Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-05-15
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S751000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231071
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a side restraint for a vehicle occupant wherein the air bag carrier module includes an energy-absorbing counter measure.
2. Discussion
Side airbag protection systems are increasingly fitted as standard equipment on production vehicles in the U.S. and European markets. One trend in side airbag protection systems has been toward inflatable side curtains which deploy across the upper portion of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle occupants from impacting against one of the vehicle's side windows. Many of these side curtain systems similarly prevent broken glass from entering into the passenger compartment.
One significant drawback associated with the known side curtain systems concerns their packaging into the vehicle and their impact on the vehicle occupant, especially taller vehicle occupants. The side curtain systems are conventionally integrated into a vehicle along the roof line along the bottom of the headliner. When relatively tall vehicle occupants are subjected to a side impact, their heads may tend to contact the side of the vehicle proximate the bottom of the roof liner. Assuming that the side curtain deploys properly, the head of the vehicle occupant then contacts the vehicle body. As the carrier module is rigidly coupled to the vehicle body, vehicle occupants risk injury to their heads and necks when they participate in such collisions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved side airbag system.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a side air bag system having an energy-absorbing carrier module.
An improved side air bag system is provided. The air bag system includes an inflatable curtain, a deployment member for moving the curtain into an extended position and a carrier module. The carrier module includes a carrier structure and an energy-absorbing member. The curtain and deployment member are assembled to the carrier structure, which permits the side air bag system to be efficiently installed into a vehicle. The energy-absorbing member is coupled to one side of the carrier structure and absorbs energy from an impact between a vehicle occupant and the carrier structure.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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DaimlerChrysler Corporation
English Peter C.
Schurupoff Larry
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