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. 24, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1999
Paul A. Bowers, Ray, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant ( ) includes an inflatable device ( ). The apparatus ( ) also includes a primary inflation fluid source ( ) and a secondary inflation fluid source ( ) that are actuatable independently of each other. The apparatus ( ) includes means ( ) for actuating the primary inflation fluid source ( ) to inflate the inflatable device ( ) to help protect the vehicle occupant ( ) without actuating the secondary inflation fluid source ( ). The apparatus ( ) also includes means ( ) for sensing the position of the vehicle occupant ( ) subsequent to actuation of the primary inflation fluid source ( ) and for providing an output signal ( ). The apparatus further includes means ( ) for actuating the secondary inflation fluid source ( ) in response to the output signal.