Curtain airbag and its folding method and system

• US 7,344,154 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Norihito, Inomata, Kazuyuki, Yokoyama, Aki
• Primary Examiner(s): ILAN, RUTH
• Application Number:
  US11/634,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag is provided which is folded with a duct part and an expansion part, the duct part having an inlet for allowing fluid communication throughout the duct part, the expansion part communicating with the duct part, wherein the airbag comprises an aggregative part obtained by aggregating a downward portion of the airbag, and a plurality of arms obtained by folding an upward portion of the airbag and being in fluid communication along the length direction of the airbag. The arms cover the aggregative part on the back thereof with respect to the expansion direction of the airbag. Thus, even having greater length from one end to another end, the airbag can deploy smoothly with less time difference between the front and the back in the length direction.

Claims

1. A folded airbag for a vehicle having a vehicle cabin defined at least in part by a vehicle body surface, comprising:

a face which extends along a predetermined direction of deployment of the airbag, the deployment being effected by introduction of fluid;

an inlet for introduction of fluid;

an expansion part communicating with the inlet;

a first fold obtained with the expansion part;

a second fold obtained with a portion of the expansion part located at the first fold; and

a third fold obtained with another portion of the expansion part located at the second fold, the third fold being located between the first fold and the second fold and being formed such that an end of the expansion part is folded up and hidden away toward the inside of the third fold.

2. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion part comprises first and second expansion areas, and a communicating portion for ensuring communication between the first and second expansion areas, the communicating portion communicating with the inlet.

3. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fold is disposed closer to the face of the airbag than the second fold with respect to the third fold.

4. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third fold is formed like a roll.

5. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third fold begins with the distal end of the expansion part, such that said distal end lies at the center of said roll.

6. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third fold in its final configuration comprises rolled segments formed by rolling segments made of only two airbag fabric layers upon one another.

7. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first fold and the second fold form expansion sub-parts that lie on opposite sides of the third fold as well as on opposite sides of a third expansion sub-part formed by said third fold, and wherein said third expansion sub-part comprises a fluid inlet portion that communicates with said inlet and that is also located between said first and said second expansion sub-parts.

8. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag is arranged at a roof side of a vehicle, and wherein the face corresponds to a side face of the vehicle.

9. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end of the expansion part folded up toward the inside of the third fold is the distal end of the expansion part.

10. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 9, wherein the third fold begins with the distal end of the expansion part, such that said distal end lies at the center of the third fold.

11. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third fold in its final configuration comprises folded segments formed by folding segments made of only two airbag fabric layers upon one another.

12. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fold and the second fold form expansion sub-parts that lie on opposite sides of the third fold as well as on opposite sides of a third expansion sub-part formed by said third fold, and wherein said third expansion sub-part comprises a fluid inlet portion that communicates with said inlet and that is also located between said first and said second expansion sub-parts.

13. The folded airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third fold in its final configuration has a sufficient gas flow resistance to permit lateral expansion of the first and second folds to a degree sufficient to move at least one vehicle body surface to procure a projecting opening for the airbag to enter the vehicle cabin.