Abstract: An occupant protection device deployment system and safety network including at least one module housing, at least one deployable component such as an airbag associated with each housing, a deployment initiator associated with each housing for initiating deployment of the component, a determination unit for determining that deployment of one or more of the components is desired, and respective electronic control units arranged within, adjacent or proximate each housing and coupled to a respective deployment initiator and the determination unit via an electrical bus for causing the deployment initiator to deploy the component in the respective housing upon receiving a signal from the determination unit. The control units include a power supply for enabling operation of the initiator.

Abstract: An infinite door check mechanism for enabling a door to be moved from a closed position in a door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions including a clevis adapted to be mounted to the frame, an elongate strip member mounted to the clevis and directed outward from the frame, a door check housing adapted to be mounted on the door, the strip member extending at least partially through the housing, and a support member arranged in the housing. A rotatable locking member is arranged in the housing such that the strip member is interposed between the locking member and the support member. A biasing member such as a spring is positioned in the housing for selectively pressing the locking member against the strip member to force the strip member against the support member and thereby retain the strip member in a fixed position resulting in checking of the door and releasing pressure of the locking member against the strip member and thereby enable movement of the strip member.

Abstract: A vehicle crush detecting device including an electrically conducting tube with an electrically conducting rod positioned within the tube along with insulators positioned at least two points between the rod and tube to insulate the rod from the tube. The electrically conducting tube is deformed during a vehicle crash causing the tube to contact the rod in response to crush of the vehicle. A header/connector assembly seals a space between the rod and tube at one end while a space between the rod and tube at the opposite end is closed. The header/connector assembly includes electrical connector pins electrically coupled to the rod and tube and having an exposed portion for connection to a wire harness. The device is used to sense crashes for the deployment of automobile passive restraint systems such as airbags.

Abstract: Occupant protection system for protecting one or more occupants of a vehicle including a deployable occupant protection device arranged on at least one of the seats, a deployment determining unit which generates a signal indicative of whether deployment of the occupant protection device is desired, and an electrical bus extending into the seat and electrically coupling the occupant protection device and the deployment determining unit. The signal from the deployment determining unit is sent over the bus to the occupant protection device to enable deployment thereof. The occupant protection device may include an airbag module having an airbag and be arranged at a rear of the seat to be deployable rearward for protecting an occupant situated behind the seat. The deployment determining unit preferably includes a crash sensor coupled to the bus for sensing a crash event and providing a signal indicative thereof.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for forming a block of folded material, and a method for forming a block of folded material. The inventive apparatus includes a folder for folding a web onto a block, a holder holding an end of the web from a bottom layer of the block. The apparatus further includes a cutter for providing an end portion from an uppermost layer of the block. The inventive method includes the steps of folding a web onto a receiving element until a portion of the web forms a folded block of a preselected height, and feeding the uppermost web layer to a cutter. The inventive method further includes cutting an uppermost web layer to form an end portion, and laying the end portion from a bottom layer of the block at least partly on top of the block.

Abstract: An occupant protection device deployment system and safety network including at least one module housing, at least one deployable component such as an airbag associated with each housing, a deployment initiator associated with each housing for initiating deployment of the component, a determination unit for determining that deployment of one or more of the components is desired, and respective electronic control units arranged within, adjacent or proximate each housing and coupled to a respective deployment initiator and the determination unit via an electrical bus for causing the deployment initiator to deploy the component in the respective housing upon receiving a signal from the determination unit. The control units include a power supply for enabling operation of the initiator.

Abstract: A system for forming a block of folded material, and a method for folding material into a block. The system includes a folding mechanism, a lifting element receiving and supporting the block of folding material, a press acting on the block to compress an uppermost layer of the web material onto the block, a sensor detecting a degree of compression in the block, and an actuator capable of moving the the lifting element relative to the folding mechanism. The actuator moves the lifting element in response to the degree of compression in the block. The folding mechanism is made up of a pair of mutually parallel and counter-rotating cylinders between which the continuous web of material is fed. A grip and a pushing device are formed on each of the cylinders, and are are positioned such that as the cylinders rotate, the pushing device from one cylinder pushes material into the grip of the other.

Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle formed from sections of material joined to one another, e.g., heat-sealed or adhesively-sealed, such that interconnected compartments receivable of an inflating medium are formed. The sections of material may be fabric or discrete sheets of film with optional tear propagation arresting devices. Two or more of the sections of material may be at least partially in opposed relationship to one another and then joined to one another at locations other than at a periphery of any of the sections to thereby form the interconnected compartments between the sections of material. The sections of material may also be joined to one another along parallel lines such that the interconnected compartments formed between the sections of material are elongate, i.e., substantially straight, and when inflated will be tubular.

Abstract: A vehicle crush detecting device including an electrically conducting tube with an electrically conducting rod positioned within the tube along with insulating means positioned at at least two points between the rod and tube to insulate the rod from the tube. The electrically conducting tube is deformed during a vehicle crash causing the tube to contact the rod in response to crush of the vehicle. A header/connector assembly seals a space between the rod and tube at one end while a space between the rod and tube at the opposite end is closed. The header/connector assembly includes electrical connector pins electrically coupled to the rod and tube and having an exposed portion for connection to a wire harness. The device is used to sense crashes for the deployment of automobile passive restraint systems such as airbags.

Abstract: A vehicle crush detecting device including an electrically conducting tube with an electrically conducting rod concentrically positioned within the tube along with insulating means positioned at at least two points between the rod and the tube to insulate the rod from the tube. The electrically conducting tube is deformed during a vehicle crash by a force greater than a predetermined magnitude which causes the tube to contact the rod in response to the crush of a vehicle. The crush sensor is mounted at the rear boundary of the Crush Sensor Zone of the vehicle for frontal and rear impacts and in the door or other appropriate side position for side. The sensor is used to sense crashes for the deployment of automobile passive restraint systems such as airbags.

Abstract: Hollow synthetic monofilament yarns are used in the construction of a base fabric for a papermakers wet felt. The synthetic hollow monofilament yarns have selected interior void, compressibility and resiliency characteristics and are interwoven with other yarns to form a woven base fabric with the hollow monofilament yarns predominating, on at least the paper carrying side of the base fabric. The weaving and finishing of the base fabric results in the hollow monofilament yarns retaining a substantially unflattened cross-section. Accordingly, substantially unflattened portions of the hollow monofilament yarns predominate the paper carrying side of the base fabric thereby providing a cushioning surface which is compressibly resilient to assist in the dewatering of the aqueous paper web as it is transported through a press nip during the manufacture of the paper.

Abstract: An airbag deployment system including at least one module housing, at least one deployable airbag associated with each housing, an inflator associated with each housing for inflating the airbag(s) to deploy into the passenger compartment, an airbag inflation determination unit for determining that deployment of the airbag(s) is/are desired, and respective electronic control units arranged within or proximate each housing and coupled to a respective inflator and the airbag inflation determination unit for initiating the inflator to inflate the airbag(s) in the respective housing upon receiving a signal from the airbag inflation determination unit. The control units include a power supply for enabling initiation of the inflator.

Abstract: An inflatable occupant restraint module including a housing mounted in the vehicle and having an interior, a deployable airbag contained within the housing interior prior to deployment, an inflator coupled to the housing for inflating the airbag by supplying a gas into the airbag interior and an initiator for initiating the supply of gas into the airbag interior in response to a crash of the vehicle. The airbag includes at least one non-perforated sheet of film defining the airbag interior and a thermoplastic elastomeric material arranged at specific locations in connection with the sheet(s) of film such that the locations are thicker in comparison to an average thickness of the sheet(s) of film.

Abstract: An infinite door check mechanism for enabling a door to be moved from a closed position in a door frame to any one of a plurality of different open positions including a clevis adapted to be mounted to the frame, an elongate strip member mounted to the clevis and directed outward from the frame, a door check housing adapted to be mounted on the door, the strip member extending at least partially through the housing, and a support member arranged in the housing. A movable locking member is arranged in the housing such that the strip member is interposed between the locking member and the support member. A biasing member such as a spring is positioned in the housing for selectively pressing the locking member against the strip member to force the strip member against the support member and thereby retain the strip member in a fixed position and releasing pressure of the locking member against the strip member and thereby enable movement of the strip member.

Abstract: An airbag module to protect an occupant in the passenger compartment in the event of a crash of the vehicle. In a most basic embodiment, the module includes an elongate housing having a length in the longitudinal direction which is substantially larger than its width or thickness in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, an airbag situated within the housing, an inflator arranged in the housing to produce pressurized gas to inflate the airbag, mounting members for mounting the module in the passenger compartment and an initiator for initiating the inflator to produce the pressurized gas in response to the crash of the vehicle. The housing includes a cover for releasably retaining the airbag so that it can deploy upon inflation of the airbag.

Abstract: An inflatable occupant restraint device in an occupant protection system of a vehicle including a housing mounted in the vehicle and having an interior, at least one deployable airbag contained within the housing interior prior to deployment, an inflator coupled to the housing for inflating the airbag, the airbag being attached to and in fluid communication with the inflator, and an initiator for initiating a gas supply mechanism in the inflator to supply gas into the interior of the airbag in response to a crash of the vehicle. The airbag is made of a first non-perforated sheet of film and a member arranged in connection with the film sheet for arresting the propagation of a tear in the film sheet.

Abstract: Flexible prosthetic implants for repairing, replacing or augmenting hard tissue or bone. The flexible implant comprises a plurality of segments that are connected by flexible retainers which enable the segments to be re-oriented in relation to one another to accommodate the contour, size and shape of the body part being treated. A method for making such flexible prosthetic implants is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflatable occupant restraint device in an occupant protection system of a vehicle having at least two pieces of substantially flat inelastic plastic film having peripheral edges attached together only at their peripheral edges to form a substantially sealed airbag, an inflator coupled to the airbag and to the vehicle for inflating the airbag by providing gas to the airbag through at least one port in one of the pieces of elastic film, and an initiator for initiating the inflator in response to a crash of the vehicle. Upon inflation of the airbag, the at least two pieces of inelastic plastic film deform substantially without stretching, in particular to create a shape for the airbag where the thickness is substantially smaller than the width or height and/or to provide the airbag with an ellipsoidal shape.

Abstract: Flexible prosthetic implants for repairing, replacing or augmenting hard tissue or bone. The flexible implant comprises a plurality of segments that are connected by flexible retainers which enable the segments to be re-oriented in relation to one another to accommodate the contour, size and shape of the body part being treated. A method for making such flexible prosthetic implants is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle crush detecting device consists of an electrically conducting tube with an electrically conducting rod concentrically positioned within the tube along with insulating means positioned at at least two points between the rod and the tube to insulate the rod from the tube. The electrically conducting tube is deformed during a vehicle crash by a force greater than a predetermined magnitude which causes the tube to contact the rod in response to the crush of a vehicle of a predetermined amount. The crush sensor is mounted in the crush zone of the vehicle and is used in conjunction with automobile passive restraint systems such as airbags.