Method of assembling an airbag, and an airbag

• US 20050236815A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kismir, Altay, Stow, David
• Application Number:
  US10/508,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23547 one piece weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A method of assembling an air-bag comprises the steps of taking a gas-flow duct which is to be located within a gas-flow passage of an air-bag, and applying a hot-melt adhesive to one or more locations on the exterior of the gas-flow duct. The hot-melt adhesive is permitted to cool to a state in which it is substantially solid and exhibits little or no tack. The gas-flow duct may then be inserted into the gas-flow passage without affecting the adhesive in any way. Subsequently heat is applied so the hot-melt adhesive at least partially melts. The adhesive then adheres the gas-flow duct to that part of the air-bag defining the gas-flow passage. The hot-melt adhesive may cure over a period of time to form a substantially cross-linked adhesive.

Claims

1. A method of assembling an air-bag comprising the steps of taking a gas-flow duct which is to be located within a gas-flow passage defined by the air-bag, applying a hot-melt adhesive to one or more locations on the exterior of the gas-flow duct, permitting the hot-melt adhesive to cool to a state in which it is substantially solid and exhibits little or no tack, inserting the gas-flow duct into the gas-flow passage, subsequently applying heat so that the hot-melt adhesive at least partially melts to adhere the gas-flow duct to one or more parts of the air-bag defining the gas-flow passage.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hot-melt adhesive is in the form of a film or tape of adhesive.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the film or tape is applied to the exterior of the gas-flow duct using an adhesive or glue.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hot-melt adhesive is adapted to cure over a period of time to form a substantially cross-linked adhesive after the gas-flow duct is adhered to the parts of the air-bag defining the gas-flow passage.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the adhesive is adapted to cure in response to exposure to atmospheric moisture.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hot-melt adhesive is a reactive polyurethane hot-melt adhesive.

7. A method according to claim 5, including a final step of exposing the combination of the air-bag and the gas-flow duct to a moist environment for a period of time.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heat for the applying heat step is applied by means of a heated plate or element brought into contact with the air-bag.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heat for the applying heat step is applied by at least one hot-air jet.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heat for the applying heat step is applied by electromagnetic radiation of High Frequency or Radio Frequency, or by means of light.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gas-flow duct is a fabric gas-flow duct, the gas-flow duct being inserted into the gas-flow passage whilst mounted on a mandrel.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the heat for the applying heat step is applied by heating the mandrel.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gas-flow duct is a metallic or plastic gas-flow duct.

14. (canceled)

15. An air-bag having a part defining a gas-flow passage and a plurality of chambers in communication with the gas-flow passage, there being a gas-flow duct inserted into the passage, the gas-flow duct being adhered, at one or more locations, to the part of the air-bag defining the gas-flow passage by means of an adhesive.

16. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the adhesive is a light reacting adhesive.

17. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive.

18. An air-bag according to claim 17 wherein the hot-melt adhesive is a hot-melt and curable adhesive.

19. An air-bag according to claim 18 wherein the adhesive is a reactive polyurethane hot-melt adhesive.

20. An air-bag according to claim 17 wherein the gas-flow passage communicates with a plurality of zones, regions, chambers or cells within the air-bag which are adapted to be inflated on deployment of the air-bag.

21. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the air-bag is an inflatable curtain.

22. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive applied at a plurality of locations along the gas-flow duct.

23. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the gas-flow duct is formed of a metallic or plastic material.