Abstract: The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

Abstract: A lap expanding reactionary airbag apparatus includes separate expanding lap and chest portions of the airbag. When loaded in a frontal or oblique crash event, the two portions act as a reactionary surface against each other, reducing the chest velocity of a vehicle occupant, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupant. This restriction in forward movement results in reduced lumbar injuries.

Abstract: A pretensioning lapbelt apparatus where the pretensioning of the lapbelt is performed by the rapid inflation of an airbag that is integral to the lapbelt itself. The design of the airbag, including the attachment locations of the ends of the webbing are chosen such that, upon inflation of the airbag, the free end of the webbing—the end of the webbing that is passed through the cinching latch—is pulled taught, thereby reducing the effective length of the lapbelt. The anchor is designed to be a cinching anchor such that once the airbag deploys and pulls the webbing through the anchor (thereby pretensioning the lapbelt) a sliding pin in the anchor “cinches” the webbing, effectively locking the webbing in the pretensioned state.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

Abstract: A pretensioning lapbelt apparatus where the pretensioning of the lapbelt is performed by the rapid inflation of an airbag that is integral to the lapbelt itself. A preferred embodiment of the pretensioning lapbelt apparatus would include a length of seatbelt webbing with a latch fixed on one end and a cinching anchor slidable on the opposite end. Integral to the lapbelt and attached to each end of the webbing is an airbag. The airbag, as is known in the art, is configured to be flat and folded in a compact uninflated state, and then quickly inflate to its inflated state upon the introduction of an inflation gas triggered by a crash event. The design of the airbag, including the attachment locations of the ends of the webbing are chosen such that, upon inflation of the airbag, the free end of the webbing—the end of the webbing that is passed through the cinching latch—is pulled taught, thereby reducing the effective length of the lapbelt (the length between the latch and the cinching anchor).