Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Rodger M Cherry

Robert I Phillion

John P Wallner

Scott A Kelley

Michael J White, Jr

Andrew J Smydra

Al A Saberan

William E Gest

A roof (,) and side structure (,) of a vehicle at least partially define a safety apparatus mounting chamber (,). The mounting chamber (,) has an opening (,) defined between an edge portion (,) of a vehicle headliner (,) and the vehicle side structure (,). An inflatable protection device (,) is inflatable between a vehicle occupant and the vehicle side structure (,). A cover (,) at least partially encloses the protection device (,) within the mounting chamber (,) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The cover (,) has a trim portion (,) which extends from the mounting chamber (,) into the opening (,) and which has an outer surface (,) exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment (,). The trim portion (,) of the cover (,) has a closed condition in which a first edge portion (,) of the trim portion is in abutting engagement with the edge portion (,) of the headliner (,). A second edge portion (,) of the trim portion (,) is in abutting engagement with the side structure (,). The trim portion (,) of the cover (,) thereby closes the opening (,).

Vehicle inflatable side curtain assembly

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof (40) and a side structure (20) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and a fill tube (120) for directing inflation fluid into the protection device. The protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which it is inflated between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) also includes means for mounting the protection device (12) and the fill tube (120) to the vehicle. The mounting means comprises a headliner assembly (70) having a headliner portion (72) extending inside of and generally parallel to the vehicle roof (40). The headliner assembly (70) has a support portion (74) disposed adjacent to the vehicle side structure (20). The support portion (74) of the headliner assembly (70) defines a chamber (112) receiving the fill tube (120) and the protection device (12) when the protection device is in the deflated condition.

Vehicle headliner with inflatable side curtain

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable cushioning device (14), that has a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which the cushioning device (14) is located between the vehicle occupant and the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) also includes a fill tube (22) that has a portion (31) located in the cushioning device (14) and that directs inflation fluid into the cushioning device to inflate it. The vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) further includes a support device (32) for supporting the fill tube (22) and the cushioning device (14) in the vehicle (12). The support device (32) includes a portion (66) that attaches to the fill tube (22) and an initial connector (42) that supports the fill tube (22) on the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The initial connector (42) allows the fill tube (22) to be moved to a desired position relative to the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The support device (32) includes a portion (52) for receiving a final connector (46) to fixedly connect the fill tube (22) and cushioning device (14) to the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) in the desired position.

Support device for a vehicle occupant safety apparatus

A deployment apparatus for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, such as an air bag (18), includes a pivotal door panel (80). The apparatus further includes three couplings (124, 126, and 128) which secure the door panel (80) in a closed position by blocking pivotal movement of the door panel (80). The couplings (124, 126, and 128) include rigid members (118, 120, and 122) which rupture a rupturable member (84) upon relative movement of those members under the influence of the inflating air bag (18). The couplings (124, 126, and 128) are opened so as to release the door panel (80) for pivotal movement upon such rupturing by the rigid members (118, 120, and 122). One of the couplings (124) is located near the middle of the door panel (80). The other couplings (126 and 128) are located closer to the opposite ends of the door panel (80). The coupling (124) near the middle of the door panel (80) is opened before the other couplings (126 and 128) are opened. The couplings (124, 126, and 128) thus release the door panel (80) near the middle of the door panel (80) before releasing the door panel (80) near its opposite ends.

Deployment apparatus for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint

An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable occupant restraint (18) which, when inflated, protects an occupant in a vehicle passenger compartment. A deployment door (12) covers an opening (19) through which the occupant restraint (18) is deployed upon inflation of the occupant restraint. The deployment door (12) comprises a relatively soft first material layer (60) and a relatively hard second material layer (70). The relatively hard second material layer (70) includes (i) a first surface (77) which underlies the relatively soft first material layer (60), (ii) an inner surface (74) which is engaged by the occupant restraint (18) when the occupant restraint is inflated and (iii) a projecting portion (76) projecting beyond the first surface (77) and adhered to adjacent relatively soft material (66) of the soft first material layer (60). The projecting portion (76) and the adjacent relatively soft material (66) define a break line (30) such that the projecting portion and the adjacent relatively soft material move away from each other along the break line to uncover the opening (19) when the inflatable occupant restraint (18) is deployed into the passenger compartment.

Deployment door for use in a vehicle occupant restraint apparatus

An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (18) has a stored condition and an inflated vehicle occupant restraining position. A support member (16) at least in part defines an opening (19) through which the vehicle occupant restraint (18) is deployed when inflated. A deployment door member (12) closes the opening (19). The support member (16) supports the deployment door member (12) at a first side of the opening (19) for pivotal movement relative to the support member upon inflation of the vehicle occupant restraint (18). The deployment door member (12) has a plurality of slots (95). The support member (16) includes a plurality of shear tabs (54) located at a second side of the opening (19) opposite the first side. Each shear tab (54) extends through a respective one of the slots (95) in the deployment door member (12). Each shear tab (54) shears through the material of the deployment door member (12) as the deployment door member pivots relative to the support member (16) upon inflation of the vehicle occupant restraint (18) to release the deployment door member at the second side of the opening (19) from the support member.

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Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, United States of America

Rodger M Cherry