Inflatable curtain deployment ramp
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a side structure, and a trim piece overlying the side structure, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position adjacent the side structure of the vehicle;
a deployment ramp movable from a stored position to a deployed position for directing said inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece, said deployment ramp having a construction that is sufficiently resilient and rigid to direct said inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece; and
a connector piece for connecting said deployment ramp to the vehicle, said connector piece having a first portion secured to said deployment ramp and a second portion connectable to the vehicle, said connector piece having a construction that is sufficiently non-resilient and flexible so as to permit substantially unrestricted movement of said deployment ramp to said deployed position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a roof (18), a side structure (16), and a trim piece (310, 312) overlying the side structure. The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable curtain (14) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) to a position adjacent the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). A deployment ramp (180, 270) is movable from a stored position to a deployed position for directing the inflatable curtain (14) to deploy inboard of the trim piece (310, 312). The deployment ramp (180, 270) has a construction that is sufficiently resilient and rigid to direct the inflatable curtain (14) to deploy inboard of the trim piece (310, 312). A connector piece (162, 252) connects the deployment ramp (180, 270) to the vehicle (12). The connector piece (162, 252) has a first portion (174, 264) secured to the deployment ramp (180, 270) and a second portion (168, 258) connectable to the vehicle (12). The connector piece (162, 252) has a construction that is sufficiently non-resilient and flexible so as to permit substantially unrestricted movement of the deployment ramp (180, 270) to the deployed position.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a side structure, and a trim piece overlying the side structure, said apparatus comprising:
-
an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position adjacent the side structure of the vehicle;
a deployment ramp movable from a stored position to a deployed position for directing said inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece, said deployment ramp having a construction that is sufficiently resilient and rigid to direct said inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece; and
a connector piece for connecting said deployment ramp to the vehicle, said connector piece having a first portion secured to said deployment ramp and a second portion connectable to the vehicle, said connector piece having a construction that is sufficiently non-resilient and flexible so as to permit substantially unrestricted movement of said deployment ramp to said deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for directing an inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of a trim piece overlying a side structure of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
-
a plastic deployment ramp for directing the inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece; and
a fabric connector piece for connecting said deployment ramp to the vehicle, said connector piece having a first portion connected to said deployment ramp and a second portion connectable to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification