Airbag folding method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of folding an airbag, comprising:
- a. tucking a part of a distal portion of an unfolded airbag into an interior of the airbag;
b. forming a plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in the first and second halves of the airbag, wherein the step of forming the plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in the first and second halves of the airbag comprises;
i. forming a first set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in upper and lower regions of the airbag, and bringing a first portion of the upper region inwardly across a centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first right inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a right outer fold edge;
ii. forming a second set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in the upper and lower regions and folding a second portion of the upper region inwardly across the centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first left inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a left outer fold edge;
iii. bringing the right outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline;
iv. bringing the first right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the right outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a longitudinal fold line defining a second right inner fold edge;
v. bringing the second right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first right inner fold edge and the right outer fold edge;
vi. bringing the left outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline;
vii. bringing the first left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the left outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a fold line defining a second left inner fold edge; and
viii. bringing the second left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first left inner fold edge and the left outer fold edge;
c. folding a proximal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to an orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a first fold body; and
d. folding the distal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to the orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a second fold body.
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Abstract
A part of a distal end portion of an airbag is tucked into an interior thereof. A plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds are formed in first and second halves of the airbag, and the folded distal and proximal portions of the airbag are each folded substantially transverse to the longitudinal folds so as to form two compact fold bodies.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of folding an airbag, comprising:
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a. tucking a part of a distal portion of an unfolded airbag into an interior of the airbag; b. forming a plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in the first and second halves of the airbag, wherein the step of forming the plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in the first and second halves of the airbag comprises; i. forming a first set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in upper and lower regions of the airbag, and bringing a first portion of the upper region inwardly across a centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first right inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a right outer fold edge; ii. forming a second set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in the upper and lower regions and folding a second portion of the upper region inwardly across the centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first left inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a left outer fold edge; iii. bringing the right outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline; iv. bringing the first right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the right outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a longitudinal fold line defining a second right inner fold edge; v. bringing the second right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first right inner fold edge and the right outer fold edge; vi. bringing the left outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline; vii. bringing the first left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the left outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a fold line defining a second left inner fold edge; and viii. bringing the second left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first left inner fold edge and the left outer fold edge; c. folding a proximal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to an orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a first fold body; and d. folding the distal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to the orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a second fold body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of folding an airbag of an airbag apparatus for motor vehicles for insertion in a container, the method comprising the steps of:
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tucking an end region of the airbag into the interior such that the end region is invaginated in the interior of the airbag, thereby forming a tucked region, the tucked region thereby defining upper and lower regions of the airbag; inwardly folding a first portion of the airbag, a folded edge of the first portion originating in the upper region substantially medial to a longitudinal centerline and a periphery of the airbag; inwardly folding a second portion of the airbag; outwardly folding the first portion of the airbag to overlap the second portion; inwardly folding a third portion of the airbag, a folded edge of the third portion originating in the upper region substantially medial to the longitudinal centerline and a periphery of the airbag; inwardly folding a fourth portion of the airbag; outwardly folding the third portion to overlap the fourth portion; forming a first fold body by folding the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline; and forming a second fold body by folding the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of folding an airbag, comprising the steps of:
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tucking a part of a distal portion of an unfolded airbag into an interior of the airbag; forming a first set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in upper and lower regions of the airbag, and bringing a first portion of the upper region inwardly across a centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first right inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a right outer fold edge; bringing the right outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline; bringing the first right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the right outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a longitudinal fold line defining a second right inner fold edge; bringing the second right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first right inner fold edge and the right outer fold edge; forming a second set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in the upper and lower regions and folding a second portion of the upper region inwardly across the centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first left inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a left outer fold edge; bringing the left outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline; bringing the first left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the left outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a fold line defining a second left inner fold edge; bringing the second left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first left inner fold edge and the left outer fold edge; folding a proximal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to an orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a first fold body; and folding the distal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to the orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a second fold body. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of folding an airbag, comprising:
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tucking a part of a distal portion of an unfolded airbag into an interior of the airbag such that the distal portion is invaginated in the interior of the airbag forming a plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in first and second halves of the airbag; folding a proximal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to an orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a first fold body; and folding the distal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to the orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a second fold body, wherein the step of folding the proximal portion of the airbag comprises folding the proximal portion in accordance with a first accordion fold incorporating a first plurality of accordion fold sections, wherein said first plurality of accordion fold sections are substantially parallel to one another and to a first direction when compressed together in said first fold body; and
the step of folding the distal portion of the airbag comprises folding the distal portion in accordance with a second accordion fold incorporating a second plurality of accordion fold sections, wherein said second plurality of accordion fold sections are substantially parallel to one another and to a second direction when compressed together in said second fold body. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An airbag folded according to a method comprising the steps of:
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a. tucking a part of a distal portion of an unfolded airbag into an interior of the airbag; b. forming a plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in the first and second halves of the airbag, wherein the step of forming the plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds in the first and second halves of the airbag comprises; i. forming a first set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in upper and lower regions of the airbag, and bringing a first portion of the upper region inwardly across a centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first right inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a right outer fold edge; ii. forming a second set of substantially opposed longitudinal folds in the upper and lower regions and folding a second portion of the upper region inwardly across the centerline, a fold line therefrom in the upper region defining a first left inner fold edge, and a fold line therefrom in the lower region defining a left outer fold edge; iii. bringing the right outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline; iv. bringing the first right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the right outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a longitudinal fold line defining a second right inner fold edge; v. bringing the second right inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first right inner fold edge and the right outer fold edge; vi. bringing the left outer fold edge inwardly toward the centerline; vii. bringing the first left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the left outer fold edge, thereby folding the airbag along a fold line defining a second left inner fold edge; and viii. bringing the second left inner fold edge outwardly to overlap the first left inner fold edge and the left outer fold edge; c. folding a proximal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to an orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a first fold body; and d. folding the distal portion of the airbag a plurality of times along fold lines substantially transverse to the orientation of the longitudinal folds, thereby forming a second fold body.
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Specification