Patent ID: 6435543
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:an inflatable 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, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having a perimeter at least partially defined by upper and lower edges of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and front and rear edges spaced apart horizontally along said upper and lower edges; and an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to form a perimeter connection extending along said perimeter and defining an inflatable volume bounded by said perimeter connection, and points of connection interconnecting said overlying panels within said inflatable volume and defining inflatable chambers of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said chambers comprising: first and second adjacent arc-shaped chambers each having a base portion and first and second leg portions that curve downwardly and outwardly away from opposite ends of said base portion, said first leg portions of said first and second arc-shaped chambers having a terminal end adjacent said front edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said second leg portions of said first and second arc-shaped chambers having a terminal end spaced away from said front edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; third and fourth adjacent arc-shaped chambers each having a base portion and first and second leg portions that curve downwardly and outwardly away from opposite ends of said base portion, said first leg portions of said third and fourth arc-shaped chambers having a terminal end adjacent said rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said second leg portions of said third and fourth arc-shaped chambers having a terminal end spaced away from said rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said terminal ends of said second leg portions of said first and third arc-shaped chambers being positioned adjacent each other, said terminal ends of said second leg portions of said second and fourth arc-shaped chambers being positioned adjacent each other, said first and third arc-shaped chambers extending adjacent to said upper edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and a lower chamber that extends adjacent said lower edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said lower chamber having a base portion and first and second leg portions that curve upwardly and outwardly away from opposite ends of said base portion of said lower chamber, said first leg portion of said lower chamber having a terminal end adjacent said front edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and said terminal end of said first leg portion of said second arc-shaped chamber, said second leg portion of said lower chamber having a terminal end adjacent said rear edge of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and said terminal end of said first leg portion of said fourth arc-shaped chamber, said points of connection being arranged such that a line extending vertically from said upper edge to said lower edge at any position within said inflatable volume intersects at least two of said chambers.