Occupant protection system including expandable curtain and/or expandable bladder
First Claim
1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle, the occupant protection system comprising:
- an expandable curtain configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state having a length configured to extend at least a portion of a distance between a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor, wherein the expandable curtain in the deployed state comprises;
a first side configured to extend along a portion of a first interior side of the vehicle;
a second side configured to extend along a portion of a second interior side of the vehicle opposite the first interior side; and
a transverse portion extending between the first side and the second side, the transverse portion being configured to divide the vehicle,wherein the first side, the second side, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain are contiguous;
an expandable bladder comprising an occupant facing surface and a rear surface opposite the occupant facing surface, the expandable bladder configured to expand from a stowed state to a deployed state, such that in the deployed state the transverse portion of the expandable curtain comes into contact with the rear surface of the expandable bladder to provide a reaction surface for the expandable bladder; and
a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain to expand from the stowed state to the deployed state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant protection system for a vehicle may include an expandable curtain and/or an expandable bladder configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state. In the deployed state, the expandable curtain may include first and second sides configured to extend along respective portions of first and second interior sides of the vehicle. The expandable curtain may also include a transverse portion extending between the first and second sides, and the first and second sides, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain may form a contiguous barrier. The expandable bladder when deployed may be supported by the expandable curtain during contact by an occupant. The occupant protection system may also include a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain and/or the expandable bladder to expand to the deployed state. The occupant protection system may be used in vehicles having a carriage-style seating arrangement.
69 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle, the occupant protection system comprising:
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an expandable curtain configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state having a length configured to extend at least a portion of a distance between a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor, wherein the expandable curtain in the deployed state comprises; a first side configured to extend along a portion of a first interior side of the vehicle; a second side configured to extend along a portion of a second interior side of the vehicle opposite the first interior side; and a transverse portion extending between the first side and the second side, the transverse portion being configured to divide the vehicle, wherein the first side, the second side, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain are contiguous; an expandable bladder comprising an occupant facing surface and a rear surface opposite the occupant facing surface, the expandable bladder configured to expand from a stowed state to a deployed state, such that in the deployed state the transverse portion of the expandable curtain comes into contact with the rear surface of the expandable bladder to provide a reaction surface for the expandable bladder; and a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain to expand from the stowed state to the deployed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for deploying an expandable occupant protection system, the method comprising:
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causing an expandable curtain to expand from a stowed state to a deployed state presenting a transverse portion extending substantially across an interior of a vehicle between a first interior side and a second interior side and comprising a support face side; and causing an expandable bladder associated with the expandable curtain to expand from a stowed state to a deployed state, such that a rear surface of the expandable bladder contacts the support face side of the transverse portion of the expandable curtain in the deployed state. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A vehicle comprising:
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a chassis comprising a roof and a floor; an expandable curtain at least partially stowed in a portion of the vehicle associated with the roof and configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state having a length configured to extend at least a portion of a distance between the roof and the floor, wherein the expandable curtain in the deployed state comprises; a first side extending along a portion of a first interior side of the vehicle; a second side extending along a portion of a second interior side of the vehicle opposite the first interior side; and a transverse portion extending between the first side and the second side of the expandable curtain, the transverse portion dividing an interior of the vehicle, wherein the first side, the second side, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain are contiguous; and an expandable bladder comprising an occupant facing surface and a rear surface opposite the occupant facing surface, the expandable bladder configured to expand from a stowed state to a deployed state, such that in the deployed state the transverse portion of the expandable curtain comes into contact with the rear surface of the expandable bladder to provide a reaction surface for the expandable bladder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification