Method for storing a side curtain air bag

• US 20070182142A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Morita, Yoshihiko, Kobayashi, Toru, Schimpff, Cari, Winiger, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A method of folding together a vehicle side curtain airbag is provided that includes bending a base section of an extended air bag toward the outboard side of the vehicle and fully over onto a middle section of the air bag located directly above the base section. The adjacent base and middle sections are then rolled, as a group, by first moving a crease line between the base and middle sections toward the outboard side of the vehicle, then curling the crease line back toward the unrolled portion of the base and middle sections and then rolling the remainder of the unrolled portion of the base and middle sections. A top section of the airbag is collapsed in a pleated manner.

Claims

1. A method of folding together a vehicle side curtain airbag comprising the steps of:

bending a base section of an unfolded air bag toward the outboard side of the vehicle and doubling over onto a middle section of the air bag located directly above the base section, the doubling over creating a crease line between the base and middle sections;

rolling the adjacent base and middle sections, as a group, by first moving the crease line toward the outboard side of the vehicle, then curling the crease line back toward the unrolled portion of the middle section;

creating a second crease within the base section and then rolling the remainder of the unrolled portion of the middle section; and

collapsing a top section of the extended airbag in a pleated manner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when doubled over, the base section overlaps about one quarter of the middle section.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of placing the folded air bag between a frame and roofliner of the vehicle.

4. A method of folding together a vehicle side curtain airbag comprising the steps of:

bending a base section of an unfolded air bag toward the outboard side of the vehicle and doubling over onto a middle section of the air bag located directly above the base section, the doubling over creating a crease line between the base and middle sections;

rolling the adjacent base and middle sections, as a group, by first moving the crease line toward the outboard side of the vehicle, then curling the crease line back toward the unrolled portion of the base and middle sections and then rolling the remainder of the unrolled portion of the base and middle sections; and

collapsing a top section of the extended airbag in a pleated manner.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when doubled over the base section overlaps about two thirds of the middle section.

6. A method of utilizing a side curtain air bag in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

bending a base section of an unfolded air bag toward the outboard side of the vehicle and doubling over onto a middle section of the air bag located directly above the base section, the doubling over creating a crease line between the base and middle sections;

rolling the adjacent base and middle sections, as a group, by first moving the crease line toward the outboard side of the vehicle, then curling the crease line back toward the unrolled portion of the middle section;

creating a second crease within the base section and then rolling the remainder of the unrolled portion of the middle section;

collapsing a top section of the extended airbag in a pleated manner; and

fixing the folded airbag between a frame and headliner of a vehicle;

wherein upon inflation of the air bag, the headliner is dislodged from an interlocked position with a garnish on the vehicle, but neither the headliner nor the garnish are broken.