Air-bag

• US 20050001415A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Charpentier, Frederic, Rawlings, Jamie, Kismir, Altay, Stow, David, Dominissini, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

An air-bag (1) has a primary gas flow duct (11) leading from a gas generator to one or more zones within the air-bag which are to be inflated. The air-bag has a separate inner gas flow duct (12) mounted within the outer gas flow duct. The inner gas flow duct (12) and the outer gas flow duct (11) have areas (22 and 23) thereof secured together in the region that is to be connected to the gas generator.

Claims

1. An air-bag for use in connection with a gas generator comprsing an outer gas flow duct to lead from the gas generator to one or more zones within the air-bag to be inflated, and a separate inner gas flow duct mounted within the outer gas flow duct, the inner gas flow duct, and the outer gas flow duct, having areas thereof secured together in a region to be connected to a gas generator.

2. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein first and second areas of the inner gas flow duct are secured to two respective first and second areas of the outer gas flow duct.

3. An air-bag according to claim 2 wherein the outer gas flow duct is formed from a first set of two superimposed layers of fabric including an upper layer and a lower layer, and the inner gas flow duct is formed from a second set of two superimposed layers of fabric including an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer of fabric forming the outer gas flow duct being secured to an the first area of the upper layer of fabric forming the inner gas flow duct, and the lower layer of fabric of the outer gas flow duct being secured to the second area of the lower layer of fabric of the inner gas flow duct.

4. An air-bag according to claim 3 wherein the first and second areas are off-set and not superimposed.

5. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the inner gas flow duct is provided with projecting ears which extend beyond an end of the outer gas flow duct, and the ears being folded back about a fold-line to lie adjacent the end of the outer gas flow duct, the ears being secured to the fabric forming the outer gas flow duct.

6. An air-bag according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the ears has a dimension which is no greater than the diameter, when flat, of the inner gas flow duct, at least one of the ears being folded back to lie adjacent a respective layer of fabric forming the outer gas flow duct, at least one of the ears being secured to the layer of fabric that it lies adjacent.

7. An air-bag according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the ears has a dimension greater than the diameter of the inner gas flow duct when flat, at least one of the ears being folded back to lie adjacent the exterior of the outer gas flow duct, with parts of the ears not lying over the inner gas flow duct, the parts of the ears not lying over the inner gas flow duct being secured together, and being secured to the fabric forming the outer gas flow duct.

8. An air-bag according to any one of claim 5 wherein the fold-line of a projecting ear is provided with a slot and the air-bag is provided with a tab located to pass through the slot.

9. An air-bag according to any one of claim 5 wherein at least one ear is provided with an ear aperture, and the outer gas flow duct and the inner gas flow duct are also provided with duct apertures so that the ear apertures is aligned with the duct apertures.

10. An air-bag according to claim 9 wherein the inner gas flow duct is provided with at least one further duct aperture at a point spaced from the projecting ears.

11. An air-bag according to claim 2 wherein the a areas are on axially extending tabs which project axially beyond the ends of the inner and outer gas flow ducts.