Inflatable windshield curtain
First Claim
1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a windshield, and an instrument panel, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the roof to a position between the windshield and a vehicle occupant and between the instrument panel and the vehicle occupant; and
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said windshield curtain;
said windshield curtain comprising overlying panels interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said windshield curtain, one of said panels having a pleated portion comprising at least one pleat, said at least one pleat comprising portions of the panel that are folded to overlie each other and interconnected at opposite ends of said at least one pleat, portions of said at least one pleat between the connections unfolding into engagement with the instrument panel upon inflation of said windshield curtain and following the contour of the instrument panel so that the instrument panel forms a reaction surface for the windshield curtain.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable windshield curtain (14) inflatable away from the vehicle roof (40) to a position between the windshield (50) and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain (14) includes overlying panels (80 and 82) interconnected to define an inflatable volume (110) of the windshield curtain. The windshield curtain (14) includes a pleated portion in which at least one of the panels (80 and 82) has portions folded over to form at least one pleat (150) in the panel. In one embodiment, the windshield curtain (14) includes connections (154 and 180) that interconnect overlying folded portions of the at least one panel (80 and 82) along the at least one pleat (150). Portions of the at least one pleat between the connections (150 and 180) are unfoldable to allow expansion of the pleated portion upon inflation of the windshield curtain (14).
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a windshield, and an instrument panel, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the roof to a position between the windshield and a vehicle occupant and between the instrument panel and the vehicle occupant; and an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said windshield curtain; said windshield curtain comprising overlying panels interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said windshield curtain, one of said panels having a pleated portion comprising at least one pleat, said at least one pleat comprising portions of the panel that are folded to overlie each other and interconnected at opposite ends of said at least one pleat, portions of said at least one pleat between the connections unfolding into engagement with the instrument panel upon inflation of said windshield curtain and following the contour of the instrument panel so that the instrument panel forms a reaction surface for the windshield curtain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a windshield, and an instrument panel, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the vehicle roof, said windshield curtain having a driver side portion inflatable between the windshield and a driver side occupant of the vehicle and a passenger side portion inflatable between the windshield and a passenger side occupant of the vehicle; and an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said windshield curtain; said passenger side portion having a pleated construction and being configured to extend vertically below a lower extent of said driver side portion when inflated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification