Abstract: A plus-two belt system is provided. The plus-two belt system is a supplement to a traditional three-point belt system. The plus-two belt system has a longitudinal webbing anchored at a first end and coiled on a retractor at a second end. When an occupant is sensed and the vehicle engine is on, a reminder chime can sound when a magnetic strip in the webbing of the plus-two belt system is detected. The magnetic strip can be detected with a Hall effect sensor and the Hall effect sensor can be located adjacent the retractor.

Abstract: A restraint system includes a housing, a spool rotatably coupled to the housing, and an actuator fixed relative to the housing. The spool has a base plate with holes. The holes are spaced from each other circumferentially about the spool. The actuator has a pin movable between an engaged position extending into one of the holes and a disengaged position spaced from the holes.

Abstract: An inflatable tunnel reinforcement for reinforcing a vehicle tunnel structure includes a first wall, a second wall, and at least one fold connecting the first and second walls. The inflatable tunnel reinforcement further includes an inflator adapted to increase a gas pressure between the first and second walls. In an inflated configuration, the inflatable tunnel reinforcement forms a continuous load path between interior walls of the tunnel structure generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel structure.

Abstract: A retractor assembly includes a housing; a spool rotatably coupled to the housing and defining an axis; a webbing coiled about the spool; a disc in contact with the webbing and movable parallel to the axis; and a linear variable differential transformer including a core movable parallel to the axis with the disc.

Abstract: A vehicle glove box assembly may include a glove box defining a compartment, a door arranged on the glove box moveable between open and closed positions, and a tray assembly arranged on and hinged to the door and pivotable with respect to the door to provide a flat surface in a deployed position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes seats having both a primary three-point seatbelt and a supplemental two-point seatbelt. Occupation of a first seat is determined. The three-point seatbelt is determined as being one of buckled and unbuckled. The two-point seatbelt is determined as being one of buckled and unbuckled. A warning signal is initiated upon determining that one of the seatbelts is unbuckled and the seat is occupied. The warning signal is terminated upon determining that both of the seatbelts are buckled and that the signal has been initiated.

Abstract: A restraint system includes a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing. The housing and the rotor define a cavity therebetween. A resilient material is disposed in the cavity. A helical interface is between the housing and the rotor. The rotor is moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface. A seat belt buckle is connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor. During a vehicle impact, the seat belt buckle may cause the rotor to move along the helical interface towards the housing. In this situation, the resilient material may be compressed between the rotor and the housing.

Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle includes a top, a bottom, a first panel, and a second panel spaced from the first panel. The airbag includes a first leg, a second leg, and a middle leg. The first leg extends from the first panel in a rearward direction. The second leg extends from the second panel in the rearward direction. The middle leg extends from the first panel and the second panel in the rearward direction. The first panel and the second panel each slant in the rearward direction along a direction from the top to the bottom of the airbag. The first panel and the second panel of the airbag in the inflated position may urge occupants to remain upright during an impact event, reducing loading on a chest of the occupants from seat belt.

Abstract: A cage assembly is provided to protect a battery pack in a vehicle. The cage assembly includes a top sub-assembly and a bottom sub-assembly that are secured together to protect the battery pack. U-shaped frames and base frames are connected together by tubular members. A method of making a cage for a battery pack of a vehicle is provided. The method may include assembling a first plurality of spaced tubes and a plurality of spaced inverted U-shaped frames to from a first sub-assembly. The method may also include assembling a second plurality of spaced tubes and a plurality of spaced frames to form a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly may be assembled together to enclose the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery assembly is attached to a tray below a floor pan of a vehicle on a front channel and a rear channel that extend transversely relative to the vehicle. Edge reinforcements of the tray are secured by shear pins or other deformable connectors that retain the tray in a centered location on the channels until a side impact with a vehicle shears the shear pins and permits the tray to move laterally away from the location of impact.

Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a base member and an airbag supported by the base member and being inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes a panel and a plurality of sheets attached to the panel. The panel includes a first portion extending in a first direction from the base member to a distal end and a second portion extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction from the base member to a distal end. Each sheet is elongated in the first direction along the first portion of the panel and elongated in the second direction along the second portion of the panel. During a vehicle impact, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant towards the airbag. The airbag may absorb energy from the head and knees of the occupant, which may assist in reducing injuries.

Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a base. A seatback having a lower portion is rotatably coupled to the base and an upper portion is pivotably coupled to the lower portion by at least one pivot joint. The at least one pivot joint is disposed on a front portion of the seatback. A guide bracket is disposed on a rear portion of the seatback and is configured to guide the upper portion of the seatback between a resting position and a deployed position. A resilient member provides a resistance to pivoting of the upper portion of the seatback and the resilient member is operably coupled to the upper portion of the seatback and the lower portion of the seatback. The upper portion of the seatback pivots from the resting position to the deployed position during a frontal collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: An inflatable tunnel reinforcement for reinforcing a vehicle tunnel structure includes a first wall, a second wall, and at least one fold connecting the first and second walls. The inflatable tunnel reinforcement further includes an inflator adapted to increase a gas pressure between the first and second walls. In an inflated configuration, the inflatable tunnel reinforcement forms a continuous load path between interior walls of the tunnel structure generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel structure.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a box extending from a cab and including a floor and a first sidewall attached to a headboard, via a hinge assembly, disposed normal to the floor and sidewall. The hinge assembly is configured to allow the first sidewall to rotate away from the floor at the headboard. The vehicle also includes a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a pin having an end and a shaft attached to the first sidewall and a receiver having a plate hingedly connected to the receiver. Upon rotation of the first sidewall toward the floor, the end fits into the receiver and the plate locks the shaft to secure the first sidewall to the floor.

Abstract: A tire lift assembly including a body and a pair of moveable arms is provided. The body may include two handles. Each of the moveable arms extends from the body. Each arm may have an end to grasp a vehicle tire when in a first position and to release the vehicle tire when in a second position. Each of the movable arms may extend from the body at a living hinge to facilitate movement of each of the moveable arms. The body may be of a flexible material to facilitate movement of each of the pair of moveable arms. The body may further define a pair of handle through-holes. Each of the pair of handle through-holes may be located adjacent one of the two handles. Each of the pair of handle through-holes may be located adjacent a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of each of the moveable arms.

Abstract: A hood assembly for a vehicle includes an inner hood, an outer hood, and a plurality of deployable devices. The outer hood is fixed relative to the inner hood. The plurality of deployable devices are spaced apart from each other between the inner hood and the outer hood. The deployable devices each define an inflation chamber and are formed of thermoplastic elastomer. Upon detection of impact between the vehicle and a pedestrian, the deployable devices are deployed to separate the outer hood and the inner hood. As such, during impact of the pedestrian with the outer hood, the outer hood may deform and/or the outer hood may space the pedestrian from relatively hard components under the hood assembly.

Abstract: A tire lift assembly including a body and a pair of moveable arms is provided. The body may include two handles. Each of the moveable arms extends from the body. Each arm may have an end to grasp a vehicle tire when in a first position and to release the vehicle tire when in a second position. Each of the movable arms may extend from the body at a living hinge to facilitate movement of each of the moveable arms. The body may be of a flexible material to facilitate movement of each of the pair of moveable arms. The body may further define a pair of handle through-holes. Each of the pair of handle through-holes may be located adjacent one of the two handles. Each of the pair of handle through-holes may be located adjacent a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of each of the moveable arms.

Abstract: An armrest is provided for a seat. That armrest includes a body and a deployable cup holder carried on the body. The deployable cup holder includes a translating base and an erectable well wall carried on the translating base. A seat assembly including an armrest is also disclosed.

Abstract: An airbag has a main panel and at least one side panels that is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly from the main panel when the airbag is inflated. At least one inflator is arranged to inflate all of the panels. The airbag, e.g., via the main panel, may be secured to a back of a vehicle seat.

Abstract: An airbag includes a middle chamber having a front panel and first and second side panels spaced from each other and extending from the front panel. The airbag includes a first side chamber attached to the first side panel and a second side chamber attached to the second side panel, and a manifold chamber spaced from the front panel and attached to and in fluid communication with the middle chamber and the first and second side chambers.