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:
Mar. 30, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2002
Hector Javier Zarazua Mauleon, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) includes first and second panel portions ( ) each having a plurality of discrete openings ( ). The first panel portion ( ) overlies the second panel portion ( ) when the device ( ) is in the deflated condition. A tether ( ) interconnects the first and second panel portions ( ). The tether ( ) includes a single thread ( ) extending through the plurality of openings ( ) in the first panel portion ( ) and through the plurality of openings ( ) in the second panel portion ( ) in a serpentine manner. The single thread ( ) has loop thread portions located outside the inflation fluid volume ( ). The panel portions ( ) move relative to the single thread ( ) as the device ( ) is inflated from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. Preferably, stop members ( ) on the end portions ( ) of the tether ( ) block movement of the end portions through the openings ( ) in the panel portions ( ).