Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Alliedsignal Inc.

Timothy W Hill

Jeffrey A Welch

Kenneth H Desaele

Brian K Blackburn

Scott B Gentry

Joseph F Mazur

Brian H Frantz

Kurt W Schulz

Bonnie Y Cheung

Graham Thornton Spencer

H John Miller, Iii

Arthur C Stein

John Paul Sparkman

Margaret Ann Fisher

James C Lotito

Edward Burley

Matthew W Owen

Mark A Oleszko

Ian V Lau

Jovica J Jakovski

Michel Paul Rossey

Gerald M Fowler

Kuen Cheuk Leung

Mark W Fero

Paul Kenrick

Gerald J Keller

Philip A Shishmian

Kimberly Jean Hammond

Gert Hans Nilson

The present invention provides a method and device for simulating impact conditions which has a test sled , simulated occupant ( ), and a pre-impact force-generating device. The pre-impact force-generating device can apply force directly to the simulated occupant being ( ), thereby overcoming many of the cost problems associated with applying a low and long duration force directly to a test sled ( ). The pre-impact force-generating device can be designed such that instead of providing a low and long duration force to a simulated occupant ( ), it provides a short and high impact force to the simulated occupant ( ). An impact force-generating device provides impact force directly to the sled ( ) which simulates impact conditions.

Sled test apparatus and method for simulating pre-impact crash event

A test apparatus (20) for testing the dynamic performance and verifying the performance of at least one occupant sensor (82) used in a vehicular safety restraint system comprising: a movable sled slidably oriented relative to the occupant sensor; an object, the presence of which is to be sensed by the sensor, mounted and movable with the sled; a support (22, 24, 26a,b, 32, 36) for slidably supporting the sled relative to the sensor (82); a force producing device (90a,b, 92, 94) for moving the sled toward the sensor in a determinable manner; a data collection device (84) for comparing signals derived from the occupant sensor indicative of the relative position to the object with signals derived upon independent measurement of the motion of the sled.

Dynamic proximity test apparatus

A diffuser-retainer, incorporated in a sub-assembly (cushion pack) of an air bag module for the use in an inflatable air bag restraint system. The diffuser-retainer functions as an inflation gas diffuser and an air cushion retainer.

Inflator gas diffuser and air cushion retainer

An air bag restraint system is used for restraining a rear seat occupant having an upper head portion and a lower knee portion. The restraint system includes a front seat including an upstanding seat frame and a reaction plate attached to the seat frame. An inflator is mounted on the reaction plate and the inflator discharges inflator gas. An air bag is mounted on the reaction plate and is in fluid communication with the inflator for receiving inflator gas therein to inflate the air bag. A deployment door is mounted rearward the reaction plate, inflator and air bag and is movably secured to the reaction plate and releasably secured to the seat. Advantageously, the deployment door also serves as a rearward trim panel for the seat.

Restraint system for rear seat occupant

An air bag module in a vehicle includes an inflator for generating gas to inflate an air bag. The air bag has a first portion adjacent the inflator and operatively connected to the inflator for receiving the inflator gas therein. The air bag has a second portion extending from the first portion and spaced apart from the inflator by the first portion. The second portion is unidirectionally rolled to define a rolled portion. Prior to air bag inflation, the first portion is stored atop the inflator and the rolled portion is stored atop the first portion. Preferably, the rolled second portion forms a pinch point between the first portion and the second portion such that the first portion partially inflates prior to unrolling of the second portion. Preferably, the first portion is folded in manner to inflate more readily than the rolled second portion such that the first portion inflates and forces the rolled second portion outwardly away from the inflator prior to unfolding of the rolled second portion.

Air Bag Fold And Method

An air bag module has an inflator for generating gas and an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The module also includes a tether being external to the air bag. The tether includes an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag and a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag. The tether is also located adjacent a vehicle occupant when the air bag is deployed. Upon air bag deployment, the occupant engages the tether and the tether pulls the air bag towards the occupant.

Air bag module with tether

An air bag assembly in a vehicle has an inflator for generating gas and an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag assembly also includes a tether being substantially external to the air bag. The tether has a first end connected to the air bag and a second end connected to the vehicle. Preferably, the second end of the tether is spaced laterally apart from the first end of the tether such that upon air bag deployment, the tether provides lateral support to the air bag.

Air bag assembly with tether

An air bag module for a vehicle includes an inflator for discharging inflator gas and an air bat; for inflation by the discharging inflator gas. The air bag has a fixed edge adapted to be fixedly connected to the vehicle and also has a sliding edge adapted to be slidably connected to the vehicle. Upon air bag deployment, the sliding edge of the air bag slides along the vehicle and extends the air bag to the inflated condition. The air bag module preferably includes a conduit having a first portion in fluid communication with the inflator for receiving the discharging inflator gas therein. The conduit also includes a second portion spaced apart from the inflator and having an opening in fluid communication with the air bag for directing inflator gas into the air bag. The second portion of the conduit directs the discharging inflator gas such that the sliding edge of the air bag is forced to the extended condition. Advantageously, the conduit allows the inflator to be spaced apart from the air bag for easier packaging of the air bag module in the vehicle. Further packaging advantages are preferably gained by slidably connecting the sliding edge of the air bag to the same conduit which transmits the inflator gas from the inflator to the air bag.

Side mounted air bag module

An air bag module includes an inflator for generating gas and an air bag coupled to the inflator and deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. A pouch is made of a fabric material and serves as both the housing and cover of the module. The pouch has wall portions surrounding the air bag and inflator and defining a pouch interior containing the inflator and the air bag substantially therein such that the inflator and the air bag are housed within the pouch. The pouch also is provided with a frangible seam being breakable to form a pouch deployment opening. Upon air bag deployment, the air bag breaks open the frangible seam of the pouch to permit deployment of the air bag out through the pouch deployment opening such that the pouch guides the air bag during deployment.

Air bag module

An automotive door panel that has styling lines is made by laying a facing layer of soft trim material on a support surface of a mold part. The facing layer has a backing layer of open cell flexible foam that has gaps that expose strips on the back surface of the facing layer. A heat-sensitive adhesive barrier film is behind the flexible foam backing layer. The mold is closed by a mating mold part and a urethane precursor mixture is injected into the closed mold which is heated to generate a structural substrate. The generating substrate crushes the backing layer and activates the adhesive film to bond the structural substrate to the exposed back surface strips of the facing layer to provide the styling lines. These styling lines are enhanced when the foam backing layer recovers upon removal from the mold.

Method of manufacturing a trim panel having a styling line

A side impact air bag mounted in a door of a motor vehicle in an unfurled, deflated position for reducing deployment time and providing reliable orientation of the air bag upon deployment. The air bag is mounted in an upper portion of the door, and an actuable inflator is mounted in the lower portion of the door. The inflator is in communication with the air bag via a connecting air bag or flexible duct, which provides added padding to the door upon inflation. A soft flexible material overlies the air bag to hide the air bag from the occupant's view as well as retain the air bag in the unfurled position. The soft flexible material is adhesively attached or stapled to an inner trim panel of the door and becomes detached from the inner trim panel upon the air bag inflating and pushing the soft flexible material away from the inner trim panel so that the air bag reaches its inflated position. A second embodiment provides the soft flexible material with a weakened portion that tears upon the air bag inflating and pushing the soft flexible material away from the inner trim panel of the door.

Unfurled side impact air bag

The present invention provides a new and improved method for manufacturing vehicle interior trim panels such as door panels and instrument panels in which different regions of the trim panel have different colors or other aesthetic characteristics. Two pieces of sheet vinyl having the desired color or other aesthetic characteristic desired in the manufactured trim panel are cut to shape and then bonded together edge-to-edge to form a composite two-tone vinyl sheet. This composite vinyl sheet is draped over a mold having a blade projecting from the mold surface. A retainer is installed onto the backside of the composite vinyl sheet to attach the composite vinyl sheet to the blade and thereby hold the vinyl in place with the bond between the two sheets located at the apex of the blade. The mold is closed and urethane is poured against the backside of the composite vinyl sheet to encapsulate the retainer. Upon cure, the urethane adheres to the composite vinyl sheet and the retainers and provides a substantial rigid support for the vinyl sheet. The bond between the two vinyl sheets is concealed from view at the bottom of the crevice defined in the molded trim panel by the blade.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Timothy W Hill