Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may overlap and/or intersect with the second shape in a desired pattern to facilitate desired airbag deployment.

Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may overlap and/or intersect with the second shape in a desired pattern to facilitate desired airbag deployment.

Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may comprise, or at least substantially comprise, a reflected image of the second shape.

Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may comprise, or at least substantially comprise, a reflected image of the second shape.

Abstract: Airbags and airbag assemblies are disclosed that include passive adaptive venting. The disclosed embodiments include an airbag cushion to define an inflation chamber and that include a set of vents. The set of vents is disposed through a panel of the airbag cushion. The set of vents allow egress of inflation gas from the inflation chamber and to be in an open state when a degree of compression of the airbag cushion is below a threshold level. The set of vents is configured to be in a closed state and/or obstructed by a vehicle surface of a vehicle structure when the degree of compression of the airbag cushion exceeds the threshold level.

Abstract: A seatbelt restraint system includes a seatbelt buckle housing having a printed circuit board, a slider, and an ejector. The printed circuit board includes a circuit where the output signal can be altered in response to translation of the ejector and the slider. A predetermined voltage can be applied to the circuit and the output signal can be detected in the circuit to determine the position of the ejector and the slider based on the detected altered output signal. In the event of a fault in the system, the resultant output signal of the circuit will be different than the expected output signal of the buckled and unbuckled states.

Abstract: A seatbelt restraint system includes a seatbelt buckle housing having a printed circuit board, a slider, and an ejector. The printed circuit board includes a circuit where the output signal can be altered in response to translation of the ejector and the slider. A predetermined voltage can be applied to the circuit and the output signal can be detected in the circuit to determine the position of the ejector and the slider based on the detected altered output signal. In the event of a fault in the system, the resultant output signal of the circuit will be different than the expected output signal of the buckled and unbuckled states.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a seatbelt, an anchor attached to the seatbelt and to the mobile platform, and an airbag attached to the mobile platform via the anchor. The airbag may be movable from a pre-deployed state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A steering wheel unit includes a steering wheel body and an airbag module mounted thereto. The airbag module includes positioning means for maintaining the axial positioning of the airbag module relative to the steering wheel and positioning means for maintaining the radial positioning of the airbag module relative to the steering wheel. The steering wheel unit also includes damping elements that are disposed between the insertion elements and receiving elements of the radial positioning means. The radial positioning means can be in the form of a post within a cylindrical receptacle, where the damping element is therebetween. The radial positioning means can be in the form of a plate received within a u-shaped receiving element, where the damping element is within the u-shaped receiving element.

Abstract: A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a seatbelt, an anchor attached to the seatbelt and to the mobile platform, and an airbag attached to the mobile platform via the anchor. The airbag may be movable from a pre-deployed state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A thermostat-containing assembly for use in a heated steering wheel assembly. The thermostat-containing assembly includes a retainer device having a shaped body including a thermostat retention aperture and at least one wiring retention channel. The body is shaped to conform to a retainer-accepting region in the peripheral portion of the steering wheel. A thermostat is disposed within the thermostat retention aperture and includes a thermostatically sensitive portion in thermal contact with a heating element. Electrical wiring is disposed within the wiring retention channel and operationally joins the thermostat with an electric power source and the heating element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network enabled multi-user configurable optical storage server. The device is easy to install and does not require client or server software. The server can be configured across a network through a series of HTML based web pages, or graphical user interfaces (GUI) provided by the server. The server can be accessed across a network by one or more users, terminals, or other network attached devices for substantially concurrent read/write access to one or more optical storage media. The server supports a comprehensive set of networking protocols and operating systems simultaneously. The server may support from one to hundreds of CD/DVD-ROMS. In an embodiment of the invention the server includes two stages of writing prior to committing to a write to the physical medium. This speeds both read and write access to the disk, allows concurrent user access to the disk, and greatly simplifies the mapping and file structures on the disk.

Abstract: An air-bag unit (1) adapted to be positioned on a floor pan of a motor vehicle in the foot-well to be located beneath the feet of an occupant of the vehicle has a substantially sealed damp-proof housing containing an air-bag (11) formed of fabric, the housing having a substantially rigid upper cover (8), the unit being such that on inflation of the air-bag (11) the cover of the housing is lifted, from its initial position to an elevated position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seat belt apparatus having a webbing which traverses an occupant's body. The webbing includes two lap belts which are secured at their ends to a lap belt retractor. The lap retractor is secured below the seat and in a forward position relative to the seat. The lap belt retractor is configured to simultaneously retract the lap belts to thereby retain the position of the buckle assembly over the mid abdomen section of an occupant. The opposing ends of the lap belts are secured in a fixed manner to a lap belt anchor. The lap belt anchor is secured below the seat and in a rearward position relative to the seat. The lap belt anchor may further incorporate a pretensioner which pulls the lap belts rearward and downward. The lap belts slidably engage a buckle assembly along a mid section of the lap belts. The webbing further includes shoulder belts which are secured at their ends to shoulder belt retractors.

Abstract: A breakaway latch plate for use with the seat belt system is disclosed. The breakaway latch plate includes a latch plate body that may be selectively secured to a buckle. An orifice may be disposed within the latch plate body. Seat belt webbing passes through the orifice. A locking mechanism is coupled to the latch plate body. In a locked state, the locking mechanism prevents movement of the seat belt webbing relative to the latch plate body. When a predetermined load is applied to the seat belt webbing, the locking mechanism changes to an unlocked state, in which the seat belt webbing may move relative to the latch plate body.

Abstract: A breakaway latch plate for use with the seat belt system is disclosed. The breakaway latch plate includes a latch plate body that may be selectively secured to a buckle. An orifice may be disposed within the latch plate body. Seat belt webbing passes through the orifice. A locking mechanism is coupled to the latch plate body. In a locked state, the locking mechanism prevents movement of the seat belt webbing relative to the latch plate body. When a predetermined load is applied to the seat belt webbing, the locking mechanism changes to an unlocked state, in which the seat belt webbing may move relative to the latch plate body.

Abstract: Breakaway web stops are provided which are employed in seat belt systems for restraining an occupant. In one such seat belt system, the seat belt webbing passes diagonally across the torso of the occupant, through a latch plate, and then across the lap of the occupant. To ensure that the latch plate stays in the correct position, web stops are placed on the seat belt webbing both above and below the correct position of the latch plate, allowing the latch plate to freely move between the two web stops, but not permitting it to move outside this range. In an accident, the breakaway web stop below the latch plate is configured to separate from the seat belt webbing, permitting the tension from the torso portion of the seat belt webbing to transfer to the lap portion of the seat belt webbing, providing additional and safety-enhancing restraint to the occupant, and, in particular, to the occupant's legs and lower body.

Abstract: A multi-chamber airbag venting system which provides for channeling of inflation gas, simple internal tethers, and prevents pre-mature venting. The system includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a middle panel. The middle panel is located between the front and rear panels. The middle panel divides the interior of the airbag into a first chamber between the middle panel and the rear panel, and second chamber between the middle panel and the front panel. The panels are connected to each other along their respective circumferential peripheries. The rear panel includes an airbag mouth to allow gas to enter the airbag. The rear panel further includes a vent hole. The middle panel includes a vent hole connected to the vent hole of the rear panel to form a vent passage. The middle panel includes a middle panel passage hole positioned in the middle panel such that gas entering the airbag through the airbag mouth is channeled from the first chamber to the second chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seat belt apparatus having a webbing which traverses an occupant's body. The webbing includes two lap belts which are secured at their ends to a lap belt retractor. The lap retractor is secured below the seat and in a forward position relative to the seat. The lap belt retractor is configured to simultaneously retract the lap belts to thereby retain the position of the buckle assembly over the mid abdomen section of an occupant. The opposing ends of the lap belts are secured in a fixed manner to a lap belt anchor. The lap belt anchor is secured below the seat and in a rearward position relative to the seat. The lap belt anchor may further incorporate a pretensioner which pulls the lap belts rearward and downward. The lap belts slidably engage a buckle assembly along a mid section of the lap belts. The webbing further includes shoulder belts which are secured at their ends to shoulder belt retractors.

Abstract: A multi-chamber airbag venting system which provides for channeling of inflation gas, simple internal tethers, and prevents pre-mature venting. The system includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a middle panel. The middle panel is located between the front and rear panels. The middle panel divides the interior of the airbag into a first chamber between the middle panel and the rear panel, and second chamber between the middle panel and the front panel. The panels are connected to each other along their respective circumferential peripheries. The rear panel includes an airbag mouth to allow gas to enter the airbag. The rear panel further includes a vent hole. The middle panel includes a vent hole connected to the vent hole of the rear panel to form a vent passage. The middle panel includes a middle panel passage hole positioned in the middle panel such that gas entering the airbag through the airbag mouth is channeled from the first chamber to the second chamber.