Inflatable curtain
First Claim
1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having a bottom edge and spaced front and rear bottom corners;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a flexible elongated member having first and second opposite ends, said first end being adapted to connect to the side structure of the vehicle at a first location adjacent one of said front and rear bottom corners, said second end being adapted to connect to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a second location spaced away from said one of said front and rear bottom corners of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said flexible elongated member having a length greater than the distance between said first location and said one of said front and rear bottom corners when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated; and
a guide on said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device located between said first and second locations, said guide and said flexible elongated member cooperating such that said guide slides on said flexible elongated member when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), when inflated, has a bottom edge (52) spaced apart from the vehicle roof (18) and front and rear bottom corners (60 and 62). An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes a flexible elongated member (70) that has a first end (72) connected to the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) at a first location (76). The flexible elongated member (70) also has an opposite second end (74) connected to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) at a second location (82). The second location (82) is spaced away from the corners (60 and 62) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14).
48 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having a bottom edge and spaced front and rear bottom corners;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a flexible elongated member having first and second opposite ends, said first end being adapted to connect to the side structure of the vehicle at a first location adjacent one of said front and rear bottom corners, said second end being adapted to connect to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at a second location spaced away from said one of said front and rear bottom corners of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said flexible elongated member having a length greater than the distance between said first location and said one of said front and rear bottom corners when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated; and
a guide on said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device located between said first and second locations, said guide and said flexible elongated member cooperating such that said guide slides on said flexible elongated member when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification