초록 ▼

A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a restraint curtain stowed adjacent a roof rail of the vehicle to deploy downwardly adjacent the side wall of the vehicle. The curtain is formed with a slit extending from a lower edge upwardly toward an upper edge to divide the curtain into first and sec

A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a restraint curtain stowed adjacent a roof rail of the vehicle to deploy downwardly adjacent the side wall of the vehicle. The curtain is formed with a slit extending from a lower edge upwardly toward an upper edge to divide the curtain into first and second sections. A short, rod-like connecting member is attached to the curtain adjacent the lower edge and spans the slit, tying the first and second sections together. A ring encircles the connecting member and a flexible tether is attached to the ring. The end of the tether opposite the ring is slidingly engaged with a guide track disposed on a pillar extending downwardly from the vehicle roof. The curtain is placed in the stowed condition by rolling it in a spiral fashion, starting at the lower edge and rolling toward the upper edge in a direction parallel to the slit so that the connecting members remain accessible through the slit even in the stowed condition. The connecting member is free to rotate within the ring so that the curtain may roll and unroll freely without the tether becoming wound up in or otherwise entangled with the curtain. When the curtain is in the stowed condition, the tether is slid to the upper end of the guide track. As the curtain unrolls to the deployed condition the tether travels downwardly along the guide track, holding the lower edge of the curtain close to the pillar.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An occupant restraint system for an automotive vehicle having a roof and a pillar extending downwardly from the roof to define a lateral edge ofan opening, the system comprising:an occupant restraint curtain having a first edge securable to the roof adjacent an upper ed

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An occupant restraint system for an automotive vehicle having a roof and a pillar extending downwardly from the roof to define a lateral edge ofan opening, the system comprising:an occupant restraint curtain having a first edge securable to the roof adjacent an upper edge of the opening and an opposite second edge, the curtain movable between a stowed condition wherein the curtain is retained adjacent the roof and a deployed condition wherein the curtain is generally planar and extends downwardly from the roof to cover at least a portion of the opening, the curtain comprising first and second sections separated by a slit extending from the second edge toward the first edge;a connecting member attached to the curtain adjacent the second edge thereof to span the slit and connect the first and second sections; anda tether having a first end engageable with the pillar for movement therealong when the curtain moves between the stowed and deployed conditions, the tether having a second end rotatably engaged with the connecting member whereby the connecting member is free to rotate relative to the tether as the curtain moves between the stowed condition and the deployed condition.