Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device
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 inflatable in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
a plastic housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a fill tube for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said fill tube being constructed of a piece of material separate from said housing, said fill tube being connected to said housing by plastic connection portions of said housing that have a surface in continuous engagement with portions of an outer surface of said fill tube, said connection portions and the remaining portions of said housing being constructed of a single piece of plastic material.
2 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 apparatus (10) also includes a plastic housing (26) for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) in a stored position. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). A fill tube (22) directs the inflation fluid into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The fill tube (22) is connected to the housing (26) by plastic connection portions (160) of the housing that have a surface (162) in continuous engagement with portions of an outer surface (164) of the fill tube. The connection portions (160) and the remaining portions of the housing (26) are constructed of a single piece of homogeneous plastic material.
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Citations
26 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 inflatable in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
a plastic housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a fill tube for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said fill tube being constructed of a piece of material separate from said housing, said fill tube being connected to said housing by plastic connection portions of said housing that have a surface in continuous engagement with portions of an outer surface of said fill tube, said connection portions and the remaining portions of said housing being constructed of a single piece of plastic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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 inflatable in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a fill tube for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said fill tube having a length and including a plurality of inflation fluid outlets arranged in groups spaced apart along the length of said fill tube; and
a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position, said housing being constructed of a single piece of plastic material;
said housing including connection portions for connecting said fill tube to said housing, said connection portions in continuous engagement with portions of an outer surface of said fill tube extending circumferentially around said fill tube, said connection portions being positioned between said groups of inflation fluid outlets.
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20. 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 inflatable in a direction 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 including a plurality of tab portions extending from an upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position, said housing being constructed of a single piece of plastic material, said housing including a plurality of slots for receiving said tab portions to connect said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to said housing;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a fill tube for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said fill tube being connected to said housing by connection portions of said housing extending circumferentially around an outer surface of said fill tube in continuous engagement with said outer surface, said connection portions being spaced axially along said fill tube.
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21. 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 inflatable in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a fill tube for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a housing for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position, said housing including central portion extending along a length of said housing and first and second flaps extending from opposite longitudinal edges of said central portion, said first and second flaps each having a respective longitudinal end portion positioned opposite said central portion and extending along the length of said housing, said longitudinal end portions of said first and second flaps being adapted to interlock with each other to connect said first and second flaps along said longitudinal end portions, said first and second flaps when connected helping to define a chamber for storing said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in said stored position, said housing further including connection portions for connecting said fill tube to said housing, said connection portions extending from an inner surface of said central portion between said longitudinal edges of said central portion, said connection portions having surfaces in continuous engagement with an outer surface of said fill tube, said connection portions and said fill tube being positioned in said chamber when said first and second flaps are connected along said longitudinal end portions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification