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. 07, 1999
John P. Wallner, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
James K. O'Docherty, Mesa, AZ (US);
John P. O'Loughlin, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Kenneth D. Brannon, Mesa, AZ (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) that has a side structure (,) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (,) which is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device (,), when inflated, has an outer panel (,) positioned adjacent to the side structure (,) and an opposite inner panel (,). Apertures (,) are spaced in a row and extend through the device (,). First and second flexible elongated members (,and,) have respective first ends (,and,) and opposite second ends (,and,) connected to the side structure (,). The first and second flexible elongated members (,and,) extend through the apertures (,) and have respective first and second portions (,and,) which extend along respective first and second parts (,and,) of the outer panels (,) and then along respective first and second parts of the inner panels (,). When the vehicle occupant protection device (,) is inflated, the first and second portions (,and,) move away from each other and tension the first and second flexible elongated members (,and,).