Patent ID: 7182366

Claim:
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a roof, a side structure, and a trim piece overlying the side structure, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position adjacent the side structure of the vehicle; a deployment ramp movable from a stored position to a deployed position for directing said inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece, said deployment ramp being constructed of a first material that is sufficiently resilient and rigid to direct said inflatable curtain to deploy inboard of the trim piece; and a connector piece for connecting said deployment ramp to the vehicle, said connector piece having a first portion secured to said deployment ramp and a second portion connectable to the vehicle, said connector piece being constructed of a second material different than said first material that is sufficiently non-resilient and flexible so as to permit substantially unrestricted movement of said deployment ramp to said deployed position.