Abstract: The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat in response to an explosion signal from the control unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors. The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association with the movement or displacement of the front seat to which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the ability of the expanded air bag to confine the passenger seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a more safe fashion. Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be exchanged with ease and at cheap costs without exchanging the front seat itself.

Abstract: The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat in response to an explosion signal from the control unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors. The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association with the movement or displacement of the front seat to which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the ability of the expanded air bag to confine the passenger seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a safer fashion. Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be exchanged with ease and at a cheap cost without needing to exchange the front seat itself.

Abstract: An air bag assembly may have curved air bag lids that are reliably opened and that are more stiffly supported. A member which connects the lids to a casing is formed of a plastically deformable member having a bent portion. This member supports the lids on the casing with considerable stiffness. When the air bag inflates, the bent portion is plastically deformed to extend outwardly of the instrument panel. As the lids open, the member does not restrict movement to rotate about a center point.

Abstract: An automobile air bag device has an air bag disposed inside an instrument panel structure, having an opening through which the air bag, while inflating, projects out of the instrument panel structure when the automotive vehicle is subjected to a collision. The opening is closed, thereby covering the air bag, by a two-part air bag lid, mounted on the vehicle, which includes upper and lower lids. A connecting member, formed with a breakable line, is attached to a back of the two-part air bag lid so as to join the upper and lower lids into a single two-part lid. The connecting member is broken and separated, by inflation of the air bag, into two parts, so as to allow the upper and lower lids to open upwards and downwards, respectively. The air bag is thereby allowed to unfold and project out of the instrument panel structure.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an instrument panel provided with an opening in the vicinity of a passenger's seat. An air bag unit is disposed in the opening and provided with an air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag, and a lid device is disposed at a rear end of the casing for covering the opening. At least a pair of belt members, spaced transversely and in a mirror image relationship with regard to a vertical center line for connecting the lid device with the instrument panel, are provided. One end of the belt member is mounted on the lid device at a position offset from a transverse center line of the lid device. When the air bag inflated, the lid device is swung about a transverse axis so as to be opened smoothly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing an air bag module for an air bag system equipped in an automotive vehicle for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The system includes an air bag module located to face a passenger in the passenger compartment, a controller mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module and an electrical harness wire for transmitting signals for controlling the module. This harness wire is connected at one end to the air bag module and at the other end to the controller. A flexible temporary holding band for connecting the air bag module is detachably mounted on a hook provided in the passenger compartment. The length of the temporary holding band is determined to be short enough so that the harness wire is still loose even when the temporary holding band is put under strain.

Abstract: A seat belt device for fastening a passenger seated on a seat comprises a shoulder belt carried by a seat back. A support strap is fixed at one end to the seat back and extends rearwardly. An anchor member is mounted on a body member of the vehicle rearward of the seat back for carrying the support strap. A retractor is mounted on a body member for winding up and retracting the support strap. A lock mechanism is provided in the retractor for preventing the support means from being drawn out from the retractor when a horizontal acceleration acting on the retractor is greater than a predetermined value. The seat belt device is reliable in case of an emergency and provides improved visuality.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an instrument panel provided with an opening in the vicinity of a passenger seat. An air bag unit, disposed in the opening is provided with an air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag. A cover member is provided on the instrument panel so as to cover the opening in such a manner that the cover member extends continuous to a surface of the instrument panel. A shelf portion is formed, on the instrument panel, to extend toward a passenger seated in the passenger seat. The cover member is provided with a weakened portion to be broken, with an upper portion thereof being opened upwardly and a lower portion thereof being opened downwardly, like a double door, when the air bag is inflated. The shelf portion is slightly extended beyond the lower portion of the cover member when the lower portion is opened. With this construction, a safe air bag system can be obtained with a compact structure.

Abstract: An air bag system for an automobile comprises a collision detector for detecting a collision of the automobile, an inflater for generating gas under pressure, based on an output from the collision detector, and air bag device, mounted on a front body member located in front of a seat, for receiving the gas from the gas generator, the gas causing the air bag device to take a predetermined inflated configuration. A seating condition sensor detects a seating condition of a passenger seated on the seat, taking into consideration seat position, reclining angle, passenger size, and posture. A control unit controls operation of the air bag device, in accordance with the seating condition of the passenger, so that the air bag inflated is brought into an optimal contact with the passenger.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle has a seat belt which is adapted to be supported by a belt guide and a buckle respectively provided on the outer side of the passenger seated on the seat adjacent to the doors and on the inner side of the passenger remote from the doors, and a retractor fixed to the rear door. The retractor has a casing for retractably accommodating one end portion of the seat belt and a lock mechanism which prevents the seat belt from being drawn out from the casing when horizontal acceleration acting on the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraining safety apparatus for use in a vehicle having at least one seat assembly installed inside the body of the vehicle and which includes an elongated knee protector positioned frontwardly of the seat assembly in face-to-face relationship to the knees of an occupant sitting on the seat assembly, a safety seat belt having one end thereof connected to the knee protector and the other end connected to the vehicle body at a position upwardly and rearwards of the back of the seat assembly, and a guide eye member through which a substantially intermediate portion of the seat belt loosely extends. While a portion of the seat belt on one side of the eye member and adjacent the one end thereof extends on one side of the seat assembly, another portion of the seat belt on the other side of the eye member and adjacent the other end thereof extends diagonally across the back of the seat assembly for restraining the body of the occupant.