Airbag folding method and folding device

• US 7,404,790 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kashitani, Yoshitaka, Fujimoto, Takashi, Kato, Katsuhiko, Sugaya, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Thanh K.
• Application Number:
  US11/339,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 53116-120, 534/29, 534/30, 493/243, 493/244, 493/405, 493/409, 493457-459, 493/454, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 493/458
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

In an airbag folding method, an airbag is folded so as to provide a rolled-up shape thereon using a core member including air suction holes from which air can be sucked in. Firstly, the core member is disposed on part of the spread airbag that is to be rolled up at a location which corresponds to a center of a rolled-up shape when formed, and following this, the core member is rotated so as to wind up the airbag around the core member to thereby form a spiral shape while air is being sucked in from the air suction holes so that the airbag is drawn to be secured to an outer circumferential surface of the core member. Thereafter, a rolled-up shape is formed on the airbag by removing the core member.

Claims

1. A method of folding an airbag, comprising the steps of:

disposing a core member having an air suction hole thereon on a part of a spread airbag to be rolled up corresponding to a center of a rolled-up shape of the airbag;

rotating the core member while sucking air from the air suction hole of the core member so that the airbag is sucked on an outer circumferential surface of the core member and wound around the core member; and

removing the core member to thereby leave the airbag in the rolled-up shape, wherein air is discharged from the air suction hole when the core member is removed.