GB2251410A - Vehicle air bags - Google Patents

Vehicle air bags Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2251410A
GB2251410A GB9028172A GB9028172A GB2251410A GB 2251410 A GB2251410 A GB 2251410A GB 9028172 A GB9028172 A GB 9028172A GB 9028172 A GB9028172 A GB 9028172A GB 2251410 A GB2251410 A GB 2251410A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fabrics
yarns
bag
edge
fusible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9028172A
Other versions
GB2251410B (en
GB9028172D0 (en
Inventor
Michael G Litton
Simon Valkenburg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Airbags International Ltd
Original Assignee
Airbags International Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Airbags International Ltd filed Critical Airbags International Ltd
Priority to GB9028172A priority Critical patent/GB2251410B/en
Publication of GB9028172D0 publication Critical patent/GB9028172D0/en
Publication of GB2251410A publication Critical patent/GB2251410A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2251410B publication Critical patent/GB2251410B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/587—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads adhesive; fusible
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/20—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines
    • B29C66/24—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being closed or non-straight
    • B29C66/242—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being closed or non-straight said joint lines being closed, i.e. forming closed contours
    • B29C66/2422—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being closed or non-straight said joint lines being closed, i.e. forming closed contours being circular, oval or elliptical
    • B29C66/24221—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being closed or non-straight said joint lines being closed, i.e. forming closed contours being circular, oval or elliptical being circular
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/729—Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D1/00—Woven fabrics designed to make specified articles
    • D03D1/02—Inflatable articles
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/20—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/242—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads inorganic, e.g. basalt
    • D03D15/267—Glass
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03—WEAVING
    • D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/20—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/283—Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/737—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the state of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/7371—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the state of the material of the parts to be joined oriented or heat-shrinkable
    • B29C66/73715—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the state of the material of the parts to be joined oriented or heat-shrinkable heat-shrinkable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
    • B60R2021/23533—Inflatable members characterised by their material characterised by the manufacturing process
    • B60R2021/23542—Weaving
    • B60R2021/23547—Weaving one piece weaving
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2101/00—Inorganic fibres
    • D10B2101/02—Inorganic fibres based on oxides or oxide ceramics, e.g. silicates
    • D10B2101/06—Glass
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2101/00—Inorganic fibres
    • D10B2101/02—Inorganic fibres based on oxides or oxide ceramics, e.g. silicates
    • D10B2101/08—Ceramic
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2101/00—Inorganic fibres
    • D10B2101/10—Inorganic fibres based on non-oxides other than metals
    • D10B2101/12—Carbon; Pitch
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2321/00—Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D10B2321/02—Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds polyolefins
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2331/00—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products
    • D10B2331/02—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products polyamides
    • D10B2331/021—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products polyamides aromatic polyamides, e.g. aramides
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2331/00—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products
    • D10B2331/04—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2505/00—Industrial
    • D10B2505/12—Vehicles
    • D10B2505/124—Air bags

Abstract

An airbag 10 comprises upper and lower woven fabrics which are woven together in selected regions so as to define and enclose at least partially between them a space enclosed by a seam 12. The airbag is cut out of the woven fabric by means of cold cutting edge or blade leaving two fabric edges beyond the seam 12 where fraying can take place. Low melting point fusible yarns 20 are included in the warp and weft direction at edge regions where the yarns from which the fabrics are formed run approximately tangential to that edge. Heat treatment fuses the yarns and thereby prevents or reduces fraying of the fabric in that edge region. <IMAGE>

Description

AIR BAG The present invention relates to an air bag and to a method of making an air bag. Such an air bag might be inflated and used, for example, for the protection of occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision.
Inflatable air bags are being used increasingly in vehicles as safety restraints for use in the event of a collision.
Such bags might be stowed in front of a passenger, and arranged to inflate rapidly in the event of a collision, so as to restrain the passenger and to prevent him or her from being thrown against hard surfaces within the vehicle and therefcre from being injured. Such air bags have commonly been made from polyamide fabric, which might be coated with a layer of a ga s impermeable mater ia 1 such a s a chlorobutadiene rubber. However, a disadvantage of air bags formed from such materials is that they are relatively expensive to produce. Furthermore, they tend generally to be relatively bulky, which can make it difficult to store them in front of a passenger in a vehicle.
More recently, it has been proposed to form air bags by weaving upper and lower fabrics simultaneously, the fabrics being woven together in selected regions so as to define and to enclose at least partially between them a space. It has been found that circular air bags can be formed in this way, and the resulting air bags have been found to be significantly less bulky than earlier air bags formed from coated fabrics, and to be capable of manufacture relatively cheaply. Such air bags are disclosed in our W0-A-90/09295.
The subject matter disclosed in that document is incorporated in this specification by this reference to the document.
A problem which can be encountered with articles formed from weaving is that of fraying of the fibres at the edges of the article. In the air bag disclosed in Wo-A-90/09295, this problem can be solved by weaving the air bag from fibres of a fusible material such as a polyamide or a polyester. Such an air bag can be formed by weaving upper and lower fabrics in the manner described above, and cutting the woven fabrics around the seam along which the upper and lower fabrics are woven together. The application of heat to the edge regions of the fabrics, for example using a hot knife, causes the material of the fibres to fuse. However, this technique may have the significant disadvantage that the edges of the bag where the fabric has been fused are hard which can lead to injury in the event of impact with a passenger in a vehicle.
Where the air bag is turned inside out before use the problem does not normally arise.
The present invention seeks to provide a technique for sealing edge regions of a woven air bag which does not lead to the formation of such a hard edge.
Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides an air bag, comprising upper and lower woven fabrics which are woven together in selected regions so as to define and to enclose at least partially between them a space, the fabric including a yarn, thread or filament formed from a fusible material in at least an edge region of the bag in which yarns from which the fabrics are formed run approximately tangential to that edge, the fusible yarn, thread or filament after it has been fused, serving to reduce fraying of the fabric in that edge region.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making an air bag, which comprises: (a) weaving upper and lower fabrics simultaneously, the fabrics being woven together in selected regions so as to define and to enclose at least partially between them a space, the fabrics including a yarn, thread or filament formed from a fusible material in at least an edge region of the bag in which fibres from which the fabrics are formed run approximately tangential to that edge; and (b) applying heat to the woven fabrics to cause the fusible yarn, thread or filament to fuse so as to reduce subsequent fraying of the fabrics.
Generally, a plurality of air bags will be formed successively adjacent to one another from upper and lower fabrics, individual air bags being separated from one another after the weaving operation by cutting the woven fabrics. The fusible yarns which serve to reduce fraying will generally be provided in the woven fabrics so that the edges of the air bags which are formed as a result of the cutting operation are each provided with such a fusible ya rn.
The space between the upper and lower fabrics may be square. Preferably, it has a non-square shape, especially a generally rounded shape such as a circular shape. The formation of an air bag which has a generally rounded shape is that it is somewhat less bulky than might otherwise be the case.
The overall shape of the air bag is preferably similar to that of the space between the upper and the lower fabrics.
For example, when the space is generally rounded, the overall shape of the air bag will preferably also be correspondingly generally rounded. When the air bag is formed as one of a series from upper and lower fabrics by cutting the fabrics between adjacent bags, the shape of the bags can be selected by appropriate cutting.
The regions around the edge in which a fusible yarn might be provided will depend upon, amongst other things, the overall shape of the air bag. When the air bag is generally square with its sides extending parallel to the warp and weft directions of the fabric, the yarns of the fabrics can be liable to fray along at least two opposite edges of the bag, and possibly along each of the four edges. In this event, a fusible yarn might be incorporated into the fabrics along the entire length of each of the frayable edges.
IrJhen the air bag has a generally rounded shape, the fabrics might be liable to fray only at small edge regions of the bag. These will generally be those regions at which yarns from which the fabrics are formed run approximately tangential to the edge of the bag. The fusible yarn need only be provided in that edge region of the bag since the tendency of the yarns of the fabrics to fray at points at which the yarns do not run tangential to the edge is generally acceptably small.
The materials of the fusible yarn, thread or filamnent and of the other yarns from which the fabrics are woven will be selected so that the fusible yarn can be caused to fuse by the application to it of heat, while the other yarns of the fabric remain substantially solid. The fusible yarn will generally be formed from a polymeric material such as a polyamide or a polyester, although materials such as polyolefins (for example polyethylene and polypropolene) might also be used. The non-fusible yarns of the fabrics may also be polymeric, in which case they will be arranged so as to remain substantially solid at the temperature to which the fabrics are heated to fuse the fusible yarn, for example by having a higher melting point or by crosslinking. Other materials from which the non-fusible yarn may be formed include, for example, aramid, carbon, glass and ceramic, as well as appropriately treated natural yarns. In some instances, the fabrics may be formed from non-fusible yarns which have not been stabilised, so that when the fabrics are heated to cause the fusible yarns to fuse, the fabrics are caused to shrink or otherwise change shape.
Appropriate techniques for weaving the upper and lower fabrics of the air bag are disclosed in V10-A-90/09295.
Among those techniques is one in which a succession of air bags are formed adjacent to one another from upper and lower fabrics, a selvedge being provided along the edges of the fabrics extending in the warp direction. Such a selvedge can by itself prevent the yarns of the fabrics from fraying along those edges. In this event, fusible yarns need only be provided along the end=, each air bag which run in the weft direction.
The number of fusible yarns provided in an edge region of an air bag will be selected according to the degree of reinforcement required in order to prevent fraying. For some applications, a single yarn may event. For some applications, however, it 1 w that more than one yarn is required in each edge region, a plurality of yarns being woven.
The fusible yarn or yarns will generally be provided a short distance from the edge of the air bag, so that it can anchor securely to the yarns which run perpendicular to that edge. Generally, the fusible yarn will be provided at least about 3mm from that edge.
The air bag provided by the present invention has the advantage of being particularly suitable for use in the configuration in which the seam between the upper and lower fabrics is exposed when the bag is in use, since the tendency of the yarns from which the bag is formed to fray which is particularly high when the bag is used in this configuration, is minimised. However, the air bag provided by the present invention can also be used in the inside-out configuration, in which the seam between the upper and lower fabrics is located within the space defined by the fabrics.
In the manner disclosed in VlO-A-90/09295, straps may be provided between the upper and lower fabrics in the space between them, in order to control the configuration of the air bag when inflated.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the sole figure of which is a diagrammaic view of a woven airbag in the formation stage incorporating the invention.
Referring to the drawing, a woven circular airbag generally designated 10 is formed on a loom by weaving upper and lower fabrics simultaneously. The fabrics are woven together in selected regions so as to define a seam 12 which encloses the bag as described in our aforementioned PCT publication wO 90/09295.
The airbag is cut out of the continuous woven fabric by means of a cold cutting edge or blade along the line 14 shown dotted in the figure. This leaves two fabric edges (upper and lower) beyond the seam 12, and fraying can take place particularly at the point 16 where the warp yarns are tangential, and 18 where the weft yarns are substantially tangential to the fabric edges.
In accordance with the invention low melting point fusible yarns 20 are included in the warp direction at the points shown, and similar yarns 22 are included in the weft direction. Once the bag has been cut out around the dotted line 14 the bags may be heat treated causing the yarns 20, 22 to fuse and thus lock the remaining fabric threads against fraying.
The air bag of the present invention has the advantage that the tendency to fraying of the yarns from which the component upper and lower fabrics are formed is significantly reduced, without the air bag having a hard edge which can lead to injury in the event of impact between the bag and a person, for example in a collision involving a vehicle in which that person is a passenger.
This is made possible because the actual edge of the air bag is provided by the free ends of non-fused yarns, while the fusible yarn prevents fraying of the yarns at a point slightly removed from the edge of the fabric. Moreover, the degree of fusing is less than with hot knife cutting.

Claims (10)

1. An airbag which comprises upper and lower woven fabrics which are woven together in selected regions so as to define and enclose at least partially between them a space, the fabric including a yarn thread or filament formed from a fusible material and at least an edge region of the bag in which yarns from which the fabrics are formed run approximately tangential to that edge, the fusible yarn thread or filament, after it has been fused, serving to reduce fraying of the fabric in that edge region.
2. A bag as claimed in claim 1 in which the bag has a circular shape.
3. A bag as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which the material from which the fusible yarn thread or filament is made, and the other yarns from which the fabrics are woven, are selected so that the fusible yarn can be caused to fuse on the application to it of heat while the other yarns of the fabric remain substantially unaffected.
4. A bag as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the fusible yarn is formed from a polymeric material such as polyamide, polyester of polyolefin.
5. A bag as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the number of fusible yarns is chosen such that a single yarn is present in each edge region.
6. A bag as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which the fusible yarn or yarns is located a short distance from the edge of the airbag so that it can anchor securely to the yarns which run perpendicular to that edge.
7. A method of making an airbag which comprises: a) weaving upper and lower fabrics simultaneously, the fabrics being woven together in selected regions so as to define and to enclose at least partially between them a space, the fabrics including a yarn thread or filament formed from a fusible material in at least an edge region of the bag in which the fibres from which the fabrics are formed run approximately tangential to that edge; and b) applying heat to the woven fabrics to cause the fusible yarn thread or filament to fuse so as to reduce subsequent fraying of the edge.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the fabrics are formed from non-fusible yarns which have not been stabilized so that in step B the fabrics are caused to shrink or otherwise change shape.
9. An airbag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. A method of making an airbag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB9028172A 1990-12-28 1990-12-28 Air bag Expired - Fee Related GB2251410B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9028172A GB2251410B (en) 1990-12-28 1990-12-28 Air bag

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9028172A GB2251410B (en) 1990-12-28 1990-12-28 Air bag

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GB9028172D0 GB9028172D0 (en) 1991-02-13
GB2251410A true GB2251410A (en) 1992-07-08
GB2251410B GB2251410B (en) 1994-06-29

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2684695A1 (en) * 1991-12-10 1993-06-11 Takata Corp UNCOATED TEXTILE TEXTILE AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD.
US6598902B2 (en) * 1999-09-24 2003-07-29 Milliken & Company Welded airbag cushion comprising sewn reinforcement seams
WO2008006612A1 (en) * 2006-07-14 2008-01-17 Itg Automotive Safety Textiles Gmbh Method for producing a seam
US20090224521A1 (en) * 2005-12-21 2009-09-10 Norbert Huber Airbag and Method for Manufacturing a Fabric for an Airbag
US7780194B2 (en) 2003-06-13 2010-08-24 Global Safety Textiles Gmbh Method for producing an air bag
US8763649B2 (en) 2006-05-05 2014-07-01 Global Safety Textiles Gmbh Seam construction for a one piece woven airbag fabric
US20240092306A1 (en) * 2020-11-25 2024-03-21 Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh Airbag fabric

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1368659A (en) * 1971-05-03 1974-10-02 Uniroyal Ag Air cushion for transportation safety devices and method of producing them
WO1990009295A2 (en) * 1989-02-16 1990-08-23 Airbags International Limited Air bag

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1368659A (en) * 1971-05-03 1974-10-02 Uniroyal Ag Air cushion for transportation safety devices and method of producing them
WO1990009295A2 (en) * 1989-02-16 1990-08-23 Airbags International Limited Air bag

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2684695A1 (en) * 1991-12-10 1993-06-11 Takata Corp UNCOATED TEXTILE TEXTILE AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD.
GB2262292A (en) * 1991-12-10 1993-06-16 Takata Corp Uncoated woven fabric
US5277966A (en) * 1991-12-10 1994-01-11 Takata Corporation Uncoated woven fabric and method of manufacturing same
GB2262292B (en) * 1991-12-10 1995-11-15 Takata Corp Uncoated woven fabric
US6598902B2 (en) * 1999-09-24 2003-07-29 Milliken & Company Welded airbag cushion comprising sewn reinforcement seams
US7780194B2 (en) 2003-06-13 2010-08-24 Global Safety Textiles Gmbh Method for producing an air bag
US20090224521A1 (en) * 2005-12-21 2009-09-10 Norbert Huber Airbag and Method for Manufacturing a Fabric for an Airbag
US9085834B2 (en) 2005-12-21 2015-07-21 Global Safety Textiles Gmbh Airbag and method for manufacturing a fabric for an airbag
US8763649B2 (en) 2006-05-05 2014-07-01 Global Safety Textiles Gmbh Seam construction for a one piece woven airbag fabric
WO2008006612A1 (en) * 2006-07-14 2008-01-17 Itg Automotive Safety Textiles Gmbh Method for producing a seam
US20240092306A1 (en) * 2020-11-25 2024-03-21 Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh Airbag fabric

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2251410B (en) 1994-06-29
GB9028172D0 (en) 1991-02-13

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