Trw Limited

Other

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Wael S Elqadah

Timothy A Swann

Jess A Cuevas

John P O'Loughlin

Bryan W Shirk

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Bruce R Hill

David G Magoteaux

Xingyuan Sun

Frank Paul Leonelli, Jr

Nathan R Butters

Robert R Debbs

Arnold M Stephens

James P Lynch

John P Wallner

James K O'Docherty

Kenneth D Brannon

Aron Arnold

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). An inflator () provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (). A vent member () includes at least one vent opening () for venting the inflation fluid. A vent cover () has a closed condition for blocking fluid flow through the at least one vent opening () and an open condition for permitting fluid flow through the at least one vent opening. The vent cover () includes a side wall () that has at least one portion () that projects from the side wall into the vent member () to help maintain the vent cover in the closed condition.

Air bag module with vent cover

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 (). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () into a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus () also includes a housing () for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure () adjacent the vehicle roof (). The housing () includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece () of the vehicle (). The apparatus () also includes at least one grab handle () and at least one connector () that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), the housing () and the grab handle. The connector () connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), housing () and grab handle () to the vehicle ().

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle

An apparatus () includes an inflatable device () for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, and an inflator () with inflation fluid outlets (). A vent member () connected with the inflator () has a vent wall () having at least one vent opening (). A vent cover () includes an outer wall () having first and second end portions (and). The vent cover () has a closed condition clamped on the vent wall () and covering the vent opening (), and an open condition enabling fluid flow through the vent opening. An actuatable device () has an unactuated condition connecting the first and second end portions (and) to maintain the vent cover in the closed condition, and an actuated condition releasing the end portions to release the vent cover to the open condition to vent inflation fluid from the apparatus ().

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable protection device ( ) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source ( ) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device ( ). A housing ( ) directs inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source ( ) toward the protection device ( ). The apparatus ( ) includes a vent opening ( ) in the housing ( ) for selectively venting inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus ( ) also includes a member ( ) movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from the housing ( ) and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus ( ) further includes an actuatable fastener ( ) for holding the member ( ) in the closed position. The actuatable fastener ( ) comprises an air bag inflator initiator ( ).

Actuatable fastener for air bag module vent

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) and a roof ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) that is inflatable away from the roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The device ( ) has a perimeter ( ) defined by an upper edge ( ) positioned adjacent the roof ( ), an opposite lower edge ( ), and front and rear edges ( and ) spaced apart along the upper and lower edges. The device ( ) includes overlying panels secured together along the perimeter ( ) to define an inflatable volume ( ) and is free from association with an inflatable tube. An inflator ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the device ( ). A flexible elongated member ( ) extends through the device ( ) and is coiled around a portion ( ) of the inflatable volume ( ) of the device. The member ( ) has a first end ( ) and an opposite second end ( ) fixed to the vehicle side structure ( ). The member ( ) resists movement of the device ( ) away from the vehicle side structure ( ) when the device is inflated.

Inflatable curtain with positioning device

A headrest apparatus (,) for a vehicle seat (,) includes first and second relatively movable cushion portions (,). An outer covering (,) for the first and second cushion portions has a head engaging portion (,) for engaging the head (,) of a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (,) further includes actuatable means (,) located within the outer covering (,) which, upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash event, moves the head engaging portion (,) of the outer covering (,) and one (,) of said cushion portions relative to the other cushion portion (,) in a direction toward the head (,) of the occupant of the vehicle seat (,).

Head restraint apparatus

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises an inflatable curtain (,). The curtain (,) is inflatable in a first direction away from the roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain (,) when inflated extends fore and aft in the vehicle (,) along the side structure (,) of the vehicle. First and second inflatable members (,and,) connect the inflatable curtain (,) to the vehicle (,). An inflation fluid source (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable curtain (,) and the first and second inflatable members (,and,). The first and second inflatable members (,and,) are inflatable to resist movement of the inflatable curtain (,) away from the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) when the inflatable curtain is inflated.

Inflatable curtain with two inflatable members

An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle seat back (20) and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (18) supported on the seat back (20) for deployment upward from the upper end (62) of the seat back (20). The apparatus (10) further includes a backing member (70) supported on the seat back (20) for movement from a retracted position to a deployed position under the influence of inflation fluid pressure forces applied by the protection device (18). When the backing member (70) is in the deployed position, it projects upward from the upper end (62) of the seat back (20) at a location behind the protection device (18). The backing member (70) is non-deflectable under the influence of the inflation fluid pressure forces applied by the protection device (18).

Vehicle occupant restraint apparatus

An apparatus includes a vehicle seat (10) and an actuating assembly (80). The seat (10) has a wing (34) which is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position. When the wing (34) is in the deployed position, it projects adjacent to an occupant the seat (10) to restrain movement of the occupant off the seat (10). The actuating assembly (80) moves the wing (34) from the retracted position to the deployed position upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash.

Growing community of inventors

Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Wael S Elqadah