Abrasion and/or puncture resistant fabrics, airbag cushions, and methods

• US 20070237961A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Willbanks, David Hildreth, Derek Bowen, Ramesh Keshavaraj, Shulong Li
• Original Assignee: Charles Willbanks, David Hildreth, Derek Bowen, Ramesh Keshavaraj, Shulong Li
• Inventors: Li, Shulong, Keshavaraj, Ramesh, Bowen, Derek, Hildreth, David, Willbanks, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/411.100
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0269 Aromatic polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/186 Knitted fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/188 Woven fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/584 Scratch resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/00 Polyalkenes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2377/00 Polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23547 : one piece weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 : Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 : characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/02 : Inflatable articles
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0002 : characterised by the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/125 : with polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/128 : with silicon polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/14 : with polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1366 : Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile is sandwiched between two distinct layers of material unlike the textile, fabric, cloth, or pile layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2861 : Coated or impregnated synthetic organic fiber fabric

Abstract

Typical road surfaces are concrete, and gravel filled asphalt. They are very abrasive to fabrics that slide on those surfaces. For the new side impact curtain-type airbag, in a rollover situation, the airbag needs to protect the occupant from directly contacting the road hazard and should not deflate quickly or break when sliding on such road surfaces. We have found that a layer of elastomer can provide much better abrasion resistance than a layer of heavy industrial fabric. A Jacquard bag coated with 1.2 oz/yd² polyurethane showed significant increase in air leakage rate after 5 cycles of concrete sliding abrasion. A 3 mil thick polyurethane film was laminated to the coated Jacquard woven airbag. After 110 cycles of sliding abrasion using the same concrete, no visual damage or change In bag leakage was observed. This finding indicates surprisingly better abrasion resistance of a thin elastomer film than a heavy industrial fabric.

Claims

1. An airbag adapted for use between a vehicle occupant and an exterior of a vehicle comprising:

an exterior surface for positioning adjacent the exterior of a vehicle and an interior surface for positioning adjacent a vehicle occupant, wherein said exterior surface comprises an inner fabric layer, and intermediate coating, primer, adhesive or film layer, and an outer fabric layer.