Inflatable windshield curtain

Apparatus for helping to project an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield extending at an acute angle relative to the roof from a driver side A pillar to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position extending along a forward edge of the vehicle roof adjacent an upper edge of the windshield;
• an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• first guide means for connecting said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to the driver side A pillar;
• and
• second guide means for connecting said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to the passenger side A pillar;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable from said stored position to a deployed position, said first and second guide means guiding said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to deploy along the windshield, said first and second guide means helping to maintain said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device positioned adjacent the windshield while inflated.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position extending along a forward edge of the vehicle roof at an upper edge of the windshield;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable from said stored position to a deployed position overlying the windshield, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including at least a first chamber having a side wall that extends from an upper portion of the first chamber away from the roof at an angle with a driver side A pillar between the windshield and an occupant of a driver side of the vehicle, at least a second chamber having a side wall that extends from an upper portion of the second chamber away from the roof at an angle with a passenger side A pillar between the windshield and an occupant of a passenger side of the vehicle, and at least one middle chamber positioned between said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber and said second chamber receiving inflation fluid and beginning to inflate before said middle chamber.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield extending from a driver side A pillar to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having an upper edge connected to the vehicle along a forward edge of the vehicle roof, a first end portion connected to the vehicle along the driver side A pillar, and a second end portion connected to the vehicle along the passenger side A pillar, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position extending along the forward edge and along the driver and passenger side A pillars;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable from said stored position to a deployed position overlying the windshield, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device while in said deployed position covering the windshield from the driver side A pillar to the passenger side A pillar and covering the driver side A pillar and the passenger side A pillar.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield extending from a driver side A pillar to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having an upper edge connected to the vehicle along a forward edge of the vehicle roof, a first end portion connected to the vehicle along the driver side A pillar, and a second end portion connected to the vehicle along the passenger side A pillar;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when deflated having slack between the A pillars of the vehicle, the amount of slack between the A pillars increasing as said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device extends away from the vehicle roof.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield extending from a driver side A pillar to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored position extending along a forward edge of the vehicle roof at an upper edge of the windshield;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being inflatable from said stored position to a deployed position overlying the windshield, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a driver side portion covering the driver side A pillar and covering the windshield from an upper edge of the windshield to a position terminating adjacent an upper extent of a steering wheel of the vehicle, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a passenger side portion covering the passenger side A pillar and covering the windshield from an upper edge of the windshield to a position terminating adjacent a front surface and below an upper surface of an instrument panel of the vehicle.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield extending from a driver side A pillar to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the roof to a position overlying the windshield and extending from the driver side A pillar to the passenger side A pillar and extending down to adjacent an intersection of the windshield and an instrument panel of the vehicle;
• an inflatable driver side air bag inflatable from a steering wheel of the vehicle between a vehicle occupant and the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• at least one inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said windshield curtain and said driver side air bag;
• said windshield curtain and said driver side air bag while inflated combining to provide an inflated protection wall extending from the vehicle roof down to and covering the vehicle steering wheel.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof and a windshield extending from a driver side A pillar to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable windshield curtain inflatable away from the roof to a position overlying the windshield and extending from the driver side A pillar to the passenger side A pillar and extending down to adjacent an intersection of the windshield and an instrument panel of the vehicle;
• an inflatable passenger side air bag inflatable between a vehicle occupant's head and an instrument panel of the vehicle;
• and
• at least one inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said windshield curtain and said passenger side air bag;
• said windshield curtain and said passenger side air bag while inflated combining to provide an inflated protection wall extending from the vehicle roof down to a position adjacent a front surface and below an upper surface of the instrument panel.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to at least partially cover a windshield of the vehicle;
• first means for connecting said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to a driver side A pillar of the vehicle;
• said first means comprising a first track and a first element slidable along said first track in a first direction and being blocked from sliding in a direction opposite said first direction, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being connected to said first element;
• second means for connecting said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to a passenger side A pillar of the vehicle;
• said second means including a second track and a second element slidable along said second track in a second direction and being blocked from sliding in a direction opposite said second direction, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device being connected to said second element.