Vehicle occupant protection system

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection system includes a plurality of inflatable devices, at least one fluid source for supplying a pressurized fluid for the vehicle occupant protection system, and at least one gas-tight manifold coupled to the at least one fluid source for receiving pressurized fluid from the at least one fluid source. The at least one manifold is also coupled to the plurality of inflatable devices such that, upon activation of the vehicle occupant protection system, the plurality of inflatable devices receive from the at least one manifold sufficient pressurized fluid to inflate the plurality of inflatable devices.

1 . A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
 a plurality of inflatable devices;   at least one fluid source for supplying a pressurized fluid for the vehicle occupant protection system;   at least one gas-tight manifold coupled to the at least one fluid source for storing pressurized fluid received from the at least one fluid source, the at least one manifold also being coupled to the plurality of inflatable devices such that, upon activation of the vehicle occupant protection system, the plurality of inflatable devices receive from the at least one manifold sufficient inflation fluid to inflate the plurality of inflatable devices; and   an inflator coupled to the at least one manifold for providing pressurized fluid to the at least one manifold in addition to any pressurized fluid residing in the at least one manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle occupant protection system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one fluid source comprises at least one compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle occupant protection system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one fluid source comprises at least one inflator. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle occupant protection system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of fluid sources for supplying pressurized fluid for the vehicle occupant protection system, and wherein the at least one manifold is coupled to each fluid source of the plurality fluid sources so as to enable the at least one manifold to receive pressurized fluid from each fluid source of the plurality of fluid sources. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle occupant protection system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of manifolds coupled to the at least one fluid source for storing pressurized fluid received from the at least one fluid source, and wherein each manifold of the plurality of manifolds is coupled to at least one respective inflatable device of the plurality of inflatable devices, for inflating the at least one respective inflatable device upon activation of the vehicle occupant protection system.