Inflatable curtain with primary and secondary chambers
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 vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain comprising;
a primary chamber extending from adjacent an upper edge of said inflatable curtain to adjacent a lower edge of said inflatable curtain;
a secondary chamber extending from adjacent said upper edge to adjacent said lower edge; and
at least one passage for directing inflation fluid from said primary chamber into said secondary chamber, said at least one passage being spaced from said upper edge and said lower edge, said at least one passage being the only means through which to direct inflation fluid into said secondary chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable curtain (14) that is inflatable away from a vehicle roof (18) of the vehicle to a position between a side structure (16) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain (14) includes a primary chamber (62) extending from adjacent an upper edge (70) to adjacent a lower edge (72) of the inflatable curtain. A secondary chamber (64) extends from adjacent the upper edge (70) to adjacent the lower edge (72). At least one passage (120) directs inflation fluid from the primary chamber (62) into the secondary chamber (64). The passage (120) is spaced from the upper edge (70) and the lower edge (72). The passage (120) is the only means through which to direct inflation fluid into the secondary chamber (64).
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Citations
17 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 vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain comprising;
a primary chamber extending from adjacent an upper edge of said inflatable curtain to adjacent a lower edge of said inflatable curtain;
a secondary chamber extending from adjacent said upper edge to adjacent said lower edge; and
at least one passage for directing inflation fluid from said primary chamber into said secondary chamber, said at least one passage being spaced from said upper edge and said lower edge, said at least one passage being the only means through which to direct inflation fluid into said secondary chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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 vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and
an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable curtain;
said inflatable curtain comprising a primary chamber positioned for protecting the occupant'"'"'s head in a side impact, a secondary chamber, and at least one passage for directing inflation fluid from said primary chamber into said secondary chamber, said at least one passage being sized to restrict flow into said secondary chamber so that said primary chamber is inflated to at least a predetermined pressure within a predetermined time after actuation of said inflator, and so that said secondary chamber is inflated to at least said predetermined pressure within a predetermined time after said primary chamber is inflated to said predetermined pressure.
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17. 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 vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable curtain, said inflatable curtain comprising;
a primary chamber;
a secondary chamber; and
at least one passage for directing inflation fluid from said primary chamber into said secondary chamber, said at least one passage being sized such that said primary chamber is inflated to at least a predetermined pressure within 25 milliseconds after actuation of said inflation fluid source and said secondary chamber is pressurized to at least said predetermined pressure after said primary chamber is pressurized to said predetermined pressure and within 1.5 seconds after actuation of said inflation fluid source.
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Specification