Abstract: An occupant protection system is used to protect an occupant from vertical acceleration of a vehicle. The system includes a sensor that detects when a vehicle is subjected to vertical acceleration and a lowering means for a vehicle seat. The seat lowering means actively lowers, or forces the seat in a generally downward direction based on a signal from the sensor. Also, a seat for a vehicle includes a support that may withstand a vertical acceleration of the vehicle, a sensor that may detect the vertical acceleration, and a seat lowering means. The seat is connected to the support, and the seat may slide in a downward direction relative to the support. The seat is lowered by the seat lowering means at least partly in response to a signal from the sensor.

Abstract: An airbag is provided which includes at least one fabric panel and a structural seam. The structural seam includes an adhesive but does not include stitching. Such stitching tends to weaken the fabric of airbags and causes a higher denier fabric with higher strength to be used to offset the loss in strength, but this in turn produces an airbag of greater weight due to the high denier fabric. By providing an airbag with a structural seam provided by an adhesive without stitching, an airbag may be lighter and may be inflated in less time.

Abstract: An airbag is provided which includes at least one fabric panel and a structural seam. The structural seam includes an adhesive but does not include stitching. Such stitching tends to weaken the fabric of airbags and causes a higher denier fabric with higher strength to be used to offset the loss in strength, but this in turn produces an airbag of greater weight due to the high denier fabric. By providing an airbag with a structural seam provided by an adhesive without stitching, an airbag may be lighter and may be inflated in less time.

Abstract: An air bag module with adjustable cushion inflation is provided by including a valve member in the module which is movable to change the size of an inflation outlet through which inflation fluid flows into an air cushion while simultaneously changing the size of a vent outlet which enables inflation fluid to be vented to the ambient atmosphere. The valve member is positioned by a control unit which receives input from various sensors within the vehicle regarding such factors as ambient temperature, occupant position, occupant weight, seat belt usage, etc to produce an optimum cushion inflation based upon these factors.

Abstract: A vehicle side impact restraint system especially adapted for providing head impact protection. The system employs a deployable restraint curtain which is maintained stowed in an undeployed condition within a slot along the upper edge of a vehicle side door window. A track assembly is vertically mounted along the rear edge of the window and includes a gas generator, a track, and a sliding projectile. The upper edge of the triangularly shaped curtain is attached to the vehicle whereas the rear end of the lower edge is mounted to the projectile. Upon deployment, the sliding projectile pulls the curtain to a downward position in response to a deployment signal sent to the gas generator. The projectile reaches the lower end of the track where it is locked in position thus stretching the curtain across a portion of the window area, thus providing a surface for impact energy absorption.