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. 15, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 04, 2004
Jeffrey A. Jenkins, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Kurt F. Fischer, Oxford, MI (US);
Ken Taggart, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Jeffrey A. Jenkins, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Kurt F. Fischer, Oxford, MI (US);
Ken Taggart, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Washington, MI (US);
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () is located on a steering wheel () and includes a lower portion () and an upper portion (). The upper portion () is rolled folded and the lower portion () is folded in a star pattern. The roll folded portion () has an outside surface formed by a front panel () of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that is intended to face the occupant when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. During inflation, the roll folded portion () unrolls such that at least a portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel. A method of folding the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes folding at least a lower portion () in a star pattern and rolling an upper portion () to form a roll having an outside surface formed by a front surface () of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ().