Takata Corporation

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

James P Karlow

Mohamed Boumarafi

Jonathan P Hurford

Jeffrey Scott Swanberg

James M Kumkoski

A seatbelt energy management device which includes a resistance mechanism coupled to a seatbelt apparatus having a magnetorheological fluid, a permanent magnet having a first magnetic field which orients the magnetorheological fluid to increase the magnetorheological fluid's viscosity, an electromagnet which generates a second magnetic field to cancel the first magnetic field of the permanent magnet to decrease the magnetorheological fluid's viscosity, where the resistance mechanism is controlled by the magnetorheological fluid's viscosity.

Variable level seatbelt energy management device

An air bag module with adjustable cushion inflation is provided by including a valve member in the module which is movable to change the size of an inflation outlet through which inflation fluid flows into an air cushion while simultaneously changing the size of a vent outlet which enables inflation fluid to be vented to the ambient atmosphere. The valve member is positioned by a control unit which receives input from various sensors within the vehicle regarding such factors as ambient temperature, occupant position, occupant weight, seat belt usage, etc to produce an optimum cushion inflation based upon these factors.

Air bag module with adjustable cushion inflation

A vehicle side impact restraint system especially adapted for providing head impact protection. The system employs a deployable restraint curtain which is maintained stowed in an undeployed condition within a slot along the upper edge of a vehicle side door window. A track assembly is vertically mounted along the rear edge of the window and includes a gas generator, a track, and a sliding projectile. The upper edge of the triangularly shaped curtain is attached to the vehicle whereas the rear end of the lower edge is mounted to the projectile. Upon deployment, the sliding projectile pulls the curtain to a downward position in response to a deployment signal sent to the gas generator. The projectile reaches the lower end of the track where it is locked in position thus stretching the curtain across a portion of the window area, thus providing a surface for impact energy absorption.

Side impact head restraint system

An airbag module for a motor vehicle incorporating simplified assembly features. The airbag module assembly includes a retainer bracket element having a series of protruding tabs. These tabs are passed through slits of the airbag material and also engage slots in the module housing. The components are oriented and dimensioned such that the retainer bracket elastically deforms during assembly and allows the tabs to engage the housing slots by snapping into position.

Airbag module with simplified cushion attachment

A side impact head restraint with inflatable deployment in which an inflatable member having a movable mounting point is used to deploy a fabric panel during a side impact collision for head protection. The inflatable member, made of coated fabric, is pressurized by a gas generator. The inflatable member is connected to fabric panel and is used to bring a fabric panel into position in the window area of a side door of the vehicle. The fabric panel is secured at three points, two fixed points located on the upper side rail and a third movable point on a track located on the 'B' pillar. The inflatable member pushes the movable mounting point down the track from a position near the upper side rail down to a position immediately below the centerline of the side glass. The movable point locks into position at the end of the travel, when fully deployed. The fabric panel can then be loaded by the head wherein fabric elongation absorbs head impact energy.

Side impact head restraint with inflatable deployment

An inflatable restraint housing for enclosing an air cushion assembly and securing the assembly within a vehicle is provided. The one-piece housing is formed of thermoplastic material and includes an inboard and outboard half hingedly secured together and enclosing the air cushion assembly in a tapered interior chamber. The housing is generally cylindrical having an inboard and outboard directing ramp formed on the respective inner surfaces of each half to define a tapering elliptical cross-section which focuses the energy generated by the inflation of the air cushion allowing the air cushion to rapidly emerge from the housing. The tapered interior chamber of housing also directs the air cushion into the desired position within the vehicle interior during deployment.

Inflatable restraint modular housing with deployment directing feature

An inflatable restraint module especially adapted for seat mounted side impact protection. The restraint module incorporates a retainer bracket with projecting deformable tab fingers which are loaded inside the bag through an access slit. Slots on opposite sides of the access slit are overlapped and placed such that the retainer bracket tab fingers extend through them. A sheet metal mounting bracket is then installed over the air bag. A cylindrical inflator is installed through holes formed in the mounting bracket and air bag into the interior cavity of the retainer bracket. This sub-assembly can be mounted into a plastic housing having slots which permit the tab fingers to extend to the exterior of the housing where they can be deformed to interlock the components in an assembled condition.

Simplified inflatable restraint module

A system for venting excessively high pressure gas incident to deployment of an airbag comprising a diaphragm that is rupturable upon the occurrence of a threshold pressure internally of the airbag to instantaneously release said pressure.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, MI, United States of America

James P Karlow