Method of folding air bag and an associated apparatus

• US 20040251669A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Fischer, Kurt F., Rodriguez, Alberto
• Application Number:
  US10/852,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A method of disposing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10b) in a stored condition adjacent a retainer (212) to which the protection device (10b) is connected and an associated apparatus are provided. During the method, a bottom portion (252) of the protection device (10b) is packed. Parts of first and second side portions (254 and 256) of the protection device (10b) are disposed in a stack (276) with the bottom portion (252) so that the stack (276) includes three layers (280, 282, and 284). A first side surface (290) of the stack (276) is positioned adjacent the retainer (212). A flap (302) is formed from a top portion (250) of the protection device (10b). The flap (302) is extended from the retainer (212) and over a second side surface (292) of the stack (276).

Claims

1. A method of disposing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a stored condition adjacent a retainer to which the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is connected, the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a bottom portion, a top portion, and first and second side portions, the method comprising the steps of:

packing the bottom portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

disposing parts of the first and second side portions that are packed with the bottom portion in a stack with the bottom portion so that the stack includes three layers, one of which is formed by the bottom portion and two of which are formed by the first and second side portions;

positioning a first side surface of the stack adjacent the retainer;

forming a flap from the top portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

extending the flap from the retainer and over a second side surface of the stack, the second side surface of the stack being located opposite the first side surface of the stack.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of packing the bottom portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes the step of rolling the bottom portion of the vehicle occupant protection device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of extending the flap from the retainer and over a second side surface of the stack also includes the step of extending the flap over an upper surface of the stack.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing parts of the first and second side portions that are packed with the bottom portion in a stack with the bottom portion further includes the steps of forming a first layer with the bottom portion of the vehicle occupant protection device, forming second and third layers with the first and second side portions, and disposing the second and third layers adjacent to the first layer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step of forming second and third layers with the first and second side portions includes the step folding the first and second side portions upon themselves so that the first side portion forms a first portion of each of the second and third layers of the stack and the second side portion forms a second portion of each of the second and third layers of the stack.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of folding the first and second side portions into Z-shaped configurations.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of extending the flap from the retainer and over a second side surface of the stack further includes the steps of extending the flap across a top surface of the stack and terminating an end portion of the flap adjacent a bottom surface of the stack.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of extending the flap from the retainer and over a second side surface of the stack further includes the steps of folding the top portion of the vehicle occupant protection device upon itself to form inner and outer layers and extending each of the inner and outer layers over the second side surface of the stack.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the steps of forming the inner layer with an end portion of the flap and positioning the inner layer between the stack and the outer layer.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein further including the steps of forming the outer layer with an end portion of the flap and positioning the outer layer over the inner layer.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a retainer; and

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is connected to the retainer, the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including a bottom portion, a top portion, and first and second side portions,

the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a stored condition in which the bottom portion is packed, parts of the first and second side portions that are packed with the bottom portion are disposed in a stack with the bottom portion, the stack including three layers, one of which is formed by the bottom portion and two of which are formed by the first and second side portions, the stack including opposite first and second side surfaces, a first side surface of the stack being positioned adjacent the retainer,

the top portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device forming a flap, the flap extending from the retainer and over the second side surface of the stack.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the bottom portion of the vehicle occupant protection device is rolled.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the flap formed by the top portion of the vehicle occupant protection device also extends over an upper surface of the stack.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the three layers of the stack include first, second, and third layers with the second and third layers being disposed adjacent to the first layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the bottom portion of the vehicle occupant protection device forms the first layer and the first and second side portions form the second and third layers.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the bottom portion of the vehicle occupant protection device forms the first side surface of the stack and the second side surface of the stack is formed by at least one of the first and second side portions.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the flap extends across a top surface of the stack and an end portion of the flap terminates adjacent a bottom surface of the stack.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second side portions are folded upon themselves so that the first side portion forms a first portion of two layers of the stack and the second side portion forms a second portion of two layers of the stack.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first and second side portions are folded into Z-shaped configurations.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the three layers of the stack collectively form both the first and second side surfaces of the stack.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the flap formed by the top portion of the vehicle occupant protection device is folded upon itself to form inner and outer layers, each of the inner and outer layers extending over the second side surface of the stack.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein an end portion of the flap forms the inner layer and is interposed between the stack and the outer layer.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein an end portion of the flap forms the outer layer.