Patent ID: 6481743
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflatable curtain structure for deployment within the interior of a transportation vehicle including a roof and a structural roof rail so as to cover an area below the roof adjacent to an occupant within the vehicle upon the occurrence of an activating event, the curtain structure comprising:a gas inlet for acceptance of inflation gas; a main body portion of inflatable character including an impact surface facing generally towards the occupant upon inflation of the curtain structure and a rear surface facing generally away from the occupant upon inflation of the curtain structure; an inflatable upper portion of substantially extended elongate configuration disposed above the main body portion and extending substantially adjacent to the roof rail such that upon inflation the upper portion extends along a portion of the length of the vehicle in covering relation to a portion of the roof rail; and a fluid blocking zone of separation extending between the main body portion and the upper portion along at least a portion of the length of the curtain structure, the main body portion and the upper portion each being in fluid communication with the gas inlet such that the main body portion and the upper portion are inflatable substantially independently from one another upon the occurrence of the activating event substantially without reliance upon transmission of inflation gas between the main body portion and the upper portion.