Inflatable windshield curtain
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a windshield curtain inflatable away from a roof of the vehicle to a position between a windshield of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant and between an instrument panel of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant, said windshield curtain comprising;
a center panel of material having a length and opposite first and second side portions extending along its length; and
first and second side panels each having a periphery, shaped to follow a contour of the instrument panel, said periphery of said first side panel being interconnected with said center panel along said first side portion of said center panel, said periphery of said second side panel being interconnected with said center panel along said second side portion of said center panel, the first and second side panels shaping the windshield curtain when inflated such that the center panel engages and follows an upper surface of the instrument panel and a front surface of the instrument panel without the windshield being urged against the instrument panel by another object.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A windshield curtain (14) is inflatable away from a roof (40) of a vehicle (12) to a position between a windshield (50) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant and between an instrument panel (64) of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain (14) includes a center panel (102) that has a length and opposite first and second side portions (110 and 112) that extend along its length. The windshield curtain (14) also includes first and second side panels (230 and 240), each having a respective periphery (232 and 242). The periphery (232) of the first side panel (230) is interconnected with the center panel (102) along the first side portion (110) of the center panel. The periphery (242) of the second side panel (112) is interconnected with the center panel along the second side portion (112) of the center panel.
17 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a windshield curtain inflatable away from a roof of the vehicle to a position between a windshield of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant and between an instrument panel of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant, said windshield curtain comprising; a center panel of material having a length and opposite first and second side portions extending along its length; and first and second side panels each having a periphery, shaped to follow a contour of the instrument panel, said periphery of said first side panel being interconnected with said center panel along said first side portion of said center panel, said periphery of said second side panel being interconnected with said center panel along said second side portion of said center panel, the first and second side panels shaping the windshield curtain when inflated such that the center panel engages and follows an upper surface of the instrument panel and a front surface of the instrument panel without the windshield being urged against the instrument panel by another object. - 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)
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25. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a windshield curtain inflatable away from a roof of the vehicle to a position between a windshield of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant and between an instrument panel of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant, said windshield curtain comprising; a center panel of material having a length and opposite first and second side portions extending along its length; and first and second side panels each having a periphery, said periphery of said first side panel being interconnected with said center panel along said first side portion of said center panel, said periphery of said second side panel being interconnected with said center panel along said second side portion of said center panel, said first an second side panels each having a generally rounded L-shaped configuration in which one leg extends adjacent an upper surface of the instrument panel presented toward the vehicle roof and the other leg extends adjacent a front surface of the instrument panel presented toward the vehicle occupant when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.
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Specification