Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with differentially pressurized chambers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a first chamber inflatable between a thorax of the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle and a second chamber inflatable between a head of the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle; and
an inflation fluid source for inflating said first chamber to a first pressure and said second chamber to a second pressure that is greater than said first pressure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The protection device (14) includes a first chamber (166) inflatable between a thorax (122) of the occupant (20) and a side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The protection device (14) also includes a second chamber (162) inflatable between a head (100) of the occupant (20) and the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) further includes an inflation fluid source (22) for inflating the first chamber (166) to a first pressure and for inflating the second chamber (162) to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure.
55 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a first chamber inflatable between a thorax of the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle and a second chamber inflatable between a head of the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle; and
an inflation fluid source for inflating said first chamber to a first pressure and said second chamber to a second pressure that is greater than said first pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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a first chamber inflatable between a pelvis of the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle;
a second chamber inflatable between the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle; and
an inflation fluid source for inflating said first chamber to a first pressure and said second chamber to a second pressure, said first pressure being greater than 4.0 times said second pressure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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a first chamber inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a thorax and abdomen of a vehicle occupant;
a second chamber inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a head of the vehicle occupant;
a third chamber inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a pelvis of the vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source for inflating said first chamber to a first pressure, said second chamber to a second pressure different than said first pressure, and said third chamber to a third pressure different than said first pressure and said second pressure. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, said system comprising:
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at least four inflatable chambers inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source for inflating each of said at least four chambers to a different pressure. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An apparatus for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle that has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable curtain inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable curtain when inflated having a lower extent adjacent the vehicle occupant; and
a side impact air bag inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant, said side impact air bag when inflated extending from about the lower extent of said inflatable curtain to adjacent a pelvis of the vehicle occupant.
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Specification