Inflatable fabrics comprising basket-woven attachment points between fabric panels
First Claim
1. An inflatable fabric comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
All-woven inflatable fabrics having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.
-
Citations
69 Claims
- 1. An inflatable fabric comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width.
-
10. An inflatable fabric comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein the weave diagram for such a fabric does not exhibit more than three consecutive unfilled blocks in any row or column.
-
11. An inflatable fabric comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein only two separate weave densities are present within the entire fabric structure.
- 12. An inflatable fabric comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at at least two discrete areas within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width, wherein at least two discrete narrow areas of single fabric layers are present within said inflatable fabric, wherein said at least two areas of single fabric layers are separated by an area of at least two layers of fabric, and wherein the width of each single layer is from 4 to 8 yarns in length.
- 25. In an inflatable all-woven fabric airbag cushion, the improvement comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric which forms at least one of a seam and seal which does not exhibit a float of more than three picks.
- 45. An inflatable all-woven fabric for use as a pillow chambered inflatable protective cushion in a vehicle passive restraint system such as a side curtain comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a two-by-two basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width.
-
53. In a passive passenger restraint system for a vehicle, the improvement comprising an inflatable protective cushion comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width and forms at least one of a seam and a seal with floats of three picks or less.
-
54. In an airbag, the improvement comprising an inflatable protective cushion comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width and forms at least one of a seam and a seal with floats of three picks or less.
-
55. In a side curtain airbag, the improvement comprising an inflatable protective cushion comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width and forms at least one of a seam and a seal with floats of three picks or less.
-
56. An inflatable fabric adapted for use as an inflatable protective cushion in an occupant restraint system comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width and forms at least one of a non-rectangular seam and seal.
-
57. In an airbag cushion having a multiple layer portion and a single layer portion, the improvement comprising:
a narrow single fabric layer seam margin, followed by a double fabric layer margin, followed by at least one additional narrow single fabric layer seam margin. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
- 61. In an airbag cushion formed of a single woven item having multiple layer and single layer portions, the improvement comprising at least one seam comprised of a narrow single fabric layer area between two double layer fabric areas.
- 67. An inflatable fabric adapted for use as an inflatable protective cushion in an occupant restraint system comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein said at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed solely from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, at most 12 yarns in width and forms at least one of a seam and a seal with floats of three picks or less.
Specification