Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-09-18
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S732000, C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle safety apparatus including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is mounted in a portion of a vehicle such as a vehicle instrument panel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, to help protect a vehicle occupant. The air bag is mounted in a portion of the vehicle such as the vehicle instrument panel or steering wheel. The air bag is typically made from a fabric material, such as woven nylon, and has a mouth portion and a body portion. The mouth portion of the air bag is secured to the vehicle portion by a retaining ring or other fasteners. When the air bag is inflated, the mouth portion of the air bag remains secured in position on the vehicle portion by the retaining ring, and the body portion of the air bag inflates through a deployment opening into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus comprising a canister and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device has a first portion fixed in the apparatus and also has a second portion. The apparatus includes an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. A cover for covering at least a portion of the canister has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the cover moves upon inflation of the inflatable device to provide an opening through which the second portion of the inflatable device is deployed. The first portion of the inflatable device engages and is fixed to the second portion of the cover by structure free of a retaining ring inside the canister when the inflatable device is deflated and when the inflatable device is inflated.
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Brown Kevin M.
Erike Eric C.
Mramor Vincent J.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Jasmin Lynda
Rice Kenneth R.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covel Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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