Patent ID: 6050597
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B60Q,B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable into an inflated condition adjacent to a vehicle occupant;an inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;support means for supporting said inflator and said inflatable device on a portion of the vehicle;a cover covering said inflatable device and said inflator;a structure disposed between said cover and said inflatable device and in an electric circuit for actuating an electrically actuatable device of the vehicle;said cover having a first portion engageable by the vehicle occupant to actuate the electrically actuatable device and a second portion for connecting said first portion with said support means, said first portion of said cover being movable, due to the force of inflation of said inflatable device, from a closed condition to an open condition to enable inflation of said inflatable device;said structure having an active portion underlying said first portion of said cover, said active portion of said structure comprising an electrically conductive material having an electrical resistance which is variable in response to force applied to said cover by a vehicle occupant to deform said cover;said structure having an inactive portion underlying said second portion of said cover; andsaid apparatus comprising fastener means for connecting said inactive portion of said structure with said second portion of said cover.