Inflatable curtain with anchor 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 adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof into a deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
an anchoring device comprising;
a track adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure, said track defining a channel having a wall comprising a smooth uninterrupted surface extending along the length of said track, said track further including a slot extending from said wall to an outer surface of said track along the length of said track; and
an element that is slidable along said track, said element having a body portion positioned in said channel, said body portion having a surface in continuous engagement with said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall, said element having a flange portion extending from said body portion through said slot, said flange portion being connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device applying a first force to said element during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first force causing said element to slide in a first direction along said track, said element being urged to slide along said track in a second direction, opposite said first direction, when a second force is applied to said element, said surface of said body portion engaging said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall to block said element from sliding in said second direction along said track, said first force causing said element to pivot in a first rotational direction relative to said track, said surface of said body portion including at least one first portion that moves away from said wall when said element rotates in said first rotational direction, said element pivoting in a second rotational direction, opposite said first rotational direction when said second force is applied to said element, said at least one first portion moving toward said wall and frictionally engaging said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall when said element rotates in said second rotational direction, said at least one first portion blocking movement of said element in said second direction along said track.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable away from a vehicle roof (18) between a vehicle side structure (16) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) further comprises an anchoring device (70) that comprises a track (72) and an element (74) that is slidable along the track. The track (72) is connected to the side structure (16) and has a wall (82, 200) comprising a smooth uninterrupted surface (94, 202). The element (74) is connected to the device (14) and has a surface (130, 242) that is in continuous engagement with the surface (94, 202) of the wall (82, 200). The device (14) applies a first force to the element (74) which causes the element to slide in a first direction along the track (72). The element (74) is urged to slide along the track (72) in a second direction, opposite the first direction, when a second force is applied to the element. The surface (130, 242) of the element (74) engages the surface (94, 202) of the wall (82, 200) to block the element from sliding in the second direction.
25 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 deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
an anchoring device comprising;
a track adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure, said track defining a channel having a wall comprising a smooth uninterrupted surface extending along the length of said track, said track further including a slot extending from said wall to an outer surface of said track along the length of said track; and
an element that is slidable along said track, said element having a body portion positioned in said channel, said body portion having a surface in continuous engagement with said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall, said element having a flange portion extending from said body portion through said slot, said flange portion being connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device applying a first force to said element during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first force causing said element to slide in a first direction along said track, said element being urged to slide along said track in a second direction, opposite said first direction, when a second force is applied to said element, said surface of said body portion engaging said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall to block said element from sliding in said second direction along said track, said first force causing said element to pivot in a first rotational direction relative to said track, said surface of said body portion including at least one first portion that moves away from said wall when said element rotates in said first rotational direction, said element pivoting in a second rotational direction, opposite said first rotational direction when said second force is applied to said element, said at least one first portion moving toward said wall and frictionally engaging said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall when said element rotates in said second rotational direction, said at least one first portion blocking movement of said element in said second direction along said track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. 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 deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
an anchoring device comprising;
a track adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure, said track defining a channel having a wall comprising a smooth uninterrupted surface extending along the length of said track, said track further including a slot extending from said wall to an outer surface of said track along the length of said track; and
an element that is slidable along said track, said element having a body portion positioned in said channel and a flange portion extending from said body portion through said slot, said flange portion being connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said body portion including a spherical member having a surface in continuous engagement with said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall, said spherical member being positioned between said wall and a ramp of said body portion, said spherical member being capable of movement along said track, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device applying a first force to said element during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first force causing said element to slide in a first direction along said track, said element being urged to slide along said track in a second direction, opposite said first direction, when a second force is applied to said element, said surface of said spherical member engaging said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall to block said element from sliding in said second direction along said track, said channel comprises a cylindrical portion and a non-cylindrical portion extending adjacent and parallel to each other along the length of said track, said non-cylindrical portion receiving a base portion of said body portion, said cylindrical portion receiving said spherical member, said channel including a slot that extends from said cylindrical portion to said non-cylindrical portion along the length of said channel, said ramp extending from said base portion through said slot of said channel and engaging said spherical member in said cylindrical portion, said spherical member being movable in said cylindrical portion along the length of said track. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. 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 deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
an anchoring device comprising;
a track adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure; and
an element that is slidable along said track, said element being connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device applying a force to said element in a first direction during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said force causing said element to pivot in a first rotational direction relative to said track and to slide along said track in a first linear direction, said element including at least one first portion that moves away from said track when said element rotates in said first rotational direction, said element pivoting in a second rotational direction, opposite said first rotational direction when a force is applied to said element in a second direction different than said first direction, said at least one first portion moving toward said track and frictionally engaging said track when said element rotates in said second rotational direction, said at least one first portion blocking movement of said element along said track in a second linear direction, opposite said first linear direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. 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 deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
an anchoring device comprising;
a track adapted to be connected to the vehicle side structure, said track defining a channel having a wall comprising a smooth uninterrupted surface extending along the length of said track, said channel comprising a cylindrical portion and a non-cylindrical portion extending adjacent and parallel to each other, said channel further comprising a slot extending between said cylindrical portion and said non-cylindrical portion; and
an element that is slidable along said track, said element being connected to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said element comprising a body portion disposed in said channel, said body portion including a base portion disposed in said non-cylindrical portion, a ramp extending from said base portion through said slot into said cylindrical portion, and a spherical member disposed in said cylindrical portion between said ramp and said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device applying a first force to said element during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said first force causing said element to slide in a first direction along said track, said element being urged to slide along said track in a second direction, opposite said first direction, when a second force is applied to said element, said spherical member being jammed between said ramp and said smooth uninterrupted surface of said wall to block said element from sliding in said second direction along said track. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification