Air-bag

• US 7,458,606 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Charpentier, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/499,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/740, 280/729, 280/743.1, 280/730.1, 280/742, 280/749, 442/203, 442/204
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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: Y10T 442/3179 Woven fabric is characterized by a particular or differential weave other than fabric in which the strand denier or warp/weft pick count is specified

Abstract

An air-bag is formed from two super-imposed layers of fabric which define between them at least one inflatable region. A gas supply duct extends into the air-bag. Apertures are formed in the gas supply duct. The gas supply duct is of elongate form, and is formed from a fabric having intersecting warp and weft yarns, the warp and weft yarns being inclined at an angle of between 30° and 60° and preferably 45° to the axis of the gas supply duct.

Claims

1. An inflatable curtain air-bag comprising two super-imposed layers of air-bag fabric which define between them a plurality of inflatable regions, a gas supply duct extending into the air-bag and including a side extending along one edge of the air-bag, the gas supply duct being of elongate tubular form and defining a longitudinal axis and being formed of a single layer of duct fabric having intersecting warp and weft yarns, the gas supply duct being provided with a plurality of apertures formed through the duct fabric through which a gas may flow into the inflatable regions of the air-bag, the apertures forming a first configuration defining a first area surrounded by a plurality of cut warp and weft yarns, wherein upon inflation of the air-bag, the apertures deform to a second configuration defining a second area substantially larger than the first area, the warp and weft yarns of the duct fabric being inclined at an angle of between 30°

and 60°

to the longitudinal axis of the gas supply duct so that when the air-bag inflates the apertures deform to the second configuration, wherein the inclined warp and weft yarns reduce the likelihood of the fabric tearing during inflation of the air-bag, wherein the single layer of duct fabric is folded so that opposed edges of the duct fabric are super-imposed and positioned between the super-imposed layers of the air-bag fabric, the super-imposed edges of duct fabric being secured together by stitching extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

2. An inflatable curtain air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the warp and weft yarns are inclined at an angle of between 40°

and 50°

to the axis of the gas supply duct.

3. An inflatable curtain air-bag according to claim 2 wherein the warp and waft yarns are inclined at an angle of 45°

to the axis of the gas supply duct.

4. An inflatable curtain air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between the warp yarns is the same as the spacing between the weft yarns.

5. An inflatable curtain air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the at least one aperture of the gas supply duct is circular.

6. An inflatable curtain air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the at least one aperture of the gas supply duct is irregular-shaped.

7. An inflatable curtain air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the stitching further secures together the super-imposed layers of duct fabric.