David A Sutter

US Patent:

6877772, Apr 12, 2005

Filed:

Jan 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/037651

Inventors:

Kurt F. Fischer - Oxford MI, US
John G. Bauer - Troy MI, US
David F. Sutter - New Baltimore MI, US

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R021/16

US Classification:

2807431, 2807301

Abstract:

An apparatus () for helping to protect a vehicle occupant () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () having a stored, deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the occupant. An inflator () provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (). The apparatus () also includes a flap () made of fabric material. The flap () is stored with the protection device (). The flap () is deployed by inflation of the protection device () into a position engaging and covering a head () of the vehicle occupant for guiding deployment of the protection device () over the head of the occupant.