Pop-up vehicle occupant protection device

Details Pop-up vehicle occupant protection device Pop-up vehicle occupant protection device

2001-12-11

2004-08-10

English, Peter C. (Department: 3616)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S730200, C280S753000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06773031

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle and/or a vehicle rollover. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device that is deployed in an upward direction from the side structure of a vehicle, such as a convertible automobile, that lacks structure above the vehicle doors that is suitable for supporting the protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a vehicle occupant protection device to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. One particular type of vehicle occupant protection device is a side curtain. The known side curtains typically have a stored position adjacent the intersection of the side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle roof. The side curtain is deployed away from the vehicle roof downward inside the passenger compartment to a deployed position between a vehicle occupant and the side structure of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or rollover.
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 includes a vehicle occupant protection device that has a lower edge connected to the side structure. The vehicle occupant protection device is deployable from a stored position in which the vehicle occupant protection device is located in the side structure to a deployed position in which at least a portion of the vehicle occupant protection device is positioned above a sill of the side structure and adjacent the vehicle occupant.
A deployment device is fixedly connected to the side structure and includes an elongated rigid deployment member. The deployment member is connected to the vehicle occupant protection device adjacent an upper edge of the vehicle occupant protection device. The deployment device is actuatable from a stored position in which the deployment member is positioned inside the side structure to a deployed position in which the deployment member projects above the sill. The deployment member helps move the vehicle occupant protection device from the stored position to the deployed position when the deployment device is actuated. The apparatus also includes means for locking the deployment member in the deployed position.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2477933 (1949-08-01), Labser
patent: 2806737 (1957-09-01), Maxwell
patent: 5316336 (1994-05-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 5318145 (1994-06-01), Vollmer
patent: 5322322 (1994-06-01), Bark et al.
patent: 5462308 (1995-10-01), Seki et al.
patent: 5480181 (1996-01-01), Bark 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: 5979932 (1999-11-01), Jourdaine et al.
patent: 5984348 (1999-11-01), Specht et al.
patent: 19547494 (1997-07-01), None
Partial English translation of DE 195 47 494.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Pop-up vehicle occupant protection device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Pop-up vehicle occupant protection device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pop-up vehicle occupant protection device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3312570