Air bag for use in a motor vehicle and method of producing same
First Claim
1. A method of producing a fabric having a preselected permeability for use in a vehicle air bag, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fabric constructed substantially entirely of synthetic yarn;
(b) calendering the fabric at a selected temperature and a selected pressure to achieve a low reference permeability; and
(c) processing the fabric having the low reference permeability to selectively increase a porosity thereof such that the preselected permeability is achieved.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag of the type utilized in a vehicle occupant restraint system is constructed of a plurality of panels of uncoated fabric. Respective of the panels have been processed to achieve a selected air permeability with greater accuracy on a lot-to-lot basis than had generally been achieved with uncoated fabrics of the prior art. In one presently preferred methodology, the panels are first calendered under selected temperature and pressure conditions such that a low reference permeability is achieved. Next, respective of the panels may be needled such that the permeability is raised from the low reference permeability to a selected permeability level. Alternatively, a plurality of fluid jets, preferably water jets, may be utilized to impact panels of the uncoated fabric under selected operating conditions. Pores created by the fluid jets may be heat set to achieve a selected permeability.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of producing a fabric having a preselected permeability for use in a vehicle air bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a fabric constructed substantially entirely of synthetic yarn; (b) calendering the fabric at a selected temperature and a selected pressure to achieve a low reference permeability; and (c) processing the fabric having the low reference permeability to selectively increase a porosity thereof such that the preselected permeability is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of producing a woven fabric having a preselected permeability for use in a vehicle air bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a woven fabric constructed substantially entirely of synthetic yarn; (b) directing a plurality of fluid jets onto the woven fabric under selected operating conditions to produce therein pores such that the preselected permeability is achieved; and (c) heating the fabric at a selected temperature for a selected duration to set the pores therein. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of producing a vehicle air bag constructed substantially entirely of an uncoated fabric, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an uncoated fabric of synthetic yarn; (b) selectively processing a first portion of said uncoated fabric to achieve a first preselected permeability; (c) selectively processing at least one second portion of said uncoated fabric to achieve a second preselected permeability higher than the first preselected permeability; and (d) configuring the vehicle air bag utilizing both of said first portion of said uncoated fabric and said second portion of said uncoated fabric. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification