Autoliv ASP, Inc.

An airbag assembly includes an inflator to supply inflation gas, a main airbag cushion configured to receive inflation gas to expand and deploy toward a vehicle seating position, and a support airbag cushion. The main airbag cushion includes an impact surface to constrain occupant movement in a forward direction. The support airbag cushion expands and deploys from a position forward of the main airbag cushion to support it. The support airbag cushion has side tethers configured to constrain upward expansion and impart forward stiffness. The support airbag cushion also includes a support surface configured to restrain forward movement of the main airbag cushion.

A gas generant composition for passive inflatable restraint systems (e.g., airbags) for automobiles is provided that comprises a melamine oxalate compound. The gas generant may be a cool burning gas generant composition that comprises a melamine oxalate compound, a co-fuel, such as guanidine nitrate, and an oxidizer, such as basic copper nitrate. The gas generant composition has advantageous combustion properties, including a maximum flame temperature at combustion (T c ) of ≤about 1700K (1,427° C.), a linear burn rate of ≥about 18 mm per second at a pressure of about 10 megapascals (MPa), a gas yield of the gas generant composition of ≥about 5.7 moles/100 cm 3 , and a linear burn rate pressure exponent of ≤about 0.35.

A knee airbag includes a front panel, a rear panel and an intermediate panel. The rear panel is coupled to the front panel to define an inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is disposed between the front panel and the rear panel and within the inflation chamber. The intermediate panel is connected to the rear panel by rows of first attachment points extending in a lateral direction across the knee airbag and connected to the front panel by rows of second attachment points extending in the lateral direction. The airbag includes a proximal bending area proximate a proximal end thereof.

A seat belt retractor spool for a retractor providing load limiting and protraction stop functions. Spool designs are described which receive load limiting torsion bars and also having an end receiving the stop nut of a protraction limiting feature for the retractor. The spool designs provide an interface for the stop function while preserving the structural integrity of the spool.

A lockbar in a tongue of a seat belt system in a vehicle, wherein the crash locking tongue includes the lockbar, a base plate, and a cover material overmolded onto the base plate. The base plate is configured to be reversibly coupled to a buckle in the seat belt system and to have a slot through which a belt webbing extends in order to restrain the movement of a passenger in the vehicle. The lockbar includes one or more fins located on a bottom surface near a front edge, a pair of guide wings located on a back edge adjacent to opposite sides, a clamping surface that is in contact with the belt webbing, and an elastomeric spring. The lockbar undergoes a vertical translation upon a vehicle accident that causes a clamping surface to apply an inward pressure on the belt webbing, thereby, reducing movement of the belt webbing.

Locking pieces, such as clips, for decorative emblems and emblem assemblies, along with related methods. In some embodiments, a locking piece for coupling an emblem assembly to an airbag assembly may comprise a tapering slot narrowing in width, at least in part, from a first end of the tapering slot to a second end of the tapering slot defining a first fastener seat configured to engage a first fastener extending from a decorative emblem. The locking piece may further comprise a second fastener seat configured to resiliently engage, such as by way of a resiliently flexible prong, a second fastener extending from the decorative emblem and, in some embodiments, a third fastener seat configured to resiliently engage a third fastener extending from the decorative emblem.

A seatbelt pretensioner system includes a pretensioner tube in fluid communication with a gas generator and a pretensioner rod having a proximal end portion disposed toward the gas generator and a distal end portion disposed at an exit of the pretensioner tube. The pretensioner rod is disposed inside the pretensioner tube in a pre-actuation state and adapted to travel within the pretensioner tube toward a pretensioner wheel upon an actuation of the gas generator in a post-actuation state. The pretensioner rod includes a protrusion formed in a radial direction of the rod to couple with the pretensioner tube to restrict the rod from moving out from the pretensioner tube in the pre-actuation state. The pretensioner rod is configured to avoid the stripping of the rod and reduce energy consumption when the polymer rod is deformed during pretensioning.

Systems described herein relate to printing vehicle component labels such that other vehicle components do not obscure information thereon upon installation into a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and a memory storing machine-readable instructions. The machine-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to 1 ) identify a portion of a label that, when affixed to a first vehicle component, is blocked by a second vehicle component upon assembly into a vehicle and 2 ) alter the label so target printed information of the label is arranged on an unobscured region of the label where the target printed information, when affixed to the first vehicle component, is not obscured by the second vehicle component. The machine-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, also cause the processor to print the label with the target printed information in the unobscured region.

Airbag cushions and related assemblies configured to accept side-mounting of airbag inflators and/or otherwise accommodate narrowing of an airbag module width. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflator housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber. An airbag cushion may be fluidly coupled with the inflator housing. An inflator may be coupled to the housing in a side-mounted configuration such that inflation gases from the inflator are configured to enter the first chamber, diffuse the inflation gas into the second chamber, and direct the inflation gas into the airbag cushion.

Airbag cushions and related assemblies configured to accept side-mounting of airbag inflators and/or otherwise accommodate narrowing of an airbag module width. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflator housing defining a plenum. An airbag cushion may be fluidly coupled with the plenum and/or inflator housing and may define a throat region. A disk inflator may be coupled to the housing in a side-mounted configuration such that inflation gases from the disk inflator are configured to enter the plenum and then be directed into the airbag cushion via the throat region.