Inflatable curtain with fluid release means
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 curtain that is inflatable away from the roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain having an inflatable volume;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable curtain;
a fill tube for delivering the inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source to said inflatable curtain;
actuatable means for providing an opening in at least one of said fill tube and said inflatable curtain for directing said inflation fluid from said inflatable volume to deflate said inflatable curtain, said actuatable means being actuatable in response to actuation of said inflation fluid source.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 curtain (14). The inflatable curtain (14) is inflatable away from the roof (18) between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain has an inflatable volume (28). An inflation fluid source (30) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the inflatable volume (28) to inflate the inflatable curtain (14). A fill tube (32) delivers the inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source (30) to the inflatable curtain (14). The apparatus (10) includes actuatable means (60) for providing an opening (72, 226) in at least one of the fill tube (32) and the inflatable curtain (14) for directing the inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (28) to deflate the inflatable curtain (14). The actuatable means (60) is actuatable in response to actuation of the inflation fluid source (30).
20 Citations
32 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 curtain that is inflatable away from the roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain having an inflatable volume;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable curtain;
a fill tube for delivering the inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source to said inflatable curtain;
actuatable means for providing an opening in at least one of said fill tube and said inflatable curtain for directing said inflation fluid from said inflatable volume to deflate said inflatable curtain, said actuatable means being actuatable in response to actuation of said inflation fluid source. - 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 curtain that is inflatable away from the roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain including an inflatable volume;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to said inflatable volume for inflating said inflatable curtain;
a mechanism for releasing said inflation fluid to flow from said inflatable volume starting at least five seconds after actuation of said inflation fluid source to deflate said inflatable curtain. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. 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 curtain that is inflatable away from the roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable curtain;
a fill tube for delivering the inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source to the inflatable curtain, said fill tube having a portion positioned in said inflatable curtain; and
a device mounted on said fill tube for releasing the inflation fluid from said inflatable curtain. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification