Method of making L-shaped inflatable restraint cushion

• US 4,300,894 A
• Filed: 12/03/1979
• Issued: 11/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Zens, John F., DeBano, John, Cumming, Richard J., Sajewski, Vincent F., Gardella, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coan, James F.
• Application Number:
  US06/099,871
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/728, 280/732, 280/738, 93/35 PC, 93/35 R, 93/35 SB, 93/8 VB, 93/1 WZ, 493/212, 493/210, 493/267 , 493/243, 493/918, 493/920, 493/931, 493/967
• US Class Current: 493/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/931 having plural compartments

Abstract

A method of making a restraint cushion which when inflated forms a generally horizontally orientated lower compartment connected to a vertically orientated upper compartment comprising the steps of providing upper and lower sheets of woven material joined together along a rear edge and the side edges, forming a pleated section in the upper sheet, connecting the parts of the pleated section together, joining the pleated section to the lower sheet to form a wall separating the first compartment from the second compartment, and forming at least one opening between the compartments to allow fluid to flow from the lower compartment to the upper compartment.

Claims

1. A method of making a restraint cushion which when inflated forms a generally horizontally orientated lower compartment having top and bottom walls connected to a vertically orientated upper compartment having front and rear walls, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing upper and lower sheets of flexible material which are joined together along a rear edge and the two side edges;

(b) forming a pleated section in said upper sheet along an axis extending transversely to said side edges;

(c) connecting the parts of said pleated section together, starting adjacent one side edge and ending adjacent the other side edge;

(d) joining said pleated section to said lower sheet so that said pleated section forms a wall between said lower compartment and said upper compartment;

(e) providing at least one opening between said upper and lower compartments for allowing gas to flow from said lower compartment to said upper compartment; and

(f) joining said front and rear walls of said upper compartment so as to limit the extent said front and rear walls move relative to each other when said upper compartment is inflated.

2. A method of making a restraint cushion which when inflated forms a generally horizontally orientated lower compartment having top and bottom walls connected to a vertically orientated upper compartment having front and rear walls, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing upper and lower sheets of flexible material which are joined together along a rear edge and the two side edges;

(b) forming a pleated section in said upper sheet along an axis extending transversely to said side edges;

(c) connecting the parts of said pleated section together, starting adjacent one side edge and ending adjacent the other side edge;

(d) joining said pleated section to said lower sheet so that said pleated section forms a wall between said lower compartment and said upper compartment;

(e) forming at least one opening in said pleated section for allowing gas to flow from said lower compartment to said upper compartment; and

(f) joining said front and rear walls of said upper compartment so as to limit the extent said front and rear walls move relative to each other when said upper compartment is inflated.

3. A method of making a restraint cushion which when inflated forms a generally horizontally orientated lower compartment having top and bottom walls connected to a vertically orientated upper compartment having front and rear walls, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an elongated rectangular sheet of flexible material having parallel side edges and parallel ends;

(b) folding said sheet so that said ends are aligned and joining said sheet together along the side edges thereof so as to form overlying upper and lower sheets;

(c) forming a pleated section in said upper sheet along an axis extending transversely to said side edges;

(d) connecting the parts of said pleated section together along a generally trapezoidal path starting adjacent one side edge and ending adjacent the other side edge;

(e) connecting said pleated section to said lower sheet to form a wall between said lower compartment and said upper compartment;

(f) forming at least one opening in said pleated section for allowing gas to flow between said upper and lower compartments; and

(g) joining said front and rear walls of said upper compartment so as to limit the extent said front and rear walls move relative to each other when said upper compartment is inflated.