초록 ▼

An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18). The apparatus (10) includes a first portion (80) including at least one inflatable chamber (114). The first portion (80) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) between the side struct

An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18). The apparatus (10) includes a first portion (80) including at least one inflatable chamber (114). The first portion (80) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (20). The apparatus (10) also includes a second portion (100, 102) that includes at least one inflatable chamber. The second portion (100, 102) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (20). The second portion (100, 102) when inflated extends below the first portion (80) and adjacent a thorax (152) of a vehicle occupant (20) when inflated. Fluid communication between the chambers of the first portion (80) and second portion (100, 102) is substantially blocked.

대표청구항 ▼

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: a first portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said first portion being inflatable away from the vehi

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: a first portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said first portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; a second portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said second portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said second portion when inflated extending below said first portion and adjacent a thorax of a vehicle occupant when inflated, fluid communication between said chambers of said first and second portions being substantially blocked; and a fill tube for delivering inflation fluid into said first portion and said second portion, said fill tube extending through upper end portions of said first and said second portions positioned along the vehicle roof. 2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second portion overlies said first portion. 3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said second portion is positioned between said first portion and the vehicle occupant. 4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising an inflation fluid source, said first and second portions being in fluid communication with said inflation fluid source. 5. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first portion when inflated extends from adjacent the vehicle roof to adjacent a belt line of the vehicle. 6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second portion when inflated extends down to adjacent an arm rest of the vehicle. 7. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second portions comprise separate inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices. 8. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first portion has a substantially gas impermeable construction and said second portion has a construction enabling venting of inflation fluid from said second portion. 9. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: a first portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said first portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and a second portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said second portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said second portion when inflated extending below said first portion and adjacent a thorax of a vehicle occupant when inflated, fluid communication between said chambers of said first and second portions being substantially blocked, wherein said first portion is constructed to remain inflated and pressurized to at least a predetermined pressure for at least seven seconds. 10. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second portion comprises means for enabling venting of inflation fluid from said at least one chamber of said second portion. 11. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first portion is constructed of woven panels that include one of a substantially gas impermeable coating or a substantially gas impermeable lamination that blocks fluid leakage through the panels. 12. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second portion is adapted to inflate and pressurize more rapidly than said first portion. 13. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises an inflatable curtain for helping to protect an occupant in a vehicle rollover and said second portion comprises an air bag for helping to protect an occupant in a vehicle side impact. 14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said inflatable curtain is inflatable between the vehicle side structure and said air bag, and said air bag is inflatable between said inflatable curtain and the vehicle occupant. 15. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said fill tube has at least one portion positioned in said inflatable curtain and at least one portion positioned in said air bag. 16. The apparatus recited in claim 15, wherein said at least one portion of said fill tube positioned in said air bag is configured to direct inflation fluid into said air bag portion at a flow rate sufficient to deploy and pressurize said air bag more rapidly than said inflatable curtain. 17. The apparatus recited in claim 15, wherein said at least one portion of said fill tube positioned in said air bag is upstream from said at least one portion of said fill tube positioned in said inflatable curtain. 18. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second portions comprise different inflatable chambers of an inflatable curtain, said inflatable curtain being free of passages for providing fluid communication between said first and second portions. 19. The apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein said first portion comprises curtain chambers of said inflatable curtain and said second portion comprises thorax chambers of said inflatable curtain. 20. The apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein said inflatable curtain has a one piece woven construction. 21. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: a first portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said first portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and a second portion comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said second portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said second portion when inflated extending below said first portion and adjacent a thorax of a vehicle occupant when inflated, fluid communication between said chambers of said first and second portions being substantially blocked, wherein said second portion is constructed to enable inflation fluid to vent from said second portion more rapidly than from said first portion. 22. The apparatus recited in claim 1, said fill tube including at least one first group of openings for directing inflation fluid directly into said at least one chamber of said first portion, said fill tube including at least one second group of openings for directing inflation fluid directly into said at least one chamber of said second portion. 23. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and an inflation fluid source for inflating said inflatable curtain; said inflatable curtain comprising a thorax portion inflatable adjacent a thorax of the vehicle occupant, said thorax portion when inflated bisecting and extending below remaining portions of said inflatable curtain, said thorax portion being inflatable more rapidly than other portions of said inflatable curtain. 24. The apparatus recited in claim 23, wherein said thorax portion comprises at least one inflatable chamber in fluid communication with said inflation fluid source, said at least one inflatable chamber being substantially blocked from fluid communication with said remaining portions of said inflatable curtain. 25. The apparatus recited in claim 23, wherein said inflatable curtain has a one piece woven construction. 26. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable curtain that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a deployed position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and an inflation fluid source for inflating said inflatable curtain; said inflatable curtain comprising a thorax portion inflatable adjacent a thorax of the vehicle occupant, said thorax portion when inflated extending below remaining portions of said inflatable curtain, said thorax portion being inflatable more rapidly than other portions of said inflatable curtain, wherein said inflation fluid is vented from said thorax portion more rapidly than from said remaining portions of said inflatable curtain. 27. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable curtain including at least one inflatable chamber, said inflatable curtain being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant; and an air bag including at least one inflatable chamber, said air bag being inflatable away from the vehicle roof to a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, wherein said air bag when inflated overlies a non-inflatable portion of said inflatable curtain and is free from overlying inflatable portions of said inflatable curtain. 28. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device recited in claim 27, wherein fluid communication between said inflatable curtain and said air bag is substantially blocked. 29. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device recited in claim 27, wherein said fill tube has at least one portion positioned in said inflatable curtain and at least one portion positioned in said air bag. 30. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle during a side impact to the vehicle and during a vehicle rollover, the vehicle having a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising: a first portion actuatable away from the vehicle roof and between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant to help protect the vehicle occupant for at least five seconds during a vehicle rollover; and a second portion for helping to protect an occupant in a vehicle side impact comprising at least one inflatable chamber, said second portion being inflatable away from the vehicle roof between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said second portion when inflated extending adjacent a thorax of a vehicle occupant, said second portion being inflated and deflated within one second. 31. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device recited in claim 30, further comprising a fill tube for delivering inflation fluid to said first and second portions.