Abstract: A connection member which connects an outside portion of a cross member and an inside wall face portion of a side sill includes a cross-member-side connection portion connected to the cross member and a side-sill-side connection portion connected to the side sill, the side-sill-side connection portion is configured to have a lower rigidity than the cross-member-side connection portion, and an outside end portion of the cross member is located at a specified position which is located on the outside of the cross-member-side connection portion and on the inside away from the inside wall face portion of the side sill. Thereby, the impact load in the vehicle side collision can be effectively supported by the cross member with a simple structure.

Abstract: A connection member which connects an outside portion of a cross member and an inside wall face portion of a side sill includes a cross-member-side connection portion connected to the cross member and a side-sill-side connection portion connected to the side sill, the side-sill-side connection portion is configured to have a lower rigidity than the cross-member-side connection portion, and an outside end portion of the cross member is located at a specified position which is located on the outside of the cross-member-side connection portion and on the inside away from the inside wall face portion of the side sill. Thereby, the impact load in the vehicle side collision can be effectively supported by the cross member with a simple structure.

Abstract: A door trim covers a door body of a side door. An article storage portion is provided at a lower portion of the door trim. A seat is provided beside the side door so that the seat and the side door are overlapped when viewed from a vehicle side. A side airbag device includes an airbag which inflates beside the seat with gas supplied from an inflator at a vehicle side crash and protects chest and waist portions of a passenger. A recess is provided at the door trim. The recess is concaved toward a vehicle outside at an upper portion of the door trim above the article storage portion. A covering member which restrains the airbag from coming into the recess is provided at the door trim so as to cover almost half of the recess.

Abstract: A door trim covers a door body of a side door. An article storage portion is provided at a lower portion of the door trim. A seat is provided beside the side door so that the seat and the side door are overlapped when viewed from a vehicle side. A side airbag device includes an airbag which inflates beside the seat with gas supplied from an inflator at a vehicle side crash and protects chest and waist portions of a passenger. A recess is provided at the door trim. The recess is concaved toward a vehicle outside at an upper portion of the door trim above the article storage portion. A covering member which restrains the airbag from coming into the recess is provided at the door trim so as to cover almost half of the recess.

Abstract: A vehicle interior state recognition device comprises an illuminating means for illuminating infrared rays into a vehicle compartment, an image pick-up means for picking up an image inside the vehicle compartment into which the infrared rays are illuminated by the illuminating means, and a recognizing means for recognizing specified information based on the image picked up by the image pick-up means. Objects of the image picked up by the image pick-up means include a seat which is movable relative to a vehicle body and a passenger seated in the seat, and the recognizing means determines a size of the passenger by comparing contour of the seat with contour of the passenger on the image picked up. Accordingly, the body size of the passenger seated in the seat can be determined accurately.

Abstract: A tensioner mechanism that winds a webbing to restrain a passenger seated in a seat when a vehicle crash is detected is provided near the seat. A headrest body is provided to protect the passenger at the vehicle rear crash. A drive mechanism is coupled to the tensioner mechanism via a connection member, and configured to drive the headrest body in accordance with a webbing-winding operation of the tensioner mechanism. Accordingly, the seat structure can be simple.

Abstract: A seatbelt system for a front seat of a vehicle having such a double door that a front door (2) and a rear door (3) open outwardly forward and rearward, respectively, to form an uninterrupted doorway (14) to a passenger compartment (A) and the front door (2) overlaps the rear door from the outside so as to allow the rear door (3) to open and close while the front door is open comprises a retractor (28) installed in the rear door (3) and retracting a seatbelt (27) therein, a seatbelt lock mechanism (37) operative to lock the seatbelt (27) when the seatbelt (27) attains a predetermined acceleration, and a lock canceling mechanism (38) operative to put the seatbelt lock mechanism (37) inoperative when activated, The seatbelt system activates the lock canceling mechanism (38) to put the seatbelt lock mechanism (37) inoperative when the seatbelt (27) is unbuckled while the front door and/or the rear door is open or not properly closed and deactivates the lock canceling mechanism (38) to put the seatbelt lock mecha

Abstract: A seatbelt system for a front seat of a vehicle having such a double door that a front door (2) and a rear door (3) open outwardly forward and rearward, respectively, to form an uninterrupted doorway (14) to a passenger compartment (A) and the front door (2) overlaps the rear door from the outside so as to allow the rear door (3) to open and close while the front door is open comprises a retractor (28) installed in the rear door (3) and retracting a seatbelt (27) therein, a seatbelt lock mechanism (37) operative to lock the seatbelt (27) when the seatbelt (27) attains a predetermined acceleration, and a lock canceling mechanism (38) operative to put the seatbelt lock mechanism (37) inoperative when activated, The seatbelt system activates the lock canceling mechanism (38) to put the seatbelt lock mechanism (37) inoperative when the seatbelt (27) is unbuckled while the front door and/or the rear door is open or not properly closed and deactivates the lock canceling mechanism (38) to put the seatbelt lock mecha

Abstract: A device for controlling an air bag apparatus includes a first acceleration sensor mounted in a passenger compartment for detecting an acceleration thereof and a second acceleration sensor mounted in a front portion of a vehicle body. A control unit electrically connected to the first and second acceleration sensors does not output an operation signal to a trigger circuit for inflaters until a first value derived from a signal detected by the first acceleration sensor has exceeded a first criterion and when a second value derived from a signal detected by the second acceleration sensor has exceeded a predetermined acceleration greater than an acceleration corresponding to the first criterion. In the event of a collision, because a very large impact force is applied to the front portion of the vehicle body, the control unit actuates the air bag apparatus appropriately based on the signals detected by both the first and second acceleration sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a side air bag apparatus including an air bag unit. The air bag unit contains a side air bag and an inflator in its upper and lower portions, respectively. The air bag unit is attached to an inner panel of a side door through upper attaching portions and lower attaching portions. The air bag unit is configured to move in parallel toward a vehicle occupant compartment during a side impact collision by way of a difference in distance between a side impact input position corresponding to a impact bar and each attaching portion. This enables the side air bag unit to avoid damage during the collision. Further, the side air bag can reliably be expanded between an occupant and the side door. A structure for attaching the air bag unit to the side door can also be simplified.

Abstract: A device for controlling an air bag apparatus includes a first acceleration sensor mounted in a passenger compartment for detecting an acceleration thereof and a second acceleration sensor mounted in a front portion of a vehicle body. A control unit electrically connected to the first and second acceleration sensors does not output an operation signal to a trigger circuit for inflaters until a first value derived from a signal detected by the first acceleration sensor has exceeded a first criterion and when a second value derived from a signal detected by the second acceleration sensor has exceeded a predetermined acceleration greater than an acceleration corresponding to the first criterion. In the event of a collision, because a very large impact force is applied to the front portion of the vehicle body, the control unit actuates the air bag apparatus appropriately based on the signals detected by both the first and second acceleration sensors.

Abstract: In an airbag system for a vehicle, a seat sensor unit determines the placement state of a child seat on the basis of the radio communication state made between a transponder equipped in the child seat and antennas in a front passenger seat, and the output state of a passenger detection sensor in the front passenger seat, and transmits the determination result to a control unit. The control unit controls the necessity of inflation of a passenger-side airbag and side airbag on the basis of the obtained communication result.

Abstract: An air bag device for an automotive vehicle which comprises an air bag module disposed in an instrument panel of the vehicle, an air bag lid which opens when an air bag in the air bag module is inflated, and a plate for absorbing an impact. The plate is connected to an air bag case and comprises an outer wall of the air bag module extending toward an inner surface of said air bag lid.

Abstract: A safety apparatus is installed in a vehicle provided with an air bag system having an air bag which is housed, when empty, in a container in front of a driver's seat. The air bag is inflated to protect the driver during a collision. The safety apparatus is provided with an impact diminishing mechanism for preventing a shoulder belt from being increasingly tensioned by the body of the driver any time before the inflated air bag acts on the driver with a maximum impact.

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 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.