Inflatable apparatus and methods of constructing and utilizing same

• US 4,173,356 A
• Filed: 03/27/1974
• Issued: 11/06/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tsuneyo Ross
• Original Assignee: Tsuneyo Ross
• Inventors: Ross, Tsuneyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/455,192
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 AB, 206/DIG. 30, 182/137, 244/147, 244/148
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

The inflatable apparatus, such as an air bag for a vehicle, includes an inflatable body structure which is folded along predetermined lines into a compact shape and volume when the body structure is collapsed or deflated. The valve means is operably connected to the inflatable body structure to facilitate inflation of the apparatus. The inflatable structure is formed and folded in such a fashion that upon operation of the valve, the body structure inflates in a manner wherein the folds puff up simultaneously effecting an even, smooth inflation of the structure to a very large shape and volume which is much greater than the compact predetermined folded shape and volume. One version of the air bag is utilized for the driver of the vehicle, and a second version of the air bag is utilized to accommodate two passengers simultaneously.

Claims

1. A safety bag adapted to be inflated in a vehicle in order to cushion an occupant of the vehicle, said safety bag having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition, said bag when in said deflated folded condition comprising:

a plurality of adjacent accordion pleats whose fold lines radiate from a central point of the deflated bag, said fold lines converging at the central point and diverging at the opposite end, such that said pleats are circle-sector shaped, said bag being mounted on said vehicle at said central point.

2. The safety bag described in claim 1 comprising means affixed to and operably interconnected with the safety bag at said central point for facilitating the inflation of the safety bag.

3. A method of folding an inflatable safety bag of generally spherical shape and having a gas inlet orifice, said method comprising:

flattening said bag into a circular configuration with said orifice at the center thereof, folding said circular configuration into a semi-circular configuration, folding said circular configuration into a quadrant configuration by inverting the fold of said semi-circular configuration to form two additional folds, all of said folds converging at said center.