Method and apparatus for folding an airbag

• US 6,789,821 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• 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: Mohr, Ralph, Zink, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US10/212,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 493/231, 493/243, 493/405, 493/407, 493/458, 493/459, 493/451, 534/29
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag is pushed in portions by at least one slide means into at least one compartment in order to generate the folding. So that even complex folds are possible using a relatively simple apparatus, in accordance with the invention the airbag is arranged on the apparatus with a first portion in a substantially vertical position, and a second portion of the airbag is pushed into a compartment, during which the second portion is pre-tensioned by the weight of the first portion in front of the associated slide means. Further provided is pushing the airbag in a first direction into at least one first compartment and pushing in a second direction into at least one second compartment, this second direction being directed at an angle in relation to the first direction.

Claims

1. A method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus capable of pushing an airbag in portions by at least one slide means into at least one compartment to fold the airbag;

arranging the airbag on the apparatus with a first portion of the airbag in a substantially vertical position;

pushing a second portion of the airbag into said compartment of said apparatus, during which pushing the second portion of the airbag is pre-tensioned by the weight of the first portion of the airbag in front of the associated slide means; and

pushing the airbag in a first direction into at least one compartment on one side of a gas supply device of an airbag module, and pushing the airbag in a second direction into at least one second compartment on the same side of the gas supply device, this second direction being directed at an angle of approximately 10°

to 60°

in relation to the first direction.

2. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 1, further comprising the step of arranging the first portion of the airbag as far as the outer border of the airbag in a substantially vertical position.

3. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 2,

wherein the second direction is directed at an angle of approximately 30° to 40°

in relation to the first direction.

4. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 1,

wherein the second direction is directed at an angle of approximately 30°

to 40°

in relation to the first direction.

5. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

deflecting the airbag on the apparatus between the first and second portions.

6. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 5 wherein the airbag is pushed in a first direction into at least one compartment on one side of the gas supply device, and pushing the airbag in a third direction into at least one compartment on the side opposite the first side, this third direction being directed at an angle of at least 90°

in relation to the first direction.

7. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 6,

wherein the second direction is directed at an angle of approximately 30°

to 40°

in relation to the first direction.

8. A method for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus capable of pushing an airbag in portions by at least one slide means into at least one compartment to fold the airbag;

pushing a first portion of the airbag using the at least one slide means in a first direction into at least one first compartment on one side of a gas supply device of an airbag module;

pushing a second portion of the airbag in a second direction into at least one second compartment on the same side of the gas supply device, this second direction being directed at an angle in relation to the first direction in the range of 10°

to 60°

;

deflecting the airbag on the a apparatus between the first and second portions; and

pushing the airbag in a third direction into at least one compartment on the side opposite the first side, this third direction being directed at an angle of at least 90°

in relation to the first direction.

9. The method of folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 8,

wherein the second direction is directed at an angle of approximately 30° to 40°

in relation to the first direction.

10. An apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module, in which the airbag is to be pushed in portions by at least one slide means into at least one compartment on a first side of a gas supply device of the airbag module and the airbag is to be pushed in a second direction into at least one second compartment on the same side of the gas supply device, this second direction being directed at an angle of approximately 10°

to 60°

in relation to the first direction in order to generate the folding, the airbag is to be arranged on the apparatus with a first portion of the airbag in a substantially vertical position, and a second portion of the airbag is to be pushed into a compartment, during which the second portion of the airbag is pre-tensioned by the weight of the first portion of the airbag in front of the associated slide means.

11. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 10, wherein the first portion of the airbag is to be arranged as far as the outer border of the airbag in a substantially vertical position.

12. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 10, wherein the second direction is directed at an angle of approximately 30°

to 40°

in relation to the first direction.

13. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 10, wherein a deflection device for the airbag is provided between the first and the second portions.

14. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 10, wherein the airbag is to be pushed in a third direction into at least one compartment on a side of the gas supply device opposite the first side, this third direction being directed at an angle of at least 90°

in relation to the first direction.

15. An apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module, in which the airbag is to be pushed in portions by at least one slide means into at least one compartment in order to folding the airbag, the airbag is to be pushed in a first direction into at least one first compartment located on a first side of a gas supply device of the airbag module and the airbag is to be pushed in a second direction into at least one second compartment on the same side of the gas supply device, this second direction being directed at an angle in relation to the first direction of approximately 10°

to 60°

.

16. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the second direction is directed at an angle of approximately 30°

to 40°

in relation to the first direction.

17. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to one claim 15, wherein a deflection device for the airbag is provided between the first and the second portions.

18. The apparatus for folding an airbag that is a component of an airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the airbag is to be pushed in a third direction into at least one compartment on a side of the gas supply device opposite the first side, this third direction being directed at an angle of at least 90°

in relation to the first direction.