Abstract:
A two or more chambered airbag provides much improved safety and/or performance. A modified single chamber airbag can be used as the primary chamber of the two-chamber airbag. A piece of fabric of appropriate size is sewn to the inside or outside surface of the front panel of the primary chamber to create the secondary chamber. One or more apertures are opened between the primary and secondary chambers. In order for the secondary chamber to inflate properly, the tethers of the primary chamber are shortened to 50% to 80% of their original length. The size or location of the tether sewing to the inner surface of the front panel of the primary chamber is also adjusted to create a desired shape of the secondary chamber when deployed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to air bag tethers and to a pattern-wise arrangement of such tethers in relation to air bag panels on a fabric blank, thus resulting in increased fabric utilization per tether and an overall cost savings per finished air bag. The air bag tether system of the present invention is comprised of two congruent tether panels that are joined to one another and to a respective air bag panel. In a preferred embodiment, the tether panel that is attached to the face panel of the air bag is cut in alignment with the warp and the fill of the fabric blank, while the rear tether panel that is attached to the rear panel of the air bag is cut on the bias with respect to the warp and the fill of the fabric blank. The two tether panels are then connected to one another to form a functional tether system. This two-piece construction, with one bias-cut piece, decreases the amount of fabric that is used in the manufacture of the air bag and tethers, while providing sufficient elongation for the tether system to be functional.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to air bag tethers and to a pattern-wise arrangement of such tethers in relation to air bag panels on a fabric blank. In one embodiment, the front tether panel is comprised of two or more tether segments that cut in alignment with the warp and the fill of the fabric blank, while the rear tether panel is comprised of two or more tether segments that are cut on the bias with respect to the warp and the fill of the fabric blank. The front and rear tether panels are then connected to one another to form a functional tether system. This multiple-segment construction, with its bias-cut segments, decreases the amount of fabric that is used in the manufacture of the air bag and tethers, while providing sufficient elongation for the tether system to be functional.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to air bag tethers and to a pattern-wise arrangement of such tethers in relation to air bag panels on a fabric blank. In one embodiment, the front tether panel is comprised of two or more tether segments that cut in alignment with the warp and the fill of the fabric blank, while the rear tether panel is comprised of two or more tether segments that are cut on the bias with respect to the warp and the fill of the fabric blank. The front and rear tether panels are then connected to one another to form a functional tether system. This multiple-segment construction, with its bias-cut segments, decreases the amount of fabric that is used in the manufacture of the air bag and tethers, while providing sufficient elongation for the tether system to be functional.
Abstract:
A fabric for use in an air bag is provided. The fabric of the invention is produced by mechanically compressing a preliminary fabric constructed substantially of synthetic yarn such that the packed volume per unit area of the compressed fabric is less than the packed volume per unit area of the preliminary fabric. Air permeability is not adversely affected.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an airbag cushion which exhibits a low amount of seam usage (in order to attach at least two fabric panels or portions of a panel together) in correlation to an overall high amount of available inflation airspace within the cushion itself. These correlated elements are now combined for the first time in what is defined as an effective seam usage index (being the quotient of the length of overall seams on the cushions and the available inflation airspace volume). The inventive cushion must have at least one substantially straight seam and must possess an effective seam usage factor of less than about 0.11. A cushion exhibiting such a low seam usage factor and also comprising an integrated looped pocket for the disposition of an inflator can is also provided as well as an overall vehicle restraint system comprising the inventive airbag cushion.
Abstract:
A fabric for use in an air bag is provided. The fabric of the invention is produced by mechanically compressing a preliminary fabric constructed substantially of synthetic yarn such that the packed volume per unit area of the compressed fabric is less than the packed volume per unit area of the preliminary fabric. Air permeability is not adversely affected.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to air bag tethers and to a pattern-wise arrangement of such tethers in relation to air bag panels on a fabric blank, thus resulting in increased fabric utilization per tether and an overall cost savings per finished air bag. The air bag tether system of the present invention is comprised of two congruent tether panels that are joined to one another and to a respective air bag panel. In a preferred embodiment, the tether panel that is attached to the face panel of the air bag is cut in alignment with the warp and the fill of the fabric blank, while the rear tether panel that is attached to the rear panel of the air bag is cut on the bias with respect to the warp and the fill of the fabric blank. The two tether panels are then connected to one another to form a functional tether system. This two-piece construction, with one bias-cut piece, decreases the amount of fabric that is used in the manufacture of the air bag and tethers, while providing sufficient elongation for the tether system to be functional.
Abstract:
The invention relates to inflatable fabrics which comprise two separated and distinct fabric layers in discrete areas of such fabrics as well as C-shaped seam-producing materials to which such fabric layers are attached. The resultant inflatable fabric composite this includes inflatable areas separated, at least partially, by seamed barrier areas. This configuration will form “pillowed” structures within the target fabric upon inflation. Such seam-producing materials are incorporated within the two-layer structure as C-shaped peel seams in relation with the individual fabric layers. Upon inflation, the seams then act as shear seams which greatly increases the overall strength of the two-layer inflatable fabric. These shear seams thus provide a relatively effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.
Abstract:
An airbag cushion having a novel seam structure including either a tri-stitch fold-over seam structure or a double-stitch fold-over seam structure. The novel seam structure allows airbag cushions to be manufactured by using low tenacity yarns, preferably in the range of between about 40 cN/tex and about 65 cN/tex.