Flat-sewn partitioned airbag cushion

• US 5,975,564 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Olson, Brent K., Van Hooser, Kelly S., Cochran, Pratricie G., Smith, Bradley W., Storey, J. Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US09/046,444
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23538 Sewing
• 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 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

An airbag cushion which forms a linear arrangement of a plurality of compartements having a rectangular cross sectional shape with opposed longitudinal and lateral surfaces is provided. Each of the compartments is formed by the joinder of at least first and second panel members to form an interior chamber adapted to be filled with an inflation fluid upon deployment of the airbag cushion and a planar partition wall separating the interior chambers of adjacent compartments. The joinder of the at least first and second panel members for each of the compartments is effected from the outside of the compartment interior chambers. A method of fabricating an airbag cushion in the form of a linear arrangement of a plurality of compartments having a rectangular cross sectional shape with opposed longitudinal and lateral surfaces is also provided. The method includes the step of joining together for each compartment at least respective first and second panel members forming an interior chamber adapted to be filled with an inflation fluid upon deployment of the airbag cushion and a planar partition wall separating the interior chambers of adjacent compartments. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, each such joining is effected from the outside of the respective compartment interior chamber.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion comprising:

a linear arrangement of a plurality of compartments having a rectangular cross sectional shape with opposed longitudinal and lateral surfaces, each of said compartments formed by the joinder of at least first and second panel members to form an interior chamber adapted to be filled with an inflation fluid upon deployment of the airbag cushion and a planar partition wall separating the interior chambers of adjacent compartments, with the joinder of the at least first and second panel members for each of said compartments effected from the outside of the compartment interior chambers and, wherein, for each of said plurality of compartments, a single panel member forms at least one of the opposed longitudinal compartment surfaces and a partition wall separating the interior chambers of adjacent compartments.

2. An airbag cushion comprising:

a plurality of compartments each forming an interior chamber, each of said compartments adjacent at least one other of said compartments with a planar partition wall separating the interior chambers of each pair of adjacent compartments and permitting gas passage between the interior chambers of such adjacent compartments, with each of said compartments and planar partition walls formed by essentially straight line sewing of at least first and second panel members from the outside of the respective compartment wherein the first and second panel members are not sewn together along at least one section to form a passage opening to permit gas passage between the interior chambers of adjacent compartments and wherein the passage opening permits gas passage in only one direction.

3. An airbag cushion comprising:

a plurality of compartments each forming an interior chamber, each of said compartments adjacent at least one other of said compartments with a planar partition wall separating the interior chambers of each pair of adjacent compartments and permitting gas passage between the interior chambers of such adjacent compartments, with each of said compartments and planar partition walls formed by essentially straight line sewing of at least first and second panel members from the outside of the respective compartment and, for each of said plurality of compartments, a single panel member forms at least one of the opposed longitudinal compartment surfaces and a partition wall separating the interior chambers of adjacent compartments.