Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Kevin L Ruedisueli

Kevin J Boxey

Jay Douglas Blackson

Darin K Hill

Masood A Mohammad

Jennifer J Kowalak

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 () that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a position adjacent the side structure () of the vehicle (). A deployment ramp () includes a mounting member () that helps to support the inflatable curtain () in a stored condition. A deployment member () helps to direct the inflatable curtain () to deploy inboard of the trim piece (). A co-extruded joint interconnects the mounting member () and the deployment member ().

Co-extruded inflatable curtain deployment ramp

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a window opening () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () inflatable to a deployed condition in which the protection device is positioned between the side structure () and the vehicle occupant and covers at least a portion of the window opening (). The protection device () when in the deployed condition has a first edge portion () connected to an adjacent portion of the vehicle and an opposite second edge portion () that is free from connections to vehicle portions adjacent the second edge portion. At least one tether () has a first end connected to the vehicle proximate to the first end portion () of the protection device () and an opposite second end connected to the second edge portion () of the protection device. The at least one tether () maintains the second edge portion () of the protection device () in the deployed condition and resists outboard movement of the second edge portion through the window opening () in response to occupant movement toward the window opening to restrain the occupant from ejection through the window opening.

Anti-ejection inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

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 ().

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Oxford, MI, United States of America

Kevin L Ruedisueli