US 6,308,982 B1Granted

Inflatable curtain with tensioning device

AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

InventorsJohn P. Wallner, Paul F. Altamore, Gwendoyln C. Hatten

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Abstract

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (14). The vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable in a first direction into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. When inflated, the vehicle occupant protection device (14) extends fore and aft in the vehicle (12) along the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). An inflator (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant protection device. A mechanism (50) causes the vehicle occupant protection device (14) when inflated to be tensioned in the first direction along the fore and aft extent of the vehicle occupant protection device.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle which has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable in a first direction into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said vehicle occupant protection device when inflated extending fore and aft in the vehicle along the side structure of the vehicle;
an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant protection device;
a tensioning device;
and
a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to the vehicle at a first location and an opposite second end connected to said tensioning device, said flexible elongated member extending through said vehicle occupant protection device along a bottom edge of said vehicle occupant protection device,
said tensioning device pulling on said flexible elongated member when said vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, said flexible elongated member tensioning said vehicle occupant protection device in said first direction along the fore and aft extent of said vehicle occupant protection device.

3 more elements

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle which has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable in a downward direction with respect to the direction of forward travel of the vehicle into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said vehicle occupant protection device when inflated extending fore and aft in the vehicle along the side structure of the vehicle;
a mechanism for pulling on said vehicle occupant protection device in said downward direction along the entire fore and aft extent of a bottom edge of said vehicle occupant protection device and tensioning said bottom edge when said vehicle occupant protection device is inflated;
and
an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant protection device and providing fluid to actuate said mechanism.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.