Fabric valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fabric valve comprising:
- a fabric blank having a top edge, a left edge, a bottom edge, and a right edge, wherein a Z-fold is created along the right edge to result in a Z-folded fabric blank, wherein the Z-folded fabric blank is folded in half along a first traverse fold line that is parallel to the top and bottom edges to result in a bi-folded fabric blank, wherein the bi-folded fabric blank is further folded in half along a second traverse fold line that is parallel to the top and bottom edges and the first traverse fold line to result in a quad-folded fabric blank;
a first line of stitches parallel to the second traverse fold line, wherein the first line of stitches secures a portion of the Z-fold at the second traverse fold line; and
a second line of stitches parallel to the first line of stitches, wherein the second line of stitches secures another portion of the Z-fold at the first traverse fold line, the top edge, and the bottom edge, wherein a fluid is restricted to flow through the quad-folded fabric blank substantially only in one direction.
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Abstract
A fabric valve is disclosed that is made of a fabric blank folded in a pattern that promotes the flow of fluid in one direction along an axis of the fabric valve but restricts the flow in the opposite direction along the same axis. The fabric valve is easy to construct and is made by a series of folds. The fabric valve may be particularly suitable for use with inflatable safety devices used in vehicles, such as air bags and air curtains, to restrict backflow of gas from a given air bag when pressure, is applied to the bag. A method of making the fabric valve and a system incorporating the fabric valve are also disclosed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A fabric valve comprising:
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a fabric blank having a top edge, a left edge, a bottom edge, and a right edge, wherein a Z-fold is created along the right edge to result in a Z-folded fabric blank, wherein the Z-folded fabric blank is folded in half along a first traverse fold line that is parallel to the top and bottom edges to result in a bi-folded fabric blank, wherein the bi-folded fabric blank is further folded in half along a second traverse fold line that is parallel to the top and bottom edges and the first traverse fold line to result in a quad-folded fabric blank;
a first line of stitches parallel to the second traverse fold line, wherein the first line of stitches secures a portion of the Z-fold at the second traverse fold line; and
a second line of stitches parallel to the first line of stitches, wherein the second line of stitches secures another portion of the Z-fold at the first traverse fold line, the top edge, and the bottom edge, wherein a fluid is restricted to flow through the quad-folded fabric blank substantially only in one direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A fabric valve comprising:
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a body member having four layers of a fabric blank;
a Z-fold member having twelve layers of the fabric blank, wherein four of the layers are extensions of the body member;
a first line of stitches extending along a top portion of the Z-fold member; and
a second line of stitches extending along a bottom portion of the Z-fold member and the body member, wherein a fluid is restricted to flow from the body member to the Z-fold member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for making a fabric valve comprising the steps of:
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selecting a fabric blank having a top edge, a right edge, a bottom edge, and a left edge;
creating a Z-fold along the right edge to result in a Z-folded blank;
folding the Z-folded blank in half along a first traverse line perpendicular to the Z-fold to result in a half-size Z-folded blank;
folding the half-size Z-folded blank in half along a second traverse line perpendicular to the Z-fold to result in a quarter-size Z-folded blank;
securing the quarter-size Z folded blank along the second traverse line from the right edge across at least a width of the Z-fold; and
securing the quarter-size Z folded blank along the first traverse line across at least the width of the Z-fold. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An inflatable vehicular safety system comprising:
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a first chamber adapted to receive gas from a gas generator;
a fabric valve having a body member and a Z-fold member, wherein the body member is adapted to receive a portion of the gas from the gas generator and to discharge the portion of gas out of the Z-fold member, and wherein a first line of stitches extends along a top portion of the Z-fold member and a second line of stitches extends along a bottom portion of the Z-fold member and the body member; and
a second chamber in fluid communication with the fabric valve, wherein the second chamber receives the portion of gas from the gas generator through the fabric valve, wherein when the first chamber experiences a decrease in pressure, the Z-fold member prevents gas in the second chamber from escaping the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A fabric valve comprising:
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a body member having a first plurality of layers of a fabric blank;
a Z-fold member having a second plurality of layers of the fabric blank, wherein part of the second plurality of layers includes extensions of the first plurality of layers of the body member;
a first line of stitches extending along a top portion of the Z-fold member; and
a second line of stitches extending along a bottom portion of the Z-fold member and the body member, wherein a fluid is restricted to flow from the body member to the Z-fold member. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification