Inflatable side 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, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising an inflatable front portion having a generally triangular configuration and an inflatable main portion positioned rearward of said front portion, said front portion including a forward edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge, said front portion being in fluid communication with said main portion via a first inflation fluid passage positioned adjacent said bottom edge of said front portion, said front portion comprising a plurality of inflatable chambers, said chambers having a generally tapered configuration with a narrow end and an opposite wide end, said narrow end being positioned near an intersection of said forward edge and said rear edge of said front portion, said wide end being positioned near said bottom edge of said front portion; and
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion to inflate said main portion, said first inflation fluid passage directing inflation fluid from said main portion into said front portion to inflate said front portion, said chambers of said front portion when inflated contracting in a direction transverse to the length of said chambers and helping to tension said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable protection device (14) inflatable between the side structure (16) of a vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The device (14) includes a triangular front portion (64) and an main portion (62) positioned rearward of the front portion. The front portion (64) includes a forward edge (72), a rear edge (76), and a bottom edge (74). The front portion (64) is connected to the main portion (62) via a first inflation fluid passage (106) positioned adjacent the bottom edge (74). The front portion (64) includes a plurality of inflatable chambers (120) that have a tapered configuration with a narrow end (134) and an opposite wide end (136) positioned near the bottom edge (74). An inflation fluid source (30) when actuated directs inflation fluid into the main portion (62). The first inflation fluid passage (106) directs inflation fluid from the main portion (62) into the front portion (64). The chambers (120) of the front portion (64) when inflated contract in a direction transverse to the length of the chambers and help to tension the device (14) along the length of the device.
7 Citations
28 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, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising an inflatable front portion having a generally triangular configuration and an inflatable main portion positioned rearward of said front portion, said front portion including a forward edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge, said front portion being in fluid communication with said main portion via a first inflation fluid passage positioned adjacent said bottom edge of said front portion, said front portion comprising a plurality of inflatable chambers, said chambers having a generally tapered configuration with a narrow end and an opposite wide end, said narrow end being positioned near an intersection of said forward edge and said rear edge of said front portion, said wide end being positioned near said bottom edge of said front portion; and
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion to inflate said main portion, said first inflation fluid passage directing inflation fluid from said main portion into said front portion to inflate said front portion, said chambers of said front portion when inflated contracting in a direction transverse to the length of said chambers and helping to tension said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device along the length of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. 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, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising an upper edge, an opposite lower edge, and inflatable front and rear portions spaced away from each other and extending between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further comprising an inflatable main portion positioned between said front and rear portions and extending between said upper and lower edges, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device further comprising a first inflation fluid passage that provides fluid communication between said main portion and said front portion and a second inflation fluid passage that provides fluid communication between said main portion and said rear portion, said first and second inflation fluid passages being positioned adjacent said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a fill tube having a first end portion connected to said inflation fluid source and an opposite second end disposed in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said fill tube providing fluid communication between said inflation fluid source and said main portion, said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion via said fill tube to inflate said main portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said front portion through said first inflation fluid passage to inflate said front portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said rear portion through said second inflation fluid passage to inflate said rear portion.
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28. 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, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to form a perimeter connection extending along a perimeter of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said perimeter being at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and front and rear edges spaced apart along said upper and lower edges;
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a fill tube having a first end portion connected to said inflation fluid source and an opposite second end disposed in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising an inflatable front portion having a generally triangular configuration, an inflatable rear portion having a generally triangular configuration and an inflatable main portion positioned between said front and rear portions, said front portion being partially defined by said front edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said rear portion being partially defined by said rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including first and second inflation fluid passages positioned adjacent a lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first inflation fluid passage providing fluid communication between said front portion and said main portion, said second inflation fluid passage providing fluid communication between said rear portion and said main portion said inflation fluid source when actuated directing inflation fluid into said main portion via said fill tube to inflate said main portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said front portion through said first inflation fluid passage to inflate said front portion, said inflation fluid being directed from said main portion into said rear portion through said second inflation fluid passage to inflate said rear portion.
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Specification