Patent ID: 6695341
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A containment impact protection system for use in an automotive vehicle comprising:a barrier panel attachable to a roof rail of the vehicle and having an inflatable portion, the barrier panel deployable from a stored state to a deployed state, wherein the barrier panel substantially covers at least one side window of the vehicle when in the deployed state; the inflatable portion of the barrier panel including an inflatable cushion without a tensioning device provided longitudinally along a bottom portion of the barrier panel; an inflatable tube structure having an inflatable tube member and a tensioning device connectable to structural members of the vehicle on opposite sides of the at least one side window, the tensioning device producing a longitudinal tension in response to the inflation a of the inflatable tube member operative to deploy the barrier panel; at least one sling attached to the barrier panel, the at least one sling supporting the inflatable tube structure above the inflatable cushion substantially parallel to the bottom of the barrier panel; and an inflator for producing a gas rapidly inflating the inflatable cushion and the inflatable tube member in response to a transverse acceleration above a predetermined value.