A variable tether system adapted for use in an inflatable cushion of an airbag module having a first pair of tether elements each having a first end and a second end, the first ends each being secured to inner portions of the inflatable cushion and the second ends each being secured to inner portions of the inflatable cushion, the first ends each being secured to the inflatable cushion at positions remote from the second ends and the second ends being secured to the inflatable cushion at a locat...

A wheel suspension of a motor vehicle includes a wheel carrier which is connected to the vehicle body via wheel-guiding and wheel-steering components and which carries, by rolling-bearing mounting, at least one wheel via a wheel hub. For this purpose, the wheel carrier includes a vehicle-body-side and a wheel-side wheel-carrier part. The vehicle-body-side and the wheel-side wheel-carrier parts are connected via a sliding joint or pivot joint so as to be movable relative to one another, the wheel...

A device for side impact detection for a motor vehicle, a side impact being detected using a distance sensor. The distance sensor is preferably designed as an optical sensor, the transmitting power of the optical sensor being adjusted by an initial measuring procedure at the start of operation and by a control circuit during operation.

An airbag comprising a baffle and a heat shield. The baffle contains an opening, which is aligned with at least one-half of the inflator opening and having an area that is at minimum one-half of the area of the inflator opening. Inflation gas from an inflator flows into the baffle and then enters the airbag by way of the baffle opening. Because of the tortuous flow of the inflation gas inside the baffle, the hot particulates fall to the bottom of the baffle and thus never come into contact with ...

A cable-type steering device in which a driving pulley coupled to a first pulley shaft connected to a steering wheel and a follower pulley coupled to a second pulley shaft connected to a steering gear box are connected to each other by operating cables, whereby a steering torque input to the steering wheel is transmitted through the operating cables to the steering gear box. At least one of transmission of a steering torque between the driving pulley and the first pulley shaft and transmission o...

A system for use with a motor vehicle that minimizes injury after a loss of control event. The motor vehicle has at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and an engine. The system includes a control which detects a loss of control event and automatically actuates a brake system and/or a steering system and/or commands an engine controller to reduce power output of an engine.

A process for preweakening the inside of an automotive trim piece cover layer of various constructions by use of a laser beam so as to enable formation of an air bag deployment opening in the trim piece formed at the time the air bag deploys. The laser beam impinges the inside surface of the cover to form a groove scoring or spaced perforations to form a preweakening pattern. A robot arm may be used to move a laser generator so as to form the preweakening pattern. The laser beam can be controlle...

A vehicle rear body structure has left and right gussets for coupling left and right damper mounting portions and a floor cross member. The left and right damper portions serve as component parts on which left and right dampers are mounted to mitigate impacts transmitted from left and right rear wheels and hence is required to have increased strength. The left and right damper mounting portions are coupled to the floor cross member with high rigidity via the left and right gussets and are so rei...

A bracket formed from a single piece of sheet material for use in suspension of a vehicle for inhibiting relative lateral movement between and axle and a frame of the vehicle. The bracket includes a first portion bent to form a sleeve for insertion of a first fastener used to mount a first end of a torque rod. A second portion of the sheet material is bent to form a second sleeve for insertion of a second fastener used to mount the first end of the torque rod. A base portion is formed from the s...

A rollover air bag system comprising: at least a first inflatable first chamber, the air bag adapted to be mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle in a manner such that when the air bag is inflated the first inflatable chamber is positioned to receive and protect the head of an occupant, an accumulator chamber located downstream of the first chamber, the accumulator chamber initially maintained at a negative pressure relative to the inflated first chamber, wherein in order to restric...