Inflatable side 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:
- a vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant protection device;
said vehicle occupant protection device comprising first and second gas impermeable panels, said first and second panels having aligned openings extending through said first and second panels respectively, said openings being for receiving hardware for securing said panels in the vehicle, and a structure for reinforcing said openings in said first and second panels, said structure comprising third and fourth fabric pieces sewn to each other, said third and fourth fabric pieces having openings aligned with the openings in said first and second panels, said third and fourth fabric pieces being secured to facing internal surfaces of said first and second panels, said third and fourth fabric pieces having outwardly facing gas impermeable coatings positioned adjacent said facing internal surfaces of said first and second panels.
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 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. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device (14). The vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprises first and second gas impermeable panels (40 and 42). Stitching (44) extends into the first and second panels (40 and 42) and secures portions of the panels together. A first gas impermeable piece (70) is secured to the first panel (44) in a position overlying the stitching (44) in the first panel.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:
-
a vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant protection device;
said vehicle occupant protection device comprising first and second gas impermeable panels, said first and second panels having aligned openings extending through said first and second panels respectively, said openings being for receiving hardware for securing said panels in the vehicle, and a structure for reinforcing said openings in said first and second panels, said structure comprising third and fourth fabric pieces sewn to each other, said third and fourth fabric pieces having openings aligned with the openings in said first and second panels, said third and fourth fabric pieces being secured to facing internal surfaces of said first and second panels, said third and fourth fabric pieces having outwardly facing gas impermeable coatings positioned adjacent said facing internal surfaces of said first and second panels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:
-
a vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant protection device;
said vehicle occupant protection device comprising first and second gas impermeable panels, stitching extending into said first and second panels for securing portions of said panels together, and a first gas impermeable piece secured to said first panel in a position overlying said stitching in said first panel each of said first and second panels having a periphery, said stitching extending into said first and second panels adjacent the peripheries of said first and second panels to secure the peripheries together, and said first piece comprising a folded piece having a first portion overlying the stitching in said first panel and a second portion overlying the stitching in said second panel.
-
-
7. 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 away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant and an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising;
first and second overlying panels having a gas impermeable coating on an outer surface of said first and second panels, stitching extending through said first and second panels and through said gas impermeable coating of said first and second panels to secure portions of said first and second panels together, said stitching having portions exposed on the outer surface of said first and second panels, and at least one piece of material having a gas impermeable coating, said at least one piece of material being secured to at least one of said first and second panels in a position overlying said exposed portions of said stitching, said gas impermeable coating of said at least one piece of material engaging said gas impermeable coating of said at least one of said first and second panels, said gas impermeable coating of said at least one piece of material and said gas impermeable coating of said at least one of said first and second panels being melted and combined, said combined gas impermeable coatings surrounding said exposed portions of said stitching and helping to block leakage of said inflation fluid through said stitching when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification