EP0847904A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant
Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-18
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A restraint (10) comprises an inflatable curtain (14) and a deployment member (16,38). The deployment member can he an inflatable tube within a braided tube (16) or an elastic member (38). The deployment member is attached to the inflatable curtain (14) and on receipt of a signal the member (16,38) deploys the curtain into an occupant protection position in the event of a crash. The restraint is particularly intended for location on one side of a vehicle to provide protection against side impacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Leonard Robins
- 👤 David James Cundill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:16
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R21/2334; B60R21/2338; B60R21/232; B60R2021/23386; B60R21/23184; B60R21/239
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
24 words
An inflatable restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising
an inflatable curtain and a deployment member for moving the curtain
into an occupant protection position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 1 in which a
source of gas is provided for inflating the curtain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 1 or 2 in which
the deployment member is elongate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 3 in which the
deployment member contracts longitudinally to move the curtain into
said occupant protection position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the deployment member is flexible for convenient storage in a
vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the deployment member is inflatable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 6 in which the
deployment member comprises an outer tube of braided material
enclosing an inner gas impermeable tube connected, in use, to
inflating means whereby inflation of the inner tube increases the
diameter of the tube and causes the outer tube to contract
longitudinally so as to deploy the curtain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inflatable restraint according to any of claims 1 to 5 in
which the deployment member is a resilient member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 8 in which the
resilient member is held in an extended state under tension when the
curtain is in an un-deployed state and the deployment member is
released from tension to deploy the curtain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 9 in which the
resilient deployment member is held in tension by a solenoid operated
latch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 10 in which the
solenoid is operable by means of a pressure sensor connected to
inflating means for inflating the curtain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 10 in which the
solenoid is operable on receipt of a signal, said signal also initiating
inflating means for inflating the curtain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which a plurality of deployment members is provided.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 13 in which the
deployment members are connected by structural members so as to
provide structural rigidity to the curtain upon deployment thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the curtain includes strengthening ribs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the curtain includes tubes which are arranged to be inflated
before the remainder of the curtain to provide structural strength to
the curtain and to aid correct deployment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the curtain has an air bag arranged so that when the curtain
is deployed the bag is located at the head height of an occupant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An inflatable restraint according to claim 17 in which the
air bag or curtain has an inflatable member to bring the air bag into
an operative position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the curtain includes an inflatable guide member for directing
the curtain away from an obstruction in a vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An inflatable restraint according to any preceding claim
in which the curtain deploys downwardly into the occupant protection
position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
A vehicle having therein an inflatable restraint according
to any preceding claim.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle according to claim 21 in which the curtain is
located-along one whole side of the interior of the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle according to claim 21 in which one curtain is
located at the front on one side of the interior of the vehicle and a
second curtain is located at the rear on said side of the interior of the
vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vehicle according to claim 21, 22, or 23 in which the
curtain is located in a slot in a roof rail of the vehicle and/or in a slot
in a door pillar or pillars of the vehicle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle according to any of claims 21 to 24 in which the
deployment member is elongate and is connected at each of its ends to
the vehicle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising an
inflatable curtain including a formation which guides the curtain away
from an obstruction in the vehicle when inflated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A restraint for a vehicle occupant comprising an
inflatable bag having a non-extensible flexible member connected
thereto whereby expansion of the bag is limited by the flexible member
becoming taut on inflation of the bag.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A restraint according to claim 27 in which the bag is an
inflatable curtain and the flexible member is connected to the curtain
along a leading edge thereof.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of deploying an inflatable restraint for a vehicle
occupant comprising the steps of: providing an inflatable curtain
providing an elongate deployment member connected to the curtain
and contracting the deployment member longitudinally in order to
move the curtain into an occupant protection position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2122189A5
Cited
WO1993009977A1
Cited
GB2261636A
Cited
EP0590518A1
Cited
US5480181A
Cited
DE4337656A1
Cited
WO1996026087A1
Cited
DE29517373U1
Cited
DE29615485U1
Cited
DE29704975U1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.