Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-05-29
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728100, C280S741000, C102S705000, C102S530000, C149S019400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237940
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as a side curtain, that remains inflated for an extended period of time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate a vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, to help protect a vehicle occupant. The protection device is inflated by inflation fluid from an inflator. One type of protection device is a side curtain. The side curtain is inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure to help protect the vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle or a rollover condition of the vehicle.
It is known to inflate a side curtain initially with inflation fluid at a relatively high pressure and flow rate, then to maintain the side curtain inflated for an extended period of time with a continued flow of inflation fluid at a relatively low rate. In order to maintain the side curtain inflated, the side curtain is made from a coated fabric so as to be impermeable to the inflation fluid. Coating a fabric makes it heavier and bulkier than uncoated fabric.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus comprising an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having internal surfaces. The inflatable device when inflated helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus also comprises an inflator for directing gas into the inflatable device to inflate the inflatable device. The inflator simultaneously directs a coating material into the inflatable device to coat the internal surfaces of the inflatable device to decrease the permeability of the inflatable device to the gas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1298097 (1919-03-01), Roberts
patent: 3880447 (1975-04-01), Thorn et al.
patent: 5060973 (1991-10-01), Giovanetti
patent: 5280952 (1994-01-01), Hirabayashi et al.
patent: 5593180 (1997-01-01), Cuevas et al.
patent: 6039347 (2000-03-01), Maynard
patent: 6062142 (2000-05-01), Scheffee
patent: 6074701 (2000-06-01), Beasley, Jr.
patent: 6077372 (2000-06-01), Mendenhall et al.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Van Wynsberghe Roy D.
Jasmin Lynda
Olszewski Robert P.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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