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:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 07, 2000
Gregory S. Bayley, Dryden, MI (US);
Douglas P. Campbell, Metamora, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) and a roof ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) inflatable between the side structure and a vehicle occupant. A first tensioning device ( ) is actuatable to move a piston ( ) from a first position towards a second position in a cylinder ( ). A first flexible elongated member ( ) has a first ( ) end connected to the vehicle side structure ( ), an opposite second end ( ) connected to the piston ( ), and an intermediate portion ( ) that extends through the inflatable device ( ). When the first tensioning device ( ) is actuated, the piston ( ) moves the second end ( ) in a first direction, which tensions the first member ( ) and helps to move the inflatable device ( ) towards the deployed position. The inflatable device ( ) resists movement of the piston ( ) in the first direction. The resistance increases to a point at which the resistance prevents movement of the piston ( ) towards the second position.