One piece air bag

• US 6,180,204 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: Keshavaraj, Ramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Elizabeth M.
• Application Number:
  US08/909,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/743.2, 428/81, 428/83, 428/192, 428/193, D05/99, 297/228.1, 297/225, 112/475.08
• US Class Current: 428/81
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23509 Fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24785 including layer embodying mechanically interengaged strands, strand portions or strand-like strips [e.g., weave, knit, etc.]

Abstract

An elongated substantially rectangular nylon 6,6 air bag blank which allows an operator to produce a one piece air bag with four straight seams without undue manipulation during production thereof. The blank has notches in the two upper corners with an elongated notch centrally between the notches in the corners thereof in the long side of the blank.

Claims

1. A blank for the production of a one piece air bag comprising:

a single piece of fabric having two short sides and two long sides, an elongated rectangular notch in one of said long sides of said fabric and notches in the junction of both short sides of said fabric where it meets the long side having the elongated notch therein.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein said fabric is a plain woven fabric of nylon 6,6 yarn.

3. The blank of claim 2 wherein said yarn is 630 denier.

4. The blank of claim 3 wherein said fabric has approximately 41 picks and ends per inch.

5. The blank of claim 1 wherein said notches at the junction of the short sides are substantially rectangular.

6. The blank of claim 1 wherein said elongated notch is an inverse truncated notch.

7. The blank of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the fabric opposite to said elongated notch is convex.

8. The blank of claim 5 wherein the short sides of said fabric are convex.

9. The blank of claim 5 wherein the short sides of said fabric are concave.

10. The blank of claim 6 wherein the short sides of said fabric are convex.

11. The blank of claim 10 wherein the short sides of said fabric are concave.

12. The method of producing a one piece air bag comprising:

the steps of supplying an elongated fabric panel having notches in two of the corners thereof with another elongated notch in the long side of said fabric between said notches in the corners thereof, folding said blank in the middle of said other notch and placing said corner notches over one another, stitching said fabric together on the side of said fabric adjacent said corner notches, opening said blank substantially perpendicular to the folded direction and sewing said blank at the side of said blank diametrically opposite to said other notch, opening said blank to the position as originally folded, sewing the sides of said blank together that is between said corner notches and said other notch, placing the short sides of said other notch against the long side of said other notch, sewing the short sides to the long side of said other notch, folding over the sides of said corner notches to provide an opening in said blank and sewing a stiffening material to at least two sides of said opening to provide structural integrity thereto.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a stiffening rod is placed in operative relationship with said stiffening material.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said fabric blank is woven and a layer of fabric is sized in and around said opening.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said notches in said corners are slit rectangularly.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a triangular opening is located at the base of said side notches.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said other notch is an inverse truncated notch.