Abstract: A vehicle seat with a back rest comprises a gas bag, which is located in the back rest in a folded state, and a gas source to inflate the gas bag. It further comprises an accomodation at the upper side of the back rest and a supporting casing, which is inserted in the accomodation.To provide a vehicle seat with a restraint system, which largely prevents relative movements between the head of the vehicle occupant and his upper body in the event of a rear end impact, the gas bag emerges on activation of the gas source at about the height of the head of the vehicle occupant, with the supporting force being provided by the supporting casing.

Abstract: In an energy converter in a restraining system for vehicle occupants a particularly smooth profile of the force as a function of the travel is achieved in that a plastic deformation of a tubular converter body (10) is effected which has a circular cross-sectional form in the undeformed state. Two symmetrically oppositely disposed rollers (18) are provided which each bear on a ramp face of a piston element (14).

Abstract: A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system has a light transmissive core and a light absorptive cladding provided circumferentially about the core. The light guide has a pair of end portions with opposing canted parallel end surfaces. The end surfaces are canted at a predetermined angle greater than the critical angle associated with the light transmissive core material and the surrounding air, so that if the end surfaces are separated light will not be emitted from the fiber optic light guide, but rather reflected off an end surface and into the light absorptive cladding.

Abstract: In a driving arrangement for belt tensioners, a working chamber (32) is formed in a housing being assembled of several parts (10, 16), as well as an accommodation space (20) for a gas generator capsule (22), said space being in fluid connection with said chamber. The gas generator capsule (22) is encased by a sleeve (24) which is inserted in sealing contact between said parts (10, 16) of the housing in its accommodation space (20). A pre-chamber (26) is formed in the sleeve (24) opposite the bottom of said gas generator capsule (22).

Abstract: A device for attaching a steering wheel on a steering shaft by a connecting sleeve, which is attached to the hub of the steering wheel. At its end, the steering shaft has a section with exterior splines, which are complementary to interior splines in the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has an axial slot and is clamped by a clamping screw against the section of the steering shaft which has the splines. The steering wheel constitutes a sub-assembly with an integrated air bag module and may be supplied for the final assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: In the event of a rear end collision the headrest of a vehicle seat is moved from a normal initial position to a position approximate to the vehicle occupant's head under the effect of inertial forces occurring at a mass coupled to the headrest, thereby reducing the distance between the vehicle occupant's head and the headrest.

Abstract: A rotary drive apparatus for a belt tensioner comprises a casing (10) in which a cylinder space (18) is formed, a generally circular disk-shaped rotor (14) mounted eccentrically therein having vanes (26) accommodated in radial slots (24) and a compressed gas source for pressurizing the chambers formed between the vanes, the rotor and the wall of the casing. The chambers are sealed off both with respect to each other and to the casing (10, 12) by a sealing system (30) on the rotor (14). The rotor (14) is mounted on said casing (10, 12) and is rotatable with respect to a shaft (16) and carries at least one pivotally mounted clutch pawl (32) which is engagingly positionable in a clutch toothing (34) on the circumference of said shaft (16).

Abstract: A lamp assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a remote laser light source coupled with a light transmitting fiber optic light guide which illuminates a unitary thin sheet optic having a diffractive optical element portion, a manifold section, and a kicker section.

Abstract: A vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant has a backrest, a headrest arranged adjustable on the backrest and being movable from a normal starting position into a restraint position approximating the head of the vehicle occupant, a vehicle-sensitive activatable positioner and a flexible traction transmitting means connecting the headrest and the positioner. The positioner moves the headrest in the case of a rear end collision of the vehicle from the normal starting position into the restraint position by transmitting force via the traction transmitting means. The traction transmitting means extends through the backrest.

Abstract: A lighting system for an automotive vehicle includes a remote laser light source coupled with a light transmitting fiber optic light guide which illuminates a thin sheet optical element tail lamp having a manifold portion, a kicker portion adjacent and substantially parallel to the manifold portion, and a turning prism adjacent to and in optical communication with the manifold and kicker portions for receiving light from the manifold portion and internally reflecting and redirecting light to the kicker portion.

Abstract: A device for attaching a steering wheel on a steering shaft by a connecting sleeve, which is attached to the hub of the steering wheel. At its end, the steering shaft has a section with exterior splines, which are complementary to interior splines in the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has an axial slot and is clamped by a clamping screw against the section of the steering shaft which has the splines. The steering wheel constitutes a sub-assembly with an integrated air bag module and may be supplied for the final assembly of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting system, which includes a remote light source having an interlock circuit, an optical element, and a fiber optic light guide having a coextensive electrically conductive wire, the light guide electrically coupled to the light source and optical element so that if the light guide should become disconnected or severed, the interlock circuit will prevent power from being transmitted to the remote light source.

Abstract: A lighting system for an automotive vehicle includes a remote laser light source coupled with a light transmitting fiber optic light guide bundle which illuminates a uniform thickness thin sheet optical element having a plurality of micro-optical wedges formed thereon and a plurality of diffractive optical elements disposed intermediate the fiber optic light guide bundle and the uniform thickness thin sheet optical element for receiving light and redirecting the light to predetermined regions of the plurality of micro-optical wedges.

Abstract: A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system has a light transmissive core and a cladding provided circumferentially about the core. A light absorptive viscous fluid is disposed intermediate the light transmissive core and the cladding, so that if the fiber optic light guide is severed, and the light transmissive core is exposed, the viscous fluid will flow over and cover the exposed light transmissive core.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, and a rotary pretensioner drive adapted to be drivingly coupled to the belt drum. A force limiting torsion rod is connected to the belt drum for joint rotation. Blocking pawls are pivotally mounted on the torsion rod for cooperation with an internally toothed ring rigidly connected to the frame and surrounding the blocking pawls. The blocking pawls are spring biased to neutral positions out of engagement with the toothed ring. Retarding mechanism act on the blocking pawls to retard their movement out of a belt drum blocking position in engagement with said toothed ring to the neutral position.

Abstract: The coupling between the belt drum of a belt retractor and a belt pretensioner rotary drive renders possible the manufacture of the functional parts of a metallic light constructional material such as a light alloy. The belt drum (12) possesses a molded externally toothed coupling wheel (16). With the output shaft (20) of the belt pretensioner rotary drive (18) a drive disk (22) is connected, which bears two pivotally mounted coupling pawls (28). In a neutral or rest position thereof these coupling pawls are held by a return spring clear of the periphery of the coupling wheel (16) and may be pivoted inward into an engagement position in engagement with such coupling wheel.

Abstract: A tail lamp assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a remote laser light source coupled with a light transmitting fiber optic light pipe which illuminates a unitary thin sheet optic having an input section, a manifold section, and a kicker section.

Abstract: An electrostatic shutter includes an input window, an electrical contact connected to the voltage source, a metallized polymer scroll having one end electrically connected to the electrical contact, an electrically and thermally conductive heat sink selectably connected to the voltage source and so that a potential difference exists between the electrical contact and the heat sink and an electrical insulator covering the heat sink. When a sufficient voltage potential exists between the scroll and the heat sink, the scroll unrolls so that the scroll is in direct contact with the input window and thermally coupled to the heat sink through the insulator and the input window.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel with an integrated gas bag restraining system comprises a plastic foam encased steering wheel body, whose hub part (18) is designed to receive a folded up gas bag (24). A cover (30) for the gas bag (24) is an integral component of the plastic foam case, in whose opening a housing body (40) is able to be inserted, wherein a pyrotechnic propellant charge and a fuse are arranged. The housing body (40) is secured on the one hand to the hub part (18) and on the other hand to the steering shaft.

Abstract: A drive device for a belt pretensioner is of the lamella motor type and its rotor (16) can be directly joined to the belt drum of a belt retractor. In the resting state the lamellas (20) are retracted into radial slots (18) of the rotor (16) so that they do not come into contact with the housing wall. At the radially inner end thereof the lamellas possess a larger pressurized area than at the outer end and on activation of the gas generator by the pressure built up by a blowout patch (54) at the outlet (30) they are thrust radially outward into sealing engagement with the wall of the housing (12).