Structurally efficient airbag cushion exhibiting high available inflation volume

• US 7,371,445 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: Keshavaraj, Ramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH-PANDEY, ARTI R
• Application Number:
  US09/855,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,555 Days
• Field of Search: 112400-402, 112/420, 112/418, 112/426, 383/210, 383/210.1, 383/211, 383/38, 383121-127, 428/35.2, 428/35.4, 428/35.5, 428/36.1, 428 53- 58, 428/66.7, 428/223, 428192-198, 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/743
• US Class Current: 428/35.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23571 characterised by connections between panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1341 Contains vapor or gas barrier, polymer derived from vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, or polymer containing a vinyl alcohol unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1345 Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1362 Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention relates to an airbag cushion which exhibits a low amount of seam usage (in order to attach at least two fabric panels or portions of a panel together) in correlation to an overall high amount of available inflation airspace within the cushion itself. These correlated elements are now combined for the first time in what is defined as an effective seam usage index (being the quotient of the length of overall seams on the cushions and the available inflation airspace volume). The inventive cushion must have at least one substantially straight seam and must possess an effective seam usage factor of less than about 0.11. A cushion exhibiting such a low seam usage factor and also comprising an integrated looped pocket for the disposition of an inflator can is also provided as well as an overall vehicle restraint system comprising the inventive airbag cushion.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion comprising:

(a) a first fabric blank having an exterior perimeter of substantially four-sided rectangular shape, said first fabric blank comprising a first pair of opposed and substantially straight sides and a second pair of opposed and substantially straight sides, said first pair of sides being substantially parallel to each other, further wherein said second pair of sides are substantially parallel to each other, said first pair of sides being oriented generally perpendicular in relation to said second pair of sides; and

(b) a second fabric blank connected to said first fabric blank through the utilization of at least one seam, said second blank further comprising at least one centrally located slit and an exterior periphery;

(c) wherein said airbag cushion comprises;

i) a first end being formed by the union of the exterior periphery of said second fabric blank and the exterior perimeter of the first fabric blank, and

ii) a second end formed by the centrally located slit of the second fabric blank;

such that said first end is closed and said second end comprises at the slit an opening adapted for receiving an inflation device.

2. The airbag cushion of claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said at least one seam in contact with both of said first end and said second end is substantially straight.

3. A vehicle restraint system comprising the airbag cushion as defined in claim 1.

4. An airbag cushion comprising:

at least a first fabric blank having an exterior perimeter, said first fabric blank being of substantially rectangular shape along said perimeter, said perimeter of said first fabric blank comprising a first pair of opposed and substantially straight sides and a second pair of opposed and substantially straight sides, said first pair of sides being substantially parallel, further wherein said second pair of sides are substantially parallel, said first pair of sides being oriented substantially perpendicular to said second pair of sides; and

a second fabric blank having at least one a centrally located opening and an exterior periphery, wherein said first fabric blank and said second fabric blank are connected together in part by a seam of the exterior perimeter of the first fabric blank in union with the exterior periphery of the second fabric blank at a first end of the airbag cushion, further wherein the opening of the second fabric blank is positioned at the second end of the airbag cushion in the form of a mouth that is adapted for receiving an inflation device.

5. A vehicle restraint system comprising the airbag cushion as defined in claim 4.