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:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2001
Ali Emam Bakhsh, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Ayad Nayef, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Russell E. Stein, Leonard, 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 ( ) that is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device ( ). The protection device ( ), when inflated, has a perimeter ( ) and front and rear portions ( and ) spaced apart horizontally along the protection device. The protection device ( ) includes overlying panels ( and ) that define an inflatable volume and at least one connection ( ) within the perimeter ( ) at which the overlying panels are interconnected. The at least one connection ( ) defines inflatable chambers ( ) of the protection device ( ) that extend between the front and rear portions ( and ) in a generally horizontal direction when the protection device is inflated. The front and rear portions ( and ) are inflated more rapidly away from the vehicle roof ( ) than the chambers ( ) are inflated when the protection device ( ) is inflated.