Folding method for door mounted inflatable curtain
First Claim
1. A method of compacting a door-mounted airbag, the airbag having a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel, the method comprising:
- folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to the first edge to create a first set of folds so that the first set of folds has a last fold, wherein the last fold in the first set of folds defines a pivot point proximate the vertex; and
subsequently radially folding the airbag about the pivot point proximate the vertex to create a second set of folds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of folding or compacting a door-mounted inflatable curtain airbag to reduce the overall length of the airbag for positioning onto a vehicle. The airbag may generally be substantially parallellogrammatical in shape. The method involves a two-step process (1) folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to the rear edge (first edge) of the airbag and (2) subsequently folding the airbag radially to compact the airbag down into its final, storable position. The present methods allow folding, compaction of the airbag without having a fold that is parallel to the compacted length of the airbag.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of compacting a door-mounted airbag, the airbag having a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel, the method comprising:
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folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to the first edge to create a first set of folds so that the first set of folds has a last fold, wherein the last fold in the first set of folds defines a pivot point proximate the vertex; and subsequently radially folding the airbag about the pivot point proximate the vertex to create a second set of folds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A door-mounted airbag comprising a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel, wherein the airbag is folded along an axis that is substantially normal to the first edge to create a first set of folds, wherein a last fold in the first set of folds contacts the vertex, the airbag also being radially folded about a pivot point to create a second set of folds.
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17. A method of compacting a door-mounted airbag, the airbag having a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel and an overall length greater that the length of the bottom edge, the method comprising:
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folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to an ideal first edge to create a first set of folds, wherein a last fold in the first set of folds is proximate the vertex, wherein the ideal first edge is the edge that would exist if the airbag had the first edge parallel to a second edge; and subsequently radially folding the airbag about a pivot point proximate the vertex to create a second set of folds, thereby reducing the overall length of the airbag as folded to approximately the length of the bottom edge.
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Specification