Abstract: A vehicle braking arrangement includes a braking plate connected to a vehicle by a link arrangement. The braking plate is movable from a rest position to a braking position where contact is made with the ground, and includes a sealing rim arranged to at least partially contact the ground such that an at least partly enclosed volume is formed. The vehicle braking arrangement includes a low pressure container connected to the volume via a valve assembly. Air pressure in the low pressure container is below the air pressure of ambient air in the rest position of the braking plate. The valve assembly is arranged to be opened when the braking plate is in the braking position such that the pressure is lowered in the volume and the braking plate is pressed against the ground by a conferred pressure difference between air outside the volume and air in the volume.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a back-rest (1) carrying a head-rest (2). A mechanism is provided to move the head-rest (2) forwardly relative to the back-rest (1) in response to a rear impact situation. An element (9) is operatively located between the head-rest (2) and the mechanism (6) which is adapted to yield when exposed to a force in excess of a predetermined force. Thus the force that can be applied by the head-rest (2) to a head (8) of an occupant of the seat, is limited to be a maximum of 200 Newtons, with the preferred value being 100 Newtons.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for lowering the height of the front part of a motor vehicle. A radar sensor is provided to sense the proximity of an adjacent vehicle. A signal is passed to a control unit which responds when a potential accident situation is detected. An output passes to a valve unit which is actuated to permit gas from an inflatable element to escape through a nozzle. As the gas escapes the element reduces in length, and a lowering housing element connected to a wheel of a vehicle moves upwardly into an upper housing element which is fixed to part of the structure of the vehicle. Thus, the front part of the vehicle is lowered so that the bumper on the vehicle is at an appropriate height.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a squab and a back mounted for pivotal movement relative to the squab. A support plate is mounted to the squab, and the back of the seat is pivotally mounted to the support plate. A mechanism for providing a resistive force resists a first pivotal movement. The providing mechanism provides a first resistive force during a first energy impact and a second resistive force during a second energy impact. The first energy impact is a higher energy impact than the second energy impact.

Abstract: An air-bag (8) is mounted in the roof of a motor vehicle to be deployed in front of an occupant (7) of the vehicle. The air-bag is constrained by tear straps (15) within the air-bag to inflate initially as a “curtain” in front of the occupant of the vehicle, that curtain only having a relatively narrow thickness (t). When the tear-straps break, the bag has a more rounded configuration. The bas is releasably retained within a recess (9) which initially houses the bag. When the bag is fully inflated, the bag becomes totally separated from the recess, to prevent the bag forcing the head of the occupant rearwardly as the torso of the occupant moves forwardly during an accident.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame. The safety device includes: a gas generator; a sensor for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over for activating the gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to the gas generator for being inflated with gas from the gas generator upon activation of the gas generator. The inflatable element can thus assume a non-inflated mode and an inflated mode and can further be positioned adjacent the door in an inflated-mode thereof The inflatable element is further made of fabric and includes: a first fabric layer defining a front part thereof, a second fabric layer defining a back part thereof, selected parts of the first fabric layer and second fabric layer being interconnected for defining one of linear and point shaped links where the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are directly secured together.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a squab and a back which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the squab. The seat incorporates an energy absorbing force limiter adapted to absorb energy as the back of the seat moves rearwardly when subjected to a force from the torso of an occupant of the seat, for example, during a rear impact. The energy absorbing force limiter provides a first resistive force resisting the pivotal movement, and a second resistive force during a second subsequent pivotal movement. The resistive force provided during the first pivotal movement is dependent upon the energy of the rear impact. If the rear impact is low energy rear impact, the resistive force is relatively low whereas if the rear impact is a high-energy rear impact, the resistive force is relative high.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame includes: a gas generator; a sensor for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over for activating the gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to the gas generator for being inflated with gas from the gas generator upon activation of the gas generator. The inflatable element can thus assume a non-inflated mode and an inflated mode and can further be positioned adjacent the door in an inflated-mode thereof. The inflatable element is further made of fabric and includes: a first fabric layer defining a front part thereof; a second fabric layer defining a back part thereof, selected parts of the first fabric layer and second fabric layer being interconnected for defining one of linear and point shaped links where the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are directly secured together.

Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle which has a door frame and a door contained within the door frame. The safety device includes: a gas generator; a sensor for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over for activating the gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to the gas generator for being inflated with gas from the gas generator upon activation of the gas generator. The inflatable element can thus assume a non-inflated mode and an inflated mode and can further be positioned adjacent the door in an inflated-mode thereof. The inflatable element is further made of fabric and includes: a first fabric layer defining a front part thereof; a second fabric layer defining a back part thereof, selected parts of the first fabric layer and second fabric layer being interconnected for defining one of linear and point shaped links where the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are directly secured together.