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 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 comprising an inflatable front portion and an inflatable rear portion, said front and rear portions being partially separated by a slit that extends through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a slider assembly adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure; and
a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said front portion at a first location on said front portion and an opposite second end connected to said slider assembly, said rear portion when inflated overlying the entire slider assembly, said slit being positioned forward of said slider assembly when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said flexible elongated member extending from said first location across said slit when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) includes an inflatable protection device (14) that inflates away from a vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device (14) comprises inflatable front and rear portions (64 and 66) partially separated by a slit (80). An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). A slider assembly (90) is connected to the side structure (16). A flexible elongated member (100) has a first end (102) connected to the front portion (64) at a first location (104) and an opposite second end (106) connected to the slider assembly (90). The slit (80) is positioned between the first location (104) and the slider assembly (90) when the protection device (14) is inflated. The flexible elongated member (100) extends across the slit (80) when the protection device (14) is inflated.
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Citations
28 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 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 comprising an inflatable front portion and an inflatable rear portion, said front and rear portions being partially separated by a slit that extends through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a slider assembly adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure; and
a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said front portion at a first location on said front portion and an opposite second end connected to said slider assembly, said rear portion when inflated overlying the entire slider assembly, said slit being positioned forward of said slider assembly when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said flexible elongated member extending from said first location across said slit 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, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. 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 inflatable from a stored position to a deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having an upper edge positioned near the vehicle roof, an opposite lower edge, and inflatable front and rear portions partially defined by a slit extending from a position near said upper edge to a position near said lower edge, a lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device extending between said front and rear portions along said lower edge;
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a slider assembly adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure; and
a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to said front portion at a first location on said front portion and an opposite second end connected to said slider assembly, said flexible elongated member being rolled up around said lower portion when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is in said stored position. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification