Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-01
2001-05-29
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237938
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device 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 a 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. Such an 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 which has a side structure and a roof. The apparatus includes a vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable in a first direction into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. An inflator provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device. An element is connected to a C pillar of the vehicle and is movable in the first direction along the C pillar. The element is connected to the vehicle occupant protection device and is movable with the vehicle occupant protection device in the first direction. A latch blocks movement of the element in a direction opposite the first direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3687485 (1972-08-01), Campbell
patent: 5265903 (1993-11-01), Kuretake et al.
patent: 5333898 (1994-08-01), Stutz
patent: 5462308 (1995-10-01), Seki et al.
patent: 5588672 (1996-12-01), Karlow et al.
patent: 5660414 (1997-08-01), Karlow et al.
patent: 5707075 (1998-01-01), Kraft et al.
patent: 5788270 (1998-08-01), Haland et al.
patent: 5865462 (1999-02-01), Robins et al.
patent: 5924723 (1999-07-01), Brantman et al.
patent: 5975566 (1999-11-01), Böcker et al.
Rice Kenneth R.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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