Vehicle occupant protection apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device deployable into engagement with a vehicle occupant;
a source of inflation fluid;
a device that is actuatable to regulate a flow of said inflation fluid from said source to said protection device;
a cover structure configured to cover said protection device at a location that is spaced from said occupant when said occupant is not out-of-position;
a sensor that senses a force applied to said cover structure by said occupant when said occupant is out-of-position; and
a controller that responds to said sensor by controlling actuation of said actuatable device with reference to said force.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) which is deployable into engagement with a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (14) further includes a source (16) of inflation fluid and a device (62) that is actuatable to regulate a flow of the inflation fluid from the source (16) to the protection device (14). A cover structure (40) is configured to cover the protection device (14) at a location that is spaced from the occupant when the occupant is not out-of-position. A sensor (50) senses a force (F) applied to the cover structure (40) by the occupant when the occupant is out-of-position. A controller (64) responds to the sensor (50) by controlling the actuatable device (62) with reference to the force (F) applied to the cover structure (40) by the out-of-position occupant.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device deployable into engagement with a vehicle occupant; a source of inflation fluid; a device that is actuatable to regulate a flow of said inflation fluid from said source to said protection device; a cover structure configured to cover said protection device at a location that is spaced from said occupant when said occupant is not out-of-position; a sensor that senses a force applied to said cover structure by said occupant when said occupant is out-of-position; and a controller that responds to said sensor by controlling actuation of said actuatable device with reference to said force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device deployable into engagement with a vehicle occupant; an inflator which is actuatable to inflate said protection device; a cover structure configured to cover said protection device at a location that is spaced from said occupant when said occupant is not out-of-position; a sensor that senses a force applied to said cover structure by said occupant when said occupant is out-of-position; and a controller that responds to said sensor by controlling actuation of said inflator with reference to said force. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device deployable into engagement with a vehicle occupant; means for inflating said protection device; means for covering said protection device at a location that is spaced from said occupant when said occupant is not out-of-position; means for sensing a force applied to said covering means by said occupant when said occupant is out-of-position; and means for responding to said sensing means by actuating said inflating means in a selected one of a plurality of differing modes corresponding to a plurality of differing forces that may be applied to said covering means by an out-of-position vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification