Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Russell E Stein

Ali Emam Bakhsh

Ayad G Nayef

Kevin J Boxey

Paul A Bowers

John Francis Rhein

Michael J White, Jr

Rico Scott Bertossi

Theodore J Bachelder

Michael B Kutchey

Edward F Elmer

Ali S Emambakhsh

Gary A Herbst

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

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

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

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 ( ) 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.

Apparatus ( ) includes an inflatable protection device ( ) that inflates away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between the side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device ( ) comprises inflatable front and rear portions ( and ) partially separated by a slit ( ). An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device ( ). A slider assembly ( ) is connected to the side structure ( ). A flexible elongated member ( ) has a first end ( ) connected to the front portion ( ) at a first location ( ) and an opposite second end ( ) connected to the slider assembly ( ). The slit ( ) is positioned between the first location ( ) and the slider assembly ( ) when the protection device ( ) is inflated. The flexible elongated member ( ) extends across the slit ( ) when the protection device ( ) is inflated.

Inflatable curtain

Apparatus ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and a housing ( ). The protection device ( ) is inflatable away from a vehicle roof ( ) between a vehicle side structure ( ) and a vehicle occupant ( ). The housing ( ) includes an elongated channel portion ( ) having first and second longitudinal edges ( and ) defining a chamber ( ). A closure flap ( ) extends from the first edge ( ) and has an end releasably connected to the second edge ( ) to enclose the protection device ( ) in the chamber ( ). A deployment flap ( ) overlies the closure flap ( ). The deployment flap ( ) is adapted to move into a position overlying a side trim piece ( ) and direct the protection device to inflate between the occupant ( ) and the trim piece when the protection device is inflated.

Inflatable curtain housing with deployment flap

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 away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device ( ), when inflated, has a perimeter at least partially defined by an upper edge ( ), a lower edge ( ), and front and rear portions ( and ) spaced apart horizontally along the upper and lower edges. An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device ( ). A flexible elongated member ( ) has a first end ( ) connected to the inflatable device ( ) at a first location ( ) on the inflatable device ( ) and an opposite second end ( ) connected to the vehicle side structure ( ) at a second location ( ). The inflatable device ( ), prior to inflation, is folded along a first fold line ( ) such that a lower portion ( ) of the device overlies an upper portion ( ) of the device and such that the first end ( ) of the flexible elongated member ( ) is positioned adjacent the upper edge ( ) of the inflatable device.

Folded inflatable side curtain with tether

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ). The protection device ( ) is inflatable away from a vehicle roof ( ) into a position between a side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. An inflator ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device ( ). The protection device ( ) comprises overlying panels ( and ) that define an inflatable volume, and first and second connections ( and ) that interconnect the overlying panels. The first connection ( ) has a first midpoint ( ) and first and second portions ( and ) that extend from the first midpoint toward a first end portion ( ) of the protection device ( ). An angle (A) is formed between the first and second portions ( and ). The second connection ( ) have a second midpoint ( ) and third and fourth portions ( and ) that extend from the second midpoint ( ) toward a second end portion ( ) of the protection device ( ) opposite the first end portion ( ). An angle (B) is formed between the third and fourth portions ( and ).

An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12), a cover (32) for the protection device (12), and a pair of clamping parts (34, 42) with a fastener structure (36, 40). The protection device (12) comprises a first compressively deflectable structure. The cover (32) comprises a second compressively deflectable structure. The fastener structure (36, 40) comprises a stud (36) extending longitudinally between the clamping parts (34, 42), and applies a clamping load to the clamping parts (34, 42). At least one of the deflectable structures (12, 32) is compressively stressed by the clamping load. The apparatus (10) further includes a bushing (48) which is indeflectable under the clamping load. The bushing (48) extends over the stud (36) fully between the clamping parts (34, 42) to space the clamping parts (34, 42) from each other. Accordingly, the spacing between the clamping parts (34, 42) is unaffected by creep in the compressively stressed deflectable structure.

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

An air bag module (10) includes an air bag (14) and an inflator (18). A canister (16) defines a chamber (42) for receiving a housing (190) of the inflator (18). Each one of a pair of straps (20, 22) has an upper end portion (202, 222) located in a first recessed portion (70, 72) on a first upper flange (50) of the canister (16). Each strap (20, 22) has a lower end portion (204, 224) located in a first recessed portion (130, 132) on a first lower flange (110) of the canister (16). The canister (16) has a plurality of second recessed portions (170, 172) forming standoffs which project into the chamber (42) for engaging spaced surface portions (194, 196) of the inflator housing (190). The straps (20, 22) clamp the inflator housing (190) against the second recessed portions (170, 172) of the canister (16).

Air bag module

An apparatus for forming a vehicle airbag assembly includes a reaction device (12) and an airbag/retainer subassembly (14). The airbag/retainer subassembly (14) includes an airbag (16) and a retainer (18) which are joined together by airbag mating members (42) and complementary retainer mating members (62) in a predetermined alignment. In this predetermined alignment, apertures (38) formed in the airbag (16) are aligned with apertures (68) formed in the retainer (18). The reaction device (12) may include mating members (84) which form a cradle configured to engage the airbag/retainer subassembly (14) and to align the airbag/retainer subassembly (14) in a predetermined orientation. In this predetermined orientation, apertures (82) formed in the reaction device (12) will be aligned with the already aligned apertures (38, 68) of the airbag (16) and the retainer (18). In the completed airbag assembly, suitable fasteners, such as rivets, may be inserted through the aligned apertures (38, 68, 82) to couple the airbag (16 ) and the retainer (18) to the reaction device (12).

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Leonard, MI, United States of America

Russell E Stein