`Karlow et al.
`
`|
`US005588672A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,588,672
`[45]. Date of Patent:
`Dec. 31, 1996
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
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`[73]
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`[21]
`[22]
`[51]
`[52]
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`[58]
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`[56]
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`SIDE IMPACT HEAD RESTRAINT WITH
`INFLATABLE DEPLOYMENT
`
`Inventors: James P. Karlow, Milford; Mohamed
`Boumarafi, Rochester Hills; Jonathan
`P. Hurford, Lake Orion, all of Mich.
`Assignee: Takata, Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich.
`
`Appl. No.: 545,944
`Filed:
`Oct. 20, 1995
`Int. Cl° ……………………………………….……………. ?60? 21/22
`U.S. Cl. ..……....…...…...…....……... 280/730.2; 280/730.1;
`280/749
`Field of Search .............................. 280/730.2, 730.1,
`280/749, 733, 801.2, 804, 753; 180/282,
`271
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,687,485 8/1972 Campbell ............................. 280/730.1
`3,953,049 4/1976 Surace et al. ........................ 280/730.1
`4,946, 191
`8/1990 Putsch .................................. 280/730,1
`4,966,388 10/1990 Warner et al. .....
`. 280/730.1
`5,033,236 7/1991 Szerdahelyi et al.
`... 49/502
`5,161,821 11/1992 Curtis .....................
`... 280/730.1
`5,265,903 11/1993 Kuretake et al. .................... 280/730.1
`5,282,648 2/1994 Peterson .................................. 280/733
`5,322,322 6/1994 Bark et al. .....
`, 280/730.2
`5,324,072 6/1994 Olson et al. ......................... 280/730.2
`5,333,898 8/1994 Stutz .................................... 280/730.2
`5,333,899 8/1994 Witte .................................... 280/730.2
`5,362,097 11/1994 Barske ................................. 280/730.1
`
`
`
`16
`
`5,366,241 11/1994 Kithil ...................................... 280/735
`5,462,308 10/1995 Seki et al. ............................... 280/749
`5,464,246 11/1995 Castro et al. ....
`... 280/730.2
`5,470,103 11/1995 Vaillancourt et al. .......
`... 280/730.1
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2249988 4/1974 Germany ............................ 280/730.2
`2628815 1/1978 Germany .
`4307175 9/1993 Germany .
`5139232 6/1993 Japan.
`2191450 12/1987 United Kingdom .
`Primary Examiner—Christopher P. Ellis
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Harness, Dickey & Pierce, PLC
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A side impact head restraint with inflatable deployment in
`which an inflatable member having a movable mounting
`point is used to deploy a fabric panel during a side impact
`collision for head protection. The inflatable member, made
`of coated fabric, is pressurized by a gas generator. The
`inflatable member is connected to fabric panel and is used to
`bring a fabric panel into position in the window area of a side
`door of the vehicle. The fabric panel is secured at three
`points, two fixed points located on the upper side rail and a
`third movable point on a track located on the “B” pillar. The
`inflatable member pushes the movable mounting point down
`the track from a position near the upper side rail down to a
`position immediately below the centerline of the side glass.
`The movable point locks into position at the end of the
`travel, when fully deployed. The fabric panel can then be
`loaded by the head wherein fabric elongation absorbs head
`impact energy.
`
`20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`10 44
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`1
`SIDE IMPACT HEAD RESTRAINT WITH
`INFLATABLE DEPLOYMENT
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to motor vehicle safety
`devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to
`deployable restraint systems especially adapted for provid-
`ing side impactprotection for the head of a vehicle occupant.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In the past several decades, automotive manufacturers
`have made great strides in enhancing the safety of motor
`vehicles in terms of impact protection. While seat belt
`systems provide a high degree of occupant impact protec-
`tion, deployable impact protection devices such as inflatable
`air bags are now in commonplace use in motor vehicles. Air
`bags for the driver and passenger side front seat occupants
`are commonly found in vehicles today. Until recently, the
`primary attention in the design of deployable restraints was
`directed toward providing frontal impact protection.
`Motor vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers of safety
`systems are increasingly focusing on deployable devices
`providing side impact protection. Statistically, side impacts
`pose a greater probability of causing significant occupant
`injury as compared with frontal impacts. This differenceis
`largely due to the limited energy absorption structure avail-
`able in side impact situations, especially for the “on side”
`occupant.In response to this concern, vehicle manufacturers
`and suppliers are developing side impact air bags which are
`mountedeither to the door or bodypillar structure, or to the
`seat back of the occupantseat. In response to a signal from
`a crash sensor, an inflator generates gas. The expanding gas
`fills a woven fabric air bag whichfills an area between the
`door and occupant. To date,
`the primary emphasis for
`deployable side impact devices has been protecting the torso
`and pelvic area of the occupant. Providing head protection
`for side impact collisions poses a number of design chal-
`lenges beyondthat posed for torso and pelvic protection. In
`the case of a side impact air bag for torso and pelvic
`protection, the door structure acts as a “reaction plate” to
`support the air bag as it is compressed by the occupantthus
`providing energy absorption. In the head area, a convenient
`reaction plate surface is not present. This is the case since the
`side door window is movable and thus can be in the down
`position during impact and is made ofa brittle material.
`Accordingly, the window cannotbe relied uponasa reaction
`plate for an air bag. One approach toward resolving the
`above referenceddifficulties for side impact head protection
`is to provide a deployable fabric shade orcurtain tied to the
`door frame which provides an instantaneous support struc-
`ture for an air bag or deployable safety curtain. After
`detection of the side impact crash, the system pulls down a
`curtain which covers the upper portion of the side window
`door. In one design of such device, the deployment mecha-
`nism incorporates
`a pyrotechnically powered actuator
`coupled to a wire and pulley system to pull downthe curtain
`from its non-deployed stored state into a deployed condition.
`Although such a system appears workable, it is believed to
`be difficult to incorporate it into a vehicle structure.
`In motor vehicle design today, size and mass constraints
`are of critical importance. This is especially true for the side
`frame area of an automobile body where there is very tight
`packaging space. In order to be cost effective, the design of
`a deployable side impact restraint device should be appli-
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`cable across many vehicle platforms and provide low cost
`fabrication and assembly, with high quality and reliability.
`Thus, there is a needfor a side impact head restraint which
`can provide a low cost means of deploying head protection
`in side impactcollisions. There is also a need for a deploy-
`ment means which works without substantial accommoda-
`tion or redesign by the vehicle. Furthermore, there is a need
`for a side impact head restraint system which meets the
`minimal packing space requirements for installation in the
`side frame area of an automobile door.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`invention provides a side impact head
`The present
`restraint with inflatable deployment in which an inflatable
`member has a movable mounting point and is used to deploy
`a fabric panel during a side impact collision for head
`protection.
`One object of the present invention is to provide a low
`cost means of deploying head protection in side impact
`collisions.
`
`Jt is another object of the present invention to provide a
`method for deploying a fabric panel which works without
`substantial accommodation or re-design by the vehicle.
`It is a still further object of the present invention to
`provide a side impact head restraint system which meets
`minimal packing space requirements and which can be
`trimmed for aesthetic purposes.
`In order to achieve the foregoing objects, the present
`invention provides an inflatable member made of coated
`fabric which is pressurized by a gas generator. The inflatable
`memberis connected to a movable mounting point mounted
`on a track and is used to bring a fabric panel into position in
`the window area of a side door of a vehicle to provide head
`protection in a side impact collision. The fabric panel is
`securedatthree points, two fixed points located on the upper
`side rail and a third movable point on a track located on the
`“B”pillar. The inflatable memberand fabric panel are folded
`and secured behinda trim close-out panel covering the upper
`rail and “B” pillar of the side door of the vehicle. During
`deployment, the gas generator fills the inflatable member
`driving the movable mounting point downthe track moving
`from a position near the upper side rail down to a position
`immediately below the centerline of the side glass. The
`movable point locks into position at the end of the travel,
`when fully deployed. The fabric panel follows the movable
`mounting point and, when fully deployed, can be loaded by
`the head wherein fabric elongation absorbs head impact
`energy. The present designs permit latitude in positioning
`the gas generator 12, since the inflatable member 14 can be
`located anywhere on the restraint curtain 20.
`In a first preferred embodiment, the inflatable member
`comprises a tubular section located adjacent the track near
`the rear edge of the side window. In a second embodiment,
`a numberofinflatable tubular sections, knownas “fingers”,
`emanating from a common corner, deploy a fabric panel
`including the tubular sections for head protection in side
`impact collisions. In this embodiment, the fingers not only
`help bring the panel into position, but also provide protec-
`tion to the head in the areas of the upper side rail and the
`upper “B”pillar.
`In a third embodiment, an inflatable
`cushion with a cloth manifold and multiple tubular inflatable
`membersis used to provide head protection in a side impact
`collision. In this embodiment, the deployed fabric cushion
`acts to absorb head impact injury in side impact collisions.
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`Further objects, features and advantages of the invention
`will become apparent from a consideration of the following
`description and the appended claims when taken in connec-
`tion with the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an interior side view of a vehicle car door area
`showing a first embodiment of the deployable restraint
`system in accordance with the present invention as shown in
`a nondeployed condition;
`FIG.2 is an interior side view of the vehicle car door area
`of FIG. 1 showing the first embodiment of the deployable
`restraint system in a partially deployed condition;
`FIG. 3a is an interior side view of the vehicle car door
`area shown in FIG. 1 showing the first embodiment of the
`deployable restraint system of the present invention in a
`fully deployed condition;
`FIG. 3b is an exploded cross-sectional view showing the
`slider locking mechanism of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is an interior side view of a vehicle car door area
`showing a second embodiment of the deployable restraint
`system of the present invention in a fully deployed condi-
`tion;
`FIG. 5 is an interior side view of a vehicle car door area
`showing a third embodiment of the deployable restraint
`system of the present invention in a fully deployed condi-
`tion.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Preferred embodiments of the side impact head restraint
`with inflatable deployment are described herebelow with
`reference to the drawings.
`Referring to FIGS. 1-3), the side impact head restraint
`with inflatable deployment,
`indicated generally at 10,
`includes a crash sensor (not shown) mountedinside the side
`door of the vehicle or B-Pillar for sensing a side impact
`collision and generating a crash signal when a side impact
`collision is sensed. The crash signal is sent to a gas generator
`12 which generates gas used to inflate an inflatable member
`14. The inflatable member 14, when undeployed, is folded
`and secured behind the trim close-out panel covering the
`upper side rail 16 and “B” pillar 18 of the side door.
`Preferably, the inflatable member14 is tubular in shape and
`is made of coated fabric, howeverother shapes and materials
`can be used.
`The inflatable member 14is attached to a restraint curtain
`20, which is also folded and secured behind the trim
`close-out panel when undeployed. A trim tear seam can be
`provided to obscure the device and to enhancethe aesthetic
`quality. The restraint curtain 20 is configured to deploy into
`the window area 22 of the vehicle side door coveringat least
`the portion of the window area 22 adjacent the vehicle
`occupant’s head. Preferably, the restraint curtain 20 is made
`of fabric which would absorb head impact energy during a
`side impact collision through fabric elongation.
`three
`least
`The restraint curtain 20 is secured by at
`securing points located inside the vehicle adjacent the win-
`dow area 22 of the side door. A first and second securing
`points 24, 26 are fixedly positioned on the body or window
`frame near the upper-rear and upper-forward corners of the
`window area 22, respectively. A third securing point 28 is
`movedly mounted in a generally vertical track 30. The track
`30 is positioned on the “B” pillar or door near the rear edge
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`of the window area 22. The third securing point 28 is
`comprised of a slider 31 mounted in the track 30.
`In the undeployed position, as shown in FIG,1, the third
`securing point 28 is positioned near the upper-rear corner of
`the window area 22. While the inflatable member 14is being
`inflated, the slider 31 is configuredto freely slide along the
`track 30 toward the lower-rear corner of the window area 22,
`as shown in FIG. 2, thus deploying the restraining curtain
`20. The inflation of the inflatable member 14 propels the
`slider 31 down the track 30 in a forcible manner. As the
`slider 31 moves downwardly along the track 30,it pulls with
`it a lower edge of the restraint curtain 20 thus pulling the
`restraint curtain 20 from it undeployed condition. When the
`slider 31 reaches the lowerendofthe track 30 it is prevented
`from discharging from the track 31 by contact with track end
`33. The slider 31 is maintained in this position by engage-
`ment with a ramp 35. Asthe slider 31 engages the ramp 35,
`the ramp 35 deflects allowing the slider 31 to movepast the
`ramp 35. Once past, the ramp 35 springs back to its normal
`position, thus blocking the slider 31 from moving upwardly
`due to contact between the end surface 37 andthe slider 31.
`In this position, the slider 31 is locked into position at the
`end of travel along the track 30, holding the curtain 20 in a
`fully deployed position, as shown in FIG. 3a,
`In the fully deployed position, the restraining curtain 20
`coversat least the portion of the window area 22 adjacentthe
`occupant’s head. During a side impactcollision, the curtain
`20 can be loaded by the head such that fabric elongation,
`deformation at the mounting points, elongation of the inflat-
`able memberand venting of gas from the inflatable member
`all act
`to absorb head impact energy. Furthermore,
`the
`inflatable member14is preferably positioned along the rear
`edge of the window area 22 to provide additional cushioning
`for the occupant’s head.
`In a second embodiment, as shown in FIG.4, the inflat-
`able member comprises three inflatable fingers 32, 34, 36,
`emanating from a common comerposition, and the restraint
`curtain includes fabric panels 38, 40 extending between the
`inflatable fingers 32, 34, 36. A first inflatable finger 32
`extends downward along the rear edge of the window area.
`A second inflatable finger 34 extends from the upper-rear
`corner toward the lower-forward comerof the window area.
`A third inflatable finger 38 extends along the upper edge of
`the windowarea. The inflatable fingers 32, 34, 36 are joined
`together in an area near the upper-rear corner of the window
`area 22, The fabric panels 38, 40 are secured between the
`inflatable fingers 32, 34, 36 to provide protection for the
`vehicle occupant’s head during a side impact collision. The
`inflatable fingers 32, 34, 36 not only help bring the panels
`38, 40 into position, but also provide protection in the areas
`of the upperside rail 16 and “B”pillar 18.
`_
`In a third embodiment, as shown in FIG.5, the inflatable
`member comprises a plurality of inflatable fingers 42 and a
`cloth manifold 44. The plurality of fingers 42 are configured
`to extend parallel to each other, vertically downward from
`the cloth manifold 44 and upperside rail 16 into the window
`area 22 during a side impact collision. The plurality of
`fingers 42 can be individual inflatable members or, more
`likely, sewn subsections of an inflatable cushion. Elongation
`of the manifold 44, as well as other factors mentioned above,
`act to absorb head impact energy.
`It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
`the exact construction illustrated and described above, but
`that various changes and modifications may be made with-
`out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
`defined in the following claims.
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`Weclaim:
`1. A side impact head restraint system for cushioning a
`vehicle occupant’s head during a side impact collision
`including means for sensing the side impact collision and
`generating a crash signal thereupon, said system comprising:
`a restraint curtain mounted inside the vehicle adjacent a
`window area of a side door of the vehicle, said curtain
`having at least three securing points, wherein first and
`second securing points are fixedly attached on an upper
`tail of said side door and a third securing point is
`movably mounted on a generally vertical track located
`adjacent a track edge of said window area, said track
`running along said track edge from an upper edge
`toward a lower edge of said window area, said first
`securing point being located near said upper edge and
`a rear edge of said window area and said second
`securing point being located near said upper edge and
`a forward edge of said window area;
`an inflatable membercarried by said restraint curtain;
`a gas generator in fluid communication with said infiat-
`able member, said gas generator for generating gas in
`response to said crash signal wherein said generated
`gas inflates said inflatable member causing said third
`securing point to move along said track, driven by said
`inflatable member, from an undeployed position near
`said upper edge of said window area to a deployed
`position near said lower edge of said window area
`thereby pulling said curtain into a deployed condition
`covering at least a portion of said window area thus
`providing restraint for the vehicle occupant’s head,
`wherein said third securing point locks into position at
`the end of travel along said track when said curtain is
`fully deployed.
`2. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`1, wherein said inflatable memberis tubular in shape and is
`located in an area near said rear edge of said window area.
`3. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`1, wherein said inflatable member comprises three deploy-
`ment fingers such that when inflated a first deployment
`finger runsin a substantially vertical direction near said rear
`edge inside said window area, a second deploymentfinger
`runs in a substantially horizontal direction near said upper
`edge inside said window area and a third deploymentfinger
`runs in a direction beginning at an upper/rear location where
`said upper edge andsaid rear edge meet and running toward
`a lower/forward location where said lower edge and said
`forward edge meet.
`4. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`3, wherein said restraint curtain comprises fabric panels
`extending between said first, second and third deployment
`fingers.
`5, A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`1, wherein said restraint curtain comprises a plurality of
`inflatable fingers carried by a cloth manifold wherein said
`plurality of inflatable fingers are configuredto be inflated by
`said gas generator to extend to cover said portion of said
`window area.
`6. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`1, wherein said restraint curtain and said inflatable member
`are folded and secured behind a trim close-out panel cov-
`ering said upper side rail and a “B”pillar of said side door
`of the vehicle.
`7. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`1, wherein said third securing point comprises a slider
`carried by said track, said slider configured to slide along
`said track in responseto inflation ofsaid inflatable member.
`8. A side impact headrestraint system according to claim
`1, wherein said track is located on a “B”’ pillar of said side
`door of the vehicle adjacent to said window area.
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`9. A side impact head restraint system for cushioning a
`vehicle occupant’s head during a side impact collision
`including means for sensing the side impact collision and
`generating a crash signal thereupon, said system comprising:
`a restraint curtain mounted inside the vehicle adjacent a
`window area of a side doorof the vehicle, said curtain
`having at least three securing points, wherein first and
`second securing points are fixedly attached on an upper
`tail of said side door and a third securing point is
`movably mounted on a generally vertical track located
`adjacent a track edge of said window area, said track
`running along said track edge from an upper edge to a
`lower edge of said window area, said first securing
`point being located near said upper edge and a rear edge
`of said window area and said second securing point
`being located near said upper edge and a forward edge
`of said window area;
`an tubular inflatable member carried by said restraint
`curtain;
`a gas generator in fluid communication with said inflat-
`able member, said gas generator for generating gas in
`response to said crash signal wherein said generated
`gas inflates said inflatable member causing said third
`securing point to movealong said track, driven by said
`inflatable member, from an undeployed position near
`said upper edge of said window area to a deployed
`position near said lower edge of said window area
`thereby pulling said curtain into a deployed condition
`covering at least a portion of said windowarea and said
`inflatable membercovering a portion of a “B”pillar of
`said side door, thus providing restraint for the vehicle
`occupant’s head, wherein said third securing point
`locks into position at the end oftravel along said track
`when said curtain is fully deployed.
`10. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`9, wherein said third securing point comprises a slider
`carried by said track, said slider configured to slide along
`said track in responseto inflation of said inflatable member.
`11. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`9, wherein said track is located on the “B”pillar of said side
`door of the vehicle adjacent to said windowarea.
`12. A side impact headrestraint system according to claim
`9, wherein said restraint curtain and said inflatable member
`are folded and secured behind a trim close-out panel cov-
`ering said uppersiderail and the “B”pillar of said side door
`of the vehicle.
`13. A side impact head restraint system for cushioning a
`vehicle occupant’s head during a side impact collision
`including means for sensing the side impact collision and
`generating a crash signal thereupon,said system comprising:
`a restraint curtain mounted inside the vehicle adjacent a
`window area of a side door of the vehicle, said curtain
`having at least three securing points, wherein first and
`second securing points are fixedly attached on an upper
`rail of said side door and a third securing point is
`movably mounted on a generally vertical track located
`adjacent a track edge of said window area, said track
`running along said track edge from an upper edge to a
`lower edge of said window area, said first securing
`point being located near said upper edge and a rear edge
`of said window area and said second securing point
`being located near said upper edge and a forward edge
`of said window area;
`an inflatable member carried by said restraint curtain,
`wherein said inflatable member comprisesat least two
`deploymentfingers, said fingers configured to provide
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`an improved contact surface for said occupant’s head
`during a side impact collision and said restraint curtain
`comprising fabric panels sewn between said fingers
`configured to absorb head impact energy through fabric
`elongation;
`a gas generator in fluid communication with said inflat
`able member, said gas generator for generating gas in
`response to said crash signal wherein said generated
`gas inflates said deployment fingers of said inflatable
`member causing said deployment fingers to extend to
`said window area covering at least a portion of said
`window area and also causing said third securing point
`to move along said track, driven by said inflatable
`member, from an undeployed position near said upper
`edge of said window area to a deployed position near
`said lower edge of said window area thereby pulling
`said curtain into a deployed condition covering at least
`a portion of said window area thus providing restraint
`for the vehicle occupant’s head wherein said third
`Securing point locks into position at the end of travel
`along said track when said curtain is fully deployed.
`14. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`13, wherein said third securing point comprises a slider
`carried by said track, said slider configured to slide along
`said track in response to inflation of said inflatable member.
`15. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`13, wherein said track is located on a “B” pillar of said side
`door of the vehicle adjacent to said window area.
`16. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`13, wherein said restraint curtain and said inflatable member
`are folded and secured behind a trim close-out panel cov
`ering said upper side rail and a “B” pillar of said side door
`of the vehicle.
`17. A side impact head restraint system for cushioning a
`vehicle occupant’s head during a side impact collision
`including means for sensing the side impact collision and
`generating a crash signal thereupon, said system comprising:
`a restraint curtain having a plurality of inflatable fingers
`carried by a cloth manifold inside the vehicle adjacent
`a window area of a side door of the vehicle said
`inflatable members configured to provide an improved
`contact surface for said occupant’s head during a side
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`8
`impact collision and said manifold is configured to
`absorb head impact energy through fabric elongation,
`said curtain having at least three securing points,
`wherein first and second securing points are fixedly
`attached on an upper rail of said side door and a third
`securing point is movably mounted on a generally
`vertical track located adjacent a track edge of said
`window area, said track running along said track edge
`from an upper edge to a lower edge of said window
`area, said first securing point being located near said
`upper edge and a rear edge of said window area and
`said second securing point being located near said
`upper edge and a forward edge of said window area;
`a gas generator in fluid communication with said plurality
`of inflatable fingers, said gas generator for generating
`gas in response to said crash signal wherein said
`generated gas inflates said plurality of inflatable fingers
`causing said third securing point to move along said
`track, driven by said inflatable fingers, from an unde
`ployed position near said upper edge of said window
`area to a deployed position near said lower edge of said
`window area thereby pulling said curtain into a
`deployed condition, said plurality of inflatable fingers
`thus covering at least a portion of said window area
`providing restraint for the vehicle occupant’s head
`wherein said third securing point locks into position at
`the end of travel along said track when said curtain is
`fully deployed.
`18. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`17, wherein said track is located on a “B” pillar of said side
`door of the vehicle adjacent to said window area.
`19. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`17, wherein said cloth manifold and said plurality of inflat
`able fingers are folded and secured behind a trim close-out
`panel covering said upper side rail and a “B” pillar of said
`side door of the vehicle.
`20. A side impact head restraint system according to claim
`17, wherein said third securing point comprises a slider
`carried by said track, said slider configured to slide along
`said track in response to inflation of said plurality of
`inflatable members.
`
`5,588,672
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`Page 8 of 8
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`KSS 1011
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