Vehicle occupant protection apparatus having foldable fill tube
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
- an occupant protection device that is inflatable for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the occupant protection device; and
a conduit for directing a flow of inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source to the occupant protection device, the conduit including two rigid portions and a flexible portion that is interposed between the rigid portions, the flexible portion of the conduit directing the flow of inflation fluid from one rigid portion to the other rigid portion and permitting the two rigid portions to be moved relative to one another while remaining connected through the flexible portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an occupant protection device (14) and an inflation fluid source (12) that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the occupant protection device (14). The apparatus (10) also includes a conduit (34) for directing a flow of inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source (12) to the occupant protection device (14). The conduit (34) includes two rigid portions (40 and 42) and a flexible portion (70) that is interposed between the rigid portions (40 and 42). The flexible portion (70) of the conduit (34) directs the flow of inflation fluid from one rigid portion (40) to the other rigid portion (42) and permits the rigid portions (40 and 42) to be moved relative to one another while remaining connected through the flexible portion (70).
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an occupant protection device that is inflatable for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the occupant protection device; and
a conduit for directing a flow of inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source to the occupant protection device, the conduit including two rigid portions and a flexible portion that is interposed between the rigid portions, the flexible portion of the conduit directing the flow of inflation fluid from one rigid portion to the other rigid portion and permitting the two rigid portions to be moved relative to one another while remaining connected through the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an occupant protection device that is inflatable for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
an inflation fluid source that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the occupant protection device; and
a conduit for directing a flow of inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source to the occupant protection device, the conduit including two rigid portions and a flexible portion that is interposed between the rigid portions, the flexible portion of the conduit directing the flow of inflation fluid from one rigid portion to the other rigid portion and permitting the two rigid portions to be moved into generally parallel positions, without being coaxial with one another, while remaining connected through the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification