Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for controlling actuation of a protection device for an occupant of a vehicle seat (12) includes the steps of: determining (44) when an output signal of a weight sensor rises from an initial value; waiting (46) a predetermined period of time (T2) after the output signal rises from the initial value; determining (48) the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time (T2); comparing (50) the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time with a first threshold weight (W1); enabling (52) actuation of the protection device if the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time exceeds the first threshold weight; and disabling (54) actuation of the protection device if the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time does not exceed the first threshold weight.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for controlling actuation of a protection device for an occupant of a vehicle seat (12) having a weight sensor (14) comprises the steps of: determining (44) when the value of an output signal of the weight sensor rises from an initial value; waiting (46) a predetermined period of time (T2) after the value of the output signal rises from the initial value; determining (48) the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time (T2); comparing (50) the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time with a first threshold weight (W1); enabling (52) actuation of the protection device if the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time exceeds the first threshold weight; and disabling (54) actuation of the protection device if the weight on the vehicle seat after the predetermined period of time does not exceed the first threshold weight.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device module (10) for a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) having a first panel portion (24) which inflates in a first direction (A), a second panel portion (26) which, when the vehicle occupant protection device (20) is inflated, is deployed in a second direction (B) transverse to the first direction (A). A cover (60) for the vehicle occupant protection device (20) has a tear seam (66) which tears during inflation of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The tear seam (66) defines a first door (82) in the cover (60). The first door (82) swings open in the second direction (B) during inflation of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20). A connection (90) connects the second panel portion (26) to the first door (82) to cause the first door to pull the second panel portion in the second direction (B) as the first door swings open.

Abstract: An air bag module (12) is mounted for rotation with a vehicle steering wheel (14) which has a steering axis (90). The module (12) includes an inflator (10) having separately actuatable first and second stages (40, 40a). The stages (40, 40a) include, respectively, first and second chambers (60, 60a) and an inflation fluid source (120, 120a) in each chamber for providing inflation fluid to inflate an air bag (16). An axis (58) of the first chamber (60) extends parallel to and is spaced apart from an axis (58a) of the second chamber (60a). The axes (58, 58a) of the chambers (60, 60a) extend transverse to the steering axis (90) on opposite sides of the steering axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, such as an air bag (102), includes sensors (30, 36, 60, 64, 70, 80, 84, 86, 88, 90, 502, 504, 506) for sensing at least two parameters that could affect an occupant restraining function of the restraint system. The sensors are connected to a controller (24). A regulating valve (120) is connected to a reaction can (103) of the air bag (102) and is controlled by a control signal from the controller (24). The controller (24) selects one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependant upon the at least two sensed parameters and provides the control signal based on the selected one of the discrete control zones.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprises a vehicle seat (12) including a seat bottom (14), a seat back (16), and an occupant position sensor (20) mounted in the seat back. The occupant position sensor is located about sixteen inches above a flat plane (99) of the seat bottom of the vehicle seat and below a head rest (11) of the vehicle seat. The seat back of the vehicle seat includes foam material (40) to which the occupant position sensor is secured. The seat back of the vehicle seat also includes fabric material (41) which covers the occupant position sensor secured to the foam material. The fabric material and the foam material of the seat back cooperate to protect the occupant position sensor and hide the occupant position sensor from view. The occupant position sensor senses the position of an occupant in the vehicle seat and provides a position signal (21) functionally related to the position of the occupant in the vehicle seat.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint system, such as an air bag (102), includes position sensors (80, 84, 86) for sensing position of an occupant and a weight sensor (70) for sensing weight of the occupant. Both the position sensors (80, 84, 86) and the weight sensor (70) are connected to a controller (24). A seat position sensor (30), a seat back incline sensor (36), and a belt payout sensor (64) are also used to determine occupant weight and position. A vent valve (120) is connected to the reaction can (103) of the air bag (102) and is controlled by the controller (24). The controller (24) establishes an occupant weight range from the weight sensors and an occupant position range from the position sensors. The controller (24) selects one of a plurality of discrete control zones dependant upon both the sensed occupant position range and the sensed occupant weight range.

Abstract: An apparatus for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle includes an air bag module (10) in the vehicle door (12). The air bag module includes front (60) and rear (50) air bags, a source (70) of inflation fluid, and a flow control apparatus (94). The flow control apparatus (94) is actuatable into either a first condition for directing inflation fluid from the source into the front air bag (60) or a second condition for directing inflation fluid into the rear air bag (50). A sensor (26) senses the position of the vehicle occupant and provides a position signal indicative of the vehicle occupant's position. An actuator (80) is responsive to the position signal for actuating the flow control apparatus (94) into either the first or conditions.

Abstract: A process for making a body of gas generating material comprising the steps of preparing a slurry of the ingredients of said gas generating material; extruding said slurry into a plurality of extrudate; forming the extrudate into spherical granules; and pressing a plurality of granules to form a unitary body.

Abstract: A gas generating grain has a water-based particulate booster coating thereon. The coating comprises an alkali metal azide, a water-soluble inorganic oxidizer in approximately a stoichiometric proportion of oxidizer to azide, and a nucleating amount of a small particle size metal oxide, preferably selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, nickel oxide and aluminum oxide. The coating is applied to said grain from a water slurry and dried, and when dried has an average particle size of less than about 50 microns.

Abstract: A wet mixture of a metal azide having a predetermined average particle size and a metal oxide is prepared. The wet mixture is ground to reduce at least the average particle size of the metal azide. Thereafter, the wet mixture is directed through a chamber containing grinding media. The grinding media is agitated as the mixture flows through the chamber to further reduce the average particle size of the metal azide to a desired particle size.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a gas generating material includes preparing a wet mixture of a metal azide and a metal oxide without prior mixing of the metal azide and metal oxide in dry form. The metal azide content of the gas generating material is controlled and the possibility of forming hazardous hydrazoic acid fumes is minimized by maintaining the temperature of the wet mixture of gas generating material between 20.degree. C. and 30.degree. C. The possibility of forming hydrazoic acid fumes is further reduced by maintaining the pH of the wet mixture of gas generating materials at or above 10.5. Excess liquid is removed from the wet mixture of gas generating materials so that the wet mixture has a moisture content of approximately 9%. The excess liquid from the wet mixture is recycled and used the formation of additional gas generating material.