US Patent 7523956 Inflatable restraint assembly for vehicles

A plurality of inflatable members (136, 140, 142, 156′) are mounted at a plurality of strategic locations relative to a vehicle occupant. The occupant is restrained by a harness including a lap belt segment (124), a chest belt segment (126) and a diagonal belt segment (128). Upon the vehicle being impacted, a central processor automatically inflates the inflatable members (136, 140, 142, 156′). The processor is connected to valve assemblies that regulate air flow both into and out of the inflatable members (136, 140, 142, 156′), and is further responsive to a pressure sensor assembly, so as to actively regulate pressure within the inflatable members.