Abstract: The invention is a garment or like apparel that has a substantially transparent window connected to a pocket or cavity within the garment or like apparel, with the garment or like apparel being adapted to selectively reveal work performed preferably on a hand-held electronic device that is contained within the pocket or other garment or apparel cavity. The garment or like apparel is useful in allowing the manipulation of the hand-held electronic device contained within a cavity of the garment or like apparel while protecting the user's hands from the weather or harsh environment or while keeping such use discreet or private.

Abstract: The invention is a garment or like apparel that has a substantially transparent window connected to a pocket or cavity within the garment or like apparel, with the garment or like apparel being adapted to selectively reveal work performed preferably on a hand-held electronic device that is contained within the pocket or other garment or apparel cavity. The garment or like apparel is useful in allowing the manipulation of the hand-held electronic device contained within a cavity of the garment or like apparel while protecting the user's hands from the weather or harsh environment or while keeping such use discreet or private.

Abstract: The invention is a garment or like apparel that has a substantially transparent window connected to a pocket or cavity within the garment or like apparel, with the garment or like apparel being adapted to selectively reveal work performed preferably on a hand-held electronic device that is contained within the pocket or other garment or apparel cavity. The garment or like apparel is useful in allowing the manipulation of the hand-held electronic device contained within a cavity of the garment or like apparel while protecting the user's hands from the weather or harsh environment or while keeping such use discreet or private.

Abstract: The invention is a garment or like apparel that has a substantially transparent window connected to a pocket or cavity within the garment or like apparel, with the garment or like apparel being adapted to selectively reveal work performed preferably on a hand-held electronic device that is contained within the pocket or other garment or apparel cavity. The garment or like apparel is useful in allowing the manipulation of the hand-held electronic device contained within a cavity of the garment or like apparel while protecting the user's hands from the weather or harsh environment or while keeping such use discreet or private.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle comprises a gas generator(9) which generates gas when an accident occurs. An air-bag is provided to be inflated by the gas. The air-bag comprises three super-imposed fabric layers(2,3,4), the outer peripheries of which are conjoined by a seam(5). A central aperture(6) in the lower-most layer receives the gas outlet(8) of the gas generator. A plurality of apertures(12) are formed in the intermediate layer and seams(13) interconnect the intermediate layer(3) and the lower-most(2) adjacent the apertures. The seams(13) partially surround each aperture, but are not present in a region(14) which is radially outwardly positioned relative to the center of the intermediate layer(3). This arrangement causes the bag, on inflation, to inflate laterally outwardly before inflating towards the occupant of the vehicle to be protected by the bag.

Abstract: An airbag system for motor vehicles wherein the airbag mechanism is concealed behind a cover provided on the instrument panel. A tether is provided to restrain the cover from uncontrolled movement during deployment of the airbag. One end of the tether is fixed to either the airbag housing or to a fixed portion of the instrument panel, while the other end of the tether is detachably mounted to the cover. The detachable feature of the attachment means permits the cover to be easily removed for repair, inspection or replacement without the need to disturb the airbag or its housing.

Abstract: An airbag cushion has a deployment tube connected at its inner end to a backing plate securing an inflator and at its outer end to a cushion-shaping enclosure. The periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure is attached there about to a boundary wall which extends inward to the backing plate at a location surrounding the inner end of the deployment tube. The boundary wall defines an aspirated-air chamber surrounding the tube. As the tube and cushion-shaping enclosure are inflated, the enclosure pulls the boundary wall out of the canister creating a vacuum in the aspirated-air chamber. A one-way valve in the backing plate passes aspirated air into the aspirated-air chamber. A port connects the cushion-shaping enclosure to the aspirated-air chamber to pressurize the aspirated-air chamber at the end of inflation. The one-way valve blocks escape of the pressure.

Abstract: A trough-shaped airbag canister and module assembly has an integral diffuser and diverter for permitting simultaneous deployment of a head/torso airbag and a knee airbag. The integral diffuser and diverter in the canister diffuses a first portion of inflation gases from an inflator to a mouth of a head/torso airbag and diffuses and diverts a second portion of the inflation gases through a kneebag inflation port in a sidewall of the canister and into a mouth of a knee airbag.

Abstract: An invisible cover door for an inflatable passive passenger restraint is provided in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for deployment of an airbag therethrough. The low pressure insert injection molding of the cover door into the interior trim structure, such as an instrument panel or dashboard or door panel structure, produces an invisible cover door with tear propagation lines that are undetectable to a vehicle occupant and that do not "show" or mar or otherwise affect the aesthetic appearance of the outer trim surface of the instrument panel or dashboard. Such invisible doors which require only two tear propagation lines can be provided.

Abstract: The screws which are normally employed to attach the end plates to the trough-shaped main body of a passenger-side airbag module reaction canister are replaced by impact-driven darts. The darts are made of material harder than that of the main body and include surface irregularities which deform the material of the main body and improve the frictional engagement.

Abstract: A tethered knee bolster panel which is deployed rearward in the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle during a crash to provide lower torso restraint. The knee bolster is an air bag system which propels the knee bolster panel rearward during deployment. The activated knee bolster allows automobile designers the flexibility to provide increased leg room in the vehicle while maintaining the same level of safety during a crash.

Abstract: An invisible cover door for an inflatable passive passenger restraint is provided in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for deployment of an airbag therethrough. The low pressure insert injection molding of the cover door into the interior trim structure, such as an instrument panel or dashboard or door panel structure, produces an invisible cover door with tear propagation lines that are undetectable to a vehicle occupant and that do not "show" or mar or otherwise affect the aesthetic appearance of the outer trim surface of the instrument panel or dashboard. Such invisible doors which require only two tear propagation lines can be provided.

Abstract: A passenger side airbag module includes a reaction can having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall defining an open-topped airbag cushion storage compartment, the bottom wall including an integral annular mounting ring defining an inflator-receiving opening. A retainer has a cylindrical sleeve with a top wall extending inwardly and a retainer ring extending outwardly from the lower end of the sleeve. An airbag cushion includes an annular mounting collar which is clamped between the retainer ring and the mounting ring. An inflator has an elongated cylindrical body partially received in the cylindrical sleeve of the retainer with a gas outlet cap extending through the top wall of the retainer to deliver inflation gas to the interior of the airbag cushion. The gas outlet cap is welded to the retainer to secure the inflator. A portion of the inflator body extends below the reaction can, and the mounting collar is positioned around the inflator body to cushion against rattles.

Abstract: The cover of a passenger-side airbag module is provided with an energy absorption zone to protect the passenger during head impact. The zone is in the form of corrugations which extend across the mouth of the airbag module. The corrugations crush upon impact, thereby absorbing energy.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing an opening in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for the deployment of an air bag therethrough which minimizes the visual and/or tactile impression of the presence of the closure and the air bag deployment opening thereunder and which is not susceptible to significant fragmentation and projection of such fragments into the passenger compartment upon the opening thereof.

Abstract: A inflatable vehicle air bag has a single fluid chamber and is specially designed to bend around a vehicle instrument panel to form an effective occupant restraint in front of a vehicle occupant. The air bag is formed from a single continuous loop of flexible air bag material. The air bag is designed to be inflated to a predetermined three dimensional configuration when fluid under pressure is directed into the fluid chamber. The air bag comprises a pair of main panels which are connected with each other in a manner which allows them to bow outwardly relative to each other as the air bag is inflated to its predetermined three dimensional configuration, and a special bend pleat which is formed in one of the main panels. Moreover, respective portions of the main panels are preferably connected with each other by one or more expansible end pleats which allow the portions of the main panels to separate from each other as the air bag is inflated to its three dimensional configuration.

Abstract: A housing for an air bag inflator includes a tubular wall and gas dispensing nozzles extending through at least a portion of the wall. The tubular wall defines an inflator cavity for receiving a source of gas. The inflator housing includes a tongue formed in one piece with one end of the housing and projecting outwardly from the housing. The tongue includes a planar surface adapted to be coupled to a planar wall of a reaction device. The inflator housing further includes a sleeve attached to the tubular wall axially spaced from the tongue. The sleeve includes diametrically opposed flanges extending outward from the sleeve. Each of the flanges include a planar surface adapted to be coupled adjacent the planar wall of the reaction device. The tongue includes an alignment device which provides for properly aligning the inflator with the reaction device. According to another aspect of the invention, the inflator housing structure includes a pair of sleeves attached to axially spaced portions of the housing.

Abstract: A new and useful vehicle air bag module design and new assembly techniques are designed specifically for automating the process of assembling an air bag module. The air bag module includes a reaction can which has a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from the air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of the main body. A folded air bag having a gas inlet opening is at least partially disposed in the cavity. A retention device is integral with the air bag around the periphery of the gas inlet opening and is disposed adjacent the external flange on the reaction can. The inflator has a cylindrical housing and an integral coupling structure. The cylindrical housing extends partially through the inflator-receiving slot and includes a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity. A first set of fasteners connects the coupling structure of the inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can.

Abstract: A vehicle air bag module includes a reaction device, an air bag and a fastener structure adapted to secure the air bag to the reaction device. The reaction device includes pairs of openings with retainer portions intermediate the openings. The air bag includes a mouth portion defining a gas inlet opening. The fastener structure includes a plurality of hook-like fasteners integrally formed with a flexible strip. The flexible strip is interconnected with the mouth portion of the air bag such that the fasteners are adapted to engage the openings in the reaction device, and thereby to couple the air bag with the reaction device.

Abstract: A retainer bushing for securing a linkage rod to an apertured workpiece includes a head with a stepped shank portion extending therefrom with the shank having a relatively wide slot on one side thereof and the head and shank having a narrow slot extending axially therethrough diametrically opposite the wide slot forming a push-in type fastener. The retainer bushing is provided with an axial stepped defining a raised retainer bead in the shank portion having opposed inclined cam ramp surfaces on either side thereof. The linkage rod having at least at one end thereof a rod arm portion provided with a chamfered free end surface and, axially spaced from the chamfered free end, it is provided with an annular groove formed complementary to the retainer bead in the retainer bushing.