Air bag cushion and module

• US 20040108699A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ford, Brian, Langbeen, Lawrence R., Grondin, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 6,846,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23538 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

An air bag module comprises an air bag inflator and an air bag inflatable by the air bag inflator. The air bag has a hole to receive the air bag inflator and at least one tab attached to the air bag near the hole to assist in the insertion of the air bag inflator into air bag. The air bag has a heat shield near the air bag inflator.

Claims

1. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag inflator;

an air bag inflatable by said air bag inflator, having at least one hole to receive said air bag inflator; and

at least one tab attached to said air bag proximate said at least one hole.

2. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein said air bag comprises a first hole and a second hole, each of said holes sized to receive at least a portion of said air bag inflator.

3. The air bag module of claim 2 wherein said at least one tab comprises a first tab located proximate said first hole and a second tab located proximate said second hole, said tab foldable over at least a portion of said first hole and said second tab foldable over at least a portion of said second hole.

4. The air bag module of claim 3 wherein said first tab has a third hole and said second tab has a fourth hole wherein said third hole is sized to match said first hole and said fourth hole is sized to match said second hole.

5. The air bag module of claim 4 wherein said air bag inflator comprises a first end and a second end, said first end secured within said first hole and said third hole and said second end secured within said second hole and said fourth hole.

6. The air bag module of claim 1 including a heat shield within said air bag.

7. The air bag module of claim 6 wherein said heat shield comprises fabric sewn to said air bag.

8. The air bag module of claim 7 wherein said air bag has a seam, said heat shield covering said seam.

9. The air bag module of claim 1 including a housing wherein said housing has at least one opening to receive said at least one tab.

10. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag inflator;

an air bag inflatable by said air bag inflator, having a first hole and a second hole, each of said holes sized to receive at least a portion of said air bag inflator;

at least one flap operatively attached to said air bag, said at least one flap securing said air bag inflator to said air bag; and

a housing for protecting said air bag, said housing having at least one slot to receive said at least one flap.

11. The air bag module of claim 10 wherein said at least one flap comprises a first flap located proximate said first hole and a second flap located proximate said second hole, said first flap having a third hole and said second flap having a fourth hole wherein said third hole is sized to match said first hole and said fourth hole is sized to match said second hole.

12. The air bag module of claim 11 wherein said air bag inflator comprises a first end and a second end, said first end secured within said first hole and said third hole and said second end secured within said second hole and said fourth hole.

13. The air bag module of claim 10 including a heat shield within said air bag.

14. The air bag module of claim 13 wherein said heat shield comprises fabric sewn to said air bag.

15. The air bag module of claim 13 wherein said air bag has a seam, said heat shield covering said seam.

16. A method of assembling an air bag module, comprising the steps of:

(a) holding a tab attached to an air bag;

(b) inserting an air bag inflator into a hole of the air bag; and

(c) moving the air bag inflator through the hole while holding the tab.

17. The method of assembling the air bag module of claim 16, including the step of:

(d) folding at least a portion of the tab over the hole.

18. The method of assembling the air bag module of claim 17, including the step of:

(e) securing the air bag inflator to the air bag through the at least a portion of the tab.

19. The method of assembling the air bag module of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of the tab is encircled around an end of the air bag inflator.

20. A method of assembling an air bag, comprising the steps of:

(a) bending a first portion of a heat resistant fabric over a second portion of the heat resistant fabric to form a fold;

(b) securing the first portion to the second portion to maintain the fold; and

(c) attaching the fold to a first fabric panel of an air bag near an anticipated location of an air bag inflator within the air bag.

21. The method of assembling the air bag of claim 20 including the step of:

(d) attaching the first fabric panel to a second fabric panel.

22. The method of assembling the air bag of claim 21 wherein step (c) occurs prior to step (d).

23. A method of assembling an air bag, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a first fabric panel to at least a second fabric panel to form a first seam line and a second seam line, a gap spaced between the first seam line and the second seam line;

(b) forming an air bag volume having a first surface and a second surface from the first fabric panel and the at least second fabric panel, the first surface exterior to the second surface;

(c) pulling the first fabric panel and the second fabric panel through the gap to invert the air bag volume until the second surface is exterior to the first surface; and

(d) closing the gap.

24. The method of assembling the air bag of claim 23 wherein closing comprises sewing the gap closed.

25. An air bag module, comprising:

an air bag inflator;

an air bag having a neck shaped to receive said air bag inflator; and

an air bag housing shaped to receive said neck of said air bag, said neck comprising fabric forming a semi-rigid form.

26. The air bag module of claim 25 including a heat shield disposed in said neck.