Airbag, airbag folding method, and airbag device

• US 7,631,892 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Katsumi, Goto, Norimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/065,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/731, 280/728.1, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag is disclosed wherein a lower deployment portion, right deployment portion, and left deployment portion are folded on the occupant side of a central deployment portion in an optional order. The upper deployment portion is folded to be located on the most occupant side and upper side of the folded deployment portions.

Claims

1. An airbag disposed in an airbag device, comprising:

the airbag having a circular shape when unfolded in a flat manner, and two straight lines which intersect at a center O of the airbag form horizontal reference axis X and vertical reference axis Y which define four quadrants consisting of an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower right quadrant and a lower left quadrant,

an upper deployment portion consisting of the upper right and upper left quadrants and corresponding to a head of an occupant;

a lower deployment portion consisting of the lower right and lower left quadrants and corresponding to a body of the occupant below the head;

a right deployment portion consisting of the upper right and lower right quadrants and located on the right of the upper and lower deployment portions;

a left deployment portion consisting of the upper left and lower left quadrants and located on the left of the upper and lower deployment portions; and

a central deployment portion located at the intersection of the upper, lower, right, and left deployment portions over the center O,

the lower deployment portion, the right deployment portion, and the left deployment portion being folded on an occupant side of the central deployment portion in an optional order to form a lower folded body comprising an entire area of the lower right and lower left quandrants, wherein at least one of the right deployment portion and the left deployment portion is folded on the most occupant side of the folded lower deployment portion,

the upper deployment portion being folded to be superimposed on the most occupant side of an upper side of the folded right and left deployment portions and not superimposed on the lower folded body so that the lower deployment portion is restrained from deploying before the upper deployment portion.

2. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optional order is set so that the lower deployment portion fails to be located on the most occupant side.

3. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper deployment portion includes at least part wound in a roll.

4. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper deployment portion includes at least part folded in a bellows.

5. A method of folding an airbag, the airbag having a circular shape when unfolded in a flat manner, and two straight lines which intersect at a center O of the airbag form horizontal reference axis X and vertical reference axis Y which define four quadrants consisting of an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower right quadrant and a lower left quadrant,

the airbag further including an upper deployment portion consisting of the upper right and upper left quadrants and corresponding to a head of an occupant, a lower deployment portion consisting of the lower left and lower right quadrants and corresponding to a body of the occupant below the head, a right deployment portion consisting of the upper right and lower right quadrants and located on the right of the upper and lower deployment portions, a left deployment portion consisting of the upper left and lower left quadrants and located on the left of the upper and lower deployment portions, and a central deployment portion located at the intersection of the upper, lower, right, and left deployment portions, over the center O, the method comprising:

a first process of folding one of the lower deployment portion, the right deployment portion, and the left deployment portion on the occupant side of the central deployment portion;

a second process of folding one of the right deployment portion and the left deployment portion on the occupant side of the folded deployment portions when the lower deployment portion is folded on the occupant side of the central deployment portion in the first process, or the lower deployment portion on the occupant side of the folded deployment portions when one of the right deployment portion and the left deployment portion is folded on the occupant side of the central portion in the first process;

a third process of folding another of the right deployment portion and the left deployment portion on the occupant side of the deployment portions folded in the second process; and

a fourth process of folding the upper deployment portion on the most occupant side of the deployment portions folded in the third process,

wherein the upper deployment portion is not superimposed over the lower deployment portion and deploys before the lower deployment portion.