Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-01-23
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S729000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176515
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device 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 that has a side structure. The apparatus includes 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 when inflated has an outer panel positioned adjacent to the side structure and an opposite inner panel. Apertures are spaced in a row and extend through the device.
A first flexible elongated member has first and second opposite ends connected to the side structure. The first flexible elongated member extends through the apertures and has first portions which extend along first parts of the outer panel and then along first parts of the inner panel. A second flexible elongated member also has first and second opposite ends connected to the side structure. The second flexible elongated member extends through the apertures and has second portions which extend along second parts of the outer panel and then along second parts of the inner panel.
An inflator provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device. When the vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, the first and second portions move away from each other and tension the first and second flexible elongated members. The flexible elongated members resist movement of the device away from the side structure of the vehicle when the device is inflated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3687485 (1972-08-01), Campbell
patent: 5788270 (1998-08-01), Haland et al.
patent: 5865462 (1999-02-01), Robins et al.
patent: 6073961 (2000-06-01), Bailey et al.
patent: 6095551 (2000-08-01), O'Docherty
patent: 5-131889 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 9743146 (1997-11-01), None
Brannon Kenneth D.
O'Docherty James K.
O'Loughlin John P.
Wallner John P.
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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