Patent ID: 6231073
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
Apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device adapted to inflate away from a roof of a vehicle into a position between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; andan inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels connected together along a perimeter of the panels to define an inflatable volume and a connection that interconnects said overlying panels within said perimeter, said connection comprising a plurality of linear segments extending in a generally horizontal direction and being vertically spaced apart when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated, each of said linear segments having first and second opposite terminal ends,said linear segments being positioned relative to each other such that the second terminal end of one of said linear segments lies on a vertically extending line that intersects the first terminal end of another of said linear segments, and the first terminal end of said one linear segment is spaced apart horizontally from the second terminal end of said another linear segment when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.