Air-bag

• US 20060108776A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bradbum, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,422,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An air-bag (10) is disclosed which defines at least one inflatable region (14). The air-bag (10) is provided with a gas supply duct (22) which extends into the air-bag (10). The gas supply duct (22) is formed of fabric and is provided with at least one outlet aperture (24) therein through which gas may flow into the said at least one inflatable region (14) of the air-bag (10). The outlet aperture (24) is provided with a reinforcement to reinforce the periphery of the aperture (24) in order to prevent undesirable fraying of the fabric around the periphery of the aperture (24), or undesirable deformation characteristics of the fabric around the periphery of the aperture (24), as the air-bag (10) is inflated.

Claims

1. An air-bag comprising, the air-bag defining at least one inflatable region, the air-bag being provided with a gas supply duct extending into the air-bag, the gas supply duct being formed of a flexible material and being provided with at least one aperture therein through which an inflatable gas may flow into the said at least one inflatable region of the air-bag, the said at least one aperture being provided with a reinforcement reinforcing the periphery of the aperture.

2. An air-bag according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises fabric or a plastic material.

3. An air-bag according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises foil.

4. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the gas supply duct is of an elongate form.

5. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the gas supply duct is provided with a plurality of the apertures, each of the apertures being associated with a reinforcement.

6. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the each of the apertures is provided with a respective reinforcement.

7. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is stitching provided in the flexible material forming the gas supply duct.

8. An air-bag according to claim 7 wherein the reinforcement comprises a length of thread extending across the aperture so as to tie together opposing parts of the or aperture.

9. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcement comprises an annular reinforcing element.

10. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a single reinforcing element defining a plurality of apertures.

11. An air-bag according to claim 9 wherein the or each reinforcing element is adhered to the flexible material.

12. An air-bag according to claim 9 wherein the reinforcing element is formed of fabric.

13. An air-bag according to claim 11 wherein the reinforcing element is a region of adhesive which also bonds parts of the flexible material together to form the gas supply duct.

14. An air-bag according to claim 13 wherein the aperture is in the form of a slit through the flexible material and the adhesive.

15. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the air-bag defines a plurality of inflatable regions or chambers.

16. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the air-bag is an inflatable curtain, the gas supply duct being positioned to supply gas to each of the inflatable regions or chambers.