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:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1998
Paul A. Bowers, Ray, MI (US);
Daniel R. Sutherland, East Pointe, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (,) for mounting in a portion (,) of a vehicle includes a module (,). The module (,) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,), an inflation fluid source (,), a cover (,) for the vehicle occupant protection device and the inflation fluid source, and bolts (,) for mounting the module in the vehicle portion. The module cover (,) encloses the inflation fluid source (,) and the protection device (,) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The module cover (,) is made from a material which is flexible and wrapped around the vehicle occupant protection device (,) and the inflation fluid source (,). The apparatus also includes a deployment door (,), and tabs (,) (,) for releasably mounting the deployment door on the vehicle portion (,) for movement relative to the vehicle portion upon inflation of the protection device (,). The apparatus (,) also includes a flexible tether (,) connecting the deployment door (,) with the module (,) for limiting movement of the deployment door away from the module beyond a predetermined distance upon inflation of the protection device (,).