Air bag and a method of folding the air bag
First Claim
1. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for location on a steering wheel for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
- a lower portion and an upper portion,said upper portion being roll folded and said lower portion being folded into a star pattern,said roll folded portion having an outside surface formed by a front surface of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is intended to face the occupant when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated so that, during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said roll folded portion unrolls in a direction such that at least a portion of said inflating inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) is located on a steering wheel (14) and includes a lower portion (28) and an upper portion (26). The upper portion (26) is rolled folded and the lower portion (28) is folded in a star pattern. The roll folded portion (26) has an outside surface formed by a front panel (30) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) that is intended to face the occupant when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. During inflation, the roll folded portion (26) unrolls such that at least a portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel. A method of folding the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) includes folding at least a lower portion (28) in a star pattern and rolling an upper portion (26) to form a roll having an outside surface formed by a front surface (30) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12).
26 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for location on a steering wheel for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
-
a lower portion and an upper portion, said upper portion being roll folded and said lower portion being folded into a star pattern, said roll folded portion having an outside surface formed by a front surface of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is intended to face the occupant when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated so that, during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said roll folded portion unrolls in a direction such that at least a portion of said inflating inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of folding an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for location on a steering wheel for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when inflated comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, said method comprising the steps of:
-
folding at least said lower portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in a star pattern, and rolling said upper portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to form a roll having an outside surface formed by a front surface of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is intended to face the occupant when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated so that, during inflation of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said roll folded portion unrolls in a direction such that at least a portion of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification