STITCH PATTERNS FOR RESTRAINT-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120261911A1
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baca, Andre, Keeslar, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/14 incorporating enlarged restraint areas, e.g. vests, nets , crash pads, optionally for children crash pads for occupants' safety on vehicles in general B60R21/02

Abstract

Stitch patterns for inflatable personal restraint systems and associated systems and methods. A stitch pattern between a web of a restraint and an airbag mounted to the restraint has a continuous, or curvilinear pattern to reduce stress concentrations. The stitch pattern can be applied to the web, the airbag, and a gas tube in a single stitching procedure.

Claims

1. A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the restraint system comprising:

a web configured to extend around a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle;

an airbag; and

a fastening system attaching the airbag to the web, wherein the fastening system includes a plurality of curved rows of stitches extending through the airbag and the web.

2. The personal restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a gas tube configured to deliver gas to the airbag, wherein the fastening system attaches the gas tube to at least one of the web and the airbag.

3. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein the curved rows define an oval shape having a major axis and a minor axis, and wherein the major axis is at least generally aligned with a longitudinal direction of the web and the minor axis is at least generally perpendicular to the major axis.

4. The personal restraint system of claim 3 wherein the curved rows are concentric oval-shaped rows of stitches.

5. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein an angle between any two consecutive stitches is less than approximately 10°

.

6. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein the fastening system includes a row of stitches forming a spiral.

7. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein the curved rows of stitches have an elliptical having two foci, and wherein the curved rows of stitches further comprise individual circular stitches at least approximately centered on the individual foci.

8. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein the curved rows of stitches are continuous with no corners at a periphery of the curved rows of stitches.

9. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein the airbag comprises a textile having warp threads oriented at an angle relative to a length of the web.

10. The personal restraint system of claim 9 wherein the angle is between about 0°

and 90°

.

11. The personal restraint system of claim 1 wherein the airbag comprises a first textile layer having warp threads oriented in a first direction and a second textile layer having warp threads oriented in a second direction different from the first direction.

12. A method of constructing a vehicle restraint having an airbag, the method comprising:

positioning a gas delivery tube within the airbag, the gas delivery tube having at least one gas delivery hole positioned within the airbag;

aligning a web of the vehicle restraint with the airbag and the gas delivery tube; and

stitching thread through the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube in a plurality of curvilinear rows of stitches.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein stitching thread through the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube comprises stitching a concentric spiral-shaped row of stitches through the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube in a single stitch procedure.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein stitching through the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube comprises stitching a plurality of discrete, concentric, oval-shaped rows of stitches through at least the web and the airbag in a single stitch procedure.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein stitching thread through the web and the airbag comprises stitching a plurality of curvilinear rows of stitches comprising concentric, oval-shaped rows of stitches, and wherein stitching thread through the gas delivery tube comprises stitching thread in a discrete circular pattern of stitches through the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube, and further wherein the circular pattern of stitches is positioned within the concentric, oval-shaped stitches.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising fixing the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube in a jig before stitching through the web, the airbag, and the gas delivery tube.

17. A vehicle restraint, comprising:

a web configured to restrain a passenger in the vehicle;

an airbag stitched to the web with a plurality of first individual stitches forming a first curvilinear pattern, wherein the first individual stitches comprise generally straight stitches, and further wherein an angle between any two consecutive individual stitches is less than about 10°

; and

means for delivering a gas to the airbag stitched to the airbag and to the web with a plurality of second individual stitches forming a second curvilinear pattern, wherein the means for delivering the gas to the airbag comprises a gas exit port positioned within the airbag.

18. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the angle between any two consecutive individual stitches is less than about 5°

.

19. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the first curvilinear pattern comprises a plurality of concentric ovals.

20. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the first curvilinear pattern comprises a spiral.

21. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the first individual stitches pass through the web, the airbag, and the means for delivering the gas.

22. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the first individual stitches pass through the web and the airbag, and wherein the second individual stitches pass through the web, the airbag, and the means for delivering the gas.

23. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the web is configured to restrain a passenger in an aircraft.

24. The vehicle restraint of claim 17 wherein the first stitch pattern does not overlap with the second stitch pattern.