Package confirmation quality check tool for an airbag system and method of operation thereof

• US 9,371,053 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Moberg, Joshua L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US14/485,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20160075302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag system includes an inflatable airbag including an aperture and an indicator, the indicator viewable through the aperture when the inflatable airbag is in a packaged condition. A method of packaging an inflatable airbag includes rolling an inflatable airbag into a packaged configuration and confirming the indicator is visible through the aperture when the inflatable airbag is in the packaged condition.

Claims

1. An airbag system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag including an aperture and an indicator, the aperture being provided on a first portion of the inflatable airbag, the indicator being provided on a second portion of the inflatable airbag,

when the inflatable airbag is in a packaged condition, the first portion overlaps the second portion such that the indicator is viewable through the aperture from outside of the airbag.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the aperture is round.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the indicator is round.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the indicator is a dot.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator is different color the inflatable airbag.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the aperture is a slot.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the indicator is a line.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflatable airbag is folded when in the packaged condition.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflatable airbag is rolled when in the packaged condition.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflatable airbag is folded and rolled when in the packaged condition.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflatable airbag is a curtain shield airbag that is generally rectilinear.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a corner of the inflatable airbag is folded when in the packaged condition.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the inflatable airbag is rolled after the corner is folded when in the packaged condition.

14. A method of packaging an inflatable airbag, the inflatable airbag including an indicator and an aperture, the aperture being provided on a first portion of the inflatable airbag, the indicator being provided on a second portion of the inflatable airbag, the method comprising:

rolling the inflatable airbag into a packaged condition in which the first portion overlaps the second portion; and

confirming the indicator is visible through the aperture when the inflatable airbag is in the packaged condition.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the aperture is round.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the indicator is round.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the indicator is a dot.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the aperture is a slot.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the indicator is a line.

20. A method of packaging an inflatable airbag, the inflatable airbag including an indicator and an aperture, the method comprising:

rolling the inflatable airbag into a packaged condition;

confirming the indicator is visible through the aperture when the inflatable airbag is in the packaged condition; and

folding a corner of the inflatable airbag prior to rolling.