AIR BAG WITH PLEATED PORTION
First Claim
1. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
- at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the at least one panel having a portion presented toward the vehicle occupant when in an inflated and deployed condition;
at least one pleat formed in the at least one panel, the at least one pleat defining a cushioned portion for receiving a portion of the occupant, the at least one pleat reducing fabric tension in the cushioned portion to provide the cushioned portion with a degree of softness that is reduced over remaining areas of the protection device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes at least one panel (212) of material that defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. The at least one panel (212) has a portion presented toward the vehicle occupant when in an inflated and deployed condition. The protection device (14) includes at least one pleat (296, 316) formed in the at least one panel (212). The at least one pleat (296, 316) defines a cushioned portion (210) for receiving a portion of the occupant. The at least one pleat (296, 316) reduces fabric tension in the cushioned portion (210) to provide the cushioned portion with a degree of softness that is reduced over remaining areas of the protection device (14).
3 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
-
at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the at least one panel having a portion presented toward the vehicle occupant when in an inflated and deployed condition; at least one pleat formed in the at least one panel, the at least one pleat defining a cushioned portion for receiving a portion of the occupant, the at least one pleat reducing fabric tension in the cushioned portion to provide the cushioned portion with a degree of softness that is reduced over remaining areas of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
-
at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the at least one panel having a portion presented toward the vehicle occupant when in an inflated and deployed condition; at least one pair of cutout portions that extend toward each other from opposite edges of the at least one panel, at least one pleat portion of the at least one panel being defined between the cutout portions; the at least one panel being folded over in a Z-fold configuration in the area of the at least one pleat portion to position the at least one pleat portion between overlying portions of the at least one panel; and interconnections that interconnect the overlying portions of the at least one panel with each other and with the at least one pleat portion positioned between to form at least one pleat that helps define a cushioned portion of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification