Single piece pattern air bag
First Claim
1. An inflatable air bag for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a motor vehicle, said air bag formed from a single pattern piece cut from a flat sheet of thin, strong, flexible sheet material, said pattern being substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central axis and including a central portion substantially symmetrical with respect to a lateral central axis transversely bisecting said longitudinal axis for providing a rearwardly facing surface of said air bag when inflated for cushioning engagement with the occupant, pairs of side portions at opposite ends of said central portion extending longitudinally thereof and laterally outwardly in opposite directions from said longitudinal axis, each pair of side portions forming a side wall of said air bag when inflated joining said central portion on opposite sides, and a pair of throat portions at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis joining each pair of side portions for forming a throat for receiving inflation gas during inflation of said air bag.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable air bag for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a motor vehicle is fabricated from a single pattern piece cut from a thin, strong, lightweight, flat segment of flexible sheet material by sewing or seaming along cut edges of the pattern in a designated sequence to provide an air bag having a shape when fully inflated, providing a maximum effective cushioning surface for engaging the vehicle occupant. The single pattern piece is symmetrical with respect to bisecting longitudinal and transverse central axes and includes central portion forming a large, occupant engaging surface area, pairs of side edge portions at opposite ends of the central portion forming opposite side walls of the inflated air bag and pairs of throat portions at opposite ends of the longitudinal central axis for forming an inlet throat of the air bag for receiving inflation gas.
36 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An inflatable air bag for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a motor vehicle, said air bag formed from a single pattern piece cut from a flat sheet of thin, strong, flexible sheet material, said pattern being substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central axis and including a central portion substantially symmetrical with respect to a lateral central axis transversely bisecting said longitudinal axis for providing a rearwardly facing surface of said air bag when inflated for cushioning engagement with the occupant, pairs of side portions at opposite ends of said central portion extending longitudinally thereof and laterally outwardly in opposite directions from said longitudinal axis, each pair of side portions forming a side wall of said air bag when inflated joining said central portion on opposite sides, and a pair of throat portions at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis joining each pair of side portions for forming a throat for receiving inflation gas during inflation of said air bag.
- 11. An inflatable air bag for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a motor vehicle, said air bag formed from a single pattern piece cut from a flat sheet of thin, strong, flexible sheet material, said pattern being substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central axis and including a central portion substantially symmetrical with respect to a lateral central axis transversely bisecting said longitudinal axis for providing a rearwardly facing, generally rectangular-shaped cushion surface of said air bag when inflated for cushioning engagement with the occupant, pairs of side portions at opposite ends of said central portion extending longitudinally thereof and laterally outwardly in opposite directions from said longitudinal axis, each pair of side portions forming a generally triangular-shaped side wall of said air bag when inflated joining said central portion on opposite sides, and a pair of throat portions at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis joining each pair of side portions for forming a throat for receiving inflation gas during inflation of said air bag.
Specification