Patent ID: 6402192
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A safety device for a motor vehicle having a door frame, the safety device comprising:a gas generator; a sensor operatively connected to said gas generator for sensing at least one of a side impact and a roll-over that activates said gas generator; and an inflatable element connected to said gas generator to be inflated by gas from said gas generator upon activation of said gas generator, said inflatable element comprising: a first layer to define a front part of said inflatable element; a second layer to define a back part of said inflatable element, with selected parts of the first layer and the second layer being interconnected in a plurality of predetermined areas to define regions where the front part and the back part of said inflatable element are secured together forming elongated cells, and where an upper edge portion of the inflatable element is adapted to be secured to at least one anchoring point on the door frame at a level above a door contained within the door frame; and an extension piece extending from a predetermined area and adapted to be secured to a second anchoring point on the vehicle, whereby, the cells of the inflatable element are configured such that, upon inflation of said inflatable element, the length of the part of said inflatable element between the anchoring point on the door frame and the second anchoring point on the vehicle is reduced so that this part of the inflatable element, together with the extension piece, is tensioned.