Trw Limited

Other

Kevin M Brown

Timothy A Swann

Bryan W Shirk

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Eric C Erike

Vincent J Mramor

Kirk W Christiansen

Juede P Pajela

Cris C Cabral

Albert N Felix

Jess A Cuevas

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Alexander Heilig

Daniel R Sutherland

Dirk Schultz

Wesley D Pack, Jr

Vincent M Mramor

An instrument panel assembly ( ) comprises a structural carrier member ( ) which is formed as one piece and has a first section ( ) defining a first chamber ( ) for receiving and supporting a first component ( ). The structural carrier member ( ) has a second section ( ) defining a second chamber ( ) for receiving and supporting a second component ( ). The first component ( ) comprises a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) received in the first chamber ( ). The structural carrier member ( ) further defines a deployment opening ( ) through which the first protection device ( ) is inflatable from the first chamber ( ). The second component ( ) comprises an occupant knee protection device ( ) received in the second chamber ( ) for helping to protect the vehicle occupant's legs in the event of a vehicle collision.

Vehicle instrument panel assembly

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable protection device ( ). The apparatus ( ) also comprises an actuatable inflator ( ) remote from the protection device ( ) for providing inflation fluid under pressure for inflating the protection device. The apparatus ( ) further comprises a conduit ( ) connected in fluid communication between the inflator ( ) and at least a portion of the protection device ( ) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator to the protection device. The conduit ( ) includes at least one quick disconnect coupling ( ) through which inflation fluid flows from the inflator ( ) upon actuation of the inflator.

Air bag system with quick disconnect coupling

An apparatus includes a vehicle seat ( ) having a tubular seat frame ( ) defining a fluid manifold ( ). The apparatus also includes at least two deployable vehicle occupant protection devices ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle seat occupant from injury in the event of a vehicle collision. The protection devices ( ) are spaced apart from each other. The protection devices ( ) are in fluid communication with the fluid manifold ( ) and are deployable by fluid directed into the protection devices from the fluid manifold. A single actuatable device ( ) provides pressurized fluid for deploying one or more of the protection devices ( ). The actuatable device ( ) is in fluid communication with the fluid manifold ( ).

Vehicle safety seat with fluid manifold

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) and a roof ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof ( ) into a position between the side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus ( ) also includes a plastic housing ( ) for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) in a stored position. An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ). A fill tube ( ) directs the inflation fluid into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The fill tube ( ) is connected to the housing ( ) by plastic connection portions ( ) of the housing that have a surface ( ) in continuous engagement with portions of an outer surface ( ) of the fill tube. The connection portions ( ) and the remaining portions of the housing ( ) are constructed of a single piece of homogeneous plastic material.

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An apparatus (,) comprises a canister (,) and an inflatable device (,) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device (,) has a first portion (,) fixed in the apparatus (,) and also has a second portion (,). The apparatus (,) includes an inflation fluid source (,) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (,). A cover (,) for covering at least a portion of the canister (,) has a first portion (,) and a second portion (,). The first portion (,) of the cover (,) moves upon inflation of the inflatable device (,) to provide an opening (,) through which the second portion (,) of the inflatable device is deployed. The first portion (,) of the inflatable device (,) engages and is fixed to the second portion (,) of the cover (,) by structure (,) free of a retaining ring inside the canister (,) when the inflatable device is deflated and when the inflatable device is inflated.

Air bag module

An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel (,) of a vehicle (,) comprises a first steering column part (,), a second steering column part (,), and supporting structure (,) supporting the first steering column part and the vehicle steering wheel for movement relative to the second steering column part. An energy absorbing device (,) is interposed between the first steering column part (,) and the second steering column part (,) for resisting movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device (,) comprises a fluid (,) having a viscosity which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The energy absorbing device (,) also comprises at least one orifice (,) through which the fluid (,) flows upon movement of the first part (,) relative to the second part (,). The energy absorbing device (,) further comprises means (,) for varying the viscosity of the fluid to vary the rate of fluid flow through the orifice and thereby to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part relative to the second steering column part.

Adaptive collapsible steering column

A safety apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant (,) of a vehicle (,) in the event of a vehicle collision comprises an air bag system including at least one inflatable air bag (,) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The air bag (,), when inflated, unlocks at least one of the occupant's knees (,) to minimize forces transmitted through at least the corresponding one of the occupant's legs (,) to the occupant's pelvis (,). Seat belt webbing (,) restrains forward movement of the occupant (,) relative to the vehicle (,) when the occupant's knee (,) is unlocked.

Apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant's legs

An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises a knee bolster (,) for engaging at least one leg of the occupant to restrain the occupant. The knee bolster (,) comprises a metal tube (,) having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The metal tube (,) when in the expanded condition positions the knee bolster (,) to help protect the vehicle occupant. The apparatus (,) also comprises a pyrotechnic transfer line (,) extending within the collapsed metal tube (,). The pyrotechnic transfer line (,) when ignited generates fluid under pressure in the metal tube to expand the metal tube from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition. The apparatus (,) further comprises an igniter (,) for igniting the pyrotechnic transfer line (,).

Actuatable knee bolster

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes a seat (11) for a vehicle occupant. The seat (11) has a forward position in the vehicle and a rearward position in the vehicle. A support (20) for the seat (11) enables the seat to move on the support from the forward position to the rearward position in the vehicle. A break-away seat latch (41) maintains the seat (11) in the forward position. An actuator (45), when actuated, breaks the latch (41) and moves the seat (11) from the forward position to the rearward position.

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Kevin M Brown