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:
Jun. 18, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 13, 2001
Ernst M. Faigle, Dryden, MI (US);
Tracy S. Sparks, Attica, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and an actuatable inflator ( ). A retainer ( ) is connected with the protection device ( ). The retainer ( ) has a fixed portion ( ) and a movable portion ( ). The movable portion ( ) is movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from the protection device ( ). The apparatus ( ) includes an electrically energizable mechanism ( ) to release the movable portion ( ) of the retainer ( ) for movement from the first condition to the second condition. The apparatus ( ) also includes vehicle electric circuitry ( ) including a sensor ( ) for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller ( ) responsive to the sensor for controlling the electrically energizable mechanism ( ).