Airbag device

• US 7,967,334 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Weyrich, Christian, Breuninger, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/834,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• 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 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

An airbag comprises a bag which is bent in the shape of an arrow ‘<’ in a deployed state, and a connection member which is arranged on a side of the bag, facing a vehicle body, and connects the upper and lower ends of the bag with each other. A longitudinal intermediate portion of the bag projects toward a vehicle occupant. A space is defined between the projecting intermediate portion and the connection member. The head of the vehicle occupant initially comes into contact with the intermediate portion and then presses the bag toward the vehicle body. Upper and lower parts of the bag which extend upward and downward from the intermediate portion cooperate with the connection member to define a triangular space.

Claims

1. A method of folding an airbag device comprising:

pre-folding a side airbag connected to a member, wherein the side airbag has first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, wherein the side airbag is configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant, wherein the member connects the upper and lower ends of the side airbag, wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member, and

folding the side airbag and member after the side airbag is pre-folded,

wherein the step of pre-folding the side airbag causes a pre-folded vertical length of the airbag to be equalized to an unfolded vertical length of the member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of an unfolded vertical length of the airbag to the unfolded vertical length of the member is approximately 1.2 or greater.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of pre-folding the side airbag comprises folding the intermediate portion of the airbag onto a side of the airbag opposite of a side facing the member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of pre-folding the side airbag comprises folding the intermediate portion and another intermediate portion of the airbag onto a side of the airbag opposite of a side facing the member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the two intermediate portions of the airbag share a common surface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the two intermediate portions of the airbag are at a spaced distance from each other.

7. A method of folding an airbag device comprising:

pre-folding a side airbag connected to a member, wherein the side airbag has first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, wherein the side airbag is configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant, wherein the member connects the upper and lower ends of the side airbag, wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member, and

folding the side airbag and member after the side airbag is pre-folded,

wherein the step of folding the side airbag and member comprises folding the side airbag and member so as to be rolled, zig-zag folded, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein an unfolded vertical length of the member is smaller than an unfolded vertical length of the airbag.

9. A method of folding an airbag device comprising:

pre-folding a side airbag connected to a member, wherein the side airbag has first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, wherein the side airbag is configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant, wherein the member connects the upper and lower ends of the side airbag, wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member, and

folding the side airbag and member after the side airbag is pre-folded,

wherein the step of folding the side airbag and member comprises rolling the side airbag and zig-zag folding the member.

10. A method of folding an airbag device comprising:

pre-folding a side airbag connected to a member, wherein the side airbag has first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion, wherein the side airbag is configured to deploy downwardly toward a vehicle occupant, wherein the member connects the upper and lower ends of the side airbag, wherein the side airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member, and

folding the side airbag and member after the side airbag is pre-folded,

wherein the method further comprises pre-folding the member such that the member is pre-folded in a central portion and the member is pre-folded again such that the central portion of the member is placed on the pre-folded side airbag.