Curtain airbag and its folding method and system

• US 20030116947A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Aki, Mochizuki, Norihito, Inomata, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,163,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag is provided which is folded with a duct part and an expansion part, the duct part having an inlet for allowing fluid communication throughout the duct part, the expansion part communicating with the duct part, wherein the airbag comprises an aggregative part obtained by aggregating a downward portion of the airbag, and a plurality of arms obtained by folding an upward portion of the airbag and being in fluid communication along the length direction of the airbag. The arms cover the aggregative part on the back thereof with respect to the expansion direction of the airbag. Thus, even having greater length from one end to another end, the airbag can deploy smoothly with less time difference between the front and the back in the length direction.

Claims

1. An airbag, the airbag being folded with a duct part and an expansion part, the duct part having an inlet for allowing fluid communication throughout the duct part, the expansion part communicating with the duct part, the airbag comprising:

an aggregative part, the aggregative part being obtained by aggregating a downward portion of the airbag; and

a plurality of arms, the arms being obtained by folding an upward portion of the airbag, the arms being in fluid communication along a length direction of the airbag, the arms covering the aggregative part on a back thereof with respect to an expansion direction of the airbag.

2. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct part is formed like a cylinder with small length in an axial direction thereof.

3. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aggregative part is sandwiched between the plurality of arms in a cross direction of a vehicle.

4. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aggregative part is formed like a roll.

5. An airbag, the airbag being folded with a duct part and an expansion part, the duct part having an inlet for allowing fluid communication throughout the duct part, the expansion part communicating with the duct part, the airbag comprising;

a passage, the passage having an end communicating with the inlet, the passage allowing fluid communication between one end of the duct part and another end thereof;

a plurality of arms, the arms communicating with the passage along a length direction of the passage, the arms extending radially from the passage; and

an aggregative part, the aggregative part being folded in communication with the duct part and along a length direction of the duct part.

6. The airbag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the duct part is formed like a cylinder with small length in an axial direction thereof.

7. The airbag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of arms partly surrounds the aggregative part.

8. The airbag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the aggregative part is located below the passage.

9. The airbag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the aggregative part is formed like a roll.

10. A folded airbag, comprising:

a predetermined face along which the folded airbag deploys by introduction of fluid;

an inlet for introduction of fluid;

an expansion part communicating with the inlet;

a first fold obtained with the expansion part;

a second fold obtained with a portion of the expansion part located at the first fold; and

a third fold obtained with another portion of the expansion part located at the second fold, the third fold being located between the first fold and the second fold.

11. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the expansion part comprises first and second expansion areas, and a communicating portion for ensuring communication between the first and second expansion areas, the communicating portion communicating with the inlet.

12. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first fold is disposed closer to the predetermined face of the airbag than the second fold with respect to the third fold.

13. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the third fold is formed like a roll.

14. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the airbag is arranged at a roof side of a vehicle, wherein the predetermined face corresponds to a side face of the vehicle.