US5140799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of folding away air bag for passenger seat
Assignee: Takata Corp
•
Filing: 1991-07-23
•
Granted: 1992-08-25
•
Expires: 2011-07-23
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method of folding away an air bag installed in front of the front passenger seat of an automobile. The bag has outwardly swelling longer side portions. The method is initiated by folding the longer side portions inwardly of the air bag to straighten both sides of the bag. The width of the shorter side portions perpendicular to the longer side portions is made slightly less than the width of an air bag case. Then, the bag is folded in alternate directions into zig-zag shape to create folds at right angles to the straightened sides. The folded bag is inserted into the case.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Satoh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/237
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of folding an air bag into an air bag case, said air bag being installed in front of a front passenger seat in an automobile and having outwardly swelling long said portions and short side portions, said method comprising the steps of: folding the long side portions of the air bag inwardly to have straight parallel edges, said long side portions being disposed between front and rear portions of the air bag and a distance between the straight edges of the folded air bag being shorter than a width of the air bag case to thereby form two elongated portions extending from the air bag case, folding the elongated portions of the air bag into zig-zag shape so that the elongated portions are bent and parts of the elongated portions laminate with each other, and inserting the laminated portions into the air bag case so that edges of the laminated portions orient substantially perpendicularly to a module cover of the air bag case and are directed to the front passenger seat.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of folding an air bag into an air bag case, said air bag being installed in front of a front passenger seat in an automobile and having outwardly swelling long said portions and short side portions, said method comprising the steps of: folding the long side portions of the air bag inwardly to have straight parallel edges, said long side portions being disposed between front and rear portions of the air bag and a distance between the straight edges of the folded air bag being shorter than a width of the air bag case to thereby form two elongated portions extending from the air bag case, folding the elongated portions of the air bag into zig-zag shape so that the elongated portions are bent and parts of the elongated portions laminate with each other, and inserting the laminated portions into the air bag case so that edges of the laminated portions orient substantially perpendicularly to a module cover of the air bag case and are directed to the front passenger seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said air bag case has long sides and short sides and is attached to a center of the air bag so that the long sides of the air bag case are substantially parallel to the short side portions of the air bag, said air bag folded in the zig-zag shape being arranged parallel to the long sides of the air bag case to be easily opened when the air bag is inflated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 2, wherein when the long side portions of the air bag are folded, the front and rear portions of the air bag are flattened so that one of the front and rear portions has a width shorter than that of the air bag case, and the other of the front and rear portions has a width longer than that of the air bag case and is folded behind the portion of the air bag with the short width.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of folding an air bag into an air bag case, said air bag being installed in front of a front passenger seat in an automobile and having outwardly swelling long side portions and short side portions, said method comprising the steps of: folding the long side portions of the air bag inwardly to have straight parallel edges, said long side portions being disposed between front and rear portions of the air bag and a distance between the straight edges of the folded air bag being shorter than a width of the air bag case to thereby form two elongated portions extending from the air bag case, folding the elongated portions of the air bag into zig-zag shape so that the elongated portions are bent and parts of the elongated portions laminate with each other, and inserting the laminated portions into the air bag case so that the laminated portions orient substantially parallel to a module cover of the air bag case.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of folding an air bag into an air bag case, said air bag being installed in front of a front passenger seat in an automobile and having outwardly swelling long side portions and short side portions, said method comprising the steps of: folding the long side portions of the air bag inwardly to have straight parallel edges, said long side portions being disposed between front and rear portions of the air bag and a distance between the straight edges of the folded air bag being shorter than a width of the air bag case to thereby form two elongated portions extending from the air bag case, folding the elongated portions of the air bag into zig-zag shape so that the elongated portions are bent and parts of the elongated portions laminate with each other, and inserting the laminated portions into the air bag case so that the laminated portions orient substantially parallel to a module cover of the air bag case.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said air bag case has long sides and short sides and is attached to a center of the air bag so that the long sides of the air bag case are substantially parallel to the short side portions of the air bag, said air bag folded in the zig-zag shape being arranged parallel to the long sides of the air bag case to be easily opened when the air bag is inflated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 5, wherein when the long side portions of the air bag are folded, the front and rear portions of the air bag are flattened so that one of the front and rear portions has a width shorter than that of the air bag case, and the other of the front and rear portions has a width longer than that of the air bag case and is folded behind the portion of the air bag with the short width.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the laminated portions of each elongated portions of the air bag are disposed inside the air bag case adjacent to each other without affecting to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the laminated portions of each elongated portions of the air bag are disposed inside the air bag case adjacent to each other while the laminated portions of one elongated portion are disposed over the laminated portions of the other elongated portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3756617A
Cited
US4810005A
Cited
US4960292A
Cited
US4903986A
Cited
US5006038A
Cited
US4995638A
Cited
US5060972A
Cited
US5022675A
Cited
US5009452A
Cited
US5004266A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |