ANTI-EJECTION INFLATABLE VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a window opening, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first edge portion connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion; and
at least one tether having a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first end portion of the protection device and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion of the protection device, the at least one tether maintaining the second edge portion of the protection device in the deployed condition and resisting outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening in response to occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a window opening (28) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure (16) and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening (28). The protection device (14) when in the deployed condition has a first edge portion (70) connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion (76) that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion. At least one tether (100) has a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first end portion (70) of the protection device (14) and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion (76) of the protection device. The at least one tether (100) maintains the second edge portion (76) of the protection device (14) in the deployed condition and resists outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening (28) in response to occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a window opening, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first edge portion connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first end portion of the protection device and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion of the protection device, the at least one tether maintaining the second edge portion of the protection device in the deployed condition and resisting outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening in response to occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a door that helps define a window opening, the apparatus comprising:
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an air bag stored in the door and being inflatable upward to a deployed condition in which the air bag is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the air bag having a lower edge portion connected to the vehicle door and an opposite upper edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the door proximate to and inboard of the lower edge portion of the air bag, and an opposite second end connected to the upper edge portion of the air bag, the at least one tether extending inboard of an inboard facing panel of the air bag, the at least one tether maintaining the upper edge portion of the air bag in the deployed condition and resisting outboard movement of the upper end portion through the window opening in response to the occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, a roof, and a window opening, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable curtain stored adjacent the roof and being inflatable downward to a deployed condition in which the inflatable curtain is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the inflatable curtain having an upper edge portion connected to the vehicle roof and an opposite lower edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the roof inboard of the upper edge portion of the inflatable curtain, and an opposite second end connected to the lower edge portion of the inflatable curtain, the at least one tether extending inboard of an inboard facing panel of the inflatable curtain, the at least one tether maintaining the lower edge portion of the inflatable curtain in the deployed condition and resisting outboard movement of the lower edge portion through the window opening in response to the occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification