Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-07-24
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743100, C280S729000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264234
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. Particular types of inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices are inflatable curtains and inflatable tubes that inflate 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 inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices are inflated from a deflated condition by inflation fluid directed from an inflator to the vehicle occupant protection device 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. The apparatus comprises a vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device includes an inflatable bladder contained within an outer shell and completely unattached to the outer shell. An inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder is made of gas impermeable material and has overlying portions that are sealed together in an airtight manner by a radio frequency weld. The outer shell provides structural support for the inflatable bladder.
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Brannon Kenneth D.
Hill Bruce R.
Jasmin Cynda
Rice Kenneth R.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. /TRW Inc.
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