Air-bag

• US 7,422,233 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bradbum, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US10/528,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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, 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 inflating gas may flow into the at least one inflatable region of the air-bag, the at least one aperture being provided with a reinforcement reinforcing a periphery of the aperture, wherein the reinforcement is in the form of stitching provided in the flexible material forming the gas supply duct and includes a length of thread which is disposed in the aperture and extends across the aperture to tie together opposing parts of the aperture, restraining the opposing parts from moving away from each other during inflation of the airbag.

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

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

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

7. The 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.

8. The air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the gas supply duct is formed of a single layer of the flexible material.

9. The air-bag according to claim 8 wherein the flexible material is fabric.