Anti-ejection inflatable vehicle occupant protection device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a window opening adjacent to a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle seat and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first edge portion connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion; and
at least one tether having a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first edge portion of the protection device and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion of the protection device, the at least one tether maintaining the second edge portion of the protection device in the deployed condition, the at least one tether being adapted to resist outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening in response to being urged toward the window opening by an outboard moving object,wherein the at least one tether comprises a first tether connected to the second edge portion at a location forward of a vehicle seating position, and a second tether connected to the second edge portion at a location rearward of the vehicle seating position, the first and second tethers extending inboard of the protection device and being adapted to draw in the second edge portion fore and aft of the seating position in response to the outboard movement of an object into engagement with the protection device, the protection device being adapted to envelope and restrain the object from ejection through the window opening.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a window opening (28) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure (16) and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening (28). The protection device (14) when in the deployed condition has a first edge portion (70) connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion (76) that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion. At least one tether (100) has a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first end portion (70) of the protection device (14) and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion (76) of the protection device. The at least one tether (100) maintains the second edge portion (76) of the protection device (14) in the deployed condition and resists outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening (28) in response to occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening.
48 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a window opening adjacent to a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle seat and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first edge portion connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first edge portion of the protection device and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion of the protection device, the at least one tether maintaining the second edge portion of the protection device in the deployed condition, the at least one tether being adapted to resist outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening in response to being urged toward the window opening by an outboard moving object, wherein the at least one tether comprises a first tether connected to the second edge portion at a location forward of a vehicle seating position, and a second tether connected to the second edge portion at a location rearward of the vehicle seating position, the first and second tethers extending inboard of the protection device and being adapted to draw in the second edge portion fore and aft of the seating position in response to the outboard movement of an object into engagement with the protection device, the protection device being adapted to envelope and restrain the object from ejection through the window opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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4. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a window opening adjacent to a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle seat and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first edge portion connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first edge portion of the protection device and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion of the protection device, the at least one tether maintaining the second edge portion of the protection device in the deployed condition, the at least one tether being adapted to resist outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening in response to being urged toward the window opening by an outboard moving object, wherein the at least one tether comprises a plurality of tethers configured to be tensioned in generally parallel directions due to pressurization of the protection device when in the deployed condition. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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12. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a window opening adjacent to a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure and the vehicle seat and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first edge portion connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first edge portion of the protection device and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion of the protection device, the at least one tether maintaining the second edge portion of the protection device in the deployed condition, the at least one tether being adapted to resist outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening in response to being urged toward the window opening by an outboard moving object, wherein the protection device comprises a side impact air bag having a stored condition in a side door of the vehicle and being deployable upward from the stored condition to the deployed condition, and wherein the first edge portion comprises a lower edge portion of the air bag connected to the vehicle door, the first end of the at least one tether being connected to the vehicle door at a location inboard of the lower edge portion, the second end of the at least one tether being connected to an upper edge portion of the air bag opposite the lower edge portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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19. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a door that helps define a window opening, the apparatus comprising:
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an air bag stored in the door and being inflatable upward to a deployed condition in which the air bag is positioned between the side structure and a vehicle occupant position and covers at least a portion of the window opening, the air bag having a lower edge portion connected to the vehicle door and an opposite upper edge portion; and at least one tether having a first end connected to the door proximate to and inboard of the lower edge portion of the air bag, and an opposite second end connected to the upper edge portion of the air bag, the at least one tether extending inboard of an inboard facing panel of the air bag, the at least one tether maintaining the upper edge portion of the air bag in the deployed condition and being adapted to resist outboard movement of the upper end portion through the window opening in response to being urged toward the window opening and thereby being adapted to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification