Folded inflatable curtain
First Claim
1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an anchor device connected to the side structure of the vehicle; and
a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location spaced from a rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said flexible elongated member having an opposite second end connected to said anchor device;
said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device prior to inflation being folded along a first fold line spaced from said rear edge, said first fold line extending proximate said first location in a direction transverse to a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being folded along at least one fold line located forward of said first fold line such that said first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle and such that said first fold line is positioned adjacent to and entirely forward of said anchor device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable away from a vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An anchor device (90) is connected to the side structure (16). A flexible elongated member (80) has a first end (82) connected to a first location (84) spaced from a rear edge (72) of the protection device (14) and an opposite second end (86) connected to the anchor device (90). The protection device (14) prior to inflation is folded along a first fold line (112) spaced from the rear edge (72) and extending proximate the first location (84) in a direction transverse to a lower edge (62) of the protection device (14). The protection device (14) is folded along at least one fold line (114, 116) located forward of the first fold line (112) such that the first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle (12), adjacent to and entirely forward of the anchor device (90).
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an anchor device connected to the side structure of the vehicle; and
a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location spaced from a rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said flexible elongated member having an opposite second end connected to said anchor device;
said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device prior to inflation being folded along a first fold line spaced from said rear edge, said first fold line extending proximate said first location in a direction transverse to a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being folded along at least one fold line located forward of said first fold line such that said first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle and such that said first fold line is positioned adjacent to and entirely forward of said anchor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A method for placing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising a portion of an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable away from a roof of the vehicle into a position between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said apparatus further including an anchor device connected to the side structure and a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a first location spaced from a rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an opposite second end connected to said anchor device, said method comprising the steps of:
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folding said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along a first fold line spaced from a rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first fold line extending proximate said first location in a direction transverse to a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
folding said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along at least one fold line located forward of said first fold line such that said first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle and such that said first fold line is positioned adjacent to and entirely forward of said anchor device; and
rolling up said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in an outboard direction into a stored position extending along the side structure of the vehicle near the intersection of the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle roof.
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Specification