Abstract: A vehicle includes a door assembly including an outer door panel and an inner door panel defining a volume therebetween and a window frame that receives a window therein. A molding assembly includes a corner molding component including a portion that extends along an A-pillar portion of the window frame and a portion that extends along a lower portion of the window frame. A lower molding component extends along the lower portion of the window frame having a connector receiving notch located at a front end of the lower molding component that defines at least part of a catch tab portion. An engagement component comprising a body that is connected to the portion of the corner molding component that extends along the lower portion of the window frame and a connector that projects outward in a vehicle lateral direction and engages the catch tab portion thereby connecting the corner molding component and the lower molding component.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a housing having an attachment surface defining a keyed slot. The keyed slot includes a first pair of recesses extending in a first direction and a second pair of recesses extending in a second direction. The attachment surface includes an outwardly extending protrusion. The assembly includes a clamp having a main body including an intermediate portion positioned between distal and proximate end portions, and a connection portion extending outwardly from the intermediate portion. The connection portion is configured to be inserted within the keyed slot in an insertion direction. The clamp is configured to be received within the keyed slot and rotatable between an engaged and disengaged position. In the engaged position the connection portion engages the first pair of recesses to inhibit movement in an extraction direction and the proximate end portion abuts the protrusion to inhibit rotation of the clamp to the disengaged position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a door assembly including an outer door panel and an inner door panel defining a volume therebetween and a window frame that receives a window therein. A molding assembly includes a corner molding component including a portion that extends along an A-pillar portion of the window frame and a portion that extends along a lower portion of the window frame. A lower molding component extends along the lower portion of the window frame having a connector receiving notch located at a front end of the lower molding component that defines at least part of a catch tab portion. An engagement component comprising a body that is connected to the portion of the corner molding component that extends along the lower portion of the window frame and a connector that projects outward in a vehicle lateral direction and engages the catch tab portion thereby connecting the corner molding component and the lower molding component.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a housing having an attachment surface defining a keyed slot. The keyed slot includes a first pair of recesses extending in a first direction and a second pair of recesses extending in a second direction. The attachment surface includes an outwardly extending protrusion. The assembly includes a clamp having a main body including an intermediate portion positioned between distal and proximate end portions, and a connection portion extending outwardly from the intermediate portion. The connection portion is configured to be inserted within the keyed slot in an insertion direction. The clamp is configured to be received within the keyed slot and rotatable between an engaged and disengaged position. In the engaged position the connection portion engages the first pair of recesses to inhibit movement in an extraction direction and the proximate end portion abuts the protrusion to inhibit rotation of the clamp to the disengaged position.

Abstract: A vehicle may include a bumper assembly that includes a bumper cover, and a bumper cover retainer. The bumper cover retainer may further include an integrally formed fastening feature that is integral with the bumper cover retainer and that folds over the bumper cover to connect the bumper cover to the bumper cover retainer.

Abstract: A vehicle may include a bumper assembly that includes a bumper cover, and a bumper cover retainer. The bumper cover retainer may further include an integrally formed fastening feature that is integral with the bumper cover retainer and that folds over the bumper cover to connect the bumper cover to the bumper cover retainer.

Abstract: Clips that can be used to temporarily hold a curtain side airbag (CSA) to a bracket on a vehicle rail are disclosed. The clips can be integrated into the CSA and allow the CSA to be positioned on the brackets temporarily until such time as a more secure means is utilized, such as a threaded fastener. The clips allow access to an opening in the bracket that is configured to receive a fastener that can be used to secure both the grip assist and the CSA to the bracket. The clip thereby allows the CSA to be positioned on the vehicle rail without interfering with the subsequent attachment of a grip assist to the same bracket. The fastener that attaches the grip assist to the bracket also serves to secure the CSA to the bracket. The clip remains attached to the bracket and to the CSA.

Abstract: Clips that can be used to temporarily hold a curtain side airbag (CSA) to a bracket on a vehicle rail are disclosed. The clips can be integrated into the CSA and allow the CSA to be positioned on the brackets temporarily until such time as a more secure means is utilized, such as a threaded fastener. The clips allow access to an opening in the bracket that is configured to receive a fastener that can be used to secure both the grip assist and the CSA to the bracket. The clip thereby allows the CSA to be positioned on the vehicle rail without interfering with the subsequent attachment of a grip assist to the same bracket. The fastener that attaches the grip assist to the bracket also serves to secure the CSA to the bracket. The clip remains attached to the bracket and to the CSA.

Abstract: A clip that can be attached to a jump bracket to align the jump bracket and the associated curtain side airbag (CSA) relative to the vehicle for attachment thereto. The clip is configured to be attached to an existing alignment member on the jump bracket and provide more restrained positioning in an alignment opening in the vehicle panel. The more restrained positioning facilitates the alignment of both first and second fastening features on the jump bracket with the associated fastening locations on the vehicle thereby providing a greater and more reliable ease of installation of the CSA. The clip can be configured to provide a datum for the proper alignment of the jump bracket relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: Curtain side airbag (CSA) systems are presented. The CSA systems can include a folded curtain configured to be inflated upon detection of an activation event. CSA systems can further include one or more components to protect the folded curtain, such as a sock and a protector. Windows can be defined in the sock and/or protector to allow inspection of a stored curtain airbag. In some arrangements, the protector window and the sock window can be substantially aligned to allow inspection access to at least one curtain feature through the substantially aligned protector window and sock window. Curtain features can include fold configurations of the curtain airbag or other visual or physical markings.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle including an airbag stored in a folded state in a portion of a vehicle body and an inflator that provides a gas for inflating the airbag. The airbag including a main chamber and a delay chamber. The main chamber operable to be inflated earlier than the delay chamber. The delay chamber including an opening through which the gas passes from the main chamber to the delay chamber; and the delay chamber further including a weakened portion having less strength than the opening.

Abstract: Curtain side airbag (CSA) systems are presented. The CSA systems can include a folded curtain configured to be inflated upon detection of an activation event. CSA systems can further include one or more components to protect the folded curtain, such as a sock and a protector. Windows can be defined in the sock and/or protector to allow inspection of a stored curtain airbag. In some arrangements, the protector window and the sock window can be substantially aligned to allow inspection access to at least one curtain feature through the substantially aligned protector window and sock window. Curtain features can include fold configurations of the curtain airbag or other visual or physical markings.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an inflatable curtain airbag, an inflator to provide inflation gas to deploy the inflatable curtain airbag, and reinforcement material. The inflator is coupled to an end of the inflatable curtain airbag at an inflator outlet. The reinforcement material is attached to a portion of an outer surface of the inflatable curtain airbag. Upon deployment of the inflatable curtain airbag, the reinforcement material is disposed between the portion of the outer surface of the inflatable curtain airbag and an external object in a vicinity of the inflator outlet to reinforce the inflatable curtain airbag from an edge of the external object.

Abstract: An curtain side airbag apparatus includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag is stored in a housing adjacent to a side structure of a vehicle. The airbag includes a main body and an additional cushion portion. The housing includes an opening flange. The inflator provides a gas into the airbag for inflating the airbag. Upon deployment of the airbag, the main body of the airbag projects substantially downwardly from the housing and the additional cushion portion of the airbag projects substantially upwardly into the opening flange of the housing.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle including an airbag stored in a folded state in a portion of a vehicle body and an inflator that provides a gas for inflating the airbag. The airbag including a main chamber and a delay chamber. The main chamber operable to be inflated earlier than the delay chamber. The delay chamber including an opening through which the gas passes from the main chamber to the delay chamber; and the delay chamber further including a weakened portion having less strength than the opening.

Abstract: An airbag is provided that includes one or more creases or knobs within a catch zone that allows automatic positioning of the catch zone upon contact with an occupant. The knob and crease provide for flexible airbag positioning that is automatically adjustable dependent on the location an occupant contacts an airbag, the mass or dimension of an occupant, or position of a vehicle section, so as to provide directional support and guidance for the position of an airbag upon deployment or contact with an occupant.

Abstract: An airbag is provided that includes one or more rigid regions within a restraint zone that has an elasticity lower than neighboring regions of the airbag. The rigid regions serve to contact the head of an occupant and provide directional support and guidance for the position of an airbag upon deployment or contact with an occupant.

Abstract: A headliner reinforcement for ensuring the proper placement of a wire harness at a location above a headliner in a motor vehicle is provided. The headliner reinforcement includes a member having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side being adjacent to the headliner and the top side being adjacent to a roof of the motor vehicle. The top side includes at least one clip attachment operable to accept at least one clip. In some instances, the top side can include at least two spaced apart clip attachments separated by a predetermined distance and operable to accept at least two spaced apart clips separated by the same predetermined distance on the wire harness. The predetermined distance between the spaced apart clip attachments and the spaced apart clips can be unique among other clip attachments on the motor vehicle and thereby prevent the installment of an undesirable wire harness above the headliner of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A headliner assembly covers an inner surface of a motor vehicle roof having a sunroof opening. The headliner assembly includes a dimensionally stable substrate having a first edge extending along the sunroof opening. The substrate has an upper surface facing the inner surface of the motor vehicle roof. The substrate further has a bottom surface opposite the upper surface. A molded reinforcement is fixedly secured to the upper surface of the substrate. The reinforcement has a second edge extending along the sunroof opening. The second edge of the reinforcement has a contoured portion that extends further inwardly toward a center of the sunroof opening relative to the first edge of the substrate. A trim cover has a third edge extending along the sunroof opening.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck is capable of attachment to a pedestal in a process chamber. The chuck has an electrostatic puck comprises a ceramic body with an embedded electrode. The ceramic body has a substrate support surface with an annular periphery. The chuck also has a base plate below the electrostatic puck that is a composite of a ceramic material and a metal. The base plate has an annular flange extending beyond the periphery of the ceramic body. The base plate and electrostatic puck can be supported by a support pedestal having a housing and an annular ledge that extends outwardly from the housing to attach to the annular flange of the base plate. A heat transfer plate having an embedded heat transfer fluid channel can also be provided.