A vehicle safety system for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal collision includes a controller, one or more crash sensors for sensing a frontal collision, and an active sensor for detecting objects in the path of the vehicle. The controller is configured to implement crash discrimination metrics that detect the occurrence of a frontal collision in response to signals received from the crash sensors. The crash discrimination metrics implement thresholds for determining whether the signals received from the crash sensors indicate the occurrence of a frontal collision. The controller is configured to implement an algorithm that uses information obtained from the active sensor to detect an object in the path of the vehicle and to select the thresholds implemented in the crash discrimination metrics in response to detecting the object.

A computing device is provided to monitor or ascertain various characteristics of one or more of a wheeled mobility device securement system, a wheeled mobility device, and an occupant of the wheeled mobility device. The computing device can send any and all data available to it, including but not limited to time, dynamic information concerning the vehicle, the wheeled mobility device securement system, the wheeled mobility device, and the occupant, the actions taken by the computing device during an adverse driving condition, and when those actions were taken, to memory for use after the adverse driving event for analysis purposes to understand and recreate the event.

An occupant restraint system of a vehicle includes a roof rail airbag that is located at a roof rail of the vehicle and above a door of the vehicle and that is configured to deploy in an outboard direction. A deployment device, when triggered, deploys the roof rail airbag. An actuator, when triggered, actuates a deployable reaction surface (i) from a first state where the deployable reaction surface is stowed behind interior door trim and does not block any part of a window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface (ii) to a second state where the deployable reaction surface blocks at least a portion of the window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface.

A method for controlling at least one assistance function in the event of a rollover of a vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one acceleration sensor with zero point feedback. The method includes reading in a sensor signal and ascertain or reading a feedback signal. The sensor signal represents acceleration values detected by the at least one acceleration sensor. The feedback signal represents control values for the zero point feedback of the at least one acceleration sensor. The method also includes determining an occurrence of a rollover as a function of a result of comparisons. Furthermore, the method includes providing a rollover signal for output to the at least one assistance function. The rollover signal represents a recognized rollover of the vehicle.

The invention consists of various embodiments of a system that uses electromechanical means to alert a vehicle operator of an imminent vehicle roll-over and protect the operator in a roll-over event. The system uses an electronics control unit (ECU) that is able to detect the deflection angle of the vehicle's tilt with the horizontal. If this angle exceeds a certain amount, the operator is alerted of the increased risk of roll-over via haptic feedback whereby the ECU controls a seatbelt electromechanical system to create a haptic feedback alert to the operator. If the angle exceeds a second higher amount, the system braces the operator for a roll-over event by tightening the seatbelt, thereby better protecting the operator. The fact that the system is electromechanical, instead of pyrotechnical, makes the system reusable. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a safety process used by the ECU to alert and protect the operator. By conducting this procedure, the ECU is able to detect when a critical angle has been exceeded by the vehicle and what response is appropriate for the circumstance.

An airbag for a vehicle includes a top, a bottom, a first panel, and a second panel spaced from the first panel. The airbag includes a first leg, a second leg, and a middle leg. The first leg extends from the first panel in a rearward direction. The second leg extends from the second panel in the rearward direction. The middle leg extends from the first panel and the second panel in the rearward direction. The first panel and the second panel each slant in the rearward direction along a direction from the top to the bottom of the airbag. The first panel and the second panel of the airbag in the inflated position may urge occupants to remain upright during an impact event, reducing loading on a chest of the occupants from seat belt.

A vehicle safety system (10) includes an oblique air bag (150) configured to be mounted at a mounting location in the vehicle (12). The oblique air bag (150) is configured to be inflated between an instrument panel (64) of the vehicle and an occupant (14) of a front driver side seat (20) of the vehicle. The oblique air bag (150) includes a support leg (160) that extends away tram the mounting location along the instrument panel (64) and has a portion positioned behind a steering wheel (72) of the vehicle. An occupant cushioning leg (170) is configured to extend rearward in the vehicle from the support leg (160) on an inboard side of the vehicle steering wheel (70). The cushioning leg (170) extends adjacent a steering wheel mounted frontal air bag (100) and extending rearward in the vehicle beyond the rearward extent of the frontal air bag.

A curtain airbag is folded and stored in an upper portion of a vehicle body under normal circumstances, and is inflated and expanded along a side window in emergency situations. The curtain airbag includes a front chamber to be inflated and expanded along the side window of a front seat of the vehicle body; a first gas supply port to supply gas to the front chamber, the first gas supply port being disposed at an upper portion of the front chamber; a sub-chamber smaller than the front chamber and disposed above the front chamber; and a second gas supply port disposed rearward of the sub-chamber, and communicated with and narrower than the first gas supply port. The sub-chamber is stored in a state of being folded on a front surface of the front chamber on a vehicle interior side at a portion of the second gas supply port.

A recreational off-highway vehicle includes side-by-side passenger and driver seats held within a chassis. The seats sit low in the chassis and are covered by a roll cage. Grab handles are positioned on the sides of the passenger seat. Select large round tubing protects the vehicle, while rectangular tubing frames the portions of the vehicle beneath body panels. The vehicle is powered by an engine rearward of the seats that is connected to a transaxle. A radiator is positioned above the engine. A cover with an access panel is situated between the engine and the passenger seats. The vehicle is suited for rough terrain travel.

An occupant restraint system of a vehicle includes a roof rail airbag that is located at a roof rail of the vehicle and above a door of the vehicle and that is configured to deploy in an outboard direction. A deployment device, when triggered, deploys the roof rail airbag. An actuator, when triggered, actuates a deployable reaction surface (i) from a first state where the deployable reaction surface is stowed behind interior door trim and does not block any part of a window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface (ii) to a second state where the deployable reaction surface blocks at least a portion of the window opening of the door when viewed from inboard of the deployable reaction surface.