Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-05-29
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S729000, C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237942
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable 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 tubular structure 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 tubular structure is inflated from a deflated condition by inflation fluid directed from an inflator to the inflatable tube structure through a fill tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises an inflatable tubular structure that is inflatable into a position adjacent a vehicle occupant, and an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable tubular structure. The inflatable tubular structure includes an inflatable bladder and a tubular outer shell that surrounds the inflatable bladder. The outer shell has a length and a diameter and includes a plurality of slits that extend longitudinally along the outer shell in a direction generally parallel to the length of the outer shell. The diameter of the outer shell increases and the length of the outer shell decreases when the inflatable bladder is inflated.
The present invention also relates to an apparatus in which the inflatable tubular structure comprises an inflatable bladder and a tubular outer shell that surrounds said inflatable bladder. The outer shell is constructed of a braided material and includes at least one first portion and at least one second portion. The braided material of the first portion is more tightly braided than the braided material of the second portion. The first portion has a first diameter when the inflatable tubular structure is inflated. The second portion has a second diameter, greater than the first diameter, when the inflatable tubular structure is inflated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3866940 (1975-02-01), Lewis
patent: 3888503 (1975-06-01), Hamilton
patent: 5322322 (1994-06-01), Bark et al.
patent: 5421128 (1995-06-01), Sharpless et al.
patent: 5464246 (1995-11-01), Castro et al.
patent: 5480181 (1996-01-01), Bark et al.
patent: 5941564 (1999-08-01), Acker
patent: 6112634 (2000-09-01), Head
Fleming Faye M.
Johnson Brian L.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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