Shrink wrap for inflatable curtain package
First Claim
1. A method for wrapping a thin film around an undeployed inflatable curtain, wherein the thin film has a first edge and a second edge, and the undeployed inflatable curtain has a plurality of mounting tabs attached to the inflatable curtain at an attachment location, the method comprising:
- selectively aligning the first edge of the thin film to a position proximate to the attachment location of the mounting tabs;
positioning the mounting tabs substantially over the first edge of the thin film;
selectively aligning the second edge of the thin film to a position overlapping the first edge and the attachment location, such that the thin film substantially enwraps the undeployed inflatable curtain.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable curtain package that is made of an inflatable curtain wrapped around by a thin film is disclosed. The inflatable curtain has a number of mounting tabs that allows the inflatable curtain to be attached to a vehicle. The orientation of the thin film allows mounting tabs to extend out of a seam in thin film. The inflatable curtain package may be constructed by aligning a first edge of the thin film to a position near a location wherein the mounting tabs attach to the inflatable curtain. Next, the mounting tabs are positioned over the first edge of the thin film. Then a second edge of the thin film is positioned to overlap the first edge and the attachment location. The two overlapping edges cause the thin film to wrap around the inflatable curtain.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for wrapping a thin film around an undeployed inflatable curtain, wherein the thin film has a first edge and a second edge, and the undeployed inflatable curtain has a plurality of mounting tabs attached to the inflatable curtain at an attachment location, the method comprising:
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selectively aligning the first edge of the thin film to a position proximate to the attachment location of the mounting tabs;
positioning the mounting tabs substantially over the first edge of the thin film;
selectively aligning the second edge of the thin film to a position overlapping the first edge and the attachment location, such that the thin film substantially enwraps the undeployed inflatable curtain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
placing the thin film in a substantially elongated “
U”
shaped channel, such that the first edge extends out of a first side of the channel and the second edge extends out of the second side of the channel;
placing the undeployed inflatable curtain in the channel.
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7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising cutting the thin film to a length larger than the circumference of the undeployed inflatable curtain.
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8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising shrinking the thin film around the inflatable curtain.
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9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein shrinking the thin film comprises placing the inflatable curtain enwrapped by the thin film in an oven.
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10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the undeployed inflatable curtain is in a rolled state.
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11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the undeployed inflatable curtain is in a folded state.
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12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting tabs are woven to the inflatable curtain.
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13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the thin film is shrinkable.
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14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising feeding the thin film from a roll, and cutting the thin film to a length generally equal to the length of the inflatable curtain.
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15. A method for wrapping a thin film around an undeployed inflatable curtain, wherein the thin film has a first edge and a second edge, and the undeployed inflatable curtain has a plurality of mounting tabs attached to the inflatable curtain at an attachment location, the method comprising:
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placing the thin film and undeployed inflatable curtain in a channel, such that the thin film is selectively situated between the undeployed inflatable curtain and the channel, wherein the first edge and the second edge protrude from the channel;
displacing a first blade tangentially to the undeployed inflatable curtain, wherein the blade displaces the first edge of the thin film over the undeployed inflatable curtain to a position proximate to the attachment location;
displacing a second blade tangentially to the undeployed inflatable curtain, wherein the blade further displaces the second edge of the thin film and the mounting tabs over the first blade;
retracting the first blade; and
adhering the first edge of the thin film to the second edge of the thin film. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
feeding the thin film from a roll; cutting the thin film to a length substantially similar to the length of the inflatable curtain.
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24. An inflatable curtain package, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain having a plurality of mounting tabs extending from the inflatable curtain; and
a thin film having a first edge and a second edge enwraping the inflatable curtain, such that first edge and the second edge form a overlap, and wherein a portion of the mounting tabs extend from the overlap and out of the thin film. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An inflatable curtain package, comprising:
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an inflatable curtain having a plurality of woven mounting tabs extending from the inflatable curtain, wherein the woven mounting tabs have a base portion and an end portion; and
a thin film having a first edge and a second edge enwraping the inflatable curtain, such that first edge and the second edge are heat sealed together, and wherein the base portions of the woven mounting tabs are positioned under the thin film and an end portion of the woven mounting tabs extend out from the thin film. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification