Inflatable curtain cushion
First Claim
1. A safety restraint apparatus for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a first cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations, the first cushion portion being adapted to receive gas from a source of pressurized gas;
a second cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations; and
a first sail portion connected between the first and second cushion portions, the first sail portion being adapted to provide passage of gas from the first cushion portion into the second cushion portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel safety restraint system especially well suited to protect occupants of a vehicle from lateral impact is described. One or more cushion portions are provided and installed to inflate between an occupant and a lateral surface, such as a door or side window. The cushion portions may be connected to an air source or to each other through the use of sail portions and supply tubes, which may be attached to the cushion portions by chemical bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing, RF welding, or any other suitable method. The cushion portions may have an interior coating of a urethane based substance, mated to a similar substance coating the exterior of a supply tube or sail portion. The cushion portions may then be RF welded to the sail portion or supply tube without restricting gas flow into the cushion portions. The sail portions and supply tubes are preferably fabricated from a material different from that used to form the cushion portions, so as to reduce the cost and weight of the safety restraint system.
32 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A safety restraint apparatus for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a first cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations, the first cushion portion being adapted to receive gas from a source of pressurized gas;
a second cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations; and
a first sail portion connected between the first and second cushion portions, the first sail portion being adapted to provide passage of gas from the first cushion portion into the second cushion portion. - 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, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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24. A safety restraint apparatus for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a first cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations, the first cushion portion being adapted to receive gas from a source of pressurized gas, the first cushion portion further being positioned proximate a first lateral surface of the vehicle in the inflated configuration, so as to provide protection from lateral impact;
a second cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations, the second cushion portion being positioned proximate a second lateral surface of the vehicle in the inflated configuration, so as to provide protection from lateral impact;
a first sail portion connected between the first and second cushion portions, the first sail portion being attached to the first and second cushion portions in substantially gastight fashion to provide passage of gas from the first cushion portion into the second cushion portion; and
wherein the first sail portion is fabricated separately from the first and second cushion portions, the first sail portion being attached to the first and second cushion portions.
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26. A safety restraint apparatus for protecting occupants of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of pressurized gas;
a first cushion portion having deflated and inflated configurations, the first cushion portion being adapted to receive gas from the source, the first cushion portion being positioned proximate a first lateral surface of the vehicle in the inflated configuration, so as to protect an occupant of a front seat of the vehicle from lateral impact; and
a supply tube connected between the first cushion portion and the source and adapted to provide a substantially unrestricted flow of gas therebetween, the supply tube being fabricated separately from the first cushion portion and formed of a substantially flexible material.
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35. A method for manufacturing a safety restraint apparatus for a vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a first cushion portion adapted to receive and retain pressurized gas;
providing a second cushion portion adapted to receive and retain pressurized gas;
providing a first sail portion adapted to permit passage of gas between first and second ends of the first sail portion; and
connecting the first sail portion to the first and second cushion portions to form an integral safety restraint apparatus.
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Specification