Inflatable windshield curtain
First Claim
1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a windshield, and an instrument panel, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the roof to a position between the windshield and a vehicle occupant, said windshield curtain including an inflatable upper portion and an inflatable lower portion, said upper portion being inflatable between the roof and the instrument panel and between the windshield and a vehicle occupant, said lower portion being bifurcated and having a first chamber inflatable against a surface of the instrument panel presented generally toward the vehicle occupant, said lower portion having a second chamber inflatable against the windshield and a surface of the instrument panel adjacent the windshield.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable windshield curtain (14). The windshield curtain (14) is inflatable away from a roof (40) of the vehicle to a position between a windshield (50) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain (14) includes an inflatable upper portion (190) and an inflatable lower portion (192). The upper portion (190) is inflatable between the roof (40) and an instrument panel (64) of the vehicle (12) and between the windshield (50) and a vehicle occupant. The lower portion (192) is bifurcated and includes a first chamber (194) inflatable against a surface (222) of the instrument panel (64) presented generally toward the vehicle occupant. The lower portion (192) also includes a second chamber (196) inflatable against the windshield (50) and a surface (220) of the instrument panel (64) adjacent the windshield.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a windshield, and an instrument panel, said apparatus comprising:
an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the roof to a position between the windshield and a vehicle occupant, said windshield curtain including an inflatable upper portion and an inflatable lower portion, said upper portion being inflatable between the roof and the instrument panel and between the windshield and a vehicle occupant, said lower portion being bifurcated and having a first chamber inflatable against a surface of the instrument panel presented generally toward the vehicle occupant, said lower portion having a second chamber inflatable against the windshield and a surface of the instrument panel adjacent the windshield. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
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a first panel of material including an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said first panel being folded over onto itself, overlying folded over portions of said lower portion of said first panel being interconnected along first and second side edges of said first panel; and
a second panel of material including an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said second panel being folded over onto itself, overlying folded over portions of said lower portion of said second panel being interconnected along first and second side edges of said second panel;
said first and second panels being positioned overlying each other, overlying upper portions of said first and second panels being interconnected along their respective first and second side edges. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An inflatable windshield curtain comprising:
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a first panel of material including first and second side edges, said first panel having a portion folded over onto itself;
a second panel of material including first and second side edges, said second panel having a portion folded over onto itself;
first connections interconnecting overlying folded over portions of said first panel along said first and second side edges of said first panel;
second connections interconnecting overlying folded over portions of said second panel along said first and second side edges of said second panel; and
third connections interconnecting overlying portions of said first and second panels separate from said folded over portions of said first and second panels, said third connections extending along overlying first side edges of said first and second panels and along overlying second side edges of said first and second panels;
said first, second, and said third connections along said first side edges of said first and second panels converging at a first location on the windshield curtain;
said first, second, and said third connections along said second side edges of said first and second panels converging at a second location on the windshield curtain.
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Specification