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:
Sep. 18, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1999
Vincent J. Mramor, Chandler, AZ (US);
Timothy A. Swann, Mesa, AZ (US);
Kevin M. Brown, Mesa, AZ (US);
Roy D. Van Wynsberghe, Mesa, AZ (US);
Bryan W. Shirk, Mesa, AZ (US);
Eric C. Erike, Mesa, AZ (US);
Trw Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (,) comprises a canister (,) and an inflatable device (,) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device (,) has a first portion (,) fixed in the apparatus (,) and also has a second portion (,). The apparatus (,) includes an inflation fluid source (,) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (,). A cover (,) for covering at least a portion of the canister (,) has a first portion (,) and a second portion (,). The first portion (,) of the cover (,) moves upon inflation of the inflatable device (,) to provide an opening (,) through which the second portion (,) of the inflatable device is deployed. The first portion (,) of the inflatable device (,) engages and is fixed to the second portion (,) of the cover (,) by structure (,) free of a retaining ring inside the canister (,) when the inflatable device is deflated and when the inflatable device is inflated.