Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Gary R Lalonde

Xingyuan Sun

Al S Emambakhsh

Carlos H Murillogalindo

An air bag (10) comprises an adhesive material (60) located between and interconnecting first and second panels (40, 50). A stitching section (70) extends through the first panel (40) and through the adhesive material (60) and through the second panel (50) to block relative movement between the first and second panels. The adhesive material resists separation of the yarns (56, 58) of the panels (40, 50). The adhesive material (60) also fills thread openings (94) in the second panel (50) around the stitching section (70).

Air bag with adhesive at seams

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable air bag (14) folded and stored in a chamber (18) in a container (12). The air bag (14) has a plurality of folded portions (122, 126) when in the folded condition in the container (12). Adhesive material (130) releasably interconnects abutting folded portions (122a, 122b) to minimize shifting of the folded air bag (14). Preferably, other adhesive material (170) releasably interconnects flaps (100, 102) which cover the side (164) of the folded air bag (14) closest to the container door (68).

Folded air bag with adhesive

An air bag (10) includes a main panel (40) which defines an inflation fluid volume for receiving inflation fluid. The main panel (40) includes a generally rectangular front portion (230) comprising four side panels (60, 62, 64, 66) and having an opening (232) for connection with an inflation fluid source. The main panel (40) includes a rectangular back portion (240) for engagement with the vehicle occupant, and four pleat portions (250, 260, 270, 280). The front portion (230) and the back portion (240) of the main panel (40) provide the air bag (10) with a generally pillow-shaped configuration when inflated. The air bag (10) has four corners when inflated. Each one of the pleat portions (250, 260, 270, 280) of the main panel (40) is disposed at a respective corner of the air bag (10). The pleat portions (250, 260, 270, 280) are disposed between the front portion (230) and the back portion (240) of the main panel (40) when the air bag (10) is deflated. The pleat portions (250, 260, 270, 280) are disposed outside of the pillow-shaped configuration when the air bag (10) is inflated.

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Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

Gary R Lalonde