Air bag apparatus, folded air bag, and method of folding the air bag
First Claim
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1. A method of folding an air bag to be installed in a case of an air bag apparatus, the air bag having a fixed portion to be fixed to the case and a tip portion opposite to the fixed portion in an expanded state, the method comprising the steps of:
- folding a first fold-portion of the air bag along a first fold-line approximately parallel to a center line which connects the fixed portion and the tip portion; and
folding a second fold-portion including at least the tip portion in the air bag, the first fold portion of which has been folded, along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the center line toward the fixed portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag is folded in such a manner that a first fold-portion of the air bag is folded along a first fold-line approximately parallel to an expanding direction, and then, a second fold-portion thereof is folded along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the expanding direction. Accordingly, when the air bag expands, the second fold-portion is stretched out prior to the first fold-portion. As a result, the air bag can expand promptly to securely protect a passenger.
45 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method of folding an air bag to be installed in a case of an air bag apparatus, the air bag having a fixed portion to be fixed to the case and a tip portion opposite to the fixed portion in an expanded state, the method comprising the steps of:
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folding a first fold-portion of the air bag along a first fold-line approximately parallel to a center line which connects the fixed portion and the tip portion; and folding a second fold-portion including at least the tip portion in the air bag, the first fold portion of which has been folded, along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the center line toward the fixed portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An air bag to be installed in a case of an air bag apparatus, the air bag including a fixed portion to be fixed to the case and a tip portion opposite to the fixed portion in an expanded state, the air bag comprising:
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a first fold-portion folded along a first fold-line approximately parallel to a center line which connects the fixed portion and the tip portion; and a second fold-portion including the tip portion and a part of the first fold-portion which has been folded, the second fold-portion folded along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the center line with the part of the first fold-portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of folding an air bag to be installed in a case for an air bag apparatus, the air bag having a fixed portion to be fixed to the case and a tip portion opposite to the fixed portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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folding a first fold-portion of the air bag toward an inside of the air bag, the first fold-portion having a first outer side between the fixed portion and the tip portion; and folding a second fold-portion of the air bag toward the inside of the air bag not to overlap on the first fold-portion, the second fold-portion having a second outer side opposite to the first outer side, between the fixed portion and the tip portion. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of folding an air bag to be installed in a case of an air bag apparatus, the air bag having a fixed portion to be connected to the case and a tip portion opposite to the fixed portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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joining a first and second fabric members to form an bag-like shape, thereby forming the air bag having a margin at an outer circumference thereof; fixing a first and second sides on the margin of the air bag, the first and second sides positioning opposite to each other between the fixed portion and the tip portion of the air bag; and turning the air bag inside out so that the air bag has a first and second fold-portions which are folded toward inside of the air bag by the first and second sides fixed to each other.
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29. An air bag to be installed in a case of an air bag apparatus, the air bag having a fixed portion to be fixed to the case and a tip portion opposite to the fixed portion, the air bag comprising:
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a first fold-portion having a first outer side between the fixed portion and the tip portion, and folded inside of the air bag; and a second fold-portion having a second outer side opposite to the first outer side between the fixed portion and the tip portion, and folded inside of the air bag not to overlap on the first fold-portion. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator for generating gas; a retainer for supporting the inflator; an air bag having a connected portion to be connected to the inflator, a tip portion opposite to the connected portion in an expanded state, a first fold-portion folded along a first fold-line approximately parallel to a center line which connects the connected portion and the tip portion, and a second fold-portion including the tip portion and a part of the first fold-portion which has been folded and folded along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the center line; and a case for holding the air bag, the inflator, and the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method of assembling an air bag apparatus having an inflator, a retainer, an air bag having a generally square shape and an opening at a first outer side thereof, and a case, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing the inflator into the retainer; installing the inflator and the retainer into the air bag; folding a first fold-portion of the air bag along a first fold-line approximately parallel to an expanding direction of the air bag; folding a second fold-portion of the air bag with a second outer side opposite to the first outer side toward the first outer side along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the expanding direction; and installing the air bag, inflator, and the retainer into the case. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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Specification