Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090099735 | Vehicle rollover prediction with occupant restraint system activation - An automobile rollover prediction and restraint device deployment system comprises a plurality of automobile data sensors to generate a plurality of data signals, and a controller to receive the data signals and configured to deploy resettable and non-resettable restraint devices. The controller is configured to activate at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals exceed a first threshold, indicating that the vehicle is in a position or undergoing movement that indicates a potential for vehicle rollover, and to de-activate the at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals fall below the first threshold. | 04-16-2009 |
20090121859 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED MEDIA AND VEHICLE SEAT BELT MONITORING - The present invention is, in one embodiment, directed to a system and method to encourage seat belt use among all passengers in a vehicle. The system and method use media driver and entertainment devices to reward seat belt usage in all seating positions. | 05-14-2009 |
20090174174 | Overhead Vehicle Occupant Restraint System - The present disclosure relates to an overhead vehicle occupant restraint system. Exemplary overhead vehicle occupant restraint systems include a panel configured to deploy and retract with respect to a vehicle roof, an electric motor configured to deploy and/or retract the panel and a control circuit configured to control deployment of the panel according to a first predetermined condition and to control retraction the panel according to a second predetermined condition. | 07-09-2009 |
20110186374 | Seatbelt Use Promotion System And Method - Seatbelt use is promoted by determining whether a seat is occupied and then determining whether the seatbelt associated with the seat is buckled. When the seat is occupied and unbuckled, user control of an entertainment system associated with the seat is overridden. In video-equipped entertainment systems, a video encouraging seatbelt use can be played, such as an informational video. When the seatbelt is latched, a reward audio or video clip may be played prior to allowing user control of the entertainment system. | 08-04-2011 |
20120139216 | CURTAIN AIRBAG ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle includes an inflator and a curtain airbag securable to a body structure of the motor vehicle. The airbag includes two or more deployment tubes and two or more inflatable chambers. Vents connect the deployment chambers with the inflatable chambers. Gasses from the inflator pass first into the deployment tubes to rapidly inflate them to vertically extending positions and draw the airbag over a window opening. The gasses then pass through the vents into the inflatable chambers to complete the deployment of the curtain airbag. The rapid inflation and deployment of the deployment chambers provides cushioning for an occupant's head early in a crash event, followed by the inflation of the inflatable chambers to provide additional head protection and increasing the resistance of the curtain airbag to ejection through the underlying window apertures. | 06-07-2012 |
20150291069 | VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE ERGONOMIC ARMREST FOR AUTOMOBILE - A vehicle armrest assembly includes a vertically operable armrest. A door frame is coupled to the armrest and the armrest assembly includes an adjustment mechanism that selectively positions the armrest between a plurality of vertical positions relative to the door frame. A control is in communication with the adjustment mechanism. An interior door trim is configured to slidably engage a recess defined in the armrest. The recess positions the door trim distal from a substrate of the armrest. | 10-15-2015 |
20150306992 | FULLY COLLAPSING ARMREST INSERT WITH TUNABLE TENSIONING ELEMENTS - A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate includes load-bearing strips extending across a gap defined within a support frame. A first tunable element secures the load-bearing strips in a support position on the support frame. A first tension-adjusting portion sets a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element. The load-bearing strips disengage from the support position when the first tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined first tension limit. | 10-29-2015 |
20150343983 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR OBLIQUE IMPACT - An occupant restraint system for a vehicle includes an airbag module disposed in a column cover. The column cover covers a steering column of the vehicle. The airbag module includes an inflator within the column cover and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is moveable between a deflated position within the cover and a deployed position exiting the cover to the left and upwardly for deployment toward an A-pillar of the vehicle during an oblique impact. | 12-03-2015 |