Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.

Joseph C Popek

Douglas M Gould

Paul A Bowers

Daniel R Sutherland

Dylan Moran

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Michael J White, Jr

David Ryan Varcoe

Al A Saberan

Tobias Klenk

Ali Emambakhsh

William F McLeod, Ii

In one aspect, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a frontal curtain airbag. The airbag has overlying panels that are interconnected. The airbag is deployable a deployed condition in which the airbag spans across a width of a windshield opening of the vehicle. A restraining panel is separate from and extends widthwise over the panels of the airbag. The restraining panel is connected to the airbag and has a width configured to cause opposing end portions of the deployed airbag to be bent toward one another and into a curved configuration. Pressurization in the deploying airbag tensions the restraining panel widthwise. The tensioned restraining panel maintains the bend in the deploying airbag so that an effective airbag depth is measured between the restraining panel and the airbag.

Apparatus for covering a windshield opening of a vehicle

A retainer secures an airbag inflator to a base plate of an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The retainer includes a base wall and a sidewall that extends from the base wall and is configured to encircle a discharge portion of the inflator from which the inflation fluid is discharged. The retainer also includes a filter liner secured to the retainer sidewall, wherein the sidewall and filter liner are configured so that inflation fluid discharged from the discharge portion is directed into the filter liner.

Airbag module with airbag retainer filter layer

A module for a vehicle including a roof and a cabin includes a housing defining a chamber and having an opening in fluid communication with the chamber. The housing is configured for placement in the roof. An airbag is provided in the chamber and is inflatable to a deployed condition extending through the opening into the cabin. A door pivotably connected to the housing closes the opening. The door is pivotable away from the roof in response to deployment of the airbag to provide a reaction surface for the deploying airbag. The door has a first length while closing the opening and a second length greater than the first length when pivoted away from the roof.

Support for roof-mounted airbag

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 (10) for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes a storage chamber (22b) which stores a gas under pressure, and an ignitable material (46b) which produces combustion products when burning. The ignitable material (46b) is contained in a combustion chamber (108b). The combustion chamber (108b) communicates with the storage chamber (22b) before the ignitable material is ignited. The combustion chamber (108b) is closed and isolated from the storage chamber (22b) when the ignitable material (46b) is burning. A burst disk (200) is ruptured by the combustion products in the combustion chamber (108b) to permit passage of the combustion products into the storage chamber (22b) when the combustion products reach a predetermined elevated pressure.

Inflator assembly

An inflator comprises a source of gas for inflating on inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, such as an air bag. The air bag, when inflated, restrains an occupant of a vehicle during a collision. A burst disk is located to block gas flow into the air bag. A piston is movable from a retracted position to an extended position to rupture the burst disk. The piston includes (i) a first central portion for puncturing the burst disk and (ii) a second portion for cutting out a portion of the burst disk after the first central portion punctures the burst disk. After the second portion of the piston cuts out a portion of the burst disk, the cut out portion of the burst disk is clamped between the piston and a housing part of the inflator.

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Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Joseph C Popek