US5681052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact airbag installation
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
•
Filing: 1996-11-06
•
Granted: 1997-10-28
•
Expires: 2016-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A driver's side airbag module of reduced thickness includes a housing, a cylindrical inflator, and a folded airbag. The airbag is first folded into a rectangle and the ends of the rectangle are thereafter folded or rolled to lie between the periphery of the inflator and the side walls of the housing. The thickness of the resulting module is not substantially greater than the height of the inflator.
Inventors
- 👤 Merle K. Ricks
- 👤 Matt D. Malone
- 👤 Roger T. Lee
- 👤 David A. Stites
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/237
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of folding a deflated automotive airbag formed from first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive gas from a substantially cylindrical inflator mounted within a generally rectangular housing comprising a base and at least one sidewall, the inflator having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base of said housing, said method comprising: folding said airbag into a first configuration substantially in the form of a rectangle lying along a central axis forming a diameter of said unfolded airbag, said rectangle having first and second ends extending beyond said housing, the width of said rectangle being substantially receivable within said housing; and folding each of said first and second ends of said rectangle in vertical pleats formed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said inflator to lie within said housing adjacent said inflator and said at least one sidewall of the housing, such that the height of the folded airbag and vertical pleats thereof within said housing do not substantially exceed the height of said inflator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of folding a deflated automotive airbag formed from first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive gas from a substantially cylindrical inflator mounted within a generally rectangular housing comprising a base and at least one sidewall, the inflator having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base of said housing, said method comprising: folding said airbag into a first configuration substantially in the form of a rectangle lying along a central axis forming a diameter of said unfolded airbag, said rectangle having first and second ends extending beyond said housing, the width of said rectangle being substantially receivable within said housing; and folding each of said first and second ends of said rectangle in vertical pleats formed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said inflator to lie within said housing adjacent said inflator and said at least one sidewall of the housing, such that the height of the folded airbag and vertical pleats thereof within said housing do not substantially exceed the height of said inflator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first configuration is achieved by: successively folding a first half of said airbag to lie along said central axis; and successively folding the second half of said airbag to overlie said first half along said central axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
A driver's side airbag module which comprises: a substantially rectangular housing including a base and one or more sidewalls surrounding said base; a right circular cylindrical inflator centrally contained within said housing, mounted on said base, spaced from said sidewalls, and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to said base; an airbag formed of first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive inflating gas from said inflator, said airbag being folded into a substantially elongated rectangle having first and second ends, each end being folded in vertical pleats substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the inflator and lying within a space between a different opposed diametrical side of said inflator and one of said sidewalls and adjacent said inflator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
A driver's side airbag module which comprises: a substantially rectangular housing including a base and one or more sidewalls surrounding said base; a right circular cylindrical inflator centrally contained within said housing, mounted on said base, spaced from said sidewalls, and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to said base; an airbag formed of first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive inflating gas from said inflator, said airbag being folded into a substantially elongated rectangle having first and second ends, each end being folded in vertical pleats substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the inflator and lying within a space between a different opposed diametrical side of said inflator and one of said sidewalls and adjacent said inflator.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of folding a deflated automotive airbag formed from first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive gas from a substantially cylindrical inflator mounted within a generally rectangular housing comprising a base and at least one sidewall, the inflator having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base of the housing, said method comprising: folding said airbag into a first configuration substantially in the form of a rectangle lying along a central axis forming a diameter of said unfolded airbag, said rectangle having first and second ends extending beyond said housing, the width of said rectangle being substantially receivable within said housing; rolling each of said first and second ends of said rectangle toward the central opening to form a roll to be within the housing adjacent said inflator and said at least one sidewall of the housing, such that the length of the folded airbag and rolls thereof within said housing do not substantially exceed the height of said inflator.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of folding a deflated automotive airbag formed from first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive gas from a substantially cylindrical inflator mounted within a generally rectangular housing comprising a base and at least one sidewall, the inflator having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the base of the housing, said method comprising: folding said airbag into a first configuration substantially in the form of a rectangle lying along a central axis forming a diameter of said unfolded airbag, said rectangle having first and second ends extending beyond said housing, the width of said rectangle being substantially receivable within said housing; rolling each of said first and second ends of said rectangle toward the central opening to form a roll to be within the housing adjacent said inflator and said at least one sidewall of the housing, such that the length of the folded airbag and rolls thereof within said housing do not substantially exceed the height of said inflator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said first configuration is achieved by: successively folding a first half of said airbag to lie along said central axis; and successively folding the second half of said airbag to overlie said first half along said central axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A driver's side airbag module which comprises: a substantially rectangular housing including a base and one or more sidewalls surrounding said base; a right circular cylindrical inflator centrally contained within said housing, mounted on said base, spaced from said sidewalls, and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to said base; an airbag formed of first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive inflating gas from said inflator, said airbag being folded into a substantially elongated rectangle having first and second ends, each end of said rectangle being rolled into a roll lying within a space between a different opposed diametrical side of said inflator and one of said sidewalls and adjacent said inflator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A driver's side airbag module which comprises: a substantially rectangular housing including a base and one or more sidewalls surrounding said base; a right circular cylindrical inflator centrally contained within said housing, mounted on said base, spaced from said sidewalls, and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to said base; an airbag formed of first and second substantially circular panels joined at their circumferences, one of said panels having a central opening connected to receive inflating gas from said inflator, said airbag being folded into a substantially elongated rectangle having first and second ends, each end of said rectangle being rolled into a roll lying within a space between a different opposed diametrical side of said inflator and one of said sidewalls and adjacent said inflator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4004828A
Cited
JPS63212147A
Cited
US4877264A
Cited
JPH02279441A
Cited
US5280952A
Cited
DE4111059A1
Cited
US5140799A
Cited
US5215795A
Cited
JPH04368251A
Cited
US5340151A
Cited
GB2269789A
Cited
US5531476A
Cited
US5364126A
Cited
US5547218A
Cited
JPH06270817A
Cited
US5425552A
Cited
US5482317A
Cited
US5492367A
Cited
US5478113A
Cited
US5520408A
Cited
US5529339A
Cited
US5560643A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-27 | 2001-04-28 | 2001-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-27 | 2005-04-28 | 2005-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-27 | 2009-04-28 | 2009-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |