Apple Inc.

Nathaniel J Dennis

Jesse T Buehler

Arturo Llamazares Domper

Alexander M Zoellner

Adam J Golman

Jorge C Fialho

Rikard Fredriksson

John J Baker

Donald R Monroe

Lukas Satas

Mikael P Sedlacek

Ronald A Bowers

Jonathan O Sive

Anthony Sagala Montevirgen

Sung Hoon Kim

Joel Frederic Jensen

Russell C Mead, Jr

Ronald Jack Smith

Donald J Parr

Tommaso P Rivellini

Erik Mikael Fermer

Bryce A Woollard

Alice C Watts

Kevin P Makowski

Robert R Mayer

Daniel E Rivera

Todd Elliot Lewis

David Jennings Dostal

A deployable restraint system includes an inflatable structure and a tether. The inflatable structure comprises a main chamber and a pair of auxiliary chambers coupled to the main chamber and sealed with respect to the main chamber. The tether is coupled to the inflatable structure via an anchor and configured to guide the anchor.

Deployable restraints with tensioning mechanisms

A system for securing a restraint system includes a retractor enclosing a spool, a sensor coupled to the spool, and a motor coupled to the spool and configured to rotate the spool about a spool rotation axis. The system also includes webbing configured to be wound and unwound from around the spool. An automatic locking retractor mode is enabled and disabled to selectively and automatically lock the retractor to prevent rotation of the spool when a predetermined length of the webbing is unwound from the spool.

Connector assembly

A support surface includes a support back, a housing defined within the support back, a restraint having a stowed position disposed within the housing, and a panel or a rail having a stowed position disposed within the housing. The support surface includes an anchor that couples an outer edge of the restraint to an outer edge of the panel or the rail. The panel or the rail is configured to guide the anchor and the restraint in traveling from the stowed positions to a deployed position spaced apart from the housing and the support back.

Deployable panel or rail with reaction surface

A restraint system includes a restraint, an anchor coupled to the restraint and movable along an anchor guide, an anchor energy-absorbing (EA) device configured to control movement of the anchor along the anchor guide, and a controller that includes a processor configured to receive information indicative of an imminent event, receive information indicative of a recline angle being above a recline threshold, and send a command to enable the anchor to move along the anchor guide under control of the anchor EA device based on the information indicative of the imminent event and the recline angle being above the recline threshold.

Restraint systems

A safety system includes an airbag configured to deploy from a rail and restrain motion of an occupant, a tether configured to deploy from a pillar, and an anchor coupling the tether and the airbag. The anchor is configured to travel from a stowed position proximate to the rail to a deployed position spaced apart from the rail and spaced apart from the pillar in unison with deployment of the airbag. The safety system includes a tensioning mechanism configured to apply force to the tether. Motion of the anchor is controlled by the force applied by the tensioning mechanism.

A restraint includes a belt, a connecting structure that is connected to the belt, a buckle housing that includes a connector opening for insertion of the connecting structure, a latch assembly that is configured to retain the connecting structure in the connector opening, and a release button that is connected to the buckle housing and is configured to cause the latch assembly to release the connecting structure when the release button is operated. A first indicator area is located on the buckle portion adjacent to the connector opening. A second indicator area is located on the release button. A third indicator area is located on the release button and is surrounded by the second indicator area.

Restraint with indicator area

A restraint system includes a restraint configured to deploy from an interior surface and restrain motion of an occupant and a support including a door coupled to an upper portion of the restraint. The door is configured to rotate about a pivot. The door includes a telescoping panel configured to telescopically extend from a stowed position behind the interior surface to a deployed position spaced apart from the interior surface in unison with deployment of the restraint so that the anchor reaches the deployed position after the door rotates about the pivot. The support is configured to orient the upper portion of the restraint in respect to motion of the occupant.

Telescoping panel with reaction surface

A safety system includes a restraint configured to secure an occupant to a seat, an anchor coupled to the restraint and movable along an anchor guide, an anchor energy-absorbing (EA) device configured to control movement of the anchor along the anchor guide, and a controller that includes a processor configured to receive information indicative of an imminent vehicle event, receive information indicative of a recline angle of the seat being above a recline threshold, and send a command to enable the anchor to move along the anchor guide under control of the anchor EA device based on the information indicative of the imminent vehicle event and the recline angle being above the recline threshold.

Safety systems for reclined seats

A safety restraint for a vehicle includes a belt, a connecting structure that is connected to the belt, a buckle housing that includes a connector opening for insertion of the connecting structure, a latch assembly that is configured to retain the connecting structure in the connector opening, and a release button that is connected to the buckle housing and is configured to cause the latch assembly to release the connecting structure when the release button is operated. A first indicator area is located on the buckle portion adjacent to the connector opening. A second indicator area is located on the release button. A third indicator area is located on the release button and is surrounded by the second indicator area.

Safety restraint

Occupant safety systems suitable for use in both traditional and opposed seating systems include various combinations of passive safety components: sensors that provides an output signal indicative of an imminent collision, seats selectively moveable relative to seat support structures in response to the output signal, inflatable restraints deployable from lap portions of a tensioned restraint based on the output signal, airbags deployable from a roof of a vehicle based on the output signal, cabin dividers deployable from a side of a cabin of the vehicle or the roof of the vehicle based on the output signal, and curtain airbags deployable between an occupant and the side of the cabin of the vehicle based on the output signal.

Occupant safety systems

Occupant safety systems suitable for use in both traditional and opposed seating systems include various combinations of passive safety components: sensors that provide an output signal indicative of an imminent collision, inflatable restraints that deploy from opposing interior surfaces of a passenger compartment of a vehicle based on the output signal, and inflators disposed within door cavities that selectively inflate an airbag or vent the inflator to an exterior of a vehicle based on the output signal.

Airbag-based occupant safety system

Airbag-based occupant safety systems

An apparatus includes a vehicle structure, a bumper, an elongate structural member, and an extension portion. The elongate structural member is able to crush longitudinally in response to application of force in a longitudinal direction. The extension portion is able to crush longitudinally in response to application of force in the longitudinal direction, is connected to the elongate structural member such that the elongate structural member and the extension portion support the bumper with respect to the vehicle structure, and is operable to move the bumper between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the vehicle structure to change a distance between the bumper and the vehicle structure.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Nathaniel J Dennis