Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Markus Jost

Stefan Jost

Peter Priemer

Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton

Matthias Volkmann

Bruce Andrew Kalandek

Robert Tobian

Brian J Bailey

Michael R Dillon

Andreas Staub

Holger Maul

Shakir M Salmo

Udo Bonsch

Michael Doelfel

Albrecht Kretschmar

A method for folding an airbag for an airbag module involves straightening the airbag out in the direction of a straightening axis, starting from a gas inlet opening of the airbag. The airbag in the straightened-out state, or during the straightening-out operation, is pushed into a guide sleeve in the direction of the straightening axis. The airbag is then pushed together, and in the method folded, within the guide sleeve in the longitudinal direction thereof, in the direction of the straightening axis. An apparatus for folding an airbag for an airbag module has a straightening ram which, for the purpose of straightening out the airbag, can be pushed into the latter in the direction of a straightening axis by way of a gas inlet opening which has a guide sleeve. The guide sleeve is arranged coaxially with respect to the straightening ram. The straightening ram can be pushed along the straightening axis. The inner cross-sectional surface area of the guide sleeve is greater than the cross-sectional surface area of the straightening ram, and has a folding ram which, for the purpose of pushing the airbag together, can be moved within the guide sleeve, along the straightening axis.

Method and apparatus for folding an airbag

An air bag for side impact protection system comprising: an air bag (,) having an inflatable first chamber (,) formed of two joined-together first (,) and second (,) panels of material, the first chamber including a forward part (,) and an opposite rear part (,); an inflator (,) for generating inflation gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator including exit ports (,) which channel the inflation gas into the first chamber in a determinable direction; the air bag further including a flow diverter (,) positioned to receive inflation gas and to divert at least a component of the inflation gas to flow generally perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment the flow diverter is formed as an open topped tube; in another embodiment; the flow diverter includes a plurality of vent openings in the side of the tube. In a third embodiment of the invention the diverter is formed by a permeable sack of material. In another embodiment of the invention the rear of each of the first and second panels includes a curved portion which is separated by a curved separator panel to form a pressure accumulator.

Air bag with diverter and expanded volume chamber

Airbag

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Wiesbaden, Germany

Markus Jost