Vehicle inflatable side curtain assembly

Details Vehicle inflatable side curtain assembly Vehicle inflatable side curtain assembly

1998-11-25

2001-01-30

Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S736000, C280S740000, C285S124100, C285S179000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179323

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle safety apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as a side curtain, for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate an air bag to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. Some vehicles include an air bag in the form of a side curtain which is inflatable downward inside the side structure of the vehicle to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle.
The side curtain is typically stored in a deflated condition along the roof rail above the side windows of the vehicle. The side curtain is part of a module including an inflator and a fill tube. Upon actuation of the inflator, inflation fluid is directed through the fill tube into the side curtain to inflate the side curtain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure. The safety apparatus comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition in which the protection device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The safety apparatus also comprises an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device, and a fill tube for directing inflation fluid into the protection device. The apparatus further comprises a support for supporting the inflator and the fill tube relative to each other. The support has a fluid flow passage for directing inflation fluid from the inflator to the fill tube.
In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a clamp having a first portion clamped on the inflator and a second portion clamped on the fill tube.


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