Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Patrick G Jarboe

Michael J Ravenberg

Joseph J Mihm

Terry R Davis

David W Schneider

Daniel Snyder

Steven R Fredin

Russell S Gans

W Gary Wirt

Douglas Werth

Larry D Rose

Gregory J Lang

Christopher Hock

Bradley D Harris

Brent R Marchant

Steven W Maurer

Mark Rogers

James R Hocking

Jeffery L Scharret

Tae Y Kwak

Stewart L Richards

Michael A Macocha

Steven R Hoskins

The night vision camera system includes a light, a night vision camera, and a linkage. The night vision camera is attached to the light such that the light and camera maintain a fixed orientation with respect to each other. The light is attached to the linkage and is configured to manipulate the light and night vision camera concurrently. The linkage is attached to the vehicle and extends into the vehicle interior where a handle is provided allowing the user to aim the light and night vision camera from the interior of the vehicle.

Night vision camera mount quick disconnect

An airbag system for motor vehicles wherein the airbag mechanism is concealed behind a cover provided on the instrument panel. A tether is provided to restrain the cover from uncontrolled movement during deployment of the airbag. One end of the tether is fixed to either the airbag housing or to a fixed portion of the instrument panel, while the other end of the tether is detachably mounted to the cover. The detachable feature of the attachment means permits the cover to be easily removed for repair, inspection or replacement without the need to disturb the airbag or its housing.

Airbag system with serviceable tethered cover

An airbag cushion has a deployment tube connected at its inner end to a backing plate securing an inflator and at its outer end to a cushion-shaping enclosure. The periphery of the cushion-shaping enclosure is attached there about to a boundary wall which extends inward to the backing plate at a location surrounding the inner end of the deployment tube. The boundary wall defines an aspirated-air chamber surrounding the tube. As the tube and cushion-shaping enclosure are inflated, the enclosure pulls the boundary wall out of the canister creating a vacuum in the aspirated-air chamber. A one-way valve in the backing plate passes aspirated air into the aspirated-air chamber. A port connects the cushion-shaping enclosure to the aspirated-air chamber to pressurize the aspirated-air chamber at the end of inflation. The one-way valve blocks escape of the pressure.

Airbag cushion and mounting therefor

A trough-shaped airbag canister and module assembly has an integral diffuser and diverter for permitting simultaneous deployment of a head/torso airbag and a knee airbag. The integral diffuser and diverter in the canister diffuses a first portion of inflation gases from an inflator to a mouth of a head/torso airbag and diffuses and diverts a second portion of the inflation gases through a kneebag inflation port in a sidewall of the canister and into a mouth of a knee airbag.

Integral head/torso airbag and knee airbag restraint system

An invisible cover door for an inflatable passive passenger restraint is provided in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for deployment of an airbag therethrough. The low pressure insert injection molding of the cover door into the interior trim structure, such as an instrument panel or dashboard or door panel structure, produces an invisible cover door with tear propagation lines that are undetectable to a vehicle occupant and that do not 'show' or mar or otherwise affect the aesthetic appearance of the outer trim surface of the instrument panel or dashboard. Such invisible doors which require only two tear propagation lines can be provided.

Method of making an invisible instrument panel or dashboard airbag cover

The screws which are normally employed to attach the end plates to the trough-shaped main body of a passenger-side airbag module reaction canister are replaced by impact-driven darts. The darts are made of material harder than that of the main body and include surface irregularities which deform the material of the main body and improve the frictional engagement.

Passenger-side airbag module darted end caps and method of assembly

A tethered knee bolster panel which is deployed rearward in the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle during a crash to provide lower torso restraint. The knee bolster is an air bag system which propels the knee bolster panel rearward during deployment. The activated knee bolster allows automobile designers the flexibility to provide increased leg room in the vehicle while maintaining the same level of safety during a crash.

Air bag activated knee bolster

Invisible instrument panel or dashboard airbag cover door

A passenger side airbag module includes a reaction can having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall defining an open-topped airbag cushion storage compartment, the bottom wall including an integral annular mounting ring defining an inflator-receiving opening. A retainer has a cylindrical sleeve with a top wall extending inwardly and a retainer ring extending outwardly from the lower end of the sleeve. An airbag cushion includes an annular mounting collar which is clamped between the retainer ring and the mounting ring. An inflator has an elongated cylindrical body partially received in the cylindrical sleeve of the retainer with a gas outlet cap extending through the top wall of the retainer to deliver inflation gas to the interior of the airbag cushion. The gas outlet cap is welded to the retainer to secure the inflator. A portion of the inflator body extends below the reaction can, and the mounting collar is positioned around the inflator body to cushion against rattles. Mounting studs are provided for securing the bottom wall of the inflator to a vehicle panel.

Passenger side airbag module

The cover of a passenger-side airbag module is provided with an energy absorption zone to protect the passenger during head impact. The zone is in the form of corrugations which extend across the mouth of the airbag module. The corrugations crush upon impact, thereby absorbing energy.

Energy absorption cover for passenger-side airbag module

An arrangement for providing an opening in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for the deployment of an air bag therethrough which minimizes the visual and/or tactile impression of the presence of the closure and the air bag deployment opening thereunder and which is not susceptible to significant fragmentation and projection of such fragments into the passenger compartment upon the opening thereof.

Arrangement for providing an air bag deployment opening

A inflatable vehicle air bag has a single fluid chamber and is specially designed to bend around a vehicle instrument panel to form an effective occupant restraint in front of a vehicle occupant. The air bag is formed from a single continuous loop of flexible air bag material. The air bag is designed to be inflated to a predetermined three dimensional configuration when fluid under pressure is directed into the fluid chamber. The air bag comprises a pair of main panels which are connected with each other in a manner which allows them to bow outwardly relative to each other as the air bag is inflated to its predetermined three dimensional configuration, and a special bend pleat which is formed in one of the main panels. Moreover, respective portions of the main panels are preferably connected with each other by one or more expansible end pleats which allow the portions of the main panels to separate from each other as the air bag is inflated to its three dimensional configuration. The bend pleat enables the air bag to bend around a vehicle instrument panel as the air bag is being inflated to its predetermined three dimensional configuration. The air bag is particularly useful for a top mounted air bag assembly in which the air bag (i) is deployed through the top of a vehicle instrument panel and (ii) bends about the instrument panel and forms an inflated cushion between a vehicle occupant and the front of the instrument panel.

Dashboard top mounted vehicle air bag assembly

A housing for an air bag inflator includes a tubular wall and gas dispensing nozzles extending through at least a portion of the wall. The tubular wall defines an inflator cavity for receiving a source of gas. The inflator housing includes a tongue formed in one piece with one end of the housing and projecting outwardly from the housing. The tongue includes a planar surface adapted to be coupled to a planar wall of a reaction device. The inflator housing further includes a sleeve attached to the tubular wall axially spaced from the tongue. The sleeve includes diametrically opposed flanges extending outward from the sleeve. Each of the flanges include a planar surface adapted to be coupled adjacent the planar wall of the reaction device. The tongue includes an alignment device which provides for properly aligning the inflator with the reaction device. According to another aspect of the invention, the inflator housing structure includes a pair of sleeves attached to axially spaced portions of the housing. A surface of at least one of the flanges includes an alignment device for providing proper alignment of the inflator with the air bag module.

Air bag inflator and method of assembly

A new and useful vehicle air bag module design and new assembly techniques are designed specifically for automating the process of assembling an air bag module. The air bag module includes a reaction can which has a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from the air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of the main body. A folded air bag having a gas inlet opening is at least partially disposed in the cavity. A retention device is integral with the air bag around the periphery of the gas inlet opening and is disposed adjacent the external flange on the reaction can. The inflator has a cylindrical housing and an integral coupling structure. The cylindrical housing extends partially through the inflator-receiving slot and includes a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity. A first set of fasteners connects the coupling structure of the inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can. A second set of fasteners connects the retention device with the external flange on the reaction can. The reaction can, which may be either aluminum or steel, is formed as a monolithic structure by deep drawing techniques.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Patrick G Jarboe