Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Xingyuan Sun

Wael S Elqadah

Jess A Cuevas

Ernst M Faigle

John P Wallner

Bruce R Hill

Tracy S Sparks

Scott A Kelley

Andrew J Smydra

Al S Emambakhsh

Gary R Lalonde

Carlos H Murillogalindo

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable 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. The apparatus () also includes a housing () for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure () adjacent the vehicle roof (). The housing () includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece () of the vehicle (). The apparatus () also includes at least one grab handle () and at least one connector () that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), the housing () and the grab handle. The connector () connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), housing () and grab handle () to the vehicle ().

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle

An apparatus includes a vehicle seat (10) and an actuating assembly (80). The seat (10) has a wing (34) which is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position. When the wing (34) is in the deployed position, it projects adjacent to an occupant the seat (10) to restrain movement of the occupant off the seat (10). The actuating assembly (80) moves the wing (34) from the retracted position to the deployed position upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash.

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

An air bag module (10) includes a container (12) and an air bag (16) connected with the container. An inflator (14) is also connected with the container (12). Means, such as, mounting flanges (42, 46), support the container (12) on a vehicle portion (18) for movement relative to the vehicle portion in a first direction ('I') opposite the direction of the inflation of the air bag (16) in response to actuation of the inflator (14). Damping means (102) connected between the container (12) and the vehicle portion (18) damps movement of the container in the first direction ('I') relative to the vehicle portion.

Air bag module

An air bag (10) comprises an adhesive material (60) located between and interconnecting first and second panels (40, 50). A stitching section (70) extends through the first panel (40) and through the adhesive material (60) and through the second panel (50) to block relative movement between the first and second panels. The adhesive material resists separation of the yarns (56, 58) of the panels (40, 50). The adhesive material (60) also fills thread openings (94) in the second panel (50) around the stitching section (70).

Air bag with adhesive at seams

A deployment door assembly for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (14), includes a panel (40) for covering the air bag (14) in a vehicle. The panel (40) has layers including a scrim layer (68). The scrim layer (68) has an edge (98) defining a boundary (110) between first and second portions (42,44) of the panel (40) which have first and second shear strengths, respectively. The scrim layer (68) imparts a difference between the first and second shear strengths such that the panel (40) is rupturable along the boundary (110) under the influence of the air bag (14) as a result of the difference in shear strengths.

Deployment door assembly

A cover assembly (40) includes a deployment door (60) which covers a deployment opening (26) in an air bag module (10). A retainer assembly (70) connected with the deployment door (60) has an engaged condition blocking movement of the deployment door from a closed position to an open position. The retainer assembly (70) is moved to a disengaged condition when the deployment door (60) is opened by the inflating air bag (22). When it is in the disengaged condition, the retainer assembly (70) can not be returned to the engaged condition, and the deployment door (60) can not be returned to the closed position.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Xingyuan Sun