Overhead airbag cushion fold patterns for in-position and out-of-position performance
First Claim
1. A method of folding an airbag cushion comprising the steps of:
- providing an overhead airbag cushion, the airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, an occupant face, first and second lateral sides, and a cushion end;
flattening the windshield and occupant faces of the airbag cushion;
folding the first and second lateral sides of the airbag cushion to flatten them against a face of the airbag cushion;
rolling a portion of the airbag cushion from the cushion end toward the cushion throat;
accordion-folding the airbag cushion from the rolled portion toward the cushion throat; and
wrap-folding the airbag cushion toward the cushion throat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Folding methods and patterns for folding an inflatable airbag for use in vehicles are disclosed. The folding patterns and methods of the invention assist in controlling the trajectory of the airbag cushion during deployment. More specifically, the methods and patterns of the invention may be used to deploy an overhead airbag cushion forward and downward along a windshield to place a portion of the airbag cushion rapidly in front of a vehicle occupant before the cushion has the opportunity to inflate significantly in a longitudinal direction to provide support and deceleration to a vehicle occupant. These methods result in airbag deployment which may prevent injury to out-of-position vehicle occupants.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method of folding an airbag cushion comprising the steps of:
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providing an overhead airbag cushion, the airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, an occupant face, first and second lateral sides, and a cushion end; flattening the windshield and occupant faces of the airbag cushion; folding the first and second lateral sides of the airbag cushion to flatten them against a face of the airbag cushion; rolling a portion of the airbag cushion from the cushion end toward the cushion throat; accordion-folding the airbag cushion from the rolled portion toward the cushion throat; and wrap-folding the airbag cushion toward the cushion throat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of folding an airbag cushion comprising the steps of:
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providing an airbag cushion, the airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, an occupant face, first and second lateral sides, and a cushion end; flattening the windshield and occupant faces of the airbag cushion; tucking the cushion end inwardly to form a bottom tuck and first and second pairs of lateral edges; folding the first and second pairs of lateral edges of the airbag cushion to flatten them against a face of the airbag cushion; rolling a portion of the airbag cushion from the cushion end toward the cushion throat; accordion-folding the airbag cushion from the rolled portion toward the cushion throat; and wrap-folding the airbag cushion toward the cushion throat; wherein the step of folding the first and second pairs of lateral edges over comprises folding the first and second pairs of lateral edges such that they overlap each other. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of folding an overhead airbag cushion comprising the steps of:
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providing an overhead airbag cushion, the overhead airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, first and second lateral sides, and a cushion end; flattening the windshield and occupant faces of the overhead airbag cushion; tucking the cushion end inwardly to form a bottom tuck and first and second pairs of lateral edges; folding the first and second pairs of lateral edges of the airbag cushion to flatten them against a face of the overhead airbag cushion; rolling a portion of the airbag cushion from the cushion end toward the cushion throat; accordion-folding the airbag cushion from the rolled portion toward the cushion throat; and wrap-folding the airbag cushion toward the cushion throat. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification