Airbag and method of manufacture thereof

• US 7,922,198 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Urushibata, Akito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/236,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/732, 280/743.1, 493/243
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23538 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

An airbag includes a circumferential plane, a margin, a receiving plane and a second seam line. The circumferential plane is formed by being seamed to form a first seam line from its base end to its farthest end and has a closed cross section. The margin for the first seam line is provided on the circumferential plane. The receiving plane extends integrally from the circumferential panel and receives a passenger at an impact. The circumferential plane and the receiving plane are seamed together to form the second seam line. The second seam line crosses the first seam line and goes across the margin in a width direction of the margin. According to the airbag, its manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

Claims

1. An airbag comprising:

a circumferential panel formed by being seamed along a first seam line from a base end to a farthest end;

a margin provided on the circumferential panel for the first seam line;

a receiving panel continuing with the circumferential panel for receiving a passenger;

a second seam line for seaming the circumferential panel and the receiving panel together; and

a main body including the circumferential panel, the margin, the receiving panel and the second seam line, wherein

the second seam line crosses the first seam line and goes across the margin in a width direction of the margin,

the main body being formed by seaming an airbag fabric, which includes a pair of circumferential segments for forming the circumferential panel and a pair of receiving segments for forming the receiving panel,

the airbag fabric includes a pair of seamed lines which are lapped together and extend along the first and second seam lines when spread into a flat state,

the airbag fabric, in a state where the pair of seamed lines have been lapped on each other, includes a double-layered circumferential-panel structure formed with the lapped circumferential segments and a double-layered receiving-panel structure adjacent to the circumferential-panel structure and formed with the lapped receiving segments,

each of the seamed lines including;

a first seamed line provided on the circumferential-panel structure, the lapped circumferential segments being seamed along the first seamed line to form the first seam line,

a pair of second seamed lines provided on the circumferential-panel structure and crossing the first seamed line, one of the circumferential segments and one of the receiving segments being seamed along one of the second seamed lines to form the second seam line and another of the circumferential segments and another of the receiving segments being seamed along another of the second seamed lines to form the second seam line, and

a pair of third seamed lines provided on the receiving-panel structure and crossing the pair of second seamed lines, respectively, the pair of third seamed lines being lapped onto the pair of second seamed lines, and

the first seamed line and the pair of second seamed lines are located on or outside a circumference of a hexagon AIKLJB, and points M and N are located outside the hexagon AIKLJB;

wherein;

point A comprises a cross point of one set of the lapped second seamed lines and one set of the lapped third seamed lines,

point B comprises a cross point of another set of the lapped second seamed lines and another set of the lapped third seamed lines,

point C comprises a cross point of the one set of the lapped third seamed lines and a virtual axial line extending along a folding edge of the receiving-panel structure,

point D comprises a cross point of the other set of the lapped third seamed lines and the virtual axial line,

point E comprises a cross point of a segment CD and a straight line passing over the point A and perpendicular to a segment AB,

point F comprises a cross point of the segment CD and a straight line passing over the point B and perpendicular to the segment AB,

point G comprises a cross point of the segment CD and a straight line obtained by rotating a straight line AE around the point A by α

degree,

point H comprises a cross point of the segment CD and a straight line obtained by rotating a straight line BF around the point B by β

degree,

point I comprises a point being on an opposite side of the point B with respect to the straight line AE and providing a segment with the point A having the same length as a segment AG,

point J comprises a point being on an opposite side of the point A with respect to the straight line BF and providing a segment with the point B having the same length as a segment BH,

point K comprises a point to meet a following formula (I) on a straight line obtained by rotating the straight line AE around the point A by γ

degree,

(AI)²×

(cos 2α

)=(AK)²−

(IK)²+2×

(AI)×

(AK)×

(sin α

)×

(sin γ

) 

 

(I)

point L comprises a point to meet a following formula (II) on a straight line obtained by rotating the straight line BF around the point B by ø

degree,

(BJ)²×

(cos 2β

)=(BL)²−

(JL)²+2×

(BJ)×

(BL)×

(sin β

)×

(sin ø

) 

 

(II)

point M comprises;

a cross point of the lapped first seamed lines and the one set of the lapped second seamed lines, and

point N comprises a cross point of the lapped first seamed lines and the other set of the lapped second seamed lines.

2. A manufacturing method of an airbag according to claim 1 manufactured by seaming an airbag fabric along first and second seam lines, which includes a pair of circumferential segments for forming a circumferential panel and a pair of receiving segments for forming receiving panel, wherein

the airbag fabric includes a pair of to-be-seamed lines which are to be lapped together,

the airbag fabric, in a state where the pair of seamed lines has been lapped on each other, includes a double-layered circumferential-panel structure formed with the lapped circumferential segments and a double-layered receiving-panel structure adjacent to the circumferential-panel structure and formed with the lapped receiving segments,

each of the to-be-seamed lines includes

a first to-be-seamed line provided on the circumferential-panel structure, the lapped circumferential segments being seamed along the first seamed line to form the first seam line,

a pair of second to-be-seamed lines provided on the circumferential-panel structure and crossing the first to-be-seamed line, one of the circumferential segments and one of the receiving segments being to be seamed along one of the second to-be-seamed lines to form the second seam line and another of the circumferential segments and another of the receiving segments being to be seamed along another of the second to-be-seamed lines to form the second seam line, and

a pair of third to-be-seamed lines provided on the receiving-panel structure and crossing the pair of second to-be-seamed lines, respectively, the pair of third to-be-seamed lines being to be lapped onto the pair of second to-be-seamed lines,

and

the method comprising:

a first step for folding back the airbag fabric so as to lap the pair of to-be-seamed lines on each other,

a second step for seaming one of the circumferential segments and another of the circumferential segments along the lapped first to-be-seamed lines to form the first seam line,

a third step for pulling away the one of the circumferential segments and the other of the circumferential segments so as to make the pair of receiving segments laid on a same flat panel, and lapping the second to-be-seamed line on the one of the circumferential segments onto the third to-be-seamed line on the one of the receiving segments and lapping the second to-be-seamed line on the other of the circumferential segments onto the third to-be-seamed line on the other of the receiving segments, and

a fourth step for seaming edges of the lapped circumferential and receiving segments along the second to-be-seamed lines to form the second seam line so as to cross the first seam line from cross points of the second to-be-seamed lines on the one of the circumferential segments to other cross points of the second to-be-seamed lines on the other of the circumferential segments, respectively.