| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7213836 |
Curtain air bag module |
May 8, 2007 |
| A curtain air bag module (100) comprising an air bag (102) having at least one inflatable region with internally configured internal tethers, at least one of the internal tethers disposed at an angle to a stream of inflation gas. The air bag includes a distribution tube located proximate |
| 7198293 |
Side impact air bag with head protection region |
April 3, 2007 |
| An air bag assembly (20) including air bag (30) having at least a first inflatable region (32) having a plurality of restrictions peripherally located about the inflatable region and configured to restrict the degree of inflation of the air bag proximate the restrictions and configured t |
| 7198285 |
Airbag cover |
April 3, 2007 |
| A cover for an airbag of an airbag module, in particular a side airbag, is made from at least sheet, preferably of a nonwoven material, which is folded along two edge regions to form a longitudinally extending passageway for receiving an airbag. The end regions of the cover are prefe |
| 7182370 |
Height adjuster or adjustable turning loop |
February 27, 2007 |
| A height adjuster (100, 200, 400) for a seat belt system comprising a mounting bar (102, 202, 402), a carrier (120, 220, 460, 460a) and a spring-loaded locking lever (170, 270, 490). The mounting bar is preferably oval or rectangular in cross-section with at least one wall (side wall |
| 7180258 |
Controlling current supplied to electric motor of a seat belt retractor |
February 20, 2007 |
| A method and a device for adjusting a supply current, which feeds an electric motor, the torque of which is transferred to a belt reel of a seat belt retractor of a motor vehicle, whereby the motor current of the electric motor is measured during the torque generation and compared as a |
| 7152880 |
Grooved air bag |
December 26, 2006 |
| An air bag (100) having a main panel (102) having face panel portion (103) configured to face an occupant when the air bag is inflated, the main panel in the vicinity of the face panel portion including an opening (130, 130a, 130b), the opening having an edge (140). A cup-shaped stru |
| 7152491 |
Magnetostrictive vehicle weight sensor |
December 26, 2006 |
| A vehicle seat weight sensing system includes a plurality of sensors mounted below a seating surface of a vehicle seat. Each sensor includes a tubular inner wall about which are coiled an activation coil and a detection coil. All of the weight of the seating surface is borne by the i |
| 7147251 |
Seat belt pretensioner |
December 12, 2006 |
| A pretensioner for a three point seat belt has a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of a vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder. A pyrotechnic means moves the piston in a direction that is longitudinal relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction. |
| 7147245 |
Airbag deployment monitoring apparatus |
December 12, 2006 |
| An airbag module, in particular for a frontal airbag, has an inflator, an airbag and at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element. A first end of the measuring element is connected to an inside surface of the airbag and the second end of which is substantially arr |
| 7143663 |
Steering wheel with thermoplastic composites |
December 5, 2006 |
| A steering wheel or other component for motor vehicle interiors, is produced by pressure thermoforming an external layer of decorative material, together with an internal structural layer of support material that includes a matrix of thermoplastic material and a plurality of reinforc |
| 7137650 |
Seat belt pretensioner |
November 21, 2006 |
| A pretensioner for a three point seat belt has a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of the vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder. The piston can move translationally relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction. A flexible member is arranged in a |
| 7137648 |
Load limiting structure for vehicle occupant restraint system |
November 21, 2006 |
| A load-limiting device has a mechanical structure designed to dissipate forces applied by a vehicle occupant to a safety belt during a crash. The load limiting device comprises a housing and a deformable member, at least one of which is configured for connection to a vehicle safety belt |
| 7131667 |
Seat belt pretensioner |
November 7, 2006 |
| A pretensioner for a three point vehicle safety restraint seat belt, has a mounting for one end of the seat belt. The mounting is a first member fixed to a load bearing part of the vehicle. A second member is attached to the end of the seat belt. A means is provided for moving the second |
| 7131664 |
Airbag with a strategically placed recess |
November 7, 2006 |
| An airbag (10) has an inflatable chamber (301) defined by a main front panel (12) and a pair of side panels (24), (26). The airbag (10) has a vertically oriented recessed portion (20) on the main panel (12) located on a lower portion of an airbag (10), preferably vertically at or below a |
| 7131662 |
Airbag with tear seam sensor and deployment rate sensor |
November 7, 2006 |
| An airbag assembly employs tape sensors to monitor the rate at which an airbag is deployed. The airbag is part of an airbag module that incorporates a vent that can be actuated if it is determined by logic associated with the airbag that the airbag has prematurely collided with an ob |
| 7121581 |
Switch assembly for an airbag module attachment |
October 17, 2006 |
| A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag module engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding armature engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multip |
| 7118133 |
Seat belt pretensioner |
October 10, 2006 |
| A seat belt pretensioner acts upon the sill end of a three point seat belt. A fixed member of the pretensioner is adapted to be fixed to a load bearing part of the vehicle. A movable member is connected to the sill end of the seat belt and is slideable with respect to the fixed member. |
| 7107133 |
Simulated airbag squib interface |
September 12, 2006 |
| An electronic circuit connects to an airbag crash controller in a way which is functionally identical to an airbag squib. Based on a squib fire signal from the controller, the circuit provides an activation signal indicating airbag deployment and also allows communication with an airbag |
| 7090246 |
Anti-submarining airbag module |
August 15, 2006 |
| An airbag module is disposed in the vehicle seat as an anti-submarining airbag module that includes an inflator, or a connection therefor, a tubular airbag, the two free ends of which are folded over at least once transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the airbag to form |
| 7081801 |
Magnetostrictive stress wave sensor |
July 25, 2006 |
| A shock sensor has a housing with a Terfenol-D type sensing element positioned inside a sensing coil. A permanent biasing magnet is positioned in engagement with the Terfenol-D sensing element, and a spacer engages the Terfenol-D sensing element and extends from the housing. The hous |
| 7081692 |
Airbag deployment monitor and sensing electronics |
July 25, 2006 |
| An airbag deployment sensor has a cartridge containing a quantity of tape one end of which is attached to the inside surface of an airbag cushion. Deployment of the cushion pulls tape from the cartridge at a rate that is monitored by transmitting light through the tape, or by detecting t |
| 7080856 |
D-ring with universal movement and bolt |
July 25, 2006 |
| A web guide assembly has a D-ring to receive a seatbelt. The D-ring is attached to a support by a joint. The joint allows universal movement relative to the support. The web guide assembly may be part of a vehicle restraint system. |
| 7070203 |
Airbag deployment rate sensor with electrostatic dissipative guide slots |
July 4, 2006 |
| An airbag deployment rate sensor has a printed circuit board with a substrate that has guide slots for the withdrawal of deployable tapes. Each tape is fastened to the interior of the airbag. When the airbag is deployed, the tapes are withdrawn from tape cartridges mounted with respe |
| 7055856 |
Airbag module for selectively venting airbag inflation gas |
June 6, 2006 |
| An airbag module comprises an airbag inflatable through an opening and an airbag inflator in communication with the opening. A block selectively diverts inflation gas away from the airbag opening. The block may move from a first position and a second position, the first position perm |
| 7052034 |
Anti-submarining airbag for vehicle seat |
May 30, 2006 |
| An airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat has an airbag with an inflator located inside the airbag. The inflator has a first free end and an opposite second free end. The second free end of the inflator has a connection section projecting from the airbag. At least one part of |
| 7048298 |
Upward deploying inflatable knee bolster with mechanical guides |
May 23, 2006 |
| A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is |
| 7044502 |
Dual stage pyrotechnic driver inflator |
May 16, 2006 |
| The dual stage inflator has a divider plate that separates gas generant in the primary chamber from gas generant in the secondary chamber. Burning of the gas generant yields inflation gas that is useful for inflating a vehicle airbag. The gas generant from the primary chamber is ignited |
| 7044500 |
Side impact or curtain air bag with position enhancing or locating mechanism |
May 16, 2006 |
| A side impact air bag curtain apparatus comprising: an inflatable air bag adapted to be installed within a vehicle in a stowed condition proximate the roof rail of a vehicle and when inflated expands from the stowed condition to a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side |
| 7034708 |
Active magnetostrictive sensor for automotive horn or occupant weight sensor |
April 25, 2006 |
| An improved force-measurement system utilizes active magnetostrictive sensors for generating a signal representative of a force, such as the weight of a person or thing on a seat within a motor vehicle, or the force applied to the horn sensor switch on a vehicle steering wheel. The a |
| 7029024 |
Air bag housing |
April 18, 2006 |
| An air bag module has an air bag, an air bag inflator and an air bag housing. The air bag has flaps that extend through slots in the air bag housing. The flaps are folded onto hooks on the exterior of the air bag housing. The slots extend around a mouth of the air bag housing. |
| 7025297 |
Seat belt retractor |
April 11, 2006 |
| A seat belt retractor has a spool mounted for rotation on the retractor, for retraction or payout of seat-belt webbing depending upon the rotation direction of the spool. The spool is locked against rotation when a crash condition is sensed. A force limiter allows further payout of the s |
| 7021653 |
Air bag module with partial external hood or tether |
April 4, 2006 |
| An air bag assembly (20) comprising: an air bag (24) and means for inflating the air bag, and a partial hood or tether (40) for causing the air bag to inflate in an asymmetric manner during inflation, the hood or tethers operatively disengageable from the air bag. |
| 7007973 |
Tubular dual stage inflator |
March 7, 2006 |
| A tubular inflator has a bulkhead that divides the inflator into a first and second combustion chambers. Each combustion chamber has an igniter assembly, gas generant, and compressed wire filter. The wire filters in the inflator are positioned so that they contact the bulkhead. The f |
| 6997479 |
Magnetic adjustable turning loop |
February 14, 2006 |
| A vehicle safety restraint adjuster has a vehicle safety restraint support and a guide for the support. The support is moveable along the guide. The adjuster further has a lock which secures the safety restraint support at a position on the guide in the locked state and allows the suppor |
| 6994372 |
Air bag cover with articulated tear seam |
February 7, 2006 |
| A steering wheel assembly having a fastenerless air bag module assembly is disclosed. This assembly employs a housing with a projection and a steering wheel armature configured to receive the projection. The cover is retained between the housing and the steering wheel armature. Furth |
| 6993436 |
Device for measuring force on a seat belt |
January 31, 2006 |
| A measuring device for measuring a pulling force acting on a belt webbing of a seat belt of a motor vehicle is located between an anchoring point of the seat belt on the vehicle and a connection device which is to be connected to the seat belt. The connection device, in relation to the |
| 6983956 |
Dual stage pyrotechnic inflator |
January 10, 2006 |
| The inflator has a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber. Gas generant contained in the first combustion chamber is independently ignited from gas generant contained in the second combustion chamber. A divider plate extends across the entire inflator dividing the i |
| 6974154 |
Strap for securing a side airbag |
December 13, 2005 |
| A side airbag has at least one strap, which can be connected at its first end via a fastening portion to the airbag and at its second end to a vehicle part. The fastening portion of the strap and a second portion adjoining it each have constant cross-sections and a tapered portion is |
| 6972558 |
Magnetic sensor system |
December 6, 2005 |
| A magnetic sensor assembly measures changes in the position of a lever arm. The magnetic sensor assembly has a support. A lever arm can pivot about an axis of rotation or a pivot point and is attached to the support at a first end of the lever arm. A magnet produces a magnetic field adja |
| 6969022 |
Seat belt retractor |
November 29, 2005 |
| A seat belt retractor has a rotatable spool for retraction or payout of seat belt webbing wound thereon, depending upon the rotation direction of the spool. A locking wheel is attached to one end of the spool. The spool to is locked to the locking wheel when a crash is sensed. A force li |
| 6966518 |
Clutch for tension reducer |
November 22, 2005 |
| A seat belt retractor assembly has a seat belt retractor for generating a retraction force to rewind a seat belt on a reel. A coupling device selectively couples and decouples the retractor from the reel. A tensioning device generates a tensioning force in the seat belt when in an ac |
| 6962364 |
Curtain air bag assembly |
November 8, 2005 |
| A side curtain air bag assembly is provided, which has an inlet configured to receive inflation gas, a plurality of inflatable chambers; and a distribution tube in fluid communication with the inlet of the air bag. The inlet and the distribution tube are configured to cause inflation gas |
| 6959946 |
Retention feature for an adjustable turning loop |
November 1, 2005 |
| A vehicle restraint adjuster has a guide and a support for a vehicle restraint. The support is moveable along the guide. A securing member is provided to secure the guide to a vehicle body. The securing member is selectively actuable between a first position interfering with movement of |
| 6957789 |
Seat belt retractor |
October 25, 2005 |
| A U-shaped frame for a seat belt retractor has two spaced arms made from a material of a predetermined thickness and having a cutout in the material of each arm for receiving a lockbar. Each cutout has an edge comprising a land portion for supporting the lockbar, which land portion is of |
| 6955377 |
Inflatable restraint module with external tether |
October 18, 2005 |
| An air bag module comprising an air bag pack including an inflator and folded air bag is disclosed; the air bag is capable of inflating upon receipt of inflation gas and includes a tether having a first portion fixedly attached in relation to one of the air bag and the inflator, the |
| 6953204 |
Switch assembly for an airbag module attachment |
October 11, 2005 |
| A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag module engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding armature engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multip |
| 6951532 |
Method of folding an airbag containing sensor tapes integrated within the airbag |
October 4, 2005 |
| An airbag is folded by attaching a line located inside the airbag to a front side an airbag and extending the line across a guide. The airbag is then compacted around the guide and the line. The line is then placed in communication with a sensor. The line may be a flexible element having |
| 6942244 |
Cover and housing structure for an airbag module |
September 13, 2005 |
| New and useful constructions for an airbag cover and housing, and new and useful assembly technique for coupling the airbag housing and cover to form an airbag module, are provided. According to the present invention an airbag cover and housing are configured so that the cover is tightly |
| 6935701 |
Articulating lock adjustable turning loop |
August 30, 2005 |
| An adjustable turning loop for a vehicle comprises a rail and a slide for a web guide. The slide is slideably received on the rail. A lock maintains a slide at a position on the rail. The lock has a locked condition limiting movement of the slide on the rail and an unlocked condition all |
| 6932378 |
Passenger air bag module with cover coupling mechanism |
August 23, 2005 |
| Disclosed is a passenger module (10) with a cover coupling mechanism (12, 14, 28, 30). The cover coupling mechanism has a generally C-shaped bracket (12, 14), which interfaces with a plurality of slots (65, 66) defined in an air bag cover (20). The C-shaped bracket further has a pluralit |
