Description
Following is a sample of the information contained on this CD: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inflatable apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to a vehicle and/or a vehicle rollover. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. One particular type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain that inflates from the roof of the vehicle downward inside the passenger compartment between a vehicle occupant and the side structure of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or rollover. Another type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable tubular structure that inflates between a vehicle occupant and the side structure of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or a rollover. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof. The apparatus comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus further comprises a housing for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure adjacent the vehicle roof. The housing includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece of the vehicle. The apparatus further comprises at least one grab handle and at least one connector that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, the housing and the grab handle. The connector connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, housing and grab handle to the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features of the present invention will
