Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.

Other

Zf Passive Safty System US Inc.

Bruce R Hill

Dylan Moran

Timothy A Swann

Philipp Ritter

Wael S Elqadah

Kurt F Fischer

John P Wallner

William P Braun

Neal H Delventhal

Charles S Pillsbury, Iv

Xingyuan Sun

Avadhoot R Paranjpe

Nathan R Butters

Kenneth D Brannon

Adan Beltran Enriquez

Aron Arnold

Stuart Charns

Neftali Cortes

David A Grilli

Mario Vega

A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag includes method for manufacturing an OPW airbag. The method includes providing yarns, warping the yarns on at least one beam of a loom, and simultaneously weaving yarns into a fabric air bag structure having two layer portions defining an inflatable volume and single layer portions forming seams delimiting the inflatable volume. A plurality of the yarns overlay one another to form nonwoven alignment elements in at least one of the single layer portions. The air bag structure is cut to define the OPW air bag. The alignment elements are aligned with alignment elements on a panel. The air bag structure is sewn to the panel with the alignment elements aligned with one another.

One-piece woven occupant restraint system

An airbag and a method for manufacturing the airbag. The airbag is manufactured by weaving yarns to form a one-piece woven (OPW) airbag having inflatable portions and non-inflatable portions. The non-inflatable portions are woven with varying weave patterns so as to form recesses in the surface of the airbag in the form of an indicia.

One-piece woven airbag with integrally woven indicia

A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag includes providing yarns and warping the yarns on at least one beam of a loom. Yarns are simultaneously woven into a fabric air bag structure having two layer portions defining both an inflatable volume and non-inflatable portions and single layer portions forming seams delimiting the inflatable volume. The air bag structure is cut to define the OPW air bag and at least one opening extending through only one layer of the two layer portions.

A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag includes providing yarns having a spin finish and warping the yarns on at least one beam of a loom. The yarns are simultaneously woven into a fabric air bag structure having two layer portions defining an inflatable volume and single layer portions forming seams delimiting the inflatable volume. The air bag structure is coated to cover the spin finish. The coated air bag structure is cut to define the one-piece woven air bag.

One-piece woven vehicle occupant protection device and method for manufacturing the same

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a curtain airbag having an upper edge portion for securing to an interior of a vehicle for deployment between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. Indicia extends along the length of the curtain airbag for indicating twisting of the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is rolled up along its length. The indicia includes a bar code printed on the airbag.

Airbag with bar code

A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven air bag includes weaving yarns into a one-piece woven fabric air bag structure having single layer portions and two layer portions in which an inflatable volume is defined between the two layer portions and in which the single layer portions are non-inflatable portions that help define the shape and configuration of the inflatable volume. The step of weaving yarns is performed using a water-jet loom.

One-piece woven vehicle occupant protection device

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof (). The apparatus () includes an inflatable curtain () that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () to a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and the vehicle occupant (). The inflatable curtain () includes a main portion () comprising at least one inflatable chamber (). The inflatable curtain () also includes a mounting portion () constructed separately from the main portion (). The mounting portion () has a lower edge portion () connectable to an upper edge portion () of the main portion (). The mounting portion () when connected to the main portion () forms an upper edge portion of the inflatable curtain () that is connectable with the vehicle () to help secure the inflatable curtain in the vehicle.

Inflatable curtain

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes a fabric substrate () and a coating () provided on a surface () of the fabric substrate (). The coating () includes a thermoplastic polyether polyurethane base resin and an antiblocking agent. The base resin is at least about 50% by weight of the coating ().

Coating for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () includes strands of material woven together to form both (a) overlying woven panels (and) and (b) single layer first and second woven seams (and) that include strands of material from each of the overlying panels. The first and second seams (and) help define an inflatable volume () of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () between the overlying panels (and). The first seam () has a weave pattern different than the weave pattern of the second seam ().

Inflatable curtain with variable seam pattern

An apparatus () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () and a vent opening () for directing flow of inflation fluid away from the protection device. A vent member () is movable between an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening and a closed condition at least partially blocking flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening. A tether (), when tensioned, moves the vent member () from the open condition to the closed condition. A latch () has a latched condition for maintaining the vent member () in the closed condition and an unlatched condition for enabling the vent member to move away from the closed condition. A controller () is operative to actuate the latch (). selectively to the latched condition and the unlatched condition based on at least one sensed occupant condition.

Air bag module vent with releasable latch

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () is inflatable away from the vehicle roof () into a position between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus () also includes a housing () for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () in a stored position extending along the vehicle side structure () adjacent the vehicle roof (). The housing () includes a portion that forms an interior trim piece () of the vehicle (). The apparatus () also includes at least one grab handle () and at least one connector () that extends through the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), the housing () and the grab handle. The connector () connects the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (), housing () and grab handle () to the vehicle ().

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with grab handle

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) and a roof ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ). The protection device ( ) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof ( ) into a position between the side structure ( ) of the vehicle ( ) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device ( ) includes first and second overlying panels ( and ) that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume ( ). The first panel ( ) includes a first predetermined number of layers of material ( ) and the second panel ( ) includes a second predetermined number of layers of material ( and ) greater than the first predetermined number of layers.

Multi-layered inflatable curtain

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) that is inflatable into a position between a part of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device ( ) includes overlying panels ( and ) that are secured together. An inflation fluid source ( ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The panels ( and ) include first overlying portions ( ) subject to relatively low stress that extend across the inflatable device ( ) when inflated. The panels ( and ) further include second overlying portions ( ) subject to relatively high stress that extend across the inflatable device ( ) when inflated. The first portions ( ) have a woven construction of a first weave density. The second portions ( ) have a woven construction of a second weave density, greater than the first weave density.

Inflatable curtain with reduced material construction

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (,) that is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device (,) includes an inflatable bladder (,) contained within an outer shell (,) and completely unattached to the outer shell. An inflation fluid source (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable bladder (,). The inflatable bladder (,) is made of gas impermeable material having overlying portions (,) that are sealed together in an airtight manner by a radio frequency weld (,). The outer shell (,) provides structural support for the inflatable bladder (,).

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

Apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) which has a side structure (,) and a roof (,) comprises an inflatable curtain (,). The curtain (,) is inflatable in a first direction away from the roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain (,) when inflated extends fore and aft in the vehicle (,) along the side structure (,) of the vehicle. First and second inflatable members (,and,) connect the inflatable curtain (,) to the vehicle (,). An inflation fluid source (,) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable curtain (,) and the first and second inflatable members (,and,). The first and second inflatable members (,and,) are inflatable to resist movement of the inflatable curtain (,) away from the side structure (,) of the vehicle (,) when the inflatable curtain is inflated.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Bruce R Hill