Inflatable belt webbing

• US 6,007,092 A
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johann Berger
• Original Assignee: Johann Berger
• Inventors: Martz, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/105,054
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0005 Woven fabrics for safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/02 Inflatable articles

Abstract

Proposed is a belt webbing, more particularly for an automatic seat belt inflatable at least in part. The belt webbing includes a tubular fabric (6) applied to at least one flat side (top and/or bottom flat side) defined by side edges, extending longitudinally to the belt webbing which is folded (together) about folding edges oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belt webbing (4) so that the belt webbing is substantially in contact with the corresponding flat side in each case. An outer side (16) faces away from the flat side and does not substantially protrude beyond the side edges (12) of the belt webbing (4). The fabric (6) is releasably connected to the belt webbing (4) in the region juxtaposing the side edges (12).

Claims

1. A woven multi-ply inflatable belt webbing for a seat belt, wherein

a) said belt webbing is woven as a tubular belt webbing having an upper woven ply and a lower woven ply, each said ply having a middle region having first warp threads, and two adjoining fabric sections adjoining said middle region,

b) said first warp threads in said middle regions of said two woven plies providing a primary rupture strength of said webbing to withstand tensioning forces imparted to said belt webbing,

c) said adjoining fabric sections having second warp threads being thinner than said first warp threads of said middle regions,

d) said adjoining fabric sections having outer folding edges oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of said belt webbing, and being folded about said outer folding edges so that said fabric sections come to rest in each case between said middle regions of said upper and lower woven plies, and

e) said middle regions of said upper woven ply and of said lower woven ply are releasably joined to each other in an area adjoining said outer folding edges.

2. The belt webbing as set forth in claim 1, wherein an edging of soft material is applied to side edges of said adjoining fabric sections of at least one of said upper end lower woven plies.

3. The belt webbing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said belt webbing is at least partially coated.

4. The belt webbing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjoining fabric sections are fan-folded to form multiple fabric plies between said upper and lower woven plies, said fabric plies being connected by inner folded edges located in the vicinity of a belt centerline such that an inner space is formed between said folded fabric plies situated on either side of said centerline.

5. The belt webbing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular belt webbing comprises, in selected regions, a selected gas-permeability.

6. The belt webbing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular belt webbing comprises gas exit ports in selected regions.

7. The belt webbing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjoining fabric sections are scored in selected regions along lines oriented parallel to a centerline of said belt webbing, to simplify fold formation in fabrication.

8. A method of producing a woven multi-ply inflatable belt webbing, comprising:

a) weaving a tubular belt webbing having an upper woven ply and a lower woven ply, each said ply having a middle region having first warp threads and two adjoining fabric sections adjoining said middle region,

i) said first warp threads in said middle regions of said two woven plies providing a primary rupture strength of said webbing to withstand tensioning forces imparted to said belt webbing,

ii) said adjoining fabric sections having second warp threads which are thinner than said first warp threads of said middle regions,

b) folding said adjoining fabric sections about outer folding edges so that said fabric sections come to rest in each case between said middle regions of said upper and lower woven plies, and

c) releasably joining said middle regions of said upper woven ply and of said lower woven ply in an area adjoining said outer folding edges.

9. The method of producing a belt webbing as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a) introducing said tubular belt webbing into a structure containing a substantially tubular chamber, an inner contour of which roughly corresponds to an outer contour of said belt webbing when unfolded, said chamber comprising a wall which is gas-permeable at least regionally,

b) introducing a gas entraining a coating means at a pressure P_i into said structure whilst on an outer side of said wall, outside of said chamber, a pressure P_a exists, whereby P_i >

P_a.

10. A method of producing a belt webbing as set forth in claim 8, comprising:

a) applying said belt webbing initially as a slitted flat fabric to a base, said base comprising a gas-permeable wall at least in part,

b) applying to said fabric a gas entraining a coating means at a pressure P_o whilst on a side of said wall facing away from said belt webbing a pressure P_u exists, whereby P_o >

P_u and

c) applying said flat belt webbing in the form of a tubular fabric.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising scoring said adjoining fabric sections in selected regions along lines oriented parallel to a centerline of said belt webbing, and guiding said adjoining fabric sections along said lines over hot ironing edges.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising scoring said adjoining fabric sections in selected regions along lines oriented parallel to a centerline of said belt webbing, folding said adjoining fabric sections along said lines and hot ironing.

13. A method of producing a multi-ply inflatable belt webbing, comprising:

forming a tubular belt webbing having an upper and lower ply, each said ply having a middle region and two sections adjoining said middle region;

folding said adjoining fabric sections about outer folding edges so that said fabric sections come to rest in each case between said middle regions of said upper and lower plies;

releasably joining said middle regions of said upper and lower plies in an area adjoining said outer folding edges;

introducing said tubular belt webbing into a structure containing a substantially tubular chamber, an inner contour of which roughly corresponds to an outer contour of said belt webbing when unfolded, said chamber comprising a wall which is gas-permeable at least regionally; and

introducing a gas entraining a coating means at a pressure P_i into said structure whilst on an outer side of said wall outside of said chamber a pressure P_a exists, whereby P_i >

P_a.

14. A method of producing a multi-ply inflatable belt webbing, comprising:

forming a tubular belt webbing having an upper and lower ply, each said ply having a middle region and two sections adjoining said middle region;

folding said adjoining fabric sections about outer folding edges so that said fabric sections come to rest in each case between said middle regions of said upper and lower plies;

releasably joining said middle regions of said upper and lower plies in an area adjoining said outer folding edges;

scoring said adjoining fabric selections in selected regions along lines oriented parallel to a centerline of said belt webbing; and

guiding said adjoining fabric sections along said lines over hot ironing edges.

15. A method of producing a multi-ply inflatable belt webbing, comprising:

forming a tubular belt webbing having an upper and lower ply, each said ply having a middle region and two sections adjoining said middle region;

folding said adjoining fabric sections about outer folding edges so that said fabric sections come to rest in each case between said middle regions of said upper and lower plies;

releasably joining said middle regions of said upper and lower plies in an area adjoining said outer folding edges;

scoring said adjoining fabric sections in selected regions along lines oriented parallel to a centerline of said belt webbing; and

folding said adjoining fabric sections along said lines and hot ironing.