Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

Trw Limited

Paul A Bowers

Daniel R Sutherland

Timothy A Swann

Ernst M Faigle

Brian R Pitstick

Ivan L Stonich

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Lee D Bergerson

Bryan W Shirk

Ayad G Nayef

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Gregory S Bayley

Douglas P Campbell

Dean M Esterberg

Christopher C Shih

Eric N Streif

Jess A Cuevas

Alexander Heilig

Barney J Bauer

Michael J White, Jr

Russell E Stein

Al A Saberan

David H Lewis, Jr

Joseph C Popek

Kirk W Christiansen

Wei W Mu

Matthew G Bombard

Ahmad L Al-Amin

A finger-mounted illuminating device is disclosed. This device specifically addresses the problem of maintaining hands-free capability in a low or no light environment. This embodiment is a compact structure made of sturdy plastic or other material, which is mounted to the finger(s) and contains various types of illumination output, power source, thumb activated button(s), and circuits to manipulate the illumination needs as required by the operator.

Finger-mounted illuminating device

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The protection device () includes panels (and) and a plurality of chambers () at least partially defined by the panels. An inflation fluid source () is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (). The protection device () further includes a manifold () at least partially defined by the overlying panels (and). The manifold () includes a plenum portion () for receiving inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source and duct portions () that branch from the plenum portion and distribute inflation fluid into the chambers ().

Inflatable protection device with manifold

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes at least one inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () including a first portion () inflatable to cover a first portion () of a vehicle and a second portion () inflatable to cover a second portion () of a vehicle. A single inflator () provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (). A first conduit () has a portion terminating in the first portion () of the protection device (). A second conduit () has a portion terminating in the second portion () of the protection device (). The first and second conduits (and) are adapted to move relative to each other from a first condition in which the conduits are positioned for installation in the vehicle () to a second condition in which the conduits are positioned next to each other.

Collapsable inflatable curtain module

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that is inflatable to a deployed position between a side structure () of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant (). An inflation fluid source () provides inflation fluid for inflating portions of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes a base panel () and an attachment panel () connected to the base panel. The base panel () has a first size. The attachment panel () has a second size that is smaller than the first size and a configuration that corresponds to a configuration of the portions of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that are to be inflated.

Inflatable curtain with different size panels

An apparatus () for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device (), and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device () energizable to cause actuation of the protection device. In one embodiment, the MEMS device () is an energizable fluid source for emitting a primary fluid for actuating an inflatable protection device (). The apparatus () may comprise a plurality of MEMS devices () individually actuatable to control inflation of the protection device.

Air bag inflators

An apparatus comprises a vehicle steering wheel ( ) including an armature ( ). The armature ( ) has a base portion ( ), a circumferentially extending rim portion ( ), and at least one spoke ( ) extending between the rim portion and the base portion. The base portion ( ) includes oppositely disposed first and second surfaces ( and ) and a plurality of openings ( ) extending between the first and second surfaces. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) abuts the first surface ( ). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises an inflatable air bag ( ) and an actuatable inflator ( ) for, when actuated, inflating the air bag. The inflator ( ) has a radially outwardly extending flange ( ). The flange ( ) includes a plurality of apertures ( ). A plurality of one-piece locking members ( ) secure the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) to the armature ( ). Each of the locking members ( ) has a compressible end portion ( ) that compresses radially inward to permit the end portion to pass through a respective one of the openings ( ) in the flange ( ) and through a respective one of the apertures ( ) in the base portion ( ). The end portion ( ) of each of the locking members ( ) includes a radially outwardly extending stop surface ( ) that engages the second surface ( ) of the base portion ( ) to secure the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) to the armature ( ).

Snap-in air bag module

A pretensioner ( ) tensions vehicle seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) has a member ( ) movable by an actuating fluid to tension the seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) further has at least one microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device ( ) energizable to supply actuating fluid to move the member ( ).

Seat belt webbing pretensioner using MEMS devices

An inflator ( ) includes an assembly ( ) comprising a plurality of individually energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices ( ) for, when energized, actuating the inflator. The assembly ( ) further comprises a sensor mechanism ( ) for sensing a condition of the inflator ( ) and for generating a control signal indicative of the sensed condition. The plurality of MEMS devices ( ) are responsive to the control signal to control actuation of the inflator ( ).

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant ( ) includes an inflatable device ( ). The apparatus ( ) also includes a primary inflation fluid source ( ) and a secondary inflation fluid source ( ) that are actuatable independently of each other. The apparatus ( ) includes means ( ) for actuating the primary inflation fluid source ( ) to inflate the inflatable device ( ) to help protect the vehicle occupant ( ) without actuating the secondary inflation fluid source ( ). The apparatus ( ) also includes means ( ) for sensing the position of the vehicle occupant ( ) subsequent to actuation of the primary inflation fluid source ( ) and for providing an output signal ( ). The apparatus further includes means ( ) for actuating the secondary inflation fluid source ( ) in response to the output signal.

Deactivation of second stage of air bag inflator

A vehicle seat ( ) has a seat back portion ( ) for engaging an occupant ( ) of a vehicle ( ). A length of seat belt webbing ( ) extends around a portion of the occupant ( ). A seat belt retractor ( ) biases the length of seat belt webbing ( ) in a belt retraction direction. The seat belt retractor ( ) allows the length of seat belt webbing ( ) to move in a belt withdrawal direction, opposite the belt retraction direction, when a predetermined force is applied to the length of seat belt webbing ( ). A blocking mechanism ( ) blocks movement of the length of seat belt webbing ( ) in the withdrawal direction. The blocking mechanism ( ) is actuated upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision. A portion of the length of seat belt webbing ( ) restrains movement of the seat back portion ( ) relative to the vehicle during a vehicle collision.

Integrated seat belt and seat support

An apparatus ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a housing ( ) and an inflation fluid source ( ) in the housing for, when actuated, providing fluid for inflating the protection device. An electrically actuatable initiator ( ) is connected with the housing ( ) for actuating the inflation fluid source ( ). The apparatus ( ) also comprises vehicle electric circuitry ( ) for actuating the initiator ( ) to actuate the inflation fluid source ( ) in response to sensing an occupant protection event for which inflation of the protection device ( ) is desired. A microelectromechanical system device (MEMS device) ( ) in the apparatus is electrically energizable to cause actuation of the inflation fluid source ( ). An autoignition mechanism ( ) responsive to an event other than an occupant protection event energizes the MEMS device to cause actuation of the inflation fluid source. The MEMS device ( ), when energized, generates heat for autoigniting the inflation fluid source ( ) or for deactivating a secondary inflation fluid source.

Air bag inflator with mechanism for deactivation of second stage and autoignition

An apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable protection device ( ) inflatable between the side structure ( ) of a vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. The device ( ) includes at least one inflatable front chamber ( ), rear chamber ( ), and middle chamber ( ). The front chamber ( ) and the rear chamber ( ) each have an inflation fluid inlet ( and ) near an upper edge ( ) of the device ( ) and an inflation fluid outlet ( and ). The middle chamber ( ) has at least one inflation fluid inlet ( ) near the lower edge ( ) and is free from inlets near the upper edge ( ). Inflation fluid enters the front and rear chambers ( and ) through the inlets ( and ) and exits through the outlets ( and ) into the inflation fluid inlets ( ) of the middle chamber ( ) to inflate the middle chamber.

Inflatable side curtain

A foot pedal (,) for controlling operation of a vehicle is supported for movement relative to the vehicle. A cushion (,), inflatable by inflation fluid, is connected with and, when inflated, extends from the pedal (,).

Cushioned pedal

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). The 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. An inflation fluid source (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device (,). The vehicle occupant protection device (,) comprises a pair of overlying panels (,and,) that have overlapping portions secured together along at least a portion of the periphery of the panels to form a substantially airtight volume defined by the panels. The panels (,and,) are made of gas impermeable elastomeric material.

An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) includes an inflatable protection device (,), an inflator (,), and a fill tube (,). The inflator (,) is electrically actuated to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (,). The inflator (,) has a longitudinal axis (,), a first end portion (,) with a fluid outlet (,), a central portion (,), and a second end portion (,) opposite the first end portion. The fill tube (,) extends from a location adjacent the second end portion (,) of the inflator (,) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator (,) into the protection device (,). A directing assembly,) directs inflation fluid from the fluid outlet (,) of the inflator (,) to the fill tube (,). The directing assembly (,) includes a shroud (,) with a chamber (,). The chamber (,) receives the inflator (,). A manifold (,) is located at the second end portion (,) of the inflator. The manifold (,) is in fluid communication with the fill tube (,) and the chamber (,). The shroud (,) defines a fluid flow passage (,) between the fluid outlet (,) of the inflator (,) and the manifold (,).

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Ray, MI, United States of America

Paul A Bowers