Patent attributes
An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a roof (18), a side structure (16), and a trim piece (310, 312) overlying the side structure. The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable curtain (14) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) to a position adjacent the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). A deployment ramp (180, 270) is movable from a stored position to a deployed position for directing the inflatable curtain (14) to deploy inboard of the trim piece (310, 312). The deployment ramp (180, 270) has a construction that is sufficiently resilient and rigid to direct the inflatable curtain (14) to deploy inboard of the trim piece (310, 312). A connector piece (162, 252) connects the deployment ramp (180, 270) to the vehicle (12). The connector piece (162, 252) has a first portion (174, 264) secured to the deployment ramp (180, 270) and a second portion (168, 258) connectable to the vehicle (12). The connector piece (162, 252) has a construction that is sufficiently non-resilient and flexible so as to permit substantially unrestricted movement of the deployment ramp (180, 270) to the deployed position.
