An active bolster for a vehicle is provided, wherein the bolster comprises an expansible hollow interior that is inflatable and is self-supporting in both an inflated and in an uninflated position. The bolster has an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior. The bolster has an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior. The bolster may have a relatively non-expansible component located between a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber. The bolster may comprise an outer wall having an attachment portion for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle.

A dashboard assembly for a vehicle includes a dashboard defining a receiving niche. The niche is alignable with a driver seat location, and is selectively fillable by each of a removable steering module and a removable filler module. The removable steering module includes a steering module base. A steering wheel support is fixed to the steering module base. A steering wheel is rotatably fixed to the steering wheel support. A steering wheel connector connects the steering wheel to a vehicle steering actuator. The removable filler module includes a filler module base.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for supportably deploying an occupant restraint airbag. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes an occupant restraint airbag configured to be deployable between an occupant of a vehicle and a forward structure of a vehicle interior. The occupant restraint airbag presents an occupant surface to engage at least a portion of a body of the occupant and a back surface on an opposing side of the occupant restraint airbag responsive to inflation thereof. A reaction surface airbag is deployable between the occupant restraint airbag and an interior surface of the vehicle. The reaction surface airbag presents a first surface configured to engage the back surface of the occupant restraint airbag and a second surface to engage the interior surface responsive to inflation of the reaction surface airbag. The reaction surface airbag resists movement of the occupant restraint airbag toward the interior surface.

An airbag apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes an airbag, a collision determiner, an airbag deployment controller, and a pulling device. The airbag is configured to be deployed forward of a vehicle body front of the vehicle. The collision determiner is configured to establish a pre-crash determination in a case where a collision probability is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. The airbag deployment controller is configured to give to an inflator a command to supply deployment gas to the airbag and deploy the airbag, in response to the pre-crash determination. The pulling device is configured to pull, rearward of the vehicle, a collision portion with which a collision object is to collide or vicinity of the collision portion on a front surface of the airbag so as to form a recessed portion configured to restrain the collision object.

An airbag apparatus includes an airbag configured to be deployed forward of a front of a vehicle body of a vehicle; a collision determiner configured to establish a pre-crash determination when a collision probability with a collision object is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold; and an airbag deployment controller configured to, in response to the pre-crash determination, give to an inflator a command to supply deployment gas to the airbag and deploy the airbag. The airbag includes front air chambers provided in a front portion of the airbag and disposed in a vehicle width direction, a coupling member configured to couple front end portions of the front air chambers in the vehicle width direction, and a rear air chamber disposed between rear portions of the front air chambers and a front end portion of the vehicle body, and communicating with an inside of each front air chamber.

An airbag apparatus includes an airbag configured to be deployed forward of a front of a vehicle body of a vehicle, a collision determiner configured to establish a pre-crash determination when a collision probability is a predetermined threshold or higher, an airbag deployment controller configured to, in response to the pre-crash determination, give to an inflator a command to supply deployment gas to the airbag and deploy the airbag, a vent controller configured to open and close a vent passage configured to discharge the deployment gas from the airbag, and an energy absorption state detector configured to detect a state of energy absorption by the airbag. The vent controller is configured to open the vent passage at an early stage of collision with a collision object, and subsequently, reduce an opening degree of the vent passage when the energy absorption state detector detects a completion of energy absorption.

An airbag device capable of restraining a motor vehicle occupant in a stable position even in an oblique collision. The airbag device includes a bag-shaped main bag inflated and deployed on a vehicle front side of the passenger seat, a bag-shaped center bag inflated and deployed on the inner side of the main bag in the vehicle widthwise direction, and a slit that provides a separation between the main bag and the center bag on the vehicle rear side. A rear end part of the center bag is inclined to gradually protrude rearward in the vehicle as the rear end part is extended upward and protrudes further to the vehicle rear side than at least the main bag.

In one embodiment, a particular state of a body is sensed. In response to the sensing, at least one action is taken to modulate a projected adverse interaction between the body or a portion thereof and at least one object in the environment of the body.

An apparatus, methods and computer program product, and system are described that enable a first subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a first time period, enable a second subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a second time period, determine an event, and actuate, based on a time the event is determined, at least one of the first and the second subsets of actuatable cushioning elements to provide cushioning support for an object. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.

An apparatus, methods and computer program product, and system are described that enable a first subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a first time period, enable a second subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a second time period, determine an event, and actuate, based on a time the event is determined, at least one of the first and the second subsets of actuatable cushioning elements to provide cushioning support for an object. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.

An apparatus, method, computer program product, and/or system are described that determine an event, actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members, and dissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.

An apparatus, method, computer program product, and/or system are described that determine an event, actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members, and dissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.

An apparatus, method, computer program product, and/or system are described that determine an event, actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining

Airbag cushion assemblies comprising an airbag inflation tunnel positioned within an airbag cushion. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cushion comprising an inflator opening and an airbag inflation tunnel coupled to the airbag cushion. The inflation tunnel may be configured to direct inflation gas from an inflator positioned within the inflator opening down the airbag inflation tunnel upon deployment of the inflator. A plurality of directional vent openings may be positioned within the airbag inflation tunnel that may be configured to direct the inflation gas laterally relative to the inflator. The inflation tunnel may further be configured such that the inflation gas contacts a terminal end of the inflation tunnel prior to exiting the plurality of directional vent openings.

An airbag includes a manifold having an outer panel and an inflation chamber defined at least in party by the outer panel. The airbag further includes a first compartment and a second compartment spaced from the first compartment connected to the outer panel and positioned external to the inflation chamber. A first one-way valve is in fluid communication with the manifold and the first compartment, and a second one-way valve is in fluid communication with the manifold and the second compartment.