Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-10-09
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299199
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable vehicle safety apparatus 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 an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device. The vehicle occupant protection device comprises a pair of overlying panels that have overlapping portions secured together along at least a portion of the periphery of the panels to form a substantially airtight volume defined by the panels. The panels are made of gas impermeable elastomeric material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4963412 (1990-10-01), Kokeguchi
patent: 5316336 (1994-05-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 5382051 (1995-01-01), Glance
patent: 5452914 (1995-09-01), Hirai
patent: 5505485 (1996-04-01), Breed
patent: 5524926 (1996-06-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 5599042 (1997-02-01), Shyr et al.
patent: 5630620 (1997-05-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 5746446 (1998-05-01), Breed et al.
patent: 5865462 (1999-02-01), Robins et al.
patent: 6056316 (2000-05-01), Yamaji et al.
patent: 6073961 (2000-06-01), Bailey et al.
Bowers Paul A.
Faigle Ernst M.
Sutherland Daniel R.
English Peter C.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
LandOfFree
Inflatable side curtain does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inflatable side curtain, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inflatable side curtain will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2578318