Door mounted inflatable tubular structure

Details Door mounted inflatable tubular structure Door mounted inflatable tubular structure

2000-08-29

2003-09-02

Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3627)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S730100, C280S729000, C280S753000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06612611

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the 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 is inflatable inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle 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 stored position by inflation fluid directed from an inflator to the inflatable tubular 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 that has a side structure including a side door. The apparatus comprises an inflatable tubular structure and an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable tubular structure. The inflatable tubular structure has a first end connected to the side door of the vehicle at a first location and an opposite second end connected to the side door at a second location. The inflatable tubular structure has a stored position in which the inflatable tubular structure is deflated and stored in the side door. The inflatable tubular structure is inflatable from the stored position to a deployed position in which the inflatable tubular structure is inflated and positioned between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant.


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