Airbag fold bracket

• US 20080217896A1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Visker, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 7,641,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/307 Sheet metal formed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44855 Terminal end of resilient member having engagement or disengagement enhancing structural modifications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44923 Clasp, clip, or support-clamp cut or shaped from a single sheet of resilient, uniformly thick, planar material

Abstract

An airbag system in a motor vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags and at least one airbag fold bracket configured to indicate the location of at least one airbag fold of the inflatable airbag. The airbag fold bracket may also be configured to maintain the position and shape of the airbag fold of the inflatable airbag while in the undeployed state. Furthermore, the airbag fold bracket may be configured to adjust and tune the deployment of the inflatable airbag.

Claims

1. An airbag system in a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one inflatable airbag in an undeployed state;

at least one airbag fold bracket configured to indicate at least one airbag fold location of the at least one inflatable airbag.

2. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket comprises an airbag fold retainer clip, wherein the airbag fold retainer clip is configured to indicate the at least one airbag fold location and to maintain the shape and position of at least one airbag fold.

3. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket comprises an airbag fold retainer tab, wherein the airbag fold retainer tab is configured to indicate the at least one airbag fold location and to maintain the shape and position of at least one airbag fold.

4. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket comprises at least one positioning tab, wherein the positioning tab is configured to tuck behind an edge or a fold of the inflatable airbag.

5. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflatable airbag is folded and rolled with a roll plus one fold technique.

6. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket is configured to adjust and tune the deployment of the at least one inflatable airbag.

7. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket comprises a fold window configured to allow observation of the at least one airbag fold location.

8. The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket is attached to the at least one inflatable airbag.

9. The air airbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one airbag fold bracket is attached to a motor vehicle.

10. A method of folding an inflatable airbag, the method comprising:

positioning at least one airbag fold bracket at a desired position of the inflatable airbag;

indicating a fold location of the inflatable airbag with the airbag fold bracket;

folding the inflatable airbag at the indicated fold location; and

maintaining the position and shape of the airbag fold with the airbag fold bracket.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning an airbag fold bracket at a desired position of the inflatable airbag comprises attaching the airbag fold bracket to the desired position of the inflatable airbag.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching the airbag fold bracket comprises attaching the airbag fold bracket to the inflatable airbag with tape, at least one clip, at least one staple, at least one bolt, at least one screw, adhesive or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the airbag fold bracket comprises an airbag fold retainer clip and wherein indicating the fold location of the inflatable airbag comprises aligning the airbag fold retaining clip with the inflatable airbag at the fold location.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the airbag fold bracket comprises an airbag fold retainer tab and wherein indicating the fold location of the inflatable airbag comprises aligning the airbag fold retaining tab with the inflatable airbag at the fold location.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising rolling the inflatable airbag after folding the inflatable airbag.

16. An inflatable airbag fold bracket comprising:

an alignment end configured to be positioned at a desired area of an airbag;

an airbag fold retainer clip remotely disposed from the alignment end and configured to identify a fold location of the airbag at a specific position relative to the alignment end of the airbag fold bracket; and

wherein the airbag fold retainer clip is configured to maintain the shape and position of at least one airbag fold.

17. The inflatable airbag fold bracket of claim 16 further comprising an attachment tab.

18. The inflatable airbag fold bracket of claim 16, wherein the airbag fold retainer clip further comprises a fold window configured for observation of the fold location.

19. The inflatable airbag fold bracket of claim 16 configured to adjust and tune the deployment of an airbag cushion in a motor vehicle.

20. The inflatable airbag fold bracket of claim 16, wherein the airbag fold retainer clip comprises at least one fold retainer tab.

21. The inflatable airbag fold bracket of claim 16 further comprising at least one positioning tab.

23. The airbag system of claim 19, further comprising means for maintaining the position and shape of the airbag fold.

24. The airbag system of claim 19, further comprising means for adjusting and tuning the deployment of the at least one inflatable airbag cushion.

22. An airbag system in a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one inflatable airbag cushion comprising at least one airbag fold in an undeployed state; and

means for indicating the location of the airbag fold.