Heat sealable coated textile fabric for inflatable vehicle restraint systems

• US 6,350,709 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bradford Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Veiga, Manuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Juska, Cheryl
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Arti R.
• Application Number:
  US09/452,030
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 428/12, 428/33, 428/34.1, 428/34.3, 428/34.5, 428/34.6, 428/34.7, 428/35.2, 428/36.1, 428/36.2, 428/57, 428/58, 428/162, 428/163, 428/166, 280/728.1, 280/729, 280/733, 442/67, 442/71, 442/76, 442/149, 442/157, 442/164, 442/172, 442/218, 442/181, 442/286, 442/304, 442/327
• US Class Current: 442/71
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/10 using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/712 the composition of one of the parts to be joined being different from the composition of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72341 for gases
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72343 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7292 coated B29C66/72941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72941 coated
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81431 comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2063/00 Use of EP, i.e. epoxy resins or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/027 : Air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 : coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2359 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 : characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/143 : with polyurethanes and other polycondensation or polyaddition products, e.g. aminoplast
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/145 : two or more layers of polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 : Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1307 : Bag or tubular film [e.g., pouch, flexible food casing, envelope, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1314 : Contains fabric, fiber particle, or filament made of glass, ceramic, or sintered, fused, fired, or calcined metal oxide, or metal carbide or other inorganic compound [e.g., fiber glass, mineral fiber, sand, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1317 : Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1321 : Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 : Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1362 : Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 : Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/192 : Sheets or webs coplanar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24529 : and conforming component on an opposite nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24537 : Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 : Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2066 : Different coatings or impregnations on opposite faces of the fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2098 : At least two coatings or impregnations of different chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2139 : Coating or impregnation specified as porous or permeable to a specific substance [e.g., water vapor, air, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2738 : Coating or impregnation intended to function as an adhesive to solid surfaces subsequently associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2803 : Polymeric coating or impregnation from a silane or siloxane not specified as lubricant or water repellent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2861 : Coated or impregnated synthetic organic fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2926 : Coated or impregnated inorganic fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 : Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3301 : Coated, impregnated, or autogenous bonded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3854 : Woven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 : Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/60 : Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]

Abstract

A coated textile fabric is disclosed for manufacturing an air holding device for a vehicle restraint system, including a base woven, knitted or non-woven base textile fabric having a first surface and a second surface. The base textile fabric is completely or partially coated with an adhesive polyurethane to form a first coating layer, the first coating layer being coated with a second composite coating layer. The second composite coating layer is preferably a polyurethane, a polysiloxane, and an epoxy resin which acts as a filler and adhesion promoter. A third coating layer is formed of a polymeric polyurethane material coated on the second composite layer. A method of producing the coated textile fabric is also disclosed. A heat sealing die for forming sealing beads to seal such coated textile fabrics to form air holding devices is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A coated textile fabric for an air-holding inflatable vehicle restraint system, which comprises:

(a) a woven, knitted or non-woven base textile fabric;

(b) a first surface of said textile fabric completely or partially coated with an adhesive polyurethane to form a first coating layer;

(c) said first coating layer coated with a second composite coating layer, said second composite layer being a polyurethane and a polysiloxane; and

(d) a third coating layer comprised of a polymeric polyurethane material coated on said second composite layer.

2. The coated textile fabric of claim 1 wherein said composite coating layer comprises a polyurethane, a polysiloxane and an epoxy resin.

3. The coated textile fabric of claim 1 wherein said base textile fabric is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides and other synthetic fibers.

4. The coated textile fabric of claim 1 wherein said base textile fabric is comprised of woven nylon.

5. The coated textile fabric of claim 1 wherein said first coating layer is selected from the group consisting of aromatic or aliphatic polyester polyurethanes and aromatic or aliphatic polyether polyurethanes.

6. The coated textile fabric of claim 1 wherein said first polyurethane coating layer has a solids content of from about 20% to about 75% by weight.

7. The coated textile fabric of claim 1 wherein said composite coating layer is comprised of from about 25% to about 100% solids by weight of an aromatic or aliphatic polyether or polyester polyurethane, an epoxy resin and a polysiloxane.

8. A coated textile fabric for an air-holding inflatable vehicle restraint system, which comprises:

(a) a textile fabric having first and second surfaces;

(b) said first surface of said textile fabric completely or partially coated with an adhesive polyurethane to form a first coated layer;

(c) said first coating layer being coated with a composite coating layer formed of polyurethane and a polysiloxane;

(d) a third coating layer comprised of a polymeric polyurethane coated on said composite coating layer; and

(e) a polymeric polyurethane or polysiloxane layer coated on said second surface of said textile fabric.

9. The coated textile fabric of claim 8, wherein said textile fabric is at least one of woven, knitted and non-woven textile fabric, or combinations thereof.

10. The coated textile fabric of claim 9 wherein said composite coating layer comprises a polyurethane, a polysiloxane and an epoxy resin.

11. The coated textile fabric of claim 10 wherein said base fabric is a woven nylon fabric.

12. The coated textile fabric of claim 8 wherein said first coating layer is selected from the group consisting of aromatic or aliphatic polyester polyurethanes and aromatic and aliphatic polyether polyurethanes.

13. The coated textile fabric of claim 8 wherein said first polyurethane coating layer has a solids content of from about 20% to about 75% by weight.

14. The coated textile fabric of claim 8 wherein said composite coating layer is comprised of from about 25% to about 100% solids by weight of an aromatic or aliphatic polyether or polyester polyurethane, an epoxy resin and a polysiloxane.