Air bag with pleated portion
First Claim
1. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
- at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the at least one panel having a central portion presented toward the vehicle occupant in a normally inflated and deployed condition of the protection device;
at least one pleat formed in the central portion, the at least one pleat defining a cushioned portion of the central portion that is positioned and oriented toward the occupant for receiving at least one of a head, upper thorax, and chest of the occupant in the normally inflated and deployed condition of the protection device, the at least one pleat reducing fabric tension in the cushioned portion to provide the cushioned portion with a degree of softness that is increased over remaining areas of the protection device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes at least one panel (212) of material that defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. The at least one panel (212) has a portion presented toward the vehicle occupant when in an inflated and deployed condition. The protection device (14) includes at least one pleat (296, 316) formed in the at least one panel (212). The at least one pleat (296, 316) defines a cushioned portion (210) for receiving a portion of the occupant. The at least one pleat (296, 316) reduces fabric tension in the cushioned portion (210) to provide the cushioned portion with a degree of softness that is reduced over remaining areas of the protection device (14).
36 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
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at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the at least one panel having a central portion presented toward the vehicle occupant in a normally inflated and deployed condition of the protection device; at least one pleat formed in the central portion, the at least one pleat defining a cushioned portion of the central portion that is positioned and oriented toward the occupant for receiving at least one of a head, upper thorax, and chest of the occupant in the normally inflated and deployed condition of the protection device, the at least one pleat reducing fabric tension in the cushioned portion to provide the cushioned portion with a degree of softness that is increased over remaining areas of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
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at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the protection device having a cushioned portion positioned and oriented toward a vehicle occupant for receiving a portion of the occupant in a normally inflated and deployed condition of the protection device; at least one pair of cutout portions that extend toward each other from opposite edges of the at least one panel, at least one pleat portion of the at least one panel being defined between the cutout portions; the at least one panel being folded over in a Z-fold configuration in the area of the at least one pleat portion to position the at least one pleat portion between overlying portions of the at least one panel; and interconnections that interconnect the overlying portions of the at least one panel with each other and that connect the at least one pleat portion to the at least one panel to form at least one pleat that helps define the cushioned portion of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
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at least one panel of material that defines an inflatable volume of the protection device, the protection device having a cushioned portion presented toward the vehicle occupant when in an inflated and deployed condition; at least one pair of cutout portions that extend toward each other from opposite edges of the at least one panel, at least one pleat portion of the at least one panel being defined between the cutout portions; the at least one panel being folded over in a Z-fold configuration in the area of the at least one pleat portion to position the at least one pleat portion between overlying portions of the at least one panel; and interconnections that interconnect the overlying portions of the at least one panel with each other and that connect the at least one pleat portion to the at least one panel to form at least one pleat that helps define the cushioned portion of the protection device, wherein at least one pair of cutout portions comprises two pairs of cutout portions that define a spaced pair of pleated portions, the at least one panel being folded over and interconnected by the interconnections to form a spaced pair of pleats of the protection device, the cushioned portion being defined between the spaced pair of pleats. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification