Patent ID: 6299199
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:a vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; andan inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant protection device;said vehicle occupant protection device comprising a pair of overlying panels, said panels having overlapping portions secured together along at least a portion of the periphery of said panels to form a substantially airtight volume defined by said panels, said panels being made of gas impermeable elastomeric material,said vehicle occupant protection device being an inflatable curtain having a stored position extending along the side structure adjacent to the roof of the vehicle, said inflatable curtain being inflated away from the vehicle roof into said position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant,said overlapping portions of said panels being secured together to form at least one seam sealed by one of dielectric sealing, ultrasonic bonding, heat sealing and adhesives,said at least one seam being reinforced by stitching along said overlapping portions.