Abstract: A roof rail airbag assembly for a vehicle includes a roof rail in a vehicle frame, a roof rail airbag including a main airbag body and an airbag retaining tab extending from the main airbag body, a roof rail airbag fastener capturing the airbag retaining tab between the fastener and the roof rail, and a bolt extending through the roof rail airbag fastener, through the airbag retaining tab and extending into the roof rail. The roof rail airbag fastener includes a bolt passthrough opening and a separating tab extending from an inwardly facing surface of the fastener and positioned between the bolt passthrough opening and the main airbag body.

Abstract: A vehicle airbag system includes an airbag having a stiffened portion and an inflatable portion connected to the stiffened portion. A pocket is formed in the stiffened portion between first and second sewn seams. The pocket has a closed end wall defining a first end of the pocket and a pocket entrance defining a second end of the pocket. An elongated spline is disposed in the pocket through the pocket entrance, the spline when fully received in the pocket resisting torsional motion of the vehicle airbag system in an inflatable portion non-deployed condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree.

Abstract: A counter electrode structure of a transition metal electrochromic compound for use in an electro-optical device, which is useful in control of visible and infrared absorption by windows, in data display devices and the like, typically comprising in sandwich arrangement a pair of electrodes, and disposed therebetween, a layer of transition metal electrochromic compounds and a semi-solid highly conductive sulfuric acid gel electrolyte, one of the electrodes being said counter electrode. The gel exhibits good conductivity, stability and compatibility with the electrochromic layers. The present counter electrode is more efficient and has a longer lifetime.

Abstract: The handling characteristics, including particularly the knot run-down, of synthetic absorbable surgical sutures and tissue drag characteristics are improved by a coating of a lubricating film of a bioabsorbable copolymer having polyoxyethylene blocks and polyoxypropylene blocks, and which bioabsorbable copolymer has a molecular weight such that it is pasty to solid at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: The handling characteristics, including particularly the knot run down and tissue drag characteristics, of non-absorbable surgical sutures are improved by a coating of a lubricating film of a bioabsorbable copolymer having polyoxyethylene blocks and polyoxypropylene blocks, and which bioabsobable copolymer has a molecular weight such that it is pasty to solid at 25.degree. C. This lubricant coating is absorbed in tissue in less than about 48 hours--which results in improved long term knot security.

Abstract: A counter electrode structure of a transition metal electrochromic compound for use in an electro-optical device, which is useful in control of visible and infrared absorption by windows, in data display devices and the like, typically comprising in sandwich arrangement a pair of electrodes, and disposed therebetween, a layer of transition metal electrochromic compounds and a semi-solid highly conductive sulfuric acid gel electrolyte, one of the electrodes being said counter electrode. The gel exhibits good conductivity, stability and compatibility with the electrochromic layers. The present counter electrode is more efficient and has a longer lifetime.

Abstract: A substantially anhydrous liquid iodophor detergent solution is used as a pre-surgical skin cleansing agent. This substantially anhydrous system in which the iodophor is stabilized by the addition of iodides can be incorporated easily into surgical scrub sponges without the expense, delay, and degradation of sponge material resulting from heating to remove the water of aqueous systems to produce a substantially anhydrous product that will not prematurely hydrolyze and deteriorate during prolonged storage.