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US4173356A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Inflatable apparatus and methods of constructing and utilizing same

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-03-27
•
Granted: 1979-11-06
•
Expires: 1994-03-27
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Abstract

Abstract The inflatable apparatus, such as an air bag for a vehicle, includes an inflatable body structure which is folded along predetermined lines into a compact shape and volume when the body structure is collapsed or deflated. The valve means is operably connected to the inflatable body structure to facilitate inflation of the apparatus. The inflatable structure is formed and folded in such a fashion that upon operation of the valve, the body structure inflates in a manner wherein the folds puff up simultaneously effecting an even, smooth inflation of the structure to a very large shape and volume which is much greater than the compact predetermined folded shape and volume. One version of the air bag is utilized for the driver of the vehicle, and a second version of the air bag is utilized to accommodate two passengers simultaneously.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tsuneyo Ross

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 16:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/237; B60R21/231; B60R2021/23161

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 91 words
A safety bag adapted to be inflated in a vehicle in order to cushion an occupant of the vehicle, said safety bag having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition, said bag when in said deflated folded condition comprising: a plurality of adjacent accordion pleats whose fold lines radiate from a central point of the deflated bag, said fold lines converging at the central point and diverging at the opposite end, such that said pleats are circle-sector shaped, said bag being mounted on said vehicle at said central point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 91 words
A safety bag adapted to be inflated in a vehicle in order to cushion an occupant of the vehicle, said safety bag having a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition, said bag when in said deflated folded condition comprising: a plurality of adjacent accordion pleats whose fold lines radiate from a central point of the deflated bag, said fold lines converging at the central point and diverging at the opposite end, such that said pleats are circle-sector shaped, said bag being mounted on said vehicle at said central point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The safety bag described in claim 1 comprising means affixed to and operably interconnected with the safety bag at said central point for facilitating the inflation of the safety bag.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 72 words
A method of folding an inflatable safety bag of generally spherical shape and having a gas inlet orifice, said method comprising: flattening said bag into a circular configuration with said orifice at the center thereof, folding said circular configuration into a semi-circular configuration, folding said circular configuration into a quadrant configuration by inverting the fold of said semi-circular configuration to form two additional folds, all of said folds converging at said center.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 72 words
A method of folding an inflatable safety bag of generally spherical shape and having a gas inlet orifice, said method comprising: flattening said bag into a circular configuration with said orifice at the center thereof, folding said circular configuration into a semi-circular configuration, folding said circular configuration into a quadrant configuration by inverting the fold of said semi-circular configuration to form two additional folds, all of said folds converging at said center.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2663524A Cited
US3560018A Cited
US3640546A Cited
US3628809A Cited
US3690695A Cited
US3708181A Cited
US3799578A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-11-05 1983-05-07 1983-11-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-11-05 1987-05-07 1987-11-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-11-05 1991-05-07 1991-11-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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