Vehicle occupant protection apparatus including an inflatable curtain and a housing containing the curtain
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a housing containing said protection device, said housing having a seam; and
a conduit configured to convey inflation fluid to said protection device;
said conduit being deflectable under the influence of pressure forces applied by said inflation fluid;
said conduit being located adjacent to said seam so as to transmit said pressure forces to said housing along said seam and thereby to open said housing along said seam upon deflecting under the influence of said pressure forces.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and a housing (42) containing the protection device (12). The housing (42) has a seam (54). The apparatus (10) further includes a conduit (40) configured to convey inflation fluid to the protection device (12). The conduit (40) is deflectable under the influence of pressure forces applied by the inflation fluid, and is located adjacent to the seam (54) in the housing (42). The conduit (40) can thus transmit fluid pressure forces to the housing (42) along the seam (54) so as to open the housing (42) along the seam (54) upon deflecting under the influence of the fluid pressure forces. Preferably, the conduit (40) is a tubular extrusion extending along an elongated vehicle frame member (34) having a non-linear contour. The tubular extrusion (40) has a non-linear contour matching the non-linear contour of the frame member (34).
34 Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; a housing containing said protection device, said housing having a seam; and a conduit configured to convey inflation fluid to said protection device; said conduit being deflectable under the influence of pressure forces applied by said inflation fluid; said conduit being located adjacent to said seam so as to transmit said pressure forces to said housing along said seam and thereby to open said housing along said seam upon deflecting under the influence of said pressure forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated vehicle member having a non-linear contour; an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and a conduit configured to convey inflation fluid to said protection device; said conduit comprising a tubular extrusion extending along said member, said tubular extrusion having a non-linear contour matching said non-linear contour of said member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification