The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1999
Alberto Rodriguez, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in a vehicle collision comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) having a mouth section (,) with a first opening (,) through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the occupant protection device. An inflator (,) provides the inflation fluid. A member (,) is located between the mouth section (,) and the inflator (,). The member (,) has a second opening (,) for directing the inflation fluid from the inflator (,) into the first opening (,). The second opening (,) has first and second portions (,and,). The second portion (,) of the second opening (,) overlies the first opening (,) in the mouth section (,). Inflation fluid from the inflator (,) thus enters the occupant protection device by flowing through the second portion (,) and through the first opening (,). The mouth section (,) includes a deflector part (,) blocking inflation fluid flow through the first portion (,) of the second opening (,) in the member (,) into the occupant protection device (,).