Vehicle occupant safety apparatus

Claim 2

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said first inflatable device entirely below the first inflation fluid source; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources.

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means selectively actuates said second inflation fluid source at a selected time after actuation of said first inflation fluid source.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one vehicle condition and controller means for selectively providing an inflator actuation signal in response to said sensor means sensing the at least one vehicle condition.

Claim 5

An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said sensor means is operative to sense a side impact condition of the vehicle and a rollover condition of the vehicle.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first vehicle occupant protection device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and said second vehicle occupant protection device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle.

Claim 7

An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the vehicle includes a headliner supported on the vehicle roof, said headliner air bag being inflatable into a position between the vehicle headliner and the roof of the vehicle.

Claim 8

An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said window air bag in a generally downward direction in the vehicle, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said headliner air bag in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

Claim 9

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second stages of a single inflator.

Claim 10

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second inflators.

Claim 11

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition wherein said first protection device is stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window, said first protection device being inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition wherein said second protection device is stored along said outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window, said second protection device being inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources.

Claim 12

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition wherein said first protection device is stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window, said first protection device being inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition wherein said second protection device is stored along said outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window, said second protection device being inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources.

Claim 13

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources.

Claim 14

An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said control means selectively actuates said second inflation fluid source at a selected time after actuation of said first inflation fluid source.

Claim 15

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one vehicle condition and controller means for selectively providing an inflator actuation signal in response to said sensor means sensing the at least one vehicle condition.

Claim 16

An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said sensor means is operative to sense a side impact condition of the vehicle and a rollover condition of the vehicle.

Claim 17

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said first inflatable device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and said second inflatable device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle.

Claim 18

An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the vehicle includes a headliner supported on the vehicle roof, said headliner air bag being inflatable into a position between the vehicle headliner and the roof of the vehicle.

Claim 19

An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said window air bag in a generally downward direction in the vehicle, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said headliner air bag in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

Claim 20

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second stages of a single inflator.

Claim 21

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second inflators.

Claim 22

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure, a roof, and a headliner supported on the roof, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the vehicle roof and the vehicle headliner into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources; wherein said first inflatable device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and second inflatable device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle; wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said first inflatable device in a generally downward direction in the vehicle entirely below the first inflation fluid source, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said second inflatable device in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

Claim 23

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure, a roof, and a headliner supported on the roof, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the vehicle roof and the vehicle headliner into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources; wherein said first inflatable device is a window air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a window of the vehicle, and second inflatable device is a headliner air bag inflatable into a position between the vehicle occupant and a roof of the vehicle; wherein said first inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said first inflation fluid source in a generally downward direction in the vehicle to inflate said first inflatable device in a generally downward direction in the vehicle entirely below the first inflation fluid source, and said second inflation fluid source comprises means for directing inflation fluid to flow from said second inflation fluid source in a lateral direction in the vehicle to inflate said second inflatable device in a lateral direction in the vehicle.

Claim 24

An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said control means selectively actuates one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources.

Claim 25

An apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said control means selectively actuates said second inflation fluid source at a selected time after actuation of said first inflation fluid source.

Claim 26

An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one vehicle condition and controller means for selectively providing an inflator actuation signal in response to said sensor means sensing the at least one vehicle condition.

Claim 27

An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said sensor means is operative to sense a side impact condition of the vehicle and a rollover condition of the vehicle.

Claim 28

An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the vehicle includes a headliner supported on the vehicle roof and the side structure includes windows, said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.

Claim 29

An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second stages of a single inflator.

Claim 30

An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said first and second inflation fluid sources comprise first and second inflators.

Claim 31

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources; said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.

Claim 32

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for selectively actuating one or both of said first and second inflation fluid sources; said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.

Claim 33

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the vehicle roof and the vehicle headliner into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources; said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.

Claim 34

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof, a headliner supported on the roof, and a side structure including a window, said apparatus comprising: a first vehicle occupant protection device inflatable into a position between the side of the occupant's head and the vehicle side structure; an actuatable first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said first inflatable device to inflate said first inflatable device; a second vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the vehicle roof and the vehicle headliner into a position between the top of the occupant's head and the vehicle roof and overlying the top of the occupant's head; a second inflation fluid source actuatable independently of said first inflation fluid source for directing inflation fluid into said second inflatable device to inflate said second inflatable device; and control means responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for actuating said first and second inflation fluid sources; said first and second vehicle occupant protection devices having a deflated condition wherein said first and second protection devices are stored along an outboard side of said headliner above the vehicle window.