Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-03
2001-04-24
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S729000, C280S743100, C280S749000, C280S753000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220625
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable vehicle safety apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to a vehicle and/or a vehicle rollover.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. One particular type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain that inflates from the roof of the vehicle downward inside the passenger compartment between a vehicle occupant and the side structure of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or rollover. A known inflatable curtain is inflated from a deflated condition by inflation fluid directed from an inflator to the inflatable curtain through a fill tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof. The apparatus includes 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 a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises a pair of overlying panels that have overlapping portions secured together at points of connection. First and second points of connection are spaced vertically apart from each other and positioned along a first straight line that extends between the first and second points of connection. Third and fourth points of connection are spaced horizontally apart from each other and positioned along a second straight line that extends between the third and fourth points of connection. The second straight line extends transverse to the first straight line.
The present invention also relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof. The apparatus includes 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 a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises a plurality of generally U-shaped connections that define a plurality of generally U-shaped chambers of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. Each of the U-shaped chambers has a base portion and leg portions that project from opposite ends of the base portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4300894 (1981-11-01), Cumming et al.
patent: 5788270 (1998-08-01), Haland et al.
patent: 5865462 (1999-02-01), Robins et al.
patent: 5884937 (1999-03-01), Yamada
patent: 5899491 (1999-05-01), Tschauachke
patent: 19743626 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 29903409 (1999-06-01), None
patent: WO9626087 (1996-08-01), None
patent: WO9807598 (1998-02-01), None
Nayef Ayad G.
Wallner John P.
Culbreth Eric
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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