Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Ayad G Nayef

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Russell E Stein

Gregory S Bayley

Rico Scott Bertossi

Paul F Altamore

Paul A Bowers

Douglas P Campbell

Kevin J Boxey

Al A Saberan

Chang H Lee

John P Wallner

Jay Douglas Blackson

John A LaFond

John D Vaughn

Srinivasan Vaidyaraman

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () into a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant (). The inflatable device () includes overlying panels (and) that are interconnected along at least a portion of a perimeter () of the inflatable device to define an inflatable volume of the inflatable device. The inflatable device () when inflated has a predetermined thickness measured between overlying points on the overlying panels (and) at a location where the head of an occupant may contact the inflatable device. An inflation fluid source () provides inflation fluid to the inflatable device () for inflating the inflatable device. The inflation fluid in the inflatable device () is pressurized to a predetermined pressure when the inflatable device is inflated. The predetermined pressure is determined as a function of the predetermined thickness of the inflatable device ().

Inflatable curtain

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 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 (). 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.

Inflatable windshield curtain

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 () 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.

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

A method includes the step providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) between the side structure ( ) of a vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant ( ). A thickness of the protection device ( ) is determined by measuring between overlying points on overlying panels ( and ) of the protection device at location where an occupant's head having a given mass may contact the device. A pressure is determined as a predetermined function of the thickness of the protection device ( ) and of a velocity at which the head may impact the protection device. The pressure has a magnitude sufficient to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure ( ) through the thickness of the protection device ( ) when the head impacts the protection device at and below the velocity. An inflation fluid source ( ) is provided to inflate the protection device ( ) to at least the determined pressure.

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.

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) and a roof ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) that is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device ( ). The protection device ( ), when inflated, has a perimeter ( ) and front and rear portions ( and ) spaced apart horizontally along the protection device. The protection device ( ) includes overlying panels ( and ) that define an inflatable volume and at least one connection ( ) within the perimeter ( ) at which the overlying panels are interconnected. The at least one connection ( ) defines inflatable chambers ( ) of the protection device ( ) that extend between the front and rear portions ( and ) in a generally horizontal direction when the protection device is inflated. The front and rear portions ( and ) are inflated more rapidly away from the vehicle roof ( ) than the chambers ( ) are inflated when the protection device ( ) is inflated.

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) having a roof ( ) and a side structure ( ) includes an inflatable device ( ) having a deflated condition and having an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, a head portion ( ) of the inflatable device is inflated between the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and a side portion ( ) of the inflatable device is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus ( ) further includes an actuatable inflation fluid source ( ) for upon actuation directing inflation fluid into the inflatable device ( ) to inflate the inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. The head portion ( ) of the inflatable device ( ) is inflated by inflation fluid flow in a direction transverse to the vehicle side structure ( ). In a preferred embodiment, the head portion ( ) of the inflatable device ( ) when in the deflated condition has panels ( ) which lie generally parallel to a headliner ( ) between the headliner and the roof ( ) and which extend from the vehicle side ( ) approximately to the vehicle centerline ( ).

Vehicle occupant safety apparatus

An apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable protection device ( ) inflatable between the side structure ( ) of a vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. The device ( ) includes at least one inflatable front chamber ( ), rear chamber ( ), and middle chamber ( ). The front chamber ( ) and the rear chamber ( ) each have an inflation fluid inlet ( and ) near an upper edge ( ) of the device ( ) and an inflation fluid outlet ( and ). The middle chamber ( ) has at least one inflation fluid inlet ( ) near the lower edge ( ) and is free from inlets near the upper edge ( ). Inflation fluid enters the front and rear chambers ( and ) through the inlets ( and ) and exits through the outlets ( and ) into the inflation fluid inlets ( ) of the middle chamber ( ) to inflate the middle chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Ayad G Nayef