Circular air bag made of two simultaneously woven fabrics

• US 5,685,347 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbags International Limited (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Airbags International Limited (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Valkenburg, Simon, Litton, Michael Gervase, Graham, Raymond, Kavanagh, Christopher Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, C. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worrell, Jr., Larry D.
• Application Number:
  US08/431,466
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/739, 280/743, 280/733, 28/140, 28/143, 28/151, 139/1 R, 139/386, 139/384, 139/389, 139/390
• US Class Current: 139/390
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23547 one piece weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/02 Inflatable articles
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 11/02 Fabrics formed with pockets, tubes, loops, folds, tucks or flaps fabrics consisting of a single tube D03D3/02

Abstract

A method of forming an air bag which includes the steps of weaving on a loom an upper and lower fabric simultaneously, the two fabrics being combined in selected areas to define a seam of substantially circular shape. A bag is produced by cutting within the seam. The bag does not have an additional coating, but the permeability of the bag is determined by controlling the sett thereby utilizing the permeability of the weave itself.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an air bag free from a non-permeable coating by weaving on a loom which comprises:

forming at least an upper and lower permeable fabric simultaneously;

simultaneously weaving said upper and lower fabrics together in selected continuous peripheral area such that a continuous substantially circular seam of a combined fabric is formed thereat that encloses a space with a substantially circular periphery;

cutting the fabric about the entire continuous seam to produce said air bag; and

controlling sett of the weave thereby controlling permeability of the weave itself free from additional coatings added to said air bag.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the weave is tight in at least the upper or "face" side and is chosen in accordance with the following formula

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the fabrics are woven from one of synthetic yarns selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, acrylic, aramid, carbon, gals ceramic and natural fiber yarns.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the yarns are in the form selected from the group consisting of mono- and multi-filaments and staple fibers.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 in which the yarn counts are in the range 100 to 2000 Dtex.

3. A method of manufacturing an air bag by weaving on a loom which comprises forming at least an upper and lower fabric simultaneously and simultaneously weaving the two fabrics together in a selected area of a substantially circular shape to define and enclose a space with a circular periphery, and weaving at least one of the fabrics in an area with a more open and permeable construction relative to the remainder of the bag whereby to act as a vent/filter.