US5098125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube, airbag, and method of making the same
Assignee: Stern and Stern Industries Inc
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Filing: 1991-01-16
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Granted: 1992-03-24
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Expires: 2011-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A tube suitable for use in a vehicular airbag comprises a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction. The tube defines a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first yarn density. A pair of intermediate margins of slight width joins an opposed pair of sides of the opposed panels together, the intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of a second yarn density greater than the first yarn density. A pair of outer margins is provided, each of substantially greater width than one of the intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of the intermediate margins, the outer margins being formed in a weave looser than the plain interweave. The airbag is made by joining a second opposed pair of sides of the opposed panels together to form a bag, inverting the bag and positioning inflation means in gaseous communication with the interior of the inverted bag for inflating the inverted bag.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter B. Thornton
- 👤 Fred P. Woodworth
- 👤 Stanley H. Cone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:58
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/235; D; D03; D03D; D03D1/00; D03D1/02; B60R2021/23533; B60R2021/23542; B60R2021/23547; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A tube suitable for use in an airbag comprising: a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, said tube defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first yarn density; (ii) a pair of intermediate margins of slight width joining an opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of a second yarn density greater than said first yarn density; and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin being of greater width than one of said intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a weave looser than said plain interweave.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A tube suitable for use in an airbag comprising: a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, said tube defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first yarn density; (ii) a pair of intermediate margins of slight width joining an opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of a second yarn density greater than said first yarn density; and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin being of greater width than one of said intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a weave looser than said plain interweave.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tube of claim 1 formed of a material having a Frazier porosity of less than 8 cubic feet per minute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said second yarn density is twice said first yarn density.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said first yarn density is about 45×45 and said second yarn density is about 90×90.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said outer margin is formed in a non-plain weave.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tube of claim 5 wherein said outer margin has a yarn density about equal to said second yarn density.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tube of claim 6 wherein said outer margin is formed in a non-plain weave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein each of said opposed panels is of substantially rectangular configuration and has a width substantially greater than the width of one of said outer margins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein each of said outer margins has a width of about 6.0 mm and each of said intermediate margins has a width of about 2.0 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said intermediate margin has a total of about 4 ends and 4 picks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said tube is devoid of any sewing or stitching.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The tube of claim 1 in inverted form and additionally including means closing the axial ends thereof to form a bag, and inflation means in gaseous communication with the interior of said inverted bag for inflating said inverted bag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said opposed pair of sides is the opposed pair of longitudinal sides of said opposed panels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said opposed pair of sides is the warp pair of sides of said opposed panels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tube of claim 1 wherein said tube is an axially extending bag with a pair of open opposed axial ends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tube of claim 15 in combination with non-interwoven means for joining the other opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, thereby to close each of said sides and form a bag.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The tube of claim 16 wherein said tube is axially extending and defines an opposed pair of axial ends, and said opposed pair of sides and said other opposed pair of sides are the opposed pair of longitudinal sides and the opposed pair of axial ends, respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
164 words
A tube suitable for use in an airbag, comprising: a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, devoid of any sewing or stitching and having a Frazier porosity of less than 8 cubic feet per minute, said tube defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first weave of about 45×45, each of said opposed panels being of substantially rectangular configuration, (ii) a pair of intermediate margins having a total of about 4 picks and 4 ends and a width of about 2.0 mm. joining the longitudinal warp sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of about 90×90, and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin having a width of about 6.0 mm and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a non-plain weave of about 90×90 looser than said plain interweave.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
164 words
A tube suitable for use in an airbag, comprising: a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, devoid of any sewing or stitching and having a Frazier porosity of less than 8 cubic feet per minute, said tube defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first weave of about 45×45, each of said opposed panels being of substantially rectangular configuration, (ii) a pair of intermediate margins having a total of about 4 picks and 4 ends and a width of about 2.0 mm. joining the longitudinal warp sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of about 90×90, and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin having a width of about 6.0 mm and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a non-plain weave of about 90×90 looser than said plain interweave.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tube of claim 18 in combination with non-interwoven means for joining the axial end or woof sides of said opposed panels together, thereby to close the axial ends of said tube and form a bag.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
168 words
An airbag comprising: (A) an inverted seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, said tube prior to inversion defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first count, (ii) a pair of intermediate margins of slight width joining an opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of a second count greater than said first count; and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin being of substantially greater width than said one of intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a weave looser than said plain interweave; and (B) non-interwoven means for joining the other opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together to form an inverted bag from said tube; and (C) inflation means in gaseous communication with the interior of said inverted bag for inflating said inverted bag.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
168 words
An airbag comprising: (A) an inverted seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, said tube prior to inversion defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first count, (ii) a pair of intermediate margins of slight width joining an opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain interweave of a second count greater than said first count; and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin being of substantially greater width than said one of intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a weave looser than said plain interweave; and (B) non-interwoven means for joining the other opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together to form an inverted bag from said tube; and (C) inflation means in gaseous communication with the interior of said inverted bag for inflating said inverted bag.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The airbag of claim 20 wherein said inflation means is in gaseous communication with the interior of said inverted bag through an aperture formed in one of said opposed panels.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The airbag of claim 20 wherein said second count is substantially double said first count, and said outer margin is a non-plain weave of said second count.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The airbag of claim 20 wherein said construction has a Frazier porosity of less than 8 cubic feet per minute.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of making a tube for an airbag, comprising the step of: weaving a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, said tube defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first yarn density; and (ii) a pair of intermediate margins of slight width joining an opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain weave of a second yarn density greater than said first yarn density; and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin being of substantially greater width than one of said intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a weave looser than said plain weave.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of making a tube for an airbag, comprising the step of: weaving a seamless tube of integral, unitary, one-piece woven construction, said tube defining: (i) a pair of opposed panels of substantial area formed in a plain weave of a first yarn density; and (ii) a pair of intermediate margins of slight width joining an opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, said intermediate margins being formed in a plain weave of a second yarn density greater than said first yarn density; and (iii) a pair of outer margins, each outer margin being of substantially greater width than one of said intermediate margins and extending about the outer side of a respective one of said intermediate margins, said outer margins being formed in a weave looser than said plain weave.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24 including the subsequent step of joining the other opposed pair of sides of said opposed panels together, thereby to form a bag from said tube.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said construction has a Frazier porosity of less than 8 cubic feet per minute.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of making an airbag, comprising the steps of: (A) making a bag according to claim 25; (B) inverting the bag; and (C) positioning inflation means in gaseous communication with the interior of the inverted bag for inflating the inverted bag.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-24 | 1995-09-23 | 1996-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-24 | 1999-09-23 | 2000-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-24 | 2003-09-23 | 2004-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |