Inflatable curtain

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable from a stored position into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes a guide (90) connected to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and a flexible elongated member (70) that extends through the guide. The flexible elongated member (70) has a first end (72) connected to the vehicle (12) at a first location (76) and an opposite second end (74) connected to the vehicle at a second location (82). The guide (90) is movable over the flexible elongated member (70) in a first direction (122) when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated and the guide resists movement over the flexible elongated member in a second direction (124), opposite the first direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.