Vehicle occupant safety apparatus

• US 6,123,355 A
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Sutherland, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US09/040,857
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/742, 280/741, 280/743.1, 280/735, 280/734, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21531 using a strechable wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) having a roof (46) and a side structure (40) includes a first vehicle occupant protection device (20). The first protection device (20) is inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure (40). A first inflation fluid source (14) directs inflation fluid into the first inflatable device to inflate the first inflatable device. A second vehicle occupant protection device (22) is inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle roof (46). A second inflation fluid source (16) is actuatable independently of the first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into the second inflatable device to inflate the second inflatable device. Control means (30, 32) is responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for selectively actuating the second inflation fluid source (16) at a predetermined period of time after actuation of the first inflation fluid source (14).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said apparatus comprising:

a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure;

an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said first inflatable device entirely below the first inflation fluid source;

a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant'"'"'s head;

a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and

control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means selectively actuates said second inflation fluid source at a selected time after actuation of said first inflation fluid source.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one vehicle condition and controller means for selectively providing an inflator actuation signal in response to said sensor means sensing the at least one vehicle condition.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said sensor means is operative to sense a side impact condition of the vehicle and a rollover condition of the vehicle.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first vehicle occupant protection device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and said second vehicle occupant protection device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the vehicle includes a headliner supported on the vehicle roof, said headliner air bag being inflatable into a position between the vehicle headliner and the roof of the vehicle.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said window air bag in a generally downward direction in the vehicle, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said headliner air bag in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second stages of a single inflator.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second inflators.

10. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising:

a first vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition wherein said first protection device is stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window, said first protection device being inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure;

an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device;

a second vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition wherein said second protection device is stored along said outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window, said second protection device being inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant'"'"'s head;

a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and

control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said control means selectively actuates said second inflation fluid source at a selected time after actuation of said first inflation fluid source.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one vehicle condition and controller means for selectively providing an inflator actuation signal in response to said sensor means sensing the at least one vehicle condition.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said sensor means is operative to sense a side impact condition of the vehicle and a rollover condition of the vehicle.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said first inflatable device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and said second inflatable device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the vehicle includes a headliner supported on the vehicle roof, said headliner air bag being inflatable into a position between the vehicle headliner and the roof of the vehicle.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said window air bag in a generally downward direction in the vehicle, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said headliner air bag in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second stages of a single inflator.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second inflators.

20. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure, a roof, and a headliner supported on the roof, said apparatus comprising:

a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure;

an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device;

a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the vehicle roof and the vehicle headliner into a position between the top of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant'"'"'s head;

a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and

control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources;

wherein said first inflatable device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and second inflatable device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle;

wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said first inflatable device in a generally downward direction in the vehicle entirely below the first inflation fluid source, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said second inflatable device in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said control means selectively actuates one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said control means selectively actuates said second inflation fluid source at a selected time after actuation of said first inflation fluid source.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one vehicle condition and controller means for selectively providing an inflator actuation signal in response to said sensor means sensing the at least one vehicle condition.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said sensor means is operative to sense a side impact condition of the vehicle and a rollover condition of the vehicle.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the vehicle includes a headliner supported on the vehicle roof and the side structure includes windows, said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second stages of a single inflator.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second inflators.

28. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising:

a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure;

an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device;

a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant'"'"'s head;

a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and

control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources;

said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.

29. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising:

a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle side structure;

an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device;

a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the vehicle roof and the vehicle headliner into a position between the top of the occupant'"'"'s head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant'"'"'s head;

a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and

control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources;

said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.