Airbag structure

• US 7,354,063 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: Keshavaraj, Ramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/796,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23533 characterised by the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An airbag construction for a vehicle is described. The construction utilizes non-circular polygon shaped panels, which provide greater nesting efficiency than previously achieved by comparable airbags using round panels. In addition, the construction enables the airbag to take full advantage of the strength of the yarns forming the fabric, and the energy absorption of the fabric construction, enabling the use of lower tenacity yarns and/or materials at comparable levels of performance.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion comprising in part a front panel and a rear panel, wherein each of said front and rear panels has a substantially rectangular or square configuration, wherein each of said panels comprises generally perpendicularly arranged sets of yarns, wherein the yarns in the front panel are at a bias to the yarns in the rear panel, and further comprising a peripheral side panel connected to and extending between peripheries of said front and rear panels, further wherein said front and rear panels have concave sides.

2. An airbag cushion comprising a front panel and a rear panel, wherein each of said panels has a polygonal configuration with a maximum of four sides, wherein each of said panels is formed of at least two generally perpendicularly arranged sets of yarns, and wherein the yarns in the front panel are at a bias to the yarns in the rear panel, and further comprising a peripheral side panel extending between the front panel and rear panel, further wherein said front and rear panels have concave sides.

3. An airbag cushion comprising a front panel and a rear panel, wherein each of said front and rear panels has a geometrical configuration approximating a triangle, wherein said panels comprise generally perpendicularly intersecting warp and filling yarns, and wherein the yarns in the front panel are at a bias to the yarns in the rear panel, further comprising a peripheral side panel connected to and extending between the peripheries of the front and rear panels.

4. An airbag cushion comprising a front panel and a rear panel, wherein said front and rear panels comprise a geometrical configuration approximating a square, a rectangle, or a triangle, wherein said panels comprise generally perpendicularly intersecting warp and filling yarns, and wherein the yarns in the front panel are at a bias to the yarns in the rear panel, further comprising a peripheral side panel connected to and extending between the peripheries of the front and rear panels, wherein said front and rear panels define rounded corners and generally concave sides.