Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle

• US 20040061316A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen), TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hill, Bruce R., Wallner, John P., Sun, Xingyuan, Elqadah, Wael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,017,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/02 of hand grips or straps
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) also includes a housing (26) for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure (16) adjacent the vehicle roof (18). The housing (26) includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece (190) of the vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) also includes at least one grab handle (34) and at least one connector (200) that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), the housing (26) and the grab handle. The connector (200) connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), housing (26) and grab handle (34) to the vehicle (12).

Claims

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 in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;

a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure adjacent the vehicle roof, said housing including a portion that forms an interior trim piece of the vehicle;

at least one grab handle; and

at least one connector extending through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing and said grab handle to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflation fluid source being connected to said housing.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing includes a portion that is in fluid communication with said inflation fluid source for delivering said inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said portion comprises a fill tube for delivering said inflation fluid to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is constructed of a single piece of homogeneous material.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said material is plastic.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one connector connects said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle at a location on or near an A pillar of the vehicle.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing extends along the side structure of the vehicle between the A pillar and the C pillar of the vehicle.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain when inflated extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said inflatable curtain includes an first portion positioned between the vehicle side structure and an occupant of the vehicle and overlying at least a portion of a B pillar of the vehicle when said inflatable curtain is inflated, and a second portion extending between said first portion and an A pillar of the vehicle.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one grab handle is positioned adjacent said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said at least one connector extending through said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said housing and said grab handle to connect said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle side structure.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said connector connects said second portion of said inflatable curtain, said housing and said grab handle to the A pillar of the vehicle.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first portion of said inflatable curtain is inflatable and said second portion of said inflatable curtain is non-inflatable.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable tubular structure.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said inflatable tubular structure when inflated extends along the side structure of the vehicle between an A pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said inflatable tubular structure, when inflated, overlies at least a portion of an A pillar, a B pillar and a C pillar of the vehicle.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said housing extends along the side structure of the vehicle between the A pillar and the C pillar of the vehicle.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said inflatable tubular structure has a first end connected to the vehicle side structure at a first location and an opposite second end connected to the vehicle side structure at a second location.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said at least one grab handle is positioned adjacent said first end of said inflatable tubular structure, said at least one connector extending through said first end of said inflatable tubular structure, said housing and said grab handle to connect said first end of said inflatable tubular structure, said housing and said grab handle to the vehicle side structure at said first location.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said first location is on an A pillar of the vehicle.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition for which deployment of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is desired, said sensor actuating said inflation fluid source to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inflation fluid source comprises an inflator that is actuatable to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.