Ford Motor Company Limited

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Daniel C Bach, Jr

Scott A Kelley

John Louis Miklas

Thomas M Frusti

Ashir Prafull Thakore

Edgar Valdez

Robert F Kukla

A trim piece (40) for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (14) includes a deployment panel (42), a base (46), and a scrim (76). The deployment panel (42) covers the restraint (14) in the vehicle, and includes a deployment door (44), a hinge (102), and a door frame section (90) which surrounds the hinge (102) and the deployment door (44). The base (46) also surrounds the hinge (102) and the deployment door (44), and projects inward from the door frame section (90) to define a chute (48) through which the restraint (14) moves outward toward the deployment door (44). The scrim (76) is embedded in the deployment panel (42) and the base (46). The scrim (76) extends partially across the door frame section (90) toward the deployment door (44), extends inward from the door frame section (90) into the base (46), turns approximately 180.degree. within the base (46), extends back outward toward the deployment panel (42), and extends further from the base (46) to the deployment door (44) through the hinge (102).

Deployment door assembly for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint

A passenger seat (10) having a seat base (12) and a seam back (14) including an adjustable lumbar support member (70) is disclosed for enhancing passenger comfort and reducing passenger fatigue during long trips. The seat back (14) includes a pelvic support member (60) and a thoracic support member (74) flexibly interconnected to the lumbar support member (70) such that when the lumbar support member is adjusted, the pelvic and thoracic support members adjust to provide improved support for the back of the passenger.

Passenger seat with adjustable lumbar support

Growing community of inventors

Belleville, MI, United States of America

Daniel C Bach, Jr