Patent EP0364267A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0364267A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle occupant restraint system
Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-12
Abstract
Abstract An air bag occupant protection device for use in motor vehicles having an air bag (10) made from a single piece of flat foldable fabric material (11). The air bag according to this invention is formed by gathering the free edge (13) of a flat piece of sheet stock (11) to define radial pleats (24) at a small opening (26) provided for inflation gases to enter the inside of the bag. Various approaches for gathering the free edge (13) of the material are disclosed including the use of a retaining ring (28) having posts (32) which engage apertures (12) in the free edge of the material, a cord (68) for gathering the free edge, and various other means of gathering the edge and sewing it in place. The invention avoids the cost of fabricating an air bag from multiple pieces of cut fabric and further avoids the failure modes of a fabricated air bag caused by the presence of seams which can constitute a local weakness in the air bag display.
Inventors
- 👤 James Hartmeyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; B60R21/235; B60R2021/23533; B60R2021/23538
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable, resists permeability of fluids and gases, and defines a perimeter edge, gathering means for gathering said fabric perimeter edge to define an opening which is smaller in its cross-sectional dimension than the cross-sectional dimension of said blank before gathering thereby defining a plurality of pleats of said fabric, and mounting means for securing said air bag assembly to said vehicle such that said air bag opening is in communcition with said inflating apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable, resists permeability of fluids and gases, and defines a perimeter edge, gathering means for gathering said fabric perimeter edge to define an opening which is smaller in its cross-sectional dimension than the cross-sectional dimension of said blank before gathering thereby defining a plurality of pleats of said fabric, and mounting means for securing said air bag assembly to said vehicle such that said air bag opening is in communcition with said inflating apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said fabric is made from woven threads and has a coating of heat resistant material on at least one of its surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises a retaining ring having posts which engage apertures around the perimeter edge of said fabric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said retaining ring posts have an enlarged head and a slotted end enabling said head to deflect when said apertures are placed over said posts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said posts are hollow along their longitudinal axis and a rivet is disposed within said projection to further fasten said fabric to said retaining ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said retaining ring has an opening to allow gas from said inflating apparatus to fill said air bag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein a first group of adjacent of said air bag apertures are placed upon one of said posts and a second group of adjacent of said air bag apertures are placed upon a second of said posts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said retaining ring further forms a set of projections adjacent said posts to engage said fabric to aid in preventing said air bag from being withdrawn from said retaining ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said retaining ring is a composite structure including a metal reinforcing ring element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said posts further engage a support structure for securing said air bag assembly to said motor vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises stitching through layers of said material adjacent said free edge thereby forming said radial pleats.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 11 further comprising a sewing ring having an inside opening through which said fabric passes and wherein said material adjacent said free edge is flared out and sewn to said sewing ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises an elastic cord passing through a pocket of said material adjacent said free edge which contracts to gather said material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises an inelastic cord passing through a pocket of said material adjacent said free edge which can be drawn through said pocket to gather said free edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises a series of apertures formed around the outer periphery of said fabric blank with a grommet disposed through a plurality of adjacent of said apertures to gather said fabric.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises a retaining ring having a plurality of apertures and said blank having a plurality of apertures arranged about the perimeter edge of said blank with fastening means passing through said apertures of said retaining ring and said blank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said gathering means comprises staples placed through a plurality of layers of said fabric adjacent said free edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a retaining ring affixed to said fabric with fasteners affixing said retaining ring to a support structure of said vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a retaining ring including a plurality of posts engaging apertures in a base plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 19 further comprising rivets passing through longitudinal slot through said posts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said mounting means further secures said inflating apparatus to said vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a ring sewn to said fabric and having a plurality of apertures for fasteners to secure said air bag to said vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a clamping ring and a retaining for and said fabric includes a cord trapped into a pocket adjacent said free edge.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 further comprising heat protection means for shielding said gathered free edge of said fabric from hot gases from said inflating apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 24 wherein said retaining means comprises a retaining ring and said heat protection means comprises a plurality of segments of said retaining ring projecting radially inwardly into the central opening of said retaining ring which can be folded back over said retaining ring to cover the radial edge of said material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 24 wherein said heat protection means comprises segments of fabric extending from said edge which can be folded back to cover the edges of said fabric after being gathered and seamed to cover the radial edges of said material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 24 wherein said heat protection means comprises a strip with a pair of radially extending flanges which contact opposite surfaces of said gathered fabric with a central portion covering said radial edge of said material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 24 wherein said heat protection means comprises a strip with a cord which is positioned along the inside edge of said gathered edge.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 further comprising one or more tether straps having one end attached to said blank near the center of said blank and at the opposite end adjacent said opening to modify the shape of said air bag when inflated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said blank is circular.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said blank is rectangular and forms a cylindrically shaped inflated air bag.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
97 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable, resists permeability of fluids and gases, and defines a perimeter edge, said fabric material defining a plurality of apertures adjacent its outer peripheral edge, and a retainer ring element with a central opening and having a plurality of posts, each of said posts receiving two or more of said apertures whereby said ring element gathers said fabric perimeter edge thereby defining a plurality of pleats of said fabric.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
97 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable, resists permeability of fluids and gases, and defines a perimeter edge, said fabric material defining a plurality of apertures adjacent its outer peripheral edge, and a retainer ring element with a central opening and having a plurality of posts, each of said posts receiving two or more of said apertures whereby said ring element gathers said fabric perimeter edge thereby defining a plurality of pleats of said fabric.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in claim 32 wherein said ring element is fastened to a support structure thereby securing said air bag assembly to said vehicle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said retaining ring posts have an enlarged head and a slotted end enabling said head to deflect when said apertures are placed over said posts.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said posts are hollow along their longitudinal axis and a rivet is disposed within said projection to further fasten said fabric to said retaining ring.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein a first group of adjacent of said air bag apertures are placed upon one of said posts and a second group of adjacent of said air bag apertures are placed upon a second of said posts.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said retaining ring further forms a set of projections adjacent said posts to engage said fabric to aid in preventing said air bag from being withdrawn from said retaining ring.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said retaining ring is a composite structure including a metal reinforcing ring element.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
50 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said retaining ring further defines a plurality of segments projecting radially inwardly into the central opening of said retaining ring which can be folded back over said retaining ring to cover the radial edge of said material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 further comprising rivets passing through longitudinal slot through said posts.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 further comprising heat protection means for shielding said gathered free edge of said fabric from hot gases from said inflating apparatus.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said blank is circular.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 32 wherein said blank is rectangular and forms a cylindrically shaped inflated air bag.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
89 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable and resists permeability of fluids and gases and defines a perimeter edge, a cord passing through a pocket of fabric formed along the perimeter edge of said fabric and causing said fabric to be gathered at said edge to define radial pleats and defining an opening which is smaller in its cross-sectional dimension that the cross-sectional dimension of said blank.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
89 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable and resists permeability of fluids and gases and defines a perimeter edge, a cord passing through a pocket of fabric formed along the perimeter edge of said fabric and causing said fabric to be gathered at said edge to define radial pleats and defining an opening which is smaller in its cross-sectional dimension that the cross-sectional dimension of said blank.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 44 wherein said cord is elastic.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 44 wherein said cord is inelastic.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 44 further comprising mounting means for clamping against said pocket around said cord for securing said air bag to said vehicle.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
85 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable, resists permeability of fluids and gases, and defines a perimeter edge, a sewing ring having a central aperture through which the perimeter edge of said fabric passes said central aperture having a diameter less than all the cross dimensions of said fabric whereby said fabric is gathered forming radial pleats when placed through said central aperture.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
85 words
An air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable, resists permeability of fluids and gases, and defines a perimeter edge, a sewing ring having a central aperture through which the perimeter edge of said fabric passes said central aperture having a diameter less than all the cross dimensions of said fabric whereby said fabric is gathered forming radial pleats when placed through said central aperture.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 48 wherein said fabric is sewn to said securing ring.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
An air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 48 wherein said sewing ring defines a plurality of mounting apertures for fastening said ring to said vehicle.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of fabricating an air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: providing a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable and resists permeability of fluids and gases and defines a perimeter edge, gathering said fabric together along said edge to define a plurality of radial pleats and defining an opening for inflation gases from said inflating device which is smaller in its cross-sectional dimensions than said blank, and providing means for mounting said air bag such that said opening is in fluid communication with said inflating apparatus.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of fabricating an air bag passenger safety device for use in a motor vehicle having an air bag inflating apparatus comprising: providing a single continuous piece of fabric material which is foldable and resists permeability of fluids and gases and defines a perimeter edge, gathering said fabric together along said edge to define a plurality of radial pleats and defining an opening for inflation gases from said inflating device which is smaller in its cross-sectional dimensions than said blank, and providing means for mounting said air bag such that said opening is in fluid communication with said inflating apparatus.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of fabricating an air bag passenger safety device as set forth in Claim 51 further comprising piercing a plurality of mounting holes through said fabric after said gathering.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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