Abstract: Roof shingles and methods of production thereof are provided. The roof shingles may include ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (“EPDM”). The EPDM may include an outward-facing surface and a substrate-facing surface. The outward-facing surface may include a reveal and a conceal. The reveal may be visible when the roof shingle is installed and the conceal may be covered by an upslope adjacent roof shingle when the roof shingle is installed. The roof shingle may include a reinforcement core. The reinforcement core may include galvanized steel. The reinforcement core may be embedded within the EPDM. The roof shingles may include adhesive sealant. The adhesive sealant may be applied to the substrate-facing surface for binding the roof shingle to a downslope adjacent roof shingle or a substrate. The roof shingles may include a plurality of EPDM granules being located on at least a portion of the surface of the reveal.

Abstract: A knee airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag housing configured to be mounted in an instrument panel of the vehicle at a position above a glove box of the instrument panel. The module also includes a knee airbag comprising overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The knee airbag has a stored condition in the airbag housing and is configured to inflate and deploy in a direction that is downward and forward into a footwell of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for helping to protect occupants of an autonomous vehicle in the event of a collision. An airbag has a stored, pre-deployment condition in a vehicle roof. The airbag is deployable downward toward the vehicle floor in front of a vehicle occupant. The airbag includes an upper portion for receiving the occupant's head and torso. A lower portion extends downward and forward from the upper portion. The lower portion is for receiving the occupant's lower legs.

Abstract: A knee airbag includes overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The knee airbag includes a filling portion and a cushion portion. The filling portion is configured to receive inflation fluid from an inflator and to direct the inflation fluid from the inflator to the cushion portion. The cushion portion has a width that is greater than a width of the filling portion and extends laterally beyond the width of the filling portion on opposite sides of the filling portion. The knee airbag also includes at least one tether having a first end connected to the cushion portion and an opposite second having a connection configured to anchor the at least one tether. The at least one tether is configured to limit movement of the cushion portion and to help position the cushion portion relative to a vehicle surface for which the knee airbag is configured to help prevent impacts from a vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A knee airbag includes overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The knee airbag includes a filling portion and a cushion portion. The filling portion is configured to receive inflation fluid from an inflator and to direct the inflation fluid from the inflator to the cushion portion. The cushion portion has a width that is greater than a width of the filling portion and extends laterally beyond the width of the filling portion on opposite sides of the filling portion. The knee airbag also includes at least one tether having a first end connected to the cushion portion and an opposite second having a connection configured to anchor the at least one tether. The at least one tether is configured to limit movement of the cushion portion and to help position the cushion portion relative to a vehicle surface for which the knee airbag is configured to help prevent impacts from a vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A knee airbag includes a cushion portion, which includes overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The panels are interconnected within the perimeter connection along one or more interior connections that define inflatable chambers within the inflatable volume. The knee airbag also includes a tether connected to an exterior surface of the cushion portion at spaced locations. The tether has a length that is shorter than the distance between the locations on the cushion portion to which the tether is connected. The tether is configured to become tensioned in response to inflation of the cushion portion and causing a bend to form in the cushion portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision includes a deployable restraint having a stored, predeployment condition in a vehicle floor. The restraint is deployable from the floor to restrain the feet and/or lower legs of an occupant from swinging forward and upward in response to a vehicle collision. In one configuration, the deployable restraint can include a module comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. The module can include a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag and that serves as a reaction surface for the airbag. In another configuration, the deployable restraint can include a restraining panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent the occupants lower leg and feet.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a roof of a vehicle and deployable downward from the vehicle roof. The airbag has a stored condition in which the airbag is deflated and concealed behind a vehicle headliner. The airbag has an inflated and deployed condition in which a first portion is configured to extend along a portion of a windshield, a second portion is configured to extend rearward from the first portion toward an occupant, and a third portion is configured to extend downward from the second portion and to be positioned between the occupant and a display screen. A deployment tether is configured to initially delay deployment of the second portion of the airbag while the third portion deploys. The deployment tether is configured to rupture after the initial delay so the second portion can fully inflate and deploy.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted on a vehicle steering wheel. The airbag includes an inflatable main chamber configured to cover the steering wheel, and an inflatable lateral chamber configured to cover a vehicle A-pillar. The apparatus also includes a tether actuation unit and a tether connected to the tether actuation unit and to a portion of the airbag that helps define the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit has an unactuated condition maintaining a connection with the tether that restricts deployment of the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit also has an actuated condition releasing its connection with the tether and causing the lateral chamber to fully deploy.

Abstract: An adaptor for connecting a fill tube to an inflator includes a sleeve configured to fit over a discharge end portion of the inflator and to be connected to the inflator. The adaptor also includes an end portion comprising a nipple configured to receive and connect with the fill tube, wherein the sleeve is configured to direct inflation fluid discharged from the inflator toward the nipple, and the nipple is configured to direct the inflation fluid into the fill tube.

Abstract: An apparatus helps to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle including an instrument panel and a display screen that is positioned rearward of an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel and that extends vertically above an upper surface of the instrument panel. The apparatus includes an airbag configured to have a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded and positioned within the instrument panel at a location below the display screen. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy from the instrument panel in response to receiving inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source. The airbag is configured to deploy in an upward direction through a space between the occupant and the instrument panel to a position in which the airbag is positioned between the display screen and the occupant.

Abstract: An apparatus helps to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle including an instrument panel and a display screen that is positioned rearward of an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel and that extends vertically above an upper surface of the instrument panel. The apparatus includes an airbag configured to have a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded and positioned within the instrument panel at a location below the display screen. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy from the instrument panel in response to receiving inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source. The airbag is configured to deploy in an upward direction through a space between the occupant and the instrument panel to a position in which the airbag is positioned between the display screen and the occupant.

Abstract: A roof airbag module includes an airbag configured to inflate and deploy away from a vehicle roof toward a vehicle seat. The airbag module also includes an airbag housing configured to support the airbag in a stored condition in which the airbag is deflated and at least one of rolled and folded. The airbag module also includes an inflator that is actuatable to direct inflation fluid into the airbag to inflate the airbag. The airbag module further includes a module cover connected to the airbag housing and configured to conceal the airbag in the stored condition. The module cover includes a deployment door having an interior surface facing an interior of the housing and engaging the airbag in the stored condition, and an opposite exterior surface comprising a class A surface configured to be in direct view from the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A restraint system is provided for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and side structure defining a cabin with a seat for the occupant. The restraint system includes an airbag having a stored condition within the vehicle seat and being inflatable to deploy upwards in the cabin to a deployed condition between the occupant and the side structure. The airbag extends from an upper end positioned adjacent the roof to a lower end positioned adjacent a base of the seat. The airbag extends in a forward-rearward direction of the vehicle sufficient to span the entire depth of the seat in the forward-rearward direction.

Abstract: A tether actuation unit includes an actuator configured to form a connection with a tether that is releasable in response to actuation of the actuator, and a housing configured to receive the actuator. The housing includes a tether channel configured to allow the tether to extend therethrough. The tether channel includes sidewalls configured to receive and engage the tether along a portion of its length when the tether extends at an angle from the housing. The sidewalls of the tether channel are configured to limit movement of the tether in response to airbag deployment in order to limit tension applied to the actuator by the tether to a predetermined range of non-orthogonal directions with respect to a central axis of the actuator.

Abstract: An adaptor for connecting a fill tube to an inflator includes a sleeve configured to fit over a discharge end portion of the inflator and to be connected to the inflator. The adaptor also includes an end portion comprising a nipple configured to receive and connect with the fill tube, wherein the sleeve is configured to direct inflation fluid discharged from the inflator toward the nipple, and the nipple is configured to direct the inflation fluid into the fill tube.

Abstract: A restraint system is provided for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and side structure defining a cabin with a seat for the occupant. The restraint system includes an airbag having a stored condition within the vehicle seat and being inflatable to deploy upwards in the cabin to a deployed condition between the occupant and the side structure. The airbag extends from an upper end positioned adjacent the roof to a lower end positioned adjacent a base of the seat. The airbag extends in a forward-rearward direction of the vehicle sufficient to span the entire depth of the seat in the forward-rearward direction.

Abstract: A roof airbag module includes an airbag configured to inflate and deploy away from a vehicle roof toward a vehicle seat. The airbag module also includes an airbag housing configured to support the airbag in a stored condition in which the airbag is deflated and at least one of rolled and folded. The airbag module also includes an inflator that is actuatable to direct inflation fluid into the airbag to inflate the airbag. The airbag module further includes a module cover connected to the airbag housing and configured to conceal the airbag in the stored condition. The module cover includes a deployment door having an interior surface facing an interior of the housing and engaging the airbag in the stored condition, and an opposite exterior surface comprising a class A surface configured to be in direct view from the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A tether actuation unit includes an actuator configured to form a connection with a tether that is releasable in response to actuation of the actuator, and a housing configured to receive the actuator. The housing includes a tether channel configured to allow the tether to extend therethrough. The tether channel includes sidewalls configured to receive and engage the tether along a portion of its length when the tether extends at an angle from the housing. The sidewalls of the tether channel are configured to limit movement of the tether in response to airbag deployment in order to limit tension applied to the actuator by the tether to a predetermined range of non-orthogonal directions with respect to a central axis of the actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted on a vehicle steering wheel. The airbag includes an inflatable main chamber configured to cover the steering wheel, and an inflatable lateral chamber configured to cover a vehicle A-pillar. The apparatus also includes a tether actuation unit and a tether connected to the tether actuation unit and to a portion of the airbag that helps define the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit has an unactuated condition maintaining a connection with the tether that restricts deployment of the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit also has an actuated condition releasing its connection with the tether and causing the lateral chamber to fully deploy.