Airbag cover tear seam

• US 20080106076A1
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sella, Terry, Kutchey, Mike, Hoffmann, Beth
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

An tear seam in a cover of an airbag includes multiple, non-intersecting slits defined in a fabric of the cover that may be woven with weft yarns oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis and warp yarns oriented generally transverse thereto. The multiple slits are diagonal with respect to the longitudinal axis and include end portions. The end portions of substantially all adjacent slits mutually overlap, to weaken the strength of the fabric along the tear seam.

Claims

1. A tear seam in a cover of an airbag, comprising:

a plurality of non-intersecting slits defined in a woven fabric of a cover that is woven with weft yarns oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis and warp yarns oriented generally transverse thereto, wherein the plurality of slits are diagonal with respect to the longitudinal axis and include end portions, wherein the end portions of substantially all adjacent slits mutually overlap.

2. The tear seam of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises nylon.

3. The tear seam of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a polymer.

4. The tear seam of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises yarn of at least 630 denier.

5. The tear seam of claim 1, wherein the overlapping adjacent end portions of the plurality of slits form a plurality of connected portions therebetween in which the warp yarns are discontinuous, wherein the connected portions are of a length along the plurality of slits that at least partially determines the strength required to rupture the tear seam.

6. The tear seam of claim 5, wherein the connected portions are of a width between adjacent end portions that at least partially determines the strength required to rupture the tear seam.

7. The tear seam of claim 5, wherein when the tear seam ruptures, the weft yarns of the connected portions are pulled clear of the warp yarns along the plurality of slits, forming a plurality of tears generally parallel to the warp yarns between the plurality of adjacent end portions.

8. The tear seam of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slits are oriented mutually parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis.

9. An airbag cover comprising:

a woven fabric comprising weft yarns running generally parallel to a longitudinal axis and warp yarns woven generally transverse therein; and

a plurality of slits defined in the fabric in spaced-apart orientation and diagonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of slits include slits that overlap each other at end portions thereof to create a corresponding plurality of connected portions in which the plurality of slits cause a discontinuation of the warp threads, thereby defining a tear seam through which an airbag deploys.

10. The airbag cover of claim 9, wherein the fabric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polymer, polyester, and combinations thereof.

11. The airbag cover of claim 10, wherein the fabric comprises yarn of at least 630 denier.

12. The airbag cover of claim 9, wherein the overlapping end portions are substantially parallel.

13. The airbag cover of claim 9, wherein the plurality of connected portions are of a length along the longitudinal axis that at least partially determines the strength required to rupture the tear seam.

14. The airbag cover of claim 13, wherein the slit length exceeds the length of at least some of the plurality of connected portions.

15. The airbag cover of claim 13, wherein when the tear seam ruptures, the weft yarns of the connected portions are pulled clear of the warp yarns along the plurality of slits.

16. The airbag cover of claim 15, wherein upon rupturing, the tear seam forms a plurality of tears oriented generally parallel to the warp yarns within the plurality of connected portions.

17. The airbag cover of claim 9, wherein the plurality of connected portions are of a width between adjacent end portions that at least partially determines the strength required to rupture the tear seam.

18. An airbag system comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

an airbag cover comprising a material; and

a tear seam defined in the material comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, diagonal slits cut in the material, wherein the plurality of slits overlap each other at opposing end portions thereof, the tear seam allowing the deployment of the airbag through the airbag cover.

19. The airbag system of claim 18, wherein the material comprises a woven fabric having weft yarns oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis and warp yarns generally transverse thereto, the plurality of slits oriented diagonal to the longitudinal axis.

20. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the fabric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polymer, polyester, and combinations thereof.

21. The airbag system of claim 20, wherein the fabric comprises yarn of at least 630 denier.

22. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the tear seam further comprises:

a plurality of connected portions between overlapping end portions of the plurality of slits in which the warp threads are made discontinuous, and wherein the connected portions are of a length along the longitudinal axis that at least partially determines the strength required to rupture the tear seam.

23. The airbag system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of connected portions are of a width between the overlapping end portions that at least partially determines the strength required to rupture the tear seam.

24. The airbag system of claim 22, wherein when the tear seam ruptures, the weft yarns of the connected portions are pulled clear of the warp yarns along the plurality of slits, forming a plurality of tears oriented generally parallel to the warp yarns within the plurality of connected portions.

25. The airbag system of claim 18, wherein the tear seam further comprises a plurality of connected portions between overlapping end portions of the plurality of slits, wherein the connected portions are defined by a length along the longitudinal axis which is less than the length of at least some of the plurality of slits.

26. An airbag cover comprising:

a portion of a material configured to contain a folded airbag therein; and

a tear seam defined in the material comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, diagonal slits cut in the material, wherein the plurality of slits overlap each other at opposing end portions thereof, the tear seam allowing the deployment of the airbag through the airbag cover.

27. The airbag cover of claim 26, wherein the material comprises a woven fabric.

28. The airbag cover of claim 27, wherein the fabric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polymer, polyester, and combinations thereof.

29. The airbag cover of claim 28, wherein the fabric comprises yarn of about 630 denier.