Method of folding an airbag

• US 6,779,813 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lincoln, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/212,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/743.1, 531/16, 531/17, 534/27, 534/29, 493/243, 493/244, 493/250, 493/255, 493/374, 493/405, 493/406, 493/449
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• 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 method of folding an airbag of an airbag module includes the steps of: arranging the airbag and a base plate on a receiver of a folding device, with the airbag secured to the base plate, and stretching the airbag out. In order to make the device low-cost and to give a reliable procedure, a central portion of the airbag remote from the base plate is secured to a holding device of the folding device, and the airbag is stretched out by pulling the secured central portion by a movement of the holding device relative to the receiver.

Claims

1. A method of arranging an airbag on a folding apparatus prior to folding the airbag comprising the steps of:

(a) arranging the airbag and a base plate on a receiver of a folding device, with the airbag secured to the base plate;

(b) stretching the airbag out;

(c) arranging or securing a central portion of the airbag remote from the base plate on or to a holding device of the folding device, the central portion of the airbag is secured to the holding device by a releasable connection by bringing the central portion of the airbag into engagement or hooked arrangement with the holding device;

(d) stretching out the airbag by pulling the secured central portion by a movement of the holding device relative to the receiver; and

(e) releasing the connection by withdrawing a first connection element between the airbag and the holding device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of arranging an inflator connected to the base plate on the receiver before step (b).

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of arranging an airbag cover of an airbag module on the holding device, and securing the central portion of the airbag to the airbag cover of the airbag module.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of arranging an airbag cover of an airbag module on the holding device, and securing the central portion of the airbag to the airbag cover of the airbag module.