Inflator bag for vehicle occupant restraining apparatus and method for manufacturing the same

• US 20080298725A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Korechika, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 383/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23528 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

By forming a resin sheet or a metal sheet, an angular-box-shaped bag main body having gore portions on surrounding side faces to ensure its height is formed. A folded line to be folded, in a manner to form a valley line, toward an inside of the box-shaped bag main body is formed in an intermediate portion of each of the gore portions in a height direction. A triangular overlaid and folded portion is formed in an end of each of the gore portions on each of the surrounding side faces with each corner portion of the angular-box-shaped bag main body being sandwiched between one surrounding side face and another surrounding side face adjacent to the one surrounding side face in which the gore portion is folded in an overlaid manner in the overlaid and folded portion at a same time when another gore portion on another surrounding side face is folded. The angular box-shaped bag main body is folded so as to be in a flat state by allowing each of the gore portions to be folded in a manner to form a valley line along the folded line. By blocking a bottom face being opposite to a ceiling plate with a bottom plate, the box-shaped bag main body has a hermetically sealed structure. By configuring above, an inflator bag for a vehicle occupant restraining apparatus is obtained. Thus, the inflator bag is able to be housed in a compact manner and to be developed so as to be in a stable state with a sufficient developing stroke being ensured and able to be processed easily.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an inflator bag for a vehicle occupant restraining apparatus which is able to expand and develop by being filled with a high-pressure gas and is capable of restraining a vehicle occupant by being expanded and developed, said method comprising:

forming a tube-body having an approximately rectangular cross-section in which each of longitudinal sides is smaller than each of horizontal sides by deforming a cross section of a pipe cut so as to have a specified length;

forming a folded line along which each of side face plates serving as each of said longitudinal sides of said tube-shaped body is folded in a manner to form a valley line toward an inside portion of said tube-shaped body in an intermediate portion in its height direction;

forming a folded line along which each of end face plates is folded in a manner to form a valley line toward an inside portion of said tube-shaped body in an intermediate portion in its height direction, which is used when opening faces on both sides of said tube-body are blocked with said end face plates;

forming a box-shaped main body by blocking said opening faces on both sides of said tube-shaped body with said end face plates and by using side face plates serving as longitudinal sides of said tube-shaped body and said end face plates as gore portions;

forming an overlaid and folded portion at an end of each of said gore portions in a manner that each of corners of said box-shaped body is sandwiched between one surrounding side face and another surrounding side face adjacent to said one surrounding side face and each of said gore portions is folded in an overlaid manner in said overlaid and folded portion at a same time when another gore portion on another surrounding side face is folded; and

obtaining an inflator bag folded so as to be in a flat state by folding, in a manner to form a valley line, each of said gore portions made up of said side face plates and end face plates along said folded line.

5. The method for manufacturing the inflator bag for the vehicle occupant restraining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said folded portions comprise triangular folded portions.

6. The method for manufacturing the inflator bag for the vehicle occupant restraining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tube-shaped body comprises an angular tube-shaped body.

7. The method for manufacturing the inflator bag for the vehicle occupant restraining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pipe comprises a circular pipe.

8. The method for manufacturing the inflator bag for a vehicle occupant apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inflator bag comprises a hermetically sealed structure.

2. A method for manufacturing an inflator bag for a vehicle occupant restraining apparatus which is able to expand and develop by being filled with a high-pressure gas and is capable of restraining a vehicle occupant by being expanded and developed, said method comprising:

forming a tube-shaped body being opened at its both ends and having a cross-sectional structure in which both side portions of a circular pipe cut so as to have a specified length are dented toward its inside in one diameter direction out of two diameter directions intersecting at right angles and both side portions in another diameter direction are crushed so as to be in a plane state; and

obtaining a hermetically sealed-structured inflator bag being folded so as to be in a flat state by crushing both side portions of said tube-shaped body in said another diameter direction.

3. The method for manufacturing the inflator bag for the vehicle occupant restraining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said end face plates has a shrunk portion being placed at an inside of said hollow body and formed so as to develop at time when said inflator bag is filled with said high-pressure gas.

4. The method for manufacturing the inflator bag for the vehicle occupant restraining apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

forming said tube-shaped body being opened at its said both sides and having a cross-sectional structure in which a circular shape is crushed by denting both side portions of a circular pipe cut so as to have a specified length toward its inside in one diameter direction out of two diameter directions intersecting at right angles and by crushing both side portions in another diameter direction so as to be in a plane state;

forming a bag main body having both side portions dent toward an inside of said tube-shaped body and said end face plates used as gore portions by blocking opened portions on both sides of said tube-shaped body with said end face plates; and

further denting, when said bag main body is folded so as to be in a flat state, both side portions dent toward an inside of said tube-shaped body serving as said gore portions and said end face plates serving as said gore portions toward said inside of said tube-shaped body and, at a same time, further crushing said both side portions in another diameter direction so as to be in a flat state.