Welded girt for passenger vehicle

Abstract

Described are welded girts having a girt body, a girt reinforcement, and a girt cover. The girt body. The girt body may be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement. The girt cover may be sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body. The girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover may be each thermally welded to one another to form the welded girt. The welded girt may be used to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention relates generally to passenger vehicles, and, more specifically, though not necessarily exclusively, to a welded girt that may be used to couple components of a passenger vehicle to the passenger vehicle.BACKGROUND

[0002] Passenger vehicles often include equipment that may be used in case of emergency. For example, the passenger vehicles may include inflatable slides, slides / rafts, ramps, life rafts, inflatable rafts, inflatable life jackets, helicopter floats, and the like. The equipment may be attached, for example directly or indirectly, to the passenger vehicles. Attaching the equipment to the passenger vehicle may involve heavy, messy, costly, or otherwise inefficient solvents, glues, cements, or other attachment materials. The attachment materials may excessively increase a weight of the equipment, may excessively increase a safety hazard of the equipment, may excessively decrease a use life of the equipment, etc.SUMMARY

[0003] The terms "invention," "the invention," "this invention" and "the present invention" used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.

[0004] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a welded girt may include a girt body, a girt reinforcement, and a girt cover. The girt body may be configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement. The girt cover may be sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body. The girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover may be each thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and the welded girt may be used to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

[0005] In some embodiments, the welded girt may additionally include a girt base that may be positioned on the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device, and / or to prevent a tear between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the girt body may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The girt reinforcement may include a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, and the third side and the fourth side may be each thermally welded to the first side of the girt body.

[0007] In various embodiments, the girt base may be attached to the second side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0008] In some embodiments, a combination of the girt base and at least a portion of the girt body may be thermally welded to the inflatable safety device, and the welded girt may additionally include a thermally weldable tape for connecting the welded girt to the passenger vehicle.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the girt body may include the at least the portion and a remaining portion, and a first side of the thermally weldable tape may be thermally welded to the remaining portion of the girt body. A second side of the thermally weldable tape may be thermally welded to an attachment feature configured to attach the welded girt to the passenger vehicle, and the first side of the thermally weldable tape may be opposite the second side of the thermally weldable tape.

[0010] In various embodiments, the girt base may be attached to the first side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0011] In some embodiments, the girt base and / or a portion of the second side of the girt body may be thermally welded to an underside of a surface of the inflatable safety device.

[0012] In certain embodiments, when the welded girt is thermally welded to the underside of the surface of the inflatable safety device, only the girt cover and a portion of the girt body extend above the surface of the inflatable safety device.

[0013] In various embodiments, the girt body may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first set of openings may extend along a longitudinal axis of the girt body.

[0014] In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis may be approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the girt body and may be approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge of the girt body.

[0015] In certain embodiments, each opening of the set of openings may be spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt.

[0016] In various embodiments, the girt body may include a first corner and a second corner opposite the first corner, and the first corner and the second corner may each have a nonlinear curve.

[0017] In some embodiments, the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover may each comprise a thermally weldable material, and the thermally weldable material may be an exterior layer deposited on top of each of the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover.

[0018] In certain embodiments, an aircraft may include the welded girt.

[0019] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a welded girt may include a girt body, a girt reinforcement, a girt cover, and a girt base. The girt body may include a first set of openings. The girt body may be configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement. The girt cover may be sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body, and the girt cover may include a second set of openings that may be positioned corresponding to the first set of openings. The girt base may be positioned on one side of the girt body. The girt body, the girt reinforcement, the girt cover, and the girt base may be each thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and the welded girt may be used to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

[0020] In some embodiments, the girt body may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and the girt reinforcement may include a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side. The third side and the fourth side may be each thermally welded to the first side of the girt body, and the girt base may be attached to the second side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the girt body may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first set of openings may extend along a longitudinal axis of the girt body. The longitudinal axis may be approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the girt body and approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge of the girt body, and each opening of the set of openings may be spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt.

[0022] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a system may include a welded girt and an inflatable safety device. The welded girt may include two or more panels thermally welded together. The inflatable safety device may be coupled with a passenger vehicle. The two or more panels of the welded girt may be thermally welded to the inflatable safety device for attaching the inflatable safety device to the passenger vehicle.

[0023] In various embodiments, the two or more panels of the welded girt may include a girt body and a girt reinforcement. The girt body may include a first set of openings. The girt body may be configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement, and a girt cover may be positioned around the girt body and the girt reinforcement. The girt body and the girt reinforcement may be thermally welded to one another to form the welded girt, and the welded girt may be used to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a passenger vehicle that includes an inflatable safety device attached to the passenger vehicle with a welded girt according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 is a set of views of a welded girt for a passenger vehicle according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is a diagram of components of the welded girt of Figure 2.

[0027] Figure 4 is a diagram of the welded girt of Figure 2 in which the welded girt is attached to a passenger vehicle and an inflatable safety device.

[0028] Figure 5 is a diagram of the welded girt of Figure 2 attached to an underside of an inflatable safety device.

[0029] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process for forming and using the welded girt of Figure 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

[0031] The described embodiments of the invention provide welded girts for passenger vehicles. While the welded girts are discussed for use with passenger vehicles and / or inflatable safety devices, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the welded girts may be used in passenger vehicles of any type or otherwise as desired.

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a passenger vehicle 100 that includes an inflatable safety device 102 attached to the passenger vehicle 100 with a welded girt 200 according to certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 1, the inflatable safety device 102 is an inflatable evacuation slide, though the inflatable safety device 102 may be or include any other suitable inflatable safety device such as a raft, a life vent, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the welded girt 200 may be used to attach other equipment (e.g., other than the inflatable safety device 102) to the passenger vehicle 100. In some embodiments, the welded girt 200 may be configured to attach, such as via thermal welds, equipment to the passenger vehicle such that the thermal welds are configured to withstand environmental temperatures of from approximately -40 °F to approximately 160 °F, though the thermal welds may be configured to withstand other suitable environmental conditions. As used herein, approximately indicates that a recited value may vary, such as above or below, by 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, from 5% to 10%, from 10% to 20%, etc. In some embodiments, a thermal weld may be a weld or other attachment mechanism that may be applied to a particular material, such as a thermally weldable material, by applying a predetermined pressure and / or temperature to the particular material for a predetermined amount of time to form an adhesive bond between the thermally weldable material and a separate material.

[0033] In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device 102 may be or include an inflatable slide, an inflatable raft, one or more inflatable life vests, and the like. For example, the inflatable safety device 102 may be or include an inflatable slide, slide / raft, ramp, slide / ramp, or inflatable raft that may be positioned on an aircraft. Additionally or alternatively, the inflatable safety device 102 may include one or more tubes that may be configured to hold gas for inflating the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively, the inflatable safety device 102 may additionally include a conductive fabric that may be woven into the inflatable safety device 102 to carry or otherwise convey electrical current with respect to the inflatable safety device 102.

[0034] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, and as illustrated in Figures 2-5, a welded girt 200 comprises a girt body 302, a girt reinforcement 304, and a girt cover 306, though the welded girt 200 may include any additional, alternative, or fewer components to provide functionality for the welded girt 200. In some embodiments, the girt body 302 may include a first set of openings, which may include opening 308a, opening 308b, and other suitable openings. Additionally or alternatively, the girt body 302 may be positioned at least partially, and in some examples entirely, around the girt reinforcement 304. The girt cover 306 may be sized to be positioned at least partially, and in some examples entirely, around the girt body 302. The girt cover 306 may include a second set of openings, which may include opening 310a, opening 310b, etc., that may be positioned corresponding with the first set of openings. Corresponding the first set of openings with the second set of openings may involve aligning the first set of openings with the second set of openings to allow properly sized objects to pass through the opening 308a and the opening 310a, or the opening 308b and the opening 310b, uninhibited. In some embodiments, the girt body 302, the girt reinforcement 304, and the girt cover 306 may be thermally welded to one another to form the welded girt 200, which may also be used to thermally weld the inflatable safety device 102 to the passenger vehicle 100. In some embodiments, the girt body 302, the girt reinforcement 304, and the girt cover 306 may each include a thermally weldable material, and the thermally weldable material may be or include an exterior layer deposited on top of each of the girt body 302, the girt reinforcement 304, and the girt cover 306.

[0035] As best illustrated with respect to Figure 2, the girt body 302 may include a first corner 212 and a second corner 214 opposite the first corner 212 with respect to the girt body 302. In some embodiments, the first corner 212 and the second corner 214 may each have a nonlinear curve, for example to enhance a tear resistance of the girt body 302.

[0036] In some embodiments, the girt body 302 may include a first end 322 and a second end 324 opposite the first end 322. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of openings of the girt body 302 may extend along a longitudinal axis 326 of the girt body 302. The longitudinal axis 326 may be approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge 328 of the girt body 302 and approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge 330 of the girt body 302. In some embodiments, each opening of the set of openings following the longitudinal axis 326 may be spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt 200.

[0037] In some embodiments, the welded girt 200 may additionally include a girt base 312 that may be positioned on the girt body 302 to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt 200 and the inflatable safety device 102. The girt body 302 may have a first side 314 and a second side 316 opposite the first side 314. The girt reinforcement 304 comprises a third side 318 and a fourth side 320 opposite the third side 318. In some embodiments, the third side 318 and the fourth side 320 may be each thermally welded to the first side 314 of the girt body 302. In some embodiments, the girt base 312 may be attached to the second side 316 of the girt body 302 to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt 200 and the inflatable safety device 102.

[0038] Figure 4 illustrates a diagram 400 of the welded girt 200 in which the welded girt 200 is attached to a passenger vehicle 100 and an inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, a combination of the girt base 312 and at least a portion of the girt body 302 may be thermally welded to the inflatable safety device 102, and the welded girt 200 may additionally include a thermally weldable tape 402, and / or in some embodiments, a cord, for connecting the welded girt 200 to the passenger vehicle 100. In some embodiments, the cord may include a rope, a webbing, any other suitable flexible attachment component, or any combination thereof. The girt body 302 may include the at least the portion and a remaining portion, wherein a first side 404 of the thermally weldable tape 402 may be thermally welded to the remaining portion of the girt body 302. A second side 406 of the thermally weldable tape 402 may be thermally welded to an attachment feature 408 that may be configured to attach the welded girt 200 to the passenger vehicle 100, and the first side 404 of the thermally weldable tape 402 may be opposite the second side 406.

[0039] As best illustrated with respect to Figure 5, the girt base 312, or as illustrated in Figure 5, a fluid barrier 512, may be attached to the first side 314 of the girt body 302 to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt 200 and the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the fluid barrier 512 may prevent flow of fluid, such as water or other fluids, within the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively, the girt base 312, or the fluid barrier 512, and / or a portion of the second side 316 of the girt body 302 are thermally weldable to an underside 502 of a surface 504 of the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the surface 504 may include a sliding surface of the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, and as illustrated in Figure 5, when the welded girt 200 is thermally welded to the underside 502 of the surface 504 of the inflatable safety device 102, only the girt cover 306 and a portion of the girt body 302 extend above the surface of the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device 102 may include a tube 510 (illustrated as an approximate cross-section in Figure 5), or more than one tube, for holding air for inflating the inflatable safety device. The welded girt 200 may be welded to the underside 502 offset from the tube 510 to prevent accidental rupture of the tube 510 or for other suitable purposes. In some embodiments, the welded girt 200 may include a mechanical holding means 515 that can physically or otherwise mechanically hold, along with thermal welds, the components of the welded girt 200 together.

[0040] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process 600 for forming and using the welded girt 200. At block 602, the welded girt 200 is formed from a set of components. The set of components may include a girt body 302 and a girt reinforcement 304. In some embodiments, the set of components may additionally include a girt cover 306 and / or a girt base 312. Each component of the set of components may have a surface material that may be configured to be thermally welded. For example, the girt body 302, the girt reinforcement 304, the girt cover 306, and / or the girt base 312 may have a surface material that may be thermally welded to adhere to a separate component or material.

[0041] At block 604, the welded girt 200 is thermally welded to an attachment feature such as the attachment feature 408. At least a portion of the welded girt 200 may be thermally welded to the attachment feature. For example, the girt body 302, or a portion thereof, of the welded girt 200 may be thermally welded to the attachment feature. In some embodiments, the girt body 302, or the portion thereof, may be thermally welded to the attachment feature via a thermally weldable tape 402 that may facilitate the thermal weld between the welded girt 200 and the attachment feature. In some embodiments, the attachment feature may be attached, such as via a thermal weld or other suitable attachment mechanisms, to the passenger vehicle 100 via, for example, a door of the passenger vehicle 100, a wall of the passenger vehicle 100, or other suitable components of the passenger vehicle 100.

[0042] At block 606, the welded girt 200 is thermally welded to the inflatable safety device 102. The inflatable safety device 102 may be or include an inflatable slide, an inflatable raft, and / or a different inflatable safety device. The girt base 312 of the welded girt 200 may be used to thermally weld the welded girt 200 to the inflatable safety device 102. For example, the girt base 312 may be positioned on a particular side of the girt body 302 to allow a thermal weld to be applied to the inflatable safety device 102 and at least a portion of the welded girt 200. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the welded girt 200 may be positioned beneath a surface of the inflatable safety device 102, and the at least the portion of the welded girt 200 may be thermally welded to an underside of the surface of the inflatable safety device 102.

[0043] In the following, further examples are described to facilitate the understanding of the invention:

[0044] Example 1. A welded girt comprising: a girt body; a girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body is configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement; and a girt cover sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body, wherein the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover are each thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and wherein the welded girt is thermally weldable to an inflatable safety device and is usable to attach the inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

[0045] Example 2. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising a girt base positionable on the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device and / or to prevent a tear between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0046] Example 3. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the girt reinforcement comprises a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, and wherein the third side and the fourth side are each thermally welded to the first side of the girt body.

[0047] Example 4. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt base is attached to the second side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0048] Example 5. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein a combination of the girt base and at least a portion of the girt body are thermally weldable to the inflatable safety device, and wherein the welded girt further comprises a thermally weldable tape for connecting the welded girt to the passenger vehicle.

[0049] Example 6. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body comprises the at least the portion and a remaining portion, wherein a first side of the thermally weldable tape is thermally welded to the remaining portion of the girt body, wherein a second side of the thermally weldable tape is thermally welded to an attachment feature configured to attach the welded girt to the passenger vehicle, and wherein the first side of the thermally weldable tape is opposite the second side of the thermally weldable tape.

[0050] Example 7. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt base is attached to the first side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0051] Example 8. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt base and / or a portion of the second side of the girt body are thermally weldable to an underside of a surface of the inflatable safety device.

[0052] Example 9. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, when the welded girt is thermally welded to the underside of the surface of the inflatable safety device, only the girt cover and a portion of the girt body extend above the surface of the inflatable safety device.

[0053] Example 10. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the first set of openings extends along a longitudinal axis of the girt body.

[0054] Example 11. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the girt body and approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge of the girt body.

[0055] Example 12. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein each opening of the set of openings is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt.

[0056] Example 13. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body comprises a first corner and a second corner opposite the first corner, and wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a nonlinear curve.

[0057] Example 14. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover each comprise a thermally weldable material, wherein the thermally weldable material is an exterior layer deposited on top of each of the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover.

[0058] Example 15. An aircraft comprising the welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples.

[0059] Example 16. A welded girt comprising: a girt body comprising a first set of openings; a girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body is configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement; a girt cover sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body, wherein the girt cover comprises a second set of openings positionable corresponding to the first set of openings; and a girt base positionable on one side of the girt body, wherein the girt body, the girt reinforcement, the girt cover, and the girt base are each thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and wherein the welded girt is usable to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

[0060] Example 17. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the girt reinforcement comprises a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, wherein the third side and the fourth side are each thermally welded to the first side of the girt body, and wherein the girt base is attached to the second side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.

[0061] Example 18. The welded girt of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the girt body comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first set of openings extends along a longitudinal axis of the girt body, wherein the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the girt body and approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge of the girt body, and wherein each opening of the set of openings is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt.

[0062] Example 19. A system comprising: a welded girt that comprises two or more panels thermally welded together; and an inflatable safety device coupled with a passenger vehicle, the two or more panels of the welded girt thermally welded to the inflatable safety device for attaching the inflatable safety device to the passenger vehicle.

[0063] Example 20. The system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the two or more panels of the welded girt comprise a girt body comprising a first set of openings and a girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body is configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement, wherein a girt cover is positionable around the girt body and the girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body and the girt reinforcement are thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and wherein the welded girt is usable to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

[0064] Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.

Claims

That which is claimed is:1.A welded girt comprising:a girt body;a girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body is configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement; anda girt cover sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body, wherein the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover are each thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and wherein the welded girt is thermally weldable to an inflatable safety device and is usable to attach the inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.2.The welded girt of claim 1, further comprising a girt base positionable on the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device and / or to prevent a tear between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.3.The welded girt of claim 2, wherein the girt body comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the girt reinforcement comprises a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, and wherein the third side and the fourth side are each thermally welded to the first side of the girt body.4.The welded girt of claim 3, wherein the girt base is attached to the second side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.5.The welded girt of claim 4, wherein a combination of the girt base and at least a portion of the girt body are thermally weldable to the inflatable safety device, and wherein the welded girt further comprises a thermally weldable tape for connecting the welded girt to the passenger vehicle.6.The welded girt of claim 5, wherein the girt body comprises the at least the portion and a remaining portion, wherein a first side of the thermally weldable tape is thermally welded to the remaining portion of the girt body, wherein a second side of the thermally weldable tape is thermally welded to an attachment feature configured to attach the welded girt to the passenger vehicle, and wherein the first side of the thermally weldable tape is opposite the second side of the thermally weldable tape.7.The welded girt of claim 3, wherein the girt base is attached to the first side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.8.The welded girt of claim 7, wherein the girt base and / or a portion of the second side of the girt body are thermally weldable to an underside of a surface of the inflatable safety device.

9. The welded girt of claim 8, wherein, when the welded girt is thermally welded to the underside of the surface of the inflatable safety device, only the girt cover and a portion of the girt body extend above the surface of the inflatable safety device.10.The welded girt of claim 1, wherein the girt body comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the first set of openings extends along a longitudinal axis of the girt body.11.The welded girt of claim 10, wherein the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the girt body and approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge of the girt body.12.The welded girt of claim 11, wherein each opening of the set of openings is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt.13.The welded girt of claim 1, wherein the girt body comprises a first corner and a second corner opposite the first corner, and wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a nonlinear curve.14.The welded girt of claim 1, wherein the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover each comprise a thermally weldable material, wherein the thermally weldable material is an exterior layer deposited on top of each of the girt body, the girt reinforcement, and the girt cover.15.An aircraft comprising the welded girt of claim 1.16.A welded girt comprising:a girt body comprising a first set of openings;a girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body is configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement;a girt cover sized to be positioned at least partially around the girt body, wherein the girt cover comprises a second set of openings positionable corresponding to the first set of openings; anda girt base positionable on one side of the girt body, wherein the girt body, the girt reinforcement, the girt cover, and the girt base are each thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and wherein the welded girt is usable to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.17.The welded girt of claim 16, wherein the girt body comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the girt reinforcement comprises a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, wherein the third side and the fourth side are each thermally welded to the first side of the girt body, and wherein the girt base is attached to the second side of the girt body to facilitate a thermal weld between the welded girt and the inflatable safety device.18.The welded girt of claim 16, wherein the girt body comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first set of openings extends along a longitudinal axis of the girt body, wherein the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the girt body and approximately parallel to a second longitudinal edge of the girt body, and wherein each opening of the set of openings is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the set of openings to provide alignment for the welded girt.19.A system comprising:a welded girt that comprises two or more panels thermally welded together; andan inflatable safety device coupled with a passenger vehicle, the two or more panels of the welded girt thermally welded to the inflatable safety device for attaching the inflatable safety device to the passenger vehicle.20.The system of claim 19, wherein the two or more panels of the welded girt comprise:a girt body comprising a first set of openings; anda girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body is configured to be positioned at least partially around the girt reinforcement, wherein a girt cover is positionable around the girt body and the girt reinforcement, wherein the girt body and the girt reinforcement are thermally weldable to one another to form the welded girt, and wherein the welded girt is usable to thermally weld an inflatable safety device to a passenger vehicle.

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