, 52; 100). In order to prevent deformation of the at least one bellows and ingress of dirt or moisture into the vertical adjusting device, the invention proposes that the interior space (54, 56; 102) enclosed by the bellows (50, 52; 100) is connected directly or indirectly to an auxiliary volume (66; 108) positioned outside of the bellows (50, 52; 100).

Abstract: Systems and methods provide variable spring stiffness for weight management in a vehicle. One system includes a plurality of springs and a plurality of spring retainers configured to adjust a number of inactive coils of the plurality of springs. Additionally, a motor is provided that is connected to the plurality of spring retainers and configured to actuate the spring retainers to adjust the number of inactive coils of the plurality of springs. Further, a controller is provided that is coupled to motor to control the motor to actuate the spring retainers to adjust the number of inactive coils of the plurality of springs.

Abstract: An in-vehicle smell notification system including a vehicle operating computer. A detector is operably connected with the vehicle operating computer and adapted to identify multiple external stimuli. A scent emitter includes multiple scent reservoirs. A controller is operably connected with the detector and the scent emitter and adapted to identify each of the multiple external stimuli and release a predetermined scent from the scent emitter upon identification of a predetermined stimulus.

Abstract: A suspension coupling for use in a vehicle suspension system the suspension coupling including a knuckle and bushing assembly wherein the knuckle member is a cast aluminum piece having a passage for receiving a two-piece bushing having a formed, metal inner member and a molded, elastomeric outer member having extension members at each end. The bushing member is press-fit into the knuckle member and exhibits higher stiffness in the radial and axial directions and lower stiffness in the torsional and conical directions.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising an inflatable curtain airbag configured to deploy between an occupant and an interior side of the vehicle; an inflator for providing inflation gas for the airbag; a housing configured to surround the airbag; and a strap configured to retain the airbag in the housing prior to inflation and deployment of the airbag; wherein at least one end of the strap is connected to the housing.

Abstract: Airbags including hingedly affixed non-inflatable support members and vehicles including such airbags are disclosed. An airbag includes a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end. The proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag. The support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag. When the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag. The non-inflatable support member extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag in a deployed position.

Abstract: A gas generator includes, a housing having a circumferential wall portion defining a gas discharge port, a first end, and a second end, the first and second ends being closed, a cup-shaped inner tube member disposed in the housing, an inside thereof accommodating an ignition device, an outside thereof being a combustion chamber charged with a gas generating agent, a bottom surface of the inner tube member being located in a bottom plate of the first end of the housing, an opening end portion of the inner tube member being provided with a ventilating portion for allowing a combustion product to pass therethrough, an igniter attached to an igniter attaching portion formed at the second end of the housing, and a passage for the combustion product formed between an inner wall surface of the inner tube member and the igniter attaching portion, and reaching the ventilating portion.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system and method is provided whereby map-related requests from mobile devices are used to store and aggregate routes. The routes are then used to determine optimum directions in response to subsequent requests.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle has an inflatable restraint mounted proximate to a passenger seating location which is configured to inflate in an appropriate manner to interact with a passenger during an impact. The inflatable restraint is of a type not inflated in response to a frontal impact when the passenger seating location is empty. For enhanced protection of a driver, a restraint controller detects a far side impact that initiates at the side of the vehicle opposite from the driver, detects that the passenger seating location is empty, and causes inflation of the inflatable restraint to interact with the driver in response to the far side impact and the passenger seating location being empty.

Abstract: A vehicle, such as an all terrain vehicle, has a structure with which an increase in the weight of a strut damper can be suppressed. A strut damper axis is disposed to be along an imaginary line formed by imaginarily interconnecting an intersection at which a vertical line passing through a grounding point of a wheel intersects an extension line of a lower arm and a connection point at which the strut damper is connected to a vehicle body. A reaction force from a road surface is input to the strut damper substantially along the strut damper axis. Since no bending force is exerted on the strut damper, the strut damper can be made smaller in size, and the strut damper can be made lighter in weight.

Abstract: An air-bag includes a rear panel and a front panel secured to one another to define an inflatable volume. A tether interconnects the panels and has an area of mechanical weakness provided by at least one line of slits or perforations. The tether has a first configuration in which the area of mechanical weakness is substantially intact, and is configured to adopt a second configuration via rupture of the area of mechanical weakness. The first configuration of the tether is effective, during inflation of the air-bag, to limit the maximum depth of the air-bag to a predetermined distance measured between the front and rear panels, and the second configuration is effective to allow an increase in the maximum depth of the air-bag beyond the predetermined distance.

Abstract: In a side airbag system (10), a tether portion (22), which serves as a partition between an upper bag portion (16) and a lower bag portion (18), is formed of upper regions (34U) of a piece of lower base fabric (34), and is formed by sewing the upper regions (34U) of the lower base fabric (34), folded toward a vehicle front side along a fold axis, together. In addition, a tube (24) that distributes inflation gas between the upper bag portion (16) and the lower bag portion (18) extends through the tether portion (22) to the lower bag portion (18) and to the upper bag portion (16). The tube (24) is formed into a cylindrical shape in such a manner that a piece of tube base fabric (36) is sewed to the upper regions (34U) of the lower base fabric (34) and folded toward a vehicle front side along the fold axis and then front ends (36F) of the folded tube base fabric are sewed together in a tube longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A side wall portion of a housing is provided with an arm-protective extending portion below a pawl and a mechanical arm. The arm-protective extending portion extends inwardly at a substantially right angle. Further, a side wall portion of the housing is provided with a shaft-protective extending portion which extends inwardly from the lower edge portion of a horizontally long opening portion. The horizontally long opening portion is formed so as to face a coupling shaft over its full length. Below this shaft-protective extending portion, there is formed a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted at the time of mounting the housing to a fastening piece of a vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag device installed into an instrument panel including a lid portion configured to be torn and a lid-side peripheral wall portion provided to stand on an outer periphery of the lid portion. The airbag device includes: an inflator; an airbag so as to be inflated and deployed in a bag shape by the gas introduced from the inflator; and an outer bag formed of a sheet-like member to be sewn into a three-dimensional shape having an outer-bag-side bottom and an outer-bag-side peripheral wall portion provided on an outer periphery of the outer-bag-side bottom, the outer-bag-side bottom being secured to the inflator, the outer-bag-side peripheral wall portion surrounding the folded airbag and being disposed so as to be sandwiched between the airbag being inflated and deployed and the lid-side peripheral wall portion.

Abstract: A crash sensor system and method used for determining when a vehicle is involved in a frontal impact crash. The crash sensor system including at least one pressure sensor coupled to a vehicle frame member. The vehicle frame member having a cavity and the at least one pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the cavity. The crash sensor system further including a controller configured to compare the received pressure signal against a predetermined pressure threshold. The controller also being configured to determine that a frontal impact crash has occurred when the pressure signal exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold.

Abstract: Flangeless inflators include a body comprising a base member and a diffuser member coupled together, where the body is devoid of a lateral inflator-coupling flange. At least one fastener is coupled to the base member of the body. In an inflatable airbag system, the flangeless inflator is coupled to an airbag cushion, as well as to a steering wheel armature. In forming flangeless inflators, a body is formed that is devoid of the lateral inflator-coupling flange, and at least one fastener is attached to the body.

Abstract: A motorcycle suspension for a motorcycle, the motorcycle having a frame member, a swingarm member, and a pivot point about which the swingarm member rotates with respect to the frame member, the suspension system comprising an airbag mounted above the swingarm member pivot point and interposed between the frame member and the swingarm member and a shock absorber/dampener in a position below the swingarm member pivot point as used in the traditional Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company® SOFTAIL® motorcycle type suspension position. The system optionally can be connected to an air compressor to adjust the pressure in the airbag member so as to control ride height, ride quality, payload capacity, or a combination thereof. The system optionally can also be connected to a controller, such as a microprocessor, that automatically adjusts the system to predetermined values in response to environmental and road conditions.

Abstract: An internal airbag device may include an inflator, an airbag housing mounted in a roof in a region between a front seat and a rear seat, and an airbag received in the airbag housing to deploy downwards by gas supplied from the inflator, wherein the airbag includes a horizontal airbag section supported by the roof during the gas may be supplied therein in a deployment thereof, and a vertical airbag section fluid-connected to the horizontal airbag section and extending downwards from an end of the horizontal airbag section opposite the rear seat in a deployment thereof.

Abstract: A mounting concave portion with a predetermined depth is formed on a gas-pressure-receiving-side surface of a piston. Further, a plate-like sealing member includes a mounting convex portion which is erected at a position meeting with the mounting concave portion on the gas-pressure-receiving-side surface of the piston. When the piston and the sealing plate are assembled together, the mounting convex portion is fitted in the mounting concave portion. By merely pushing the mounting convex portion in the mounting concave portion, the sealing plate and the piston can be integrated, which improves productivity in assembly. Further, the sealing plate will not get twisted, deviated or displaced due to friction against inner wall of the pipe cylinder when the sealing plate and the piston are integrally inserted in the pipe cylinder. Deterioration of sealing function due to improper mounting of the sealing plate can be avoided.

Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle, the airbag formed as a bag body by sewing together a base cloth, wherein the bag body is configured so that a direction in which the bag body unfolds expands from a base end side of the bag body to a tip end side, and, the bag body includes a tensional force providing mechanism generating a tensional force pulling an upper rim of the bag body toward an outer side by forming a tension line extending so as to cross with the direction in which the bag body unfolds, along a side surface of the bag body.