Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for a vehicle with third row seating

• US 20030094796A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Feldman, Peter, Hayes, Garry
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16), a roof (18), and A, B, C, and D pillars (22, 24, 26, 28) includes a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (50) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (50), when inflated, is positioned generally between only the C pillar (26) and the D pillar (28) of the vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) also includes an inflation fluid source (52) for providing inflation fluid for inflating the first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (50).

Claims

1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and A, B, C, and D pillars, said apparatus comprising:

a first 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 first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, being positioned generally between only the C pillar and the D pillar of the vehicle; and

an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second 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 second inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, being positioned generally between the A pillar and the C pillar of the vehicle.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflation fluid source provides said inflation fluid to said first and second inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising at least one fill tube for directing said inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source into said first and second inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices to inflate said first and second inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises an inflatable curtain, said inflatable curtain extending along the side structure adjacent to the vehicle roof when said inflatable curtain is in said stored position.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises an inflatable tubular structure, said inflatable tubular structure extending along the side structure adjacent to the vehicle roof when said inflatable curtain is in said stored position.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said inflatable tubular structure has a first end and an opposite second end, said first and second ends being connected to the side structure of the vehicle.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said first end of said inflatable tubular structure is connected to the D pillar of the vehicle and said second end of said inflatable tubular structure is connected to the C pillar of the vehicle.

10. Apparatus as de fined in claim 8, further comprising a sling connected to the vehicle near the intersection of the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle roof, said inflatable tubular structure extending through said sling, said inflatable tubular structure, upon inflation, pulling on said sling in a direction generally away from the vehicle roof, said sling supporting said inflatable tubular structure in a predetermined position adjacent the vehicle side structure.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said sling comprises a sheet of material folded over generally along a fold portion to form overlying panels, said sling having an upper edge portion opposite said fold portion, said upper edge portion being connected to the vehicle near the intersection of the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle roof, said inflatable tubular structure being positioned between said overlying panels, said sling preventing further movement of said inflatable tubular structure away from the vehicle roof when said inflatable tubular structure reaches said predetermined position adjacent the vehicle side structure.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said second inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises an inflatable curtain.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first inflatable device, when inflated, overlies a portion of a C pillar and a D pillar of the vehicle.

14. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and first, second and third rows of seating, said apparatus comprising:

a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position solely between the side structure of the vehicle and the third row of seating; and

an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising a second inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the first and second rows of seating.

16. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and first, second and third rows of seating, said apparatus comprising:

a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the third row of seating;

a second inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the first and second rows of seating; and

a single inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said first and second inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices.

17. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and first, second and third rows of seating, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable tubular structure that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the third row of seating;

an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the first and second rows of seating; and

a single inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable tubular structure and said inflatable curtain.

18. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and first, second and third rows of seating, said apparatus comprising:

a first inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the third row of seating;

a second inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the first and second rows of seating; and

a single inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said first and second inflatable curtains.