Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Kevin J Boxey

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Ayad G Nayef

Russell E Stein

Andrew J Smydra

William G McPherson

Kevin L Ruedisueli

Gary R LaLonde

An apparatus () helps to protect a pedestrian from impacts with a vehicle () that has a windshield () and a hood () covering an engine compartment (). The apparatus () includes an air bag () that is inflatable away from the engine compartment () through a space () between the hood () and the windshield () from a stored condition to a deployed condition positioned adjacent the windshield (). A housing () stores the air bag () in a deflated and stowed condition in the engine compartment (). A deflector () has a portion connected to the housing () and a portion for being connected to the vehicle hood (). The deflector () is adapted to deflect the air bag () during inflation and direct the air bag () to clear the vehicle hood () and to deploy through the space () between the hood () and the windshield ().

Pedestrian air bag

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof (). The apparatus () includes an inflatable occupant protection device () that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and the vehicle occupant (). The apparatus () further includes a fill tube () for delivering inflation fluid to the protection device (). The protection device () includes an opening () through which the fill tube () extends and a portion () adjacent the opening that forms a friction fit around the fill tube (). The friction fit forms an effective seal for preventing inflation fluid leakage through the opening ().

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 inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes a main portion () defining an inflatable volume () and a shield portion () defining a shield chamber (). The inflatable volume () and shield chamber () are in fluid communication with each other. The shield portion () is turned inside-out, positioned in the inflatable volume (), and configured to receive inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source (). The shield portion () is further configured to rupture and release inflation fluid into the inflatable volume () of the main portion ().

Inflatable curtain with integral shield

An apparatus () helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a roof (), a side structure (), and a trim piece () overlying the side structure. The apparatus () includes an inflatable curtain () inflatable away from the roof () to a position adjacent the side structure (). An inflation fluid source () provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable curtain (). A fill tube () directs inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source () into the inflatable curtain (). A bracket () connects the fill tube () to the vehicle (). The bracket () includes a fill tube support portion () connectable with the fill tube (). A connecting portion () is connectable with the vehicle (). A deployment portion () directs the inflatable curtain () to deploy inboard of the trim piece ().

Support bracket for an 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

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable device ( ) including overlying first and second panels ( ) interconnected to form a perimeter connection ( ) extending along a perimeter ( ) of the device and to define an inflation fluid volume between the first and second panels. The apparatus ( ) also comprises a tether ( ) having a first end portion ( ) connected with the device ( ) and a second end portion ( ) for connection with a portion ( ) of the vehicle ( ) for helping to maintain the device in position when inflated. The device ( ) has a tether mounting portion ( ) comprising interconnected portions ( ) of the first and second panels ( ). The first end portion ( ) of the tether ( ) extends between the first and second panels ( ) and extends around the tether mounting portion ( ).

Tether attachment for multi-layered inflatable curtain

An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (,). The vehicle occupant protection device (,) is inflatable in a first direction away from the roof (,) into a position between the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) and a vehicle occupant. An inflator (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device (,). An element (,) is connected to a C pillar (,) of the vehicle (,) and is movable in the first direction along the C pillar. The element (,) is connected to the vehicle occupant protection device (,) and is movable with the vehicle occupant protection device in the first direction. A latch (,) blocks movement of the element (,) in a direction opposite the first direction.

Inflatable curtain with anchor device

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). The vehicle occupant protection device (,) has a stored position extending along the side structure (,) adjacent to the roof (,) of the vehicle (,). The vehicle occupant protection device (,) has first and second portions (,and,) inflatable into a position between the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) and a vehicle occupant. The second portion (,) is folded and overlies the first portion (,). An inflator (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device (,). The second portion (,) when inflated unfolds into a position overlying a pillar (,) of the vehicle (,) and covering at least a portion of the pillar (,).

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (12), a reaction canister (20), and a rectangular retainer frame (74). The reaction canister (20) has four walls (50, 52, 54, 56) in a rectangular configuration surrounding an inlet portion (72) of the air bag (12). The retainer frame (74) is enclosed within the inlet portion (72) of the air bag (12). The length and width of the retainer frame (74) are defined by first, second, third, and fourth retainer strips (100, 102, 104, 106) which are separate parts. Fasteners (76) press each of the retainer strips (100-106) against a corresponding one of the four walls (50-56) so as to clamp the inlet portion (72) of the air bag (12) between the retainer frame (74) and the reaction canister (20). The first and second strips (100, 102) support the third and fourth strips (104, 106) for limited movement along the length and across the width of the retainer frame (74) under the influence of the fasteners (76) when the fasteners (76) are pressing the strips (100-106) against the walls (50-56).

Retainer for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

A folded air bag (10) is made from a panel (40) of fabric material which is folded and sewn to define an inflation fluid volume. The panel (40) is sewn along stitching lines (110, 120) which extend at an angle other than 90.degree. to fold lines (170, 172, 174, 200, 202) and which intersect the fold lines. Thus, when the panel (40) is folded along the fold lines (170, 172, 174, 200, 202), the stitching lines (110, 120) are folded into portions (190-196, 220-224, 230-236, 240-244) which are not in overlying relationship with each other and which are spaced apart from each other. This minimizes the thickness of the folded air bag (10).

Growing community of inventors

Columbiaville, MI, United States of America

Kevin J Boxey