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. 22, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2003
Gregory S. Bayley, Dryden, MI (US);
Ayad G. Nayef, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Paul F. Altamore, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Douglas P. Campbell, Metamora, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A method includes the step providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) between the side structure ( ) of a vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant ( ). A thickness of the protection device ( ) is determined by measuring between overlying points on overlying panels ( and ) of the protection device at location where an occupant's head having a given mass may contact the device. A pressure is determined as a predetermined function of the thickness of the protection device ( ) and of a velocity at which the head may impact the protection device. The pressure has a magnitude sufficient to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure ( ) through the thickness of the protection device ( ) when the head impacts the protection device at and below the velocity. An inflation fluid source ( ) is provided to inflate the protection device ( ) to at least the determined pressure.