Air bag and folding method

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: an inflatable air bag having an inflation fluid inlet opening; and means for supporting said air bag on a vehicle panel at a location from which said restraint is inflatable toward a predetermined vehicle occupant position in a first direction so as to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant in a second, opposite direction; said air bag having a folded condition with a cross-sectional configuration extending across said inlet opening, said cross-sectional configuration being defined by a total number of pleats having closed outer ends and open inner ends for receiving inflation fluid from said inlet opening; all of said total number of pleats extending inward across said cross-sectional configuration from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends in a single, common sideways direction; said sideways direction extending horizontally across said first and second directions, whereby said pleats comprise means for causing said air bag to inflate in said sideways direction horizontally against and across an out-of-position vehicle occupant located between said vehicle panel and said predetermined vehicle occupant position.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle panel is an instrument panel.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle panel is a door panel.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pleats extend equal distances inward in said sideways direction from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pleats extend unequal distances inward in said sideways direction from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pleats are arranged in a stack in which the open inner end of each overlying pleat is spaced inward in said sideways direction from the open inner end of an adjacent underlying pleat.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet opening has a centerline perpendicular to said sideways direction, at least one of said pleats extending inward across said centerline in said sideways direction.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cross-sectional configuration has a centerline perpendicular to said sideways direction, at least one of said pleats extending inward across said centerline in said sideways direction.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein at least two of said open inner ends of said pleats are located on respective opposite sides of said centerline.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said inlet opening is centered on said centerline.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said air bag has a fully folded condition from which it is unfolded and inflated upon receiving inflation fluid through said inlet opening, said pleats comprising means for defining said folded condition of said air bag as a partially folded condition from which said air bag is foldable into said fully folded condition.

Claim 13

Apparatus comprising: an inflatable air bag having an inflation fluid inlet opening; and means for supporting said air bag on a vehicle instrument panel at a location from which said restraint is inflatable toward a predetermined vehicle occupant position in a rearward direction so as to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant oppositely in a forward direction; said air bag having a folded condition with a cross-sectional configuration extending across said inlet opening, said cross-sectional configuration being defined by a total number of pleats having closed outer ends and open inner ends for receiving inflation fluid from said inlet opening; all of said total number of pleats extending inward across said cross-sectional configuration from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends in a single, common sideways direction; said sideways direction extending across said forward and rearward directions and extending horizontally between right and left sides of said predetermined vehicle occupant position, whereby said pleats comprise means for causing said air bag to inflate against and across an out-of-position vehicle occupant horizontally between the right and left sides of the out-of-position vehicle occupant.

Claim 14

Apparatus comprising: an inflatable air bag having an inflation fluid inlet opening; and means for supporting said air bag on a vehicle instrument panel at a location from which said restraint is inflatable toward a predetermined vehicle occupant position in a rearward direction so as to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant oppositely in a forward direction; said air bag having a folded condition with a cross-sectional configuration extending across said inlet opening, said cross-sectional configuration being defined by a total number of pleats having closed outer ends and open inner ends for receiving inflation fluid from said inlet opening; all of said total number of pleats extending inward across said cross-sectional configuration from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends in a single, common sideways direction; said sideways direction extending across said forward and rearward directions and extending horizontally between right and left sides of said predetermined vehicle occupant position, whereby said pleats comprise means for causing said air bag to inflate against and across an out-of-position vehicle occupant horizontally between the right and left sides of the out-of-position vehicle occupant.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said pleats extend equal distances inward in said sideways direction from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said pleats extend unequal distances inward in said sideways direction from said closed outer ends to said open inner ends.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said pleats are arranged in a stack in which the open inner end of each overlying pleat is spaced inward in said sideways direction from the open inner end of an adjacent underlying pleat.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said inlet opening has a centerline perpendicular to said sideways direction, at least one of said pleats extending inward across said centerline in said sideways direction.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said cross-sectional configuration has a centerline perpendicular to said sideways direction, at least one of said pleats extending inward across said centerline in said sideways direction.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein at least two of said open inner ends of said pleats are located on respective: opposite sides of said centerline.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said inlet opening is centered on said centerline.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said air bag has a fully folded condition from which it is unfolded and inflated upon receiving inflation fluid through said inlet opening, said pleats comprising means for defining said folded condition of said air bag as a partially folded condition from which said air bag is foldable into said fully folded condition.