Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-10-30
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S749000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308982
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. An inflatable curtain which is inflatable 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 is also known. 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. 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. When inflated, the vehicle occupant protection device extends fore and aft in the vehicle along the side structure of the vehicle. An inflator provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device.
A mechanism causes the vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, to be tensioned in the first direction along the fore and aft extent of the vehicle occupant protection device. The mechanism helps maintain the vehicle occupant protection device in position between an occupant of the vehicle and the side structure of the vehicle throughout the duration of the vehicle collision and/or rollover.
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Altamore Paul F.
Hatten Gwendoyln C.
Wallner John P.
Johnson Brian L.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
Winner Tony
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