Airbag unit

• US 7,661,705 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Berntsson, Mats, Kjell, Fredrik, Jacobsson, Borje
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/032,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 493/243, 493/918
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an airbag unit is provided. The airbag unit comprises an airbag made of fabric. The unit has fastening devices for attaching the airbag to a motor vehicle. A cover section is proximate to the fastening devices and is fastened to the airbag. The cover section is configured to not completely cover the airbag when the airbag is in an unrolled state and forms a wrapping of the airbag when the airbag is rolled-up with the cover section to define rolled-up state.

Claims

1. An airbag unit comprising:

an airbag made of a fabric and adapted to be connected to a gas generator for inflating and unfolding the airbag from one of a rolled-up or a folded-up state into one of an unrolled or an unfolded activated state, the airbag having fastening devices for attaching the airbag to a motor vehicle; and

a cover section proximate to the fastening devices and fastened to the airbag, the cover section configured to not completely cover the airbag when the airbag is in the one of the unrolled or the unfolded activated state and configured to form a wrapping that covers the airbag when the cover section is rolled-up or folded-up together with the airbag in the one of the rolled-up or the folded-up state with a portion of the cover section positioned between at least two rolled-up or folded-up sections of the airbag so as to be intertwined with the airbag, and wherein the cover section is only fastened to the airbag along one side of the airbag.

2. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover section is one of sewn and adhered to the airbag.

3. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes fabric sections which are connected to one another via a peripheral seam.

4. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover section is made of fabric.

5. An airbag unit according to claim 4, wherein the fabric of the cover section is different from the fabric of the airbag.

6. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover section extends along approximately a whole length of the airbag in the one of the rolled-up or the folded-up state.

7. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover section has a width which corresponds to at least a perimeter of the airbag in the one of the rolled-up or the folded-up state.

8. An airbag unit according to claim 7, wherein the width of the cover section at most corresponds to twice the perimeter of the airbag in the one of the rolled-up or the folded-up state.

9. An airbag unit according to claim 1, further comprising locking devices arranged on the cover section that hold the airbag in the one of the rolled-up or the folded-up state.

10. An airbag unit according to claim 9, wherein the locking devices are configured as one of straps, hook and loop fasteners, button attachments, elastic straps and clamps.

11. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover section is fastened to the airbag along the one side adjacent to the fastening devices.

12. An airbag unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover section forms the wrapping of the airbag when starting from a side of the airbag opposite the fastening devices, the airbag is one of rolled-up or folded-up with the cover section to form the one of the rolled-up or the folded-up state of the airbag.