Patent ID: 6155598
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle, said inflatable device having a head portion for when inflated helping to protect the head of the vehicle occupant and a torso portion for when inflated helping to protect the torso of the vehicle occupant;a housing assembly for supporting said inflatable device on the vehicle;said inflatable device when in the deflated condition having said head portion turned at least partially inside out and received inside said torso portion, said head portion being the final portion of said inflatable device to inflate when said inflatable device is inflated;said inflatable device having a first partially inflated condition in which said torso portion is inflated forward from the housing assembly and said head portion is uninflated and inside said torso portion;said inflatable device having a second partially inflated condition in which said torso portion is inflated forward from the housing assembly and said head portion is substantially fully inflated outward from said torso portion in a direction forward and upward from said torso portion;said inflatable device having a fully inflated condition in which said head portion of said inflatable device extends upward and rearward from said torso portion.