T K Holdings, Inc.

Tasus Canada Corporation

Jerome Bosch

Jason Carl Lisseman

Barney J Bauer

David Andrews

James Peter Karlow

Amy L Klinkenberger

Vaughn Pipe

Paul George Maertens

Jonathan L Clarke

Stephanie Marie McFadden

John Paul Ruterbusch

Paul Alan Baker

Michael J Scavnicky

Moe M Boumarafi

Joseph M Ehrke

Nate Dennis

Vivekananadhan Maripudi

Jamie F Perez Aguilar

Ray John Roberts

Valerie D Gardner

Brandon Scott Marriott

Nathaniel James Dennis

Vivekanandan Maripudi

Steve Pasteiner

Multi-piece constructions for an illuminated emblem assembly for connection to an airbag cover are provided herein. An airbag assembly can include an airbag cover, an emblem portion having one or more translucent areas and an illumination source. The illumination source can include a light guide and one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminating the light guide. The light guide can include an illuminated portion for transmitting light emitted from the one or more LEDs. The emblem portion can be arranged between the airbag cover and the illumination source, and the emblem portion and the illumination source can be aligned such that at least one of the one or more translucent areas is illuminated by light passing through the emblem portion from the illuminated portion.

Illuminated emblem assembly for connection to an airbag cover

Multi-piece constructions for an illuminated emblem assembly for connection to an airbag cover are provided herein. The multi-piece constructions include non-permanent means for connecting the illuminated emblem assembly to the airbag cover. An example emblem assembly can include an illumination source, an emblem portion having one or more translucent areas and a carrier portion. The emblem portion can include a decorative film and a lens, where the decorative film is coupled to the lens. The carrier portion can be configured to attach to the emblem portion. For example, the illumination source can be arranged between the emblem portion and the carrier portion when the emblem portion and the carrier portion are connected. The emblem portion and the illumination source can also be aligned such that at least one of the one or more translucent areas is illuminated by light passing through the emblem portion from the illumination source.

A sensor for installation on a steering wheel includes a pressure sensitive material mounted on a base material of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive material is configured to provide an electrical signal to a controller when pressure is applied. The controller provides a command to a vehicle system based on the electrical signal. The pressure sensitive material has at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance based on the amount or type of pressure that is applied to the material. The electrical signal is based on the at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance.

Steering wheel sensors

The invention relates to a vehicle safety system includes a steering wheel, a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors located in the steering wheel, and a control unit. The pressure sensitive sensors can be located in different regions of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive sensors can determine if a driver's hand is pressing upon a respective region of the steering wheel associated with one or more of the plurality of pressure sensitive sensors. The control unit can be configured or programmed to determine if at least one of the driver's hands is pressing upon a region of the steering wheel for a predetermined amount of time.

Steering wheel with hand pressure sensing

Multi-piece constructions for an illuminated emblem assembly for connection to an airbag cover are provided herein. An airbag assembly can include an airbag cover having front and rear surfaces, an emblem portion having one or more translucent areas and an illumination source. The airbag cover can include attachment elements protruding from the rear surface. The emblem portion and the illumination source can include openings for accommodating attachment elements. The illumination source can include a light guide and light emitting diodes (LEDs), where the LEDs are fitted in recesses formed in the light guide. The emblem portion can be arranged between the airbag cover and the illumination source, and the emblem portion and the illumination source can be aligned such that at least one of the one or more translucent areas is illuminated by light passing through the emblem portion from the illumination source.

An airbag module for use in a vehicle to provide restraint to an occupant of the vehicle. The module includes a cushion pack having an inflatable airbag cushion configured to inflate to restrain the occupant of the vehicle. An inflator is provided to supply inflation gas for inflating the airbag cushion. The module also includes an annular retaining member engaged with the cushion pack to thereby retain a portion of the cushion pack in the airbag module during deployment of the airbag cushion. An annular locking member is connected to the retaining member and to the inflator and is configured to prohibit substantial displacement of the inflator relative to the locking member during deployment of the airbag.

Airbag module

An occupant sensing system for a vehicle includes a pressure sensitive material installed in one or more pressure sensing zones in or around at least one vehicle seat. The pressure sensitive material of each zone is configured to provide an electrical signal to a controller when pressure is applied. The controller determines at least one of occupant presence, position, and classification based on the electrical signal. The pressure sensitive material has at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance based on the amount or type of pressure that is applied to the material. The at least one of a variable resistance and a variable capacitance changes characteristics of the electrical signal.

Occupant sensing system

A steering system for allowing an operator to control the direction of travel of a vehicle propelled on wheels. The steering system comprises a steering input device configured to include a handle pivotally coupled to a linkage assembly configured to swivel, wherein the handle is configured to move in the fore and aft direction, wherein the steering input device generates input data based on the position of the linkage assembly and/or the handle. The steering system further comprises a communication device to communicate the input data received by the steering input device to a lower steering system, wherein the lower steering system is configured to receive the input data from the steering input device and control the direction of the wheels based on the input data received.

Steering system

An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.

Passive airbag venting

An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag.

An airbag assembly includes an airbag and a system provided in contact with at least a portion of the airbag that includes a first member and a second member. The second member at least partially overlaps the first member and is held in contact during initial deployment of the airbag with the first member by a frictional force between the first member and the second member. The system is configured to cause the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to a vehicle occupant until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.

Deployment control device for air bag

First and second air bag cushion portions are joined to form a bi-lobular air bag cushion with an opening adapted to receive inflation gas from an air bag inflator. A first inner panel forms first and second chambers in the first cushion portion and provide for fluid communication therebetween proximate to a distal portion thereof. A second inner panel forms third and fourth chambers in the second cushion portion and provide for fluid communication therebetween proximate to a distal portion thereof. Relatively inboard first and third chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The second and fourth chambers are in fluid communication with the opening. In another embodiment, first and second distribution tubes provide for fluid communication between the opening and relatively distal portions of the first and second cushion portions. The inner panels and the distribution tubes provide for lateral inflation of the bi-lobular air bag.

Air bag

A central panel forming a duct of an airbag is operatively coupled to first and second lateral inboard panels and to first and second lateral outboard panels, and the associated inboard and outboard panels are operatively coupled to one another, so as to form first and second air bag cushion portions that are split across a central portion of the air bag and separated by a central gap. The central gap is adapted to provide for mitigating injury to an out of position occupant. The central portion of the air bag may be adapted with sufficient depth so as to provide sufficient restraint for a relatively large occupant.

Growing community of inventors

Romeo, MI, United States of America

Jerome Bosch