Abstract: An automobile hood assembly for disposition in overlying relation to a vehicle storage compartment in an automotive vehicle. The hood assembly includes an exterior show surface member, a support frame at a position below the exterior show surface member and at least one extensible tether element operatively connecting the exterior show surface member and the support frame. At least one inflatable air bag cushion is housed intermediate the support frame and the exterior show surface member. Upon introduction of inflation gas the inflatable air bag cushion is inflatable to an expanded profile forcing at least a portion of the exterior show surface member away from the support frame to define an energy absorbing impact surface.

Abstract: An automobile hood assembly for disposition in overlying relation to a vehicle storage compartment in an automotive vehicle. The hood assembly includes an exterior show surface member, a support frame at a position below the exterior show surface member and at least one extensible tether element operatively connecting the exterior show surface member and the support frame. At least one inflatable air bag cushion is housed intermediate the support frame and the exterior show surface member. Upon introduction of inflation gas the inflatable air bag cushion is inflatable to an expanded profile forcing at least a portion of the exterior show surface member away from the support frame to define an energy absorbing impact surface.

Abstract: An air bag assembly including an inflator for discharging inflation gas and a gas receiving expansible air bag cushion of winged geometry disposed in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon release of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is deployed substantially over the windshield of an automobile as well as the pillars adjacent the windshield. View ports are present within the interior of the air bag cushion so as to maintain a degree of visibility for the vehicle operator after deployment has taken place. Mesh netting or a like material which does not unduly restrict visibility may extend across the internally formed view ports.

Abstract: A body component arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a body component having a specific shape which under the action of an applied force has different load and/or stress conditions within different regions of the body component including high load and/or stress conditions in a first region and lower load and/or stress conditions in a second region. A pattern of through holes is provided so that the through holes in the region of the lower load and/or stress conditions form a perforation pattern having a configuration arranged so that the load and/or stress conditions arising in that region under the action of an applied force will have a substantially uniform distribution. This produces a weight saving that is very economical and achieves a reduction of damage in the region of lower load and/or stress conditions.

Abstract: A body frame component is designed so that it absorbs at least one force acting on it. The specific shape of the body frame component results in differing load or stress conditions within different regions of the body frame component when the force is being absorbed. In particular, high load or stress conditions occur in a first region and low load or stress conditions occur in a second region of the component. A reduction in the weight of the body frame component is achieved by forming at least one through hole in a region of the low load or stress conditions for the purpose of reducing the amount of material in the body frame component. In producing the body frame component, the through hole is formed either before or during the shaping of flat material to produce the specific shape of the body frame component.

Abstract: An adjustment arrangement for at least two rear view mirrors of a vehicle has servo motors for positioning rear view mirrors by a pivoting and/or tilting mechanism, an actuating device for generating control signals for the common activation of the servo motors and a signal transmission device for transmitting signals between the actuating device and the servo motors. To carry out common adjustment of at least two mirrors with a mechanically simple system, the adjusting arrangement is configured so that the same control signal can be fed to the appropriate servo motors for the mirrors by the signal transmission device. During the adjustment action, the movements of the mirrors are in a predetermined relationship with one another.

Abstract: A vehicle has, at at least one end, bumper apparatus that includes a bumper oriented transversely of the vehicle and located at a particular distance from a traveled surface on which the vehicle is supported. In order to maintain the distance between the bumper and the traveled surface generally constant, a support is provided for the bumper. The support is coupled to two mounts that impact different movements to the support upon movement generally perpendicular to the traveled surface by a vehicle body portion located adjacent the bumper. The different movements imparted to the support effect movement of the bumper relative to the adjacent vehicle body portion opposite in direction and approximately equal in amplitude to the movement of the vehicle body portion. In one embodiment, the support includes a lever and the bumper is mounted at one end of the lever. The lever is coupled to its two mounts at its other end and intermediate its ends, respectively.