Air bag apparatus, air bag folding method, and air-bag folding device

• US 6,224,100 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Keiji, Yamamoto, Naoki, Kaneko, Kazuhiro, Nishijima, Kazuyoshi, Kamano, Yoshifumi, Horikawa, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US08/913,914
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/731, 53/117, 53/429, 493/405
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A pouch-shaped air bag (12) is spread out in a circle. Then, the portion of the air bag (12) located outside the inflator (16) is folded into a wave-like pattern from four directions so that four side portions (61) are formed along the inflator (16). Next, each one of the four excess portions (62), which are continuously formed between each two adjacent side portions (61) and protrude outward, is placed along the outer face of each side portion (61). Thus, the air bag (12) can be easily folded compactly that can be smoothly unfolded.

Claims

1. A method of folding an air bag adapted to be unfolded and inflated by gas blown thereinto, comprising the steps of:

providing an uninflated air bag of flat outline shape;

forming a gas insertion portion in the air bag;

folding the air bag into an annular wave-like shape;

pushing the wave-like shaped air bag inwardly from a peripheral edge thereof to form at least three side portions of a rectangular outline leaving an excess portion between each two adjacent side portions; and

placing at least a part of each excess portion along an outer face of at least one of the two adjacent side portions of which it is between.

2. An air bag folding method as claimed in claim 1, in which the folding comprises producing plural folds in the air bag that constitute the side portions and each excess portion, the folds being separated by a release line portion that extends continuously from the gas insertion portion to an end of each excess portion.

3. A method of folding an air bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said folding comprises pushing said air bag at a plurality of locations, from said peripheral edge towards a center while limiting the height of folds produced in the air bag by said pushing.

4. A method of folding an air bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said folding comprises:

pushing at a plurality of locations offset and at opposing sides from one another.

5. A method of folding an air bag as claimed in claim 4 in which the folding comprises producing plural folds in the bag that constitute the side portions and each excess portion, the folds being separated by a release line portion that extends continuously from the gas insertion portion to an end of the excess portion.

6. An air bag folding method as claimed in claim 1, comprising placing another part of each excess portion along an outer face of an other of the two adjacent side portions of which it is between.