Abstract: A substantially rigid defibrillator carrying case having a hinged side, a latch disposed on a latch side opposite the hinged side, and a handle disposed on a handle side disposed between the hinged side and the latch side. The carrying case is constructed without protrusions and with a rigid handle, which combine to allow easy removal and deployment of the contents from a vehicle storage location to a cardiac arrest patient. The carrying case is further constructed with a bracket or optional test fixture for a CPR Meter.

Abstract: A defibrillator electrode assembly with a slot-like storage case is described which protects the pads prior to use and retains them in either an electrically connected or electrically disconnected configuration. When the electrode assembly is slidably inserted into the case, an optional pinch clip within the case presses electrodes on opposite sides of a thick release liner into electrical contact with each other.

Abstract: A defibrillator system is disclosed including an operational state input, a user-operated information request input, and a user guidance output. The defibrillator system can be implemented as an AED, a manual defibrillator, or as a defibrillator trainer. The defibrillator system further utilizes the state and request inputs to determine a context-sensitive rescue information which is provided to the output.

Abstract: A defibrillator electrode assembly with a slot-like storage case is described which protects the pads prior to use and retains them in either an electrically connected or electrically disconnected configuration. When the electrode assembly is slidably inserted into the case, an optional pinch clip within the case presses electrodes on opposite sides of a thick release liner into electrical contact with each other.

Abstract: A defibrillator system is disclosed including an operational state input, a user-operated information request input, and a user guidance output. The defibrillator system can be implemented as an AED, a manual defibrillator, or as a defibrillator trainer. The defibrillator system further utilizes the state and request inputs to determine a context-sensitive rescue information which is provided to the output.

Abstract: An apparatus (10b) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14b). An inflation fluid source is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14b). A structure (320) for supporting the protection device (14b) in the vehicle includes a vent opening (40b) for venting inflation fluid from the protection device. A vent member (300) is connectable to the structure (320) to block inflation fluid flow through the vent opening (40b). Actuatable means (120b) is actuatable to break the connection between the vent member (80b) and the structure (320) and move the vent member away from the vent opening (40b) to permit inflation fluid flow through the vent opening. A flexible elongated member (350) has a first end (352) connected to the vent member (300) and a second end (354) connected to the structure (320).

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant (15 or 16) of a vehicle (17) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) and an inflation fluid source. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a stored, deflated position and an inflated position. The inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a first panel portion (501) for, when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) is inflated, protecting an adult size vehicle occupant (15). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) has a second panel portion (502) for, when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) is inflated, defining a downwardly open pocket (520) for receiving a portion of a child size vehicle occupant (16).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a housing (20) including a vent opening (70). An air bag (14) is inflatable to deploy away from the housing (20). An inflation fluid source (26) provides inflation fluid for inflating the air bag (14). A vent member (80) has a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent opening (70) and an open condition permitting inflation fluid flow through the vent opening. A first tether (114) is configured to release the vent member (80) for movement from the closed condition when the air bag (14) has deployed a first distance away from the housing (20). A second tether (140) is configured to place the vent member (80) in the closed condition when the air bag (14) has deployed a second distance away from the housing (20), the second distance being farther away from the housing than the first distance.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (38) and a support member (56) having a vent opening (78) through which inflation fluid may flow. A vent member (106) is movable relative to the support member (56) for varying a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (78). The vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) also includes a tether (144) for moving the vent member (106) and an actuatable mechanism (170) that has a first condition preventing the tether (144) from moving the vent member (106) and a second condition enabling the tether (144) to move the vent member (106).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes panel (100) of material that helps define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent opening (104) vents inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). A pleat (120) is folded in the panel (100). The pleat (120) is positioned against a vehicle surface (62) while the protection device (14) is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening (104).

Abstract: A method and article for packaging an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription are described. The OTC AED is encased in a rigid polymeric disclosure which is a distinctive color or set of colors to enable the OTC AED to be readily distinguished in the home environment. The defibrillator is packaged in a box with multicolored depictions of the defibrillator on multiple sides of the box, which enable the distinctive coloring of the defibrillator to be readily identified by the exterior of the packaging.

Abstract: A method for operating an automatic external defibrillator (AED) prompts an operator about proper operation of the automatic external defibrillator and placement of the electrodes to ensure rapid and proper operation. Depending upon a state of a pad storage compartment, upon activation the AED issues an initial prompt, pauses after the initial prompt and then issues a second prompt. The AED also determines whether the pads have been removed from a liner and if so, issues a pad application prompt. The AED next determines whether both pads have been placed and if so, analyzes an impedance signal and if the impedance signal is erratic, issues a pad correction prompt. The AED also issues the pad correction prompt if the pads are removed from the liner but never go on the patient.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes a housing (30). The housing (30) includes a flow opening (70, 98) through which fluid may flow. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus also includes an inflatable occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition. Structure (18, 20) of the inflatable occupant protection device (14) defines an inflatable volume of the inflatable occupant protection device (14). A closure device (120) is movable relative to the housing (30) from a first position to a second position for restricting fluid flow through the flow opening (70, 98). The structure (18, 20) of the inflatable occupant protection device (14) is attached to the closure device (120). A force resulting from the inflatable occupant protection device (14) reaching full extension moves the closure device (120) from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable volume (16) of the protection device (14). The apparatus (10) also includes a reaction plate (20) that includes at least one vent opening (40) and a retainer (60) that is connectable with the reaction plate (20). A vent part (80) has a first condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the at least one vent opening (40) and a second condition permitting inflation fluid flow through the at least one vent opening. The apparatus (10) further includes actuatable means (120) for moving the vent part (80) from one of the first and second conditions to the other of the first and second conditions. The vent part (80) has a portion (104) that maintains the vent part in the other of the first and second conditions when moved to the other of the first and second conditions.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) is located on a steering wheel (14) and includes a lower portion (28) and an upper portion (26). The upper portion (26) is rolled folded and the lower portion (28) is folded in a star pattern. The roll folded portion (26) has an outside surface formed by a front panel (30) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) that is intended to face the occupant when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. During inflation, the roll folded portion (26) unrolls such that at least a portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10d) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (300), a support member (336) having a vent opening (364), and a vent member (440) that is associated with the vent opening (364). The vent member (440) has a first condition in which the vent member (440) closes the vent opening (364) and a second condition in which the vent member (440) is spaced apart from the vent opening (364) enabling fluid flow through the vent opening (364). A fastener (470) attaches the vent member (440) to the support member (336). The fastener (470) includes structure (482) for securing the vent member (440) in the first condition prior to initial inflation of the protection device (300) and for enabling the vent member (440) to move from the first condition to the second condition upon initial inflation of the protection device (300).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (800) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (802) and a vent opening (876) through which inflation fluid may flow. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus (800) also includes a retainer (910) to which the protection device (802) is secured. A vent member (890) is movable relative to the vent opening (876) for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (876). A tether (990) is movable in response to inflation of the protection device (802) beyond a predetermined distance for moving the vent member (824). A tether guide member (940) is located on the retainer (910) for guiding the tether (990).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10d) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (300) and a support member (316). A vent opening (350) extends through the support member (316). A vent member (360) is associated with the vent opening (350). The vent member (360) initially closes the vent opening (350). Inflation fluid moves the vent member (360) relative to the support member (316) for enabling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (350). A tether (386) extends between the inflatable occupant protection device (300) and the vent member (360). The tether (386) is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device (300) away from the support member (316) by more than a predetermined distance for moving the vent member (360) relative to the support member (316) for reducing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (350).