Method of packaging an air-bag

• US 9,809,190 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mazanek, Jan, Matsushita, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/912,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20160200287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

A method of packaging an air-bag includes providing an air-bag having a base. A first part of the air-bag is folded at least partly towards the base of the air-bag and additionally folded such that the first part of the air-bag incorporates at least one Z-fold. The first part of the air-bag and a second part of the air-bag are at least partly rolled towards the base of the air-bag to package the air-bag.

Claims

1. A method of packaging an air-bag, the method comprising:

providing an air-bag having a base, the base having a base axis extending along a longitudinal length thereof;

folding a first part of the air-bag at least partly towards the base of the air-bag and additionally folding the first part of the air-bag such that the first part of the air-bag defines at least one Z-fold; and

rolling the folded first part of the air-bag and a second part of the air-bag at least partly towards the base of the air-bag to package the air-bag, wherein the Z-fold extends along a line oblique to the base axis,

wherein the base of the air-bag includes an inlet extending along an inlet access for connecting to a source of gas;

the inlet access being oblique to the line along which the Z-fold extends.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the air-bag is a pedestrian-protecting air-bag having a central portion having a first height measured from a lower end of the base and first and second lateral sides each having a second height greater than the first height.

3. The method of packaging an air-bag of claim 2, wherein the line along which the Z-fold extends passes through an intersection of the first lateral side and the central portion at an upper end of the air-bag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

folding the second part of the air-bag to reduce an overall size of the second part of the air-bag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first part of the air-bag comprises two spaced apart regions which project obliquely from the base of the air-bag on either side of the second part of the air-bag.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein rolling the folded first part is performed in a first direction and the method further comprises rolling a further part of the air-bag in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tucking one portion of the air-bag into another portion of the air-bag.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attaching a retainer element to the rolled air-bag to retain the air-bag in the packaged condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of rolling comprises the folded first part rolling the air-bag using an apparatus for rolling an inflatable curtain air-bag.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting at least part of the air-bag into a housing.

11. A packaged air-bag for use in a vehicle, the air-bag comprising:

a base which incorporates an inlet, the base having a base axis extending along a longitudinal length thereof;

a first part of the air-bag being folded towards the base of the air-bag and additionally folded to define at least one Z-fold, the first part of the air-bag and a second part of the air-bag being at least partly rolled, wherein gas introduced into the air-bag through the inlet exerts a force which at least partly unrolls the air-bag and then subsequently at least partly unfolds the air-bag,

wherein the at least one Z-fold extends along a line oblique to the base axis.

12. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein the air-bag is a pedestrian-protecting air-bag having a central portion having a first height measured from a lower end of the base and first and second lateral sides each having a second height greater than the first height.

13. The packaged air-bag of claim 12, wherein the line along which the at least one Z-fold extends passes through an intersection of the first lateral side and the central portion at an upper end of the air-bag.

14. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein the inlet extending along an inlet access is connected to a source of gas, the inlet access being oblique to the line along which the Z-fold extends.

15. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein an overall size of the second part of the air-bag is reduced by an additional fold.

16. The packaged air-bag of claim 15, wherein the second part of the air-bag is folded with an additional fold to produce a Z-fold in the second part of the air-bag.

17. The packaged air-bag of claim 15, wherein at least one Z-fold is adjacent the inlet of the air-bag.

18. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein the first part of the air-bag comprises two spaced apart regions which project away from the base of the air-bag on either side of the second part of the air-bag.

19. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein the second part of the air-bag is at least partly rolled in a first direction and a further part of the air-bag is at least partly rolled in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

20. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein one part of the air-bag is tucked into another part of the air-bag.

21. The packaged air-bag of claim 11, wherein the air-bag is retained in the packaged condition by a retainer element.

22. The packaged air-bag of claim 21 in combination with an air-bag module, the air-bag module having a housing containing at least part of the packaged air-bag.

23. A method of packaging an air-bag, the method comprising:

providing an air-bag having a base,

folding a first part of the air-bag at least partly towards the base of the air-bag and additionally folding the first part of the air-bag such that the first part of the air-bag defines at least a first Z-fold;

rolling the folded first part of the air-bag and a second part of the air-bag at least partly towards the base of the air-bag to package the air-bag; and

folding the second part of the air-bag such that the second part of the air-bag defines at least a second Z-fold.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second Z-folds is adjacent an inlet of the air-bag.

25. A method of packaging an air-bag, the method comprising:

providing an air-bag having a base, the base having a base axis extending along a longitudinal length thereof;

folding a first part of the air-bag at least partly towards the base of the air-bag and additionally folding the first part of the air-bag such that the first part of the air-bag defines at least one Z-fold; and

rolling the folded first part of the air-bag and a second part of the air-bag at least partly towards the base of the air-bag to package the air-bag, wherein the Z-fold extends along a line oblique to the base axis,

wherein the air-bag is a pedestrian-protecting air-bag having a central portion having a first height measured from a lower end of the base and first and second lateral sides each having a second height greater than the first height.