Inflatable belt
First Claim
1. An inflatable belt for a motor vehicle, the inflatable belt comprising:
- an elongated belt body into which a gas is to be introduced; and
a cover enclosing the belt body;
wherein the belt body includes a piece of rectangular fabric with a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end folded about a return line, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the belt, the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end being connected to each other.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable belt includes an envelope-shaped or elongated belt body, which is folded in a long band-shaped configuration, and a cover enclosing the belt body. The belt body is made of a single piece of rectangular base fabric. The rectangular base fabric is folded about a longitudinal return line. The folded halves are then sewn about an outer periphery of an inflatable area so as to have an envelope-shaped or elongated configuration. Thus, the inflatable belt has a uniform thickness and feels better to the vehicle occupant when the inflatable belt is in contact with the vehicle occupant. Also, the inflatable belt has a shorter stitching length, thereby reducing cost, improving productivity, and reducing or preventing gas leakage.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An inflatable belt for a motor vehicle, the inflatable belt comprising:
-
an elongated belt body into which a gas is to be introduced; and a cover enclosing the belt body; wherein the belt body includes a piece of rectangular fabric with a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end folded about a return line, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the belt, the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end being connected to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An inflatable belt for a motor vehicle, the inflatable belt comprising:
-
an elongated belt body into which gas is to be introduced; and a cover enclosing the belt body, wherein the belt body includes two pieces of superposed rectangular fabric connected to each other at a periphery of an inflatable area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
6. A method of making an inflatable belt, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a rectangular piece of fabric; folding the rectangular piece of fabric about a return line to form two folded portions such that the return line forms a first longitudinal edge; and connecting the two folded portions together at a periphery to form a second longitudinal edge and two ends of an inflatable area. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
11. A method of making an inflatable belt, comprising the steps of:
-
providing two identical rectangular pieces of fabric; and connecting the two rectangular pieces at a periphery of an inflatable area; and folding the connected fabric into a band configuration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification