RESTRAINT DEVICE FOR PASSENGER IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE

摘要

PURPOSE: To provide an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint apparatus which is inflated upon the occurrence of a side collision. CONSTITUTION: This vehicle occupant restraint apparatus 10 includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint means 12 supported on a vehicle door 16. The door 16 has a detachable inner trim panel section with an outer side surface that partly defines an occupant compartment 20. The restraint apparatus includes a source of inflation fluid 14 and a manifold 25 for causing the source 14 of fluid to direct inflation fluid into the restraint means 12 to inflate the restraint means 12. The detachable inner trim panel section of the door 16 is a panel portion of the restraint means 12 which moves into the occupant compartment 20 upon inflation of the restraint means 12, and has an inner side surface for contacting the inflation fluid directed into the restraint means 12. The inner side surface of the panel portion of the restraint means 12 partly defines the volume enclosed within the restraint means 12 when the restraint means 12 is inflated.