Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device (14) includes a front portion (70) that has a panel (72) presented toward the occupant (20) when the protection device (14) is in the inflated condition and a rear portion (80) spaced from the front portion (70) when the protection device (14) is in the inflated condition. A lower connecting portion (90) connects the front portion (70) to the rear portion (80) and defines the lower extent of the protection device (14). A space (100) is positioned outside the inflatable volume (60) of the protection device (14) and is defined between the front portion (70), the connecting portion (90), and the rear portion (80). The space (100) extends from an upper extent of the protection device (14) down to below a midline of the protection device (14).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprising a panel (114) that at least partially defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent (100) includes a sidewall that extends through the panel (114) and defines a passage (134) for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). The vent (100) includes a first portion (102) extendable inside the inflatable volume (54) and an opposite second portion (104) extendable outside the inflatable volume. The vent (100) has an open condition in which the first portion (102) is maintained inside the inflatable volume (54) and thereby permits venting of inflation fluid through the passage (134), and a closed condition in which the first portion (102) is inverted and positioned in the second portion (104) thereby blocking inflation fluid from venting through the passage (134).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprising a panel (114) that at least partially defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent (100) includes a sidewall that extends through the panel (114) and defines a passage (134) for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). The vent (100) includes a first portion (102) extendable inside the inflatable volume (54) and an opposite second portion (104) extendable outside the inflatable volume. The vent (100) has an open condition in which the first portion (102) is maintained inside the inflatable volume (54) and thereby permits venting of inflation fluid through the passage (134), and a closed condition in which the first portion (102) is inverted and positioned in the second portion (104) thereby blocking inflation fluid from venting through the passage (134).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device (14) includes a front portion (70) that has a panel (72) presented toward the occupant (20) when the protection device (14) is in the inflated condition and a rear portion (80) spaced from the front portion (70) when the protection device (14) is in the inflated condition. A lower connecting portion (90) connects the front portion (70) to the rear portion (80) and defines the lower extent of the protection device (14). A space (100) is positioned outside the inflatable volume (60) of the protection device (14) and is defined between the front portion (70), the connecting portion (90), and the rear portion (80). The space (100) extends from an upper extent of the protection device (14) down to below a midline of the protection device (14).

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) comprises flexible material defining an inflation fluid volume (42) for receiving inflation fluid. The material includes a first panel portion (30) on which is located a set of first points (A-D) and a second panel portion (40) on which is located a set of second points (A′-D′). A rupturable stitching section (50) holds the set of first points (A-D) closely adjacent the set of second points (A′-D′)when the device (10) is in the deflated condition and when the device is in a partially inflated condition. The rupturable stitching section (50) is rupturable in response to the application of a force greater than a predetermined force in response to inflation of the protection device (10). Rupturing of the stitching section (50) enables movement of the first panel portion (30) away from the second panel portion (40).

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) comprises flexible material defining an inflation fluid volume (42) for receiving inflation fluid. The material includes a first panel portion (30) on which is located a set of first points (A-D) and a second panel portion (40) on which is located a set of second points (A′-D′). A rupturable stitching section (50) holds the set of first points (A-D) closely adjacent the set of second points (A′-D′) when the device (10) is in the deflated condition and when the device is in a partially inflated condition. The rupturable stitching section (50) is rupturable in response to the application of a force greater than a predetermined force in response to inflation of the protection device (10). Rupturing of the stitching section (50) enables movement of the first panel portion (30) away from the second panel portion (40), thereby enabling movement of the device (10) from the partially inflated condition to a fully inflated condition.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use in a vehicle comprises an air bag module (30) including an inflatable air bag (50) and an opening (42) through which the air bag deploys when inflated. A deployment door (60) covers the opening (42). The deployment door (60) includes a first edge (90) and a hinge area (100) extending parallel to the first edge. The hinge area (100) has an attachment portion (102) connected to the vehicle and a hinge portion (104) at which the deployment door (60) pivots to allow the air bag (50) to deploy. The hinge portion (104) has oppositely disposed first and second ends (114 and 116). The deployment door (60) has a second edge (92) disposed opposite the first edge (90). The second edge (92) includes a central portion (126). The deployment door (60) further includes first and second areas (122 and 124) of reduced stiffness.

Abstract: An inflatable air bag (10) inflates to restrain a vehicle occupant (13) during a vehicle collision. The air bag has an opening (16) for venting inflation fluid from the interior (14) of the air bag. A panel (20) lies on an outer surface (40) of the air bag and is fixedly secured to the outer surface of the air bag. The panel comprises a single continuous piece of elastic material overlying at least a part of the opening. The elastic material is stretchable from an unstretched condition in which a central portion (36) of the elastic material blocks at least a part of the opening to a stretched condition in which the central portion of the elastic material is stretched and moved away from the opening to unblock the opening. When the opening is unblocked, inflation fluid is vented through the opening.

Abstract: An air bag (10) comprises an elongate panel (20) having first and second longitudinally extending side portions (40,50) and a longitudinally extending central portion (60). The panel (20) has first and second opposite end portions (70,80). A first side seam (102) extends along the first side portion (40) of the panel (20). A second side seam (104) extends along the second side portion (50) of the panel (20). A transverse seam (100) joins the first end portion (70) of the panel (20) to the second end portion (80) of the panel. The seams (100, 102, 104) provide the air bag (10) with a pillow-shaped configuration when inflated. The first side portion (40) of the panel (20) is tucked inside the central portion (60) of the panel and is sewn to the central portion with a first tearable stitching section (110) when the air bag (10) is in the deflated condition.

Abstract: An inflatable air bag (10) includes axially spaced inboard and outboard side sections (200, 202) and an intermediate section (204) extending between the side sections. The air bag has a primary chamber (160) which has a generally U-shaped configuration when inflated. A base portion (162) of the primary chamber (160) extends between the inboard and outboard side sections (200, 202) of the air bag (10) and receives inflation fluid from an inflator (186). Axially spaced first and second inflatable side portions (164,166) of the primary chamber (160) are in fluid communication with the base portion (162) of the primary chamber at opposite axial sides of the base portion. The air bag also (10) includes a secondary chamber (170). At least one secondary panel (20) of the air bag (10) has at least one ambient air aspiration opening (40) for aspirating ambient air into the secondary chamber (170).

Abstract: An air bag (10) includes a torso portion (120) for protecting the torso (180) of a vehicle occupant (16) and a head portion (130) for protecting the head (182) of the vehicle occupant from contact with the windshield (186) of the vehicle (14) due to relative movement of the head and the vehicle part in a first direction (188). The head portion (130) of the air bag (10) includes first and second fabric material panel portions (148, 150) which are sewn together at at least three predetermined locations (140) spaced apart across the width of the head portion. The first and second fabric material panel portions (148, 150) extend generally parallel to each other when inflated to provide the head portion (130) of the air bag (10) with a generally flat configuration. The head portion (130) of the air bag (10) is relatively thin as measured in the first direction (188) to minimize the amount of inflation fluid needed for inflation of the air bag.

Abstract: First and second hinge leaves are mounted respectively on the body and the door with one hinge leaf having a pivot pin and the other hinge having a hinge aperture adapted to engage the pivot pin to establish a door hinge pivot axis. The first and second leaves have flanges which interengage one another through the normal range of pivoting movement of the door between open and closed position so as to maintain the engagement between the hinge aperture and the pivot pin. The door is separable from the body by pivoting the door beyond the range of normal pivoting movement to disengage the bearing portions of the hinge leaves from one another and then lifting the door axially of the hinge pin axis to disengage the hinge aperture and the pivot pin. The separable door hinge also includes an offset auxiliary pivot axis provided by an alignment abutment on one of the hinge leaves axis and an alignment notch provided on the other of the hinge leaves.