Inflatable fabrics comprising basket-woven attachment points between fabric panels
First Claim
1. An inflatable fabric comprising two layers of fabric in first discrete areas and at least one single layer of fabric positioned at a second discrete area, wherein the two layer(s) and the single layer meet at an interface, the single layer being comprised in part of a two-by-two basket weave pattern adjacent the interface, wherein the two-by-two basket weave pattern positioned adjacent the interface is at most twelve (12) total yarns in width, and further wherein the second discrete area is curved.
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Accused Products
Abstract
All-woven inflatable fabrics having areas of two layers and attachment points or “seams” where single layers of fabric are formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed solely through the utilization of basket weave patterns. These specific single fabric layers provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. An inflatable fabric comprising two layers of fabric in first discrete areas and at least one single layer of fabric positioned at a second discrete area, wherein the two layer(s) and the single layer meet at an interface, the single layer being comprised in part of a two-by-two basket weave pattern adjacent the interface, wherein the two-by-two basket weave pattern positioned adjacent the interface is at most twelve (12) total yarns in width, and further wherein the second discrete area is curved.
- 7. An inflatable fabric comprising a one seam, the seam being formed in part by a curved narrow discrete single layer area and a least one adjacent two layer area within the inflatable fabric, wherein the single layer area and the two layer area meet at a single/double layer interface, the single layer area being formed solely from a two by two basket weave, said weave being at most 12 yams in width adjacent the single/double layer interface, the fabric further comprising a wide single layer area.
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10. A side curtain airbag comprising:
an inflatable fabric comprising at least one seam, the seam formed in part by at least one two layer area and also a curved narrow discrete single layer area, the narrow single layer area formed from a basket weave pattern, the pattern having an even number of yarns at the position where the single layer area contacts the two layer area, further wherein the narrow discrete single layer area is no more than 12 yarns in width. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An inflatable all-woven fabric for use as a pillow chambered inflatable protective cushion in a vehicle passive restraint system such as a side curtain, the fabric comprising:
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(a) at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and (b) a narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, wherein narrow single fabric layer is formed adjacent the two layer area at a single/double layer interface, wherein the narrow single fabric layer formed at the interface is a two-by-two basket weave pattern, the pattern having an even number of yarns, wherein the number of yams in the narrow single fabric layer adjacent the interface is at most 12 yarns. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An inflatable protective cushion comprising at least two layers of fabric in certain discrete areas of the fabric and at least one narrow single fabric layer at a discrete area within said fabric, the two layers and the single fabric layer meeting at an interface, further wherein the at least one narrow single fabric layer is formed at the interface from a basket weave pattern of an even number of yarns, the narrow single fabric layer being at most 12 yarns in width, further wherein in the weave at the interface there are no floats having more than three empty blocks.
Specification