Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Ayad G Nayef

Russell E Stein

Rico Scott Bertossi

Al A Saberan

Paul A Bowers

Kevin J Boxey

Thanh H Quach

Chang H Lee

Mike P Pionk

Ayad E Nayef

Daniel R Sutherland

Gregory S Bayley

Michael J White, Jr

Jay Douglas Blackson

Joseph C Popek

Michael B Kutchey

John A LaFond

Serena M Lynch

John D Vaughn

Suk J Ham

An apparatus () helps to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof (). The apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that has a stored condition for being positioned along the vehicle roof (). The protection device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a deployed condition positioned between the side structure () and a vehicle occupant (). The protection device () further comprises a portion () for receiving an elongated member () for helping to place the protection device in the stored condition.

Method and apparatus for placing an inflatable curtain in a stored condition

Apparatus () helps protect an occupant () of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof (). The apparatus () includes a vehicle occupant protection device () deployable away from the vehicle roof () into engagement with the occupant's head () positioned against the side structure () to move the occupant's head laterally away from the side structure.

Inflatable side curtain that moves occupant's head away from vehicle side structure

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes at least one inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () including a first portion () inflatable to cover a first portion () of a vehicle and a second portion () inflatable to cover a second portion () of a vehicle. A single inflator () provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (). A first conduit () has a portion terminating in the first portion () of the protection device (). A second conduit () has a portion terminating in the second portion () of the protection device (). The first and second conduits (and) are adapted to move relative to each other from a first condition in which the conduits are positioned for installation in the vehicle () to a second condition in which the conduits are positioned next to each other.

Collapsable inflatable curtain module

An apparatus () helps to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof (). The apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The protection device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a deployed condition positioned between the side structure () and a vehicle occupant (). The apparatus () further includes a cover () for at least partially enclosing the protection device () in the stored condition. At least one push-in fastener () secures the cover () to the vehicle ().

Inflatable curtain module with push-in fastener

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that is inflatable to a deployed position between a side structure () of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant (). An inflation fluid source () provides inflation fluid for inflating portions of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes a base panel () and an attachment panel () connected to the base panel. The base panel () has a first size. The attachment panel () has a second size that is smaller than the first size and a configuration that corresponds to a configuration of the portions of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that are to be inflated.

Inflatable curtain with different size panels

An apparatus () helps protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof (). The apparatus () includes a first portion () including at least one inflatable chamber (). The first portion () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant (). The apparatus () also includes a second portion () that includes at least one inflatable chamber. The second portion () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant (). The second portion () when inflated extends below the first portion () and adjacent a thorax () of a vehicle occupant () when inflated. Fluid communication between the chambers of the first portion () and second portion () is substantially blocked.

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with thorax protection

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable windshield curtain () inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a position between the windshield () and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain () includes overlying panels (and) interconnected to define an inflatable volume () of the windshield curtain. The windshield curtain () includes a pleated portion in which at least one of the panels (and) has portions folded over to form at least one pleat () in the panel. In one embodiment, the windshield curtain () includes connections (and) that interconnect overlying folded portions of the at least one panel (and) along the at least one pleat (). Portions of the at least one pleat between the connections (and) are unfoldable to allow expansion of the pleated portion upon inflation of the windshield curtain ().

Inflatable windshield curtain

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable windshield curtain (). The windshield curtain () is inflatable away from a roof () of the vehicle to a position between a windshield () of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain () includes an inflatable upper portion () and an inflatable lower portion (). The upper portion () is inflatable between the roof () and an instrument panel () of the vehicle () and between the windshield () and a vehicle occupant. The lower portion () is bifurcated and includes a first chamber () inflatable against a surface () of the instrument panel () presented generally toward the vehicle occupant. The lower portion () also includes a second chamber () inflatable against the windshield () and a surface () of the instrument panel () adjacent the windshield.

A windshield curtain () is inflatable away from a roof () of a vehicle () to a position between a windshield () of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant and between an instrument panel () of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain () includes a center panel () that has a length and opposite first and second side portions (and) that extend along its length. The windshield curtain () also includes first and second side panels (and), each having a respective periphery (and). The periphery () of the first side panel () is interconnected with the center panel () along the first side portion () of the center panel. The periphery () of the second side panel () is interconnected with the center panel along the second side portion () of the center panel.

An apparatus () helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a windshield () and a roof () including a front header (). The apparatus () includes an inflatable windshield curtain () inflatable away from the roof () to a position between the windshield () and a vehicle occupant. The windshield curtain () has a stored condition in which the windshield curtain is positioned in a recess () that extends into a forward facing surface () of the front header ().

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () and an inflator (). The protection device () is inflatable from a stored position along a forward edge () of a vehicle roof () to a deployed position overlying the windshield (). The protection device () while in the deployed position covers the windshield () from an A pillar () on a driver side () of the vehicle () to an A pillar of a passenger side () of the vehicle and from an upper edge () of the windshield to a position near a lower edge () of the windshield. The protection device () while deployed also covers the driver and passenger side A pillars ().

Apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed position between a side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The protection device () includes an upper edge (), an opposite lower edge (), and inflatable front and rear portions (and) and an inflatable main portion () positioned between the front and rear portions. The main portion () is rolled up into a rolled condition extending along the intersection of the side structure () and the roof () when in the stored condition. The front portion () is folded into a folded condition extending along the A pillar () when in the stored condition. The rear portion () is folded into a folded condition extending along the C pillar () when in the stored condition.

Inflatable curtain

Apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () inflatable into a position between a side structure () of a vehicle () and a vehicle occupant (). The protection device () includes a forwardmost inflatable chamber (). The protection device () is rolled up in an outboard direction into a stored position. An inflation fluid source () provides inflation fluid for inflating the device () for at least five seconds. The device () is adapted to inflate and unroll in a downward direction away from the vehicle roof (). A first portion () is adapted to engage an occupant's head () positioned against the side structure (). The first portion () moves the occupant's head () laterally in the vehicle () away from the side structure () and inflates between the side structure of the vehicle and the occupant's head.

Inflatable side curtain

Apparatus ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between the side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. An anchor device ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ). A flexible elongated member ( ) has a first end ( ) connected to a first location ( ) spaced from a rear edge ( ) of the protection device ( ) and an opposite second end ( ) connected to the anchor device ( ). The protection device ( ) prior to inflation is folded along a first fold line ( ) spaced from the rear edge ( ) and extending proximate the first location ( ) in a direction transverse to a lower edge ( ) of the protection device ( ). The protection device ( ) is folded along at least one fold line ( ) located forward of the first fold line ( ) such that the first fold line extends vertically in the vehicle ( ), adjacent to and entirely forward of the anchor device ( ).

Folded inflatable curtain

An inflatable protection device ( ) includes a triangular front portion ( ) and a main portion ( ). The front portion ( ) includes a forward edge ( ), a rear edge ( ), and a bottom edge ( ). The front portion ( ) is connected to the main portion ( ) via a first inflation fluid passage ( ) positioned adjacent the bottom edge ( ). The front portion ( ) includes a plurality of inflatable chambers ( ) that have a tapered configuration with a narrow end ( ) and an opposite wide end ( ) positioned near the bottom edge ( ). Inflation fluid is directed into the main portion ( ), and the fluid enters the front portion ( ) through the first inflation fluid passage ( ). The chambers ( ) of the front portion ( ) when inflated contract in a direction transverse to the length of the chambers and help to tension the device ( ) along the length of the device.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Ali Emam Bakhsh