Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

William P Braun

John P Wallner

Charles S Pillsbury, Iv

Kurt F Fischer

Joseph John Zwolinski

Thomas Osentoski

Alex G Meduvsky

Thomas L Peer

Charles E Steffens, Jr

Bruce R Hill

Matthew C Frank

Neal H Delventhal

George J Levosinski

Stepan S Simonian

Michael B Kutchey

A Dale Parker

Thomas J Klena, Ii

Kwen Hsu

Gabriel Anaya

George E Lancaster

Edward J Corrion

Clarence R Husband

John N Clark

A horn switch () for a vehicle steering wheel () includes a frame () for mounting to the steering wheel (). The frame () includes a horn switch housing (). A plunger () is associated with the switch housing (). The plunger () is movable relative to the switch housing () between a non-actuating position and an actuating position. An actuatable cable () has a portion positioned in the switch housing (). The actuating cable () includes first and second conductors () for electrical connection to a circuit that when closed actuates a vehicle horn (). The actuatable cable () has an expanded condition in which the first and second conductors () are insulated from each other when the plunger () is in the non-actuating position. The plunger () when in the actuating position acting on the cable () to place the cable () in a compressed condition in which electrical continuity is established between the first and second conductors () to close the circuit and actuate the vehicle horn ().

Steering wheel horn switch

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus () includes an inflatable occupant protection device () and a support member (). A vent opening () extends through the support member (). A vent member () is associated with the vent opening (). The vent member () initially closes the vent opening (). Inflation fluid moves the vent member () relative to the support member () for enabling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). A tether () extends between the inflatable occupant protection device () and the vent member (). The tether () is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device () away from the support member () by more than a predetermined distance for moving the vent member () relative to the support member () for reducing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening ().

Air bag module with vent controlled by tether

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus () includes an inflatable occupant protection device () and a support member () having a vent opening () through which inflation fluid may flow. The apparatus () also includes a mechanism () for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). Inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device () tends to move the mechanism () for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). The mechanism () is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device () beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). The apparatus () further includes a locking member () for blocking the mechanism () from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening () after the inflatable occupant protection device () has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.

Air bag module with locking member for locking the position of a vent member

An apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () and a vent opening () for directing flow of inflation fluid away from the protection device. A vent member () is movable between an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening and a closed condition at least partially blocking flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening. A tether (), when tensioned, moves the vent member () from the open condition to the closed condition. A latch () has a latched condition for maintaining the vent member () in the closed condition and an unlatched condition for enabling the vent member to move away from the closed condition. A controller () is operative to actuate the latch (). selectively to the latched condition and the unlatched condition based on at least one sensed occupant condition.

Air bag module vent with releasable latch

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () includes an inflatable curtain (). The inflatable curtain () is inflatable away from the roof () between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain has an inflatable volume (). An inflation fluid source () is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the inflatable volume () to inflate the inflatable curtain (). A fill tube () delivers the inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source () to the inflatable curtain (). The apparatus () includes an actuatable apparatus () for providing an opening () in at least one of the fill tube () and the inflatable curtain () for directing the inflation fluid from the inflatable volume () to deflate the inflatable curtain (). The actuatable apparatus () is actuatable in response to actuation of the inflation fluid source ().

Inflatable curtain with fluid release means

A modular headliner assembly ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) adapted to inflate away from a roof ( ) of a vehicle ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The modular headliner assembly ( ) also includes a headliner ( ) for covering an interior portion ( ) of the roof ( ) and at least one support device ( ) for supporting the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and the headliner in the vehicle ( ). The support device ( ) includes a bracket ( ) having a portion ( ) connectable to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ), fastener ( ) for connecting the headliner ( ) to the bracket, and a fastener ( ) for connecting the bracket to the vehicle ( ).

Modular headliner and inflatable curtain assembly

An apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part, such as a steering wheel or an electric motor. According to one embodiment, an apparatus ( ) for damping vibration of a vehicle part ( ) includes at least one container ( ) having a chamber ( ) defined by at least one interior wall ( ). The container ( ) is associated with the vehicle part ( ). A plurality of particles ( ) is disposed in the chamber ( ). The particles ( ), when at rest, occupy a first portion ( ) of the chamber ( ) and define an unoccupied second portion ( ) of the chamber. The particles ( ) move back and forth between the first and second portions ( and ) of the chamber ( ) in response to vibration of the vehicle part ( ) and collide with each other and with the interior wall ( ) defining the chamber to damp the vibration of the vehicle part.

Apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part

An apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable in a first direction away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. An elongated member ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ) and has a first end ( ), an opposite second end ( ) and a length measured between the first and second ends. An element ( ) is connected to the protection device ( ) and at least partially encircles the elongated member ( ). The element ( ) is slidable along the elongated member ( ) in the first direction when the protection device ( ) is inflated. The element ( ) includes at least one portion ( ) that engages the elongated member ( ) and blocks the element from sliding along the elongated member in a direction opposite the first direction.

Inflatable curtain with anchor device

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant. The apparatus ( ) also comprises a housing ( ) for mounting in the vehicle. The housing ( ) includes a chamber ( ) receiving the inflatable device in the deflated condition. The housing ( ) includes a first housing part ( ) having a locking rib ( ), and a second housing part ( ) having a locking groove ( ) and an opening ( ) into the locking groove. The locking rib ( ) is movable in a first direction ( ) through the opening ( ) into the locking groove ( ) for releasably closing the housing ( ) with the inflatable device ( ) inside the chamber. The first housing part ( ) has a tool receiving portion ( ) adjacent the locking rib ( ). The tool receiving portion ( ) has a tool receiving surface ( ) extending transverse to the first direction ( ) for receiving an assembly tool ( ). The assembly tool ( ) applies force to move the locking rib ( ) in the first direction ( ) through the opening ( ) into the locking groove ( ).

Housing for inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag comprises a source of gas for inflating the air bag. A filter is disposed outward of the gas source and has an outer surface. A pressure controlling member is spaced outward of the filter an encircles the gas source and the filter. A helical strand is interposed between the filter and the pressure controlling member to create a plenum between them. Gas supplied by the gas source accumulates in the gap until it builds up enough pressure to burst the pressure controlling member. The strand has a smooth cylindrical outer surface. Thus, any contact between the strand and the foil layer is line contact.

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Romeo, MI, United States of America

William P Braun