JP2016533303A - How to package an airbag - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of packaging an airbag includes providing an airbag (9) incorporating a base (13). The first portion (11, 12) of the airbag (9) is at least partially folded toward the base (13) of the airbag (9) and the first portion (11 of the airbag (9) , 12) are further folded to incorporate at least one Z fold. In order to package the airbag (9), the first part (11, 12) of the airbag (9) and the second part (10) of the airbag (9) are the base of the airbag (9). It is at least partially wound towards (13). [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for packaging an airbag, and more particularly to a method for packaging a pedestrian protection airbag.

  Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, it can be seen that a pedestrian protection airbag 1 is mounted in the vehicle 2 under the rear portion of the vehicle hood 3. The airbag 1 is mounted adjacent to the windshield 4 of the vehicle 2. The airbag 1 is configured to be inflated when the vehicle 2 collides with a pedestrian. The airbag 1 is inflated to a state shown in FIG. 1 in which the first side wing portion 5 and the second side wing portion 6 of the airbag 1 at least partially cover the A pillars 7 and 8 of the vehicle 2. The inflated airbag 1 provides a cushion that minimizes the possibility of a pedestrian's head or torso hitting the windshield 4 or A pillars 7, 8 of the vehicle 2. The airbag 1 thereby minimizes the risk of pedestrian injury.

  Conventional pedestrian protection airbags are normally folded and held in a housing so as to occupy as little space as possible in the vehicle when the airbag is not inflated. One drawback of properly folding an airbag is that, in some situations, a proper fold in the airbag fabric limits the inflation of the airbag. This increases the inflation time and can distort the shape of the airbag when the airbag is inflated.

  The present invention seeks to provide an improved method of packaging an airbag.

  In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for packaging an airbag includes providing an airbag incorporating a base and at least partially with a first portion of the airbag directed toward a base of the airbag. And folding at least partially the folded first portion of the airbag and the second portion of the airbag toward the base of the airbag to package the airbag. A method of including is provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for packaging an airbag, comprising: preparing an airbag incorporating a base; and at least a portion with the first portion of the airbag facing the base of the airbag Folding the airbag in order to further fold and further fold the airbag first portion so that the airbag first portion incorporates at least one Z-fold and to package the airbag A method comprising at least partially winding a first portion and a second portion of the airbag toward a base of the airbag.

  Preferably, the airbag is a pedestrian protection airbag.

  For convenience, the base of the airbag includes an inlet to be connected to a gas source.

  Advantageously, the overall length of the airbag base is reduced by folding the first portion of the airbag.

  Preferably, the method further includes folding the second portion of the airbag to reduce the overall size of the second portion of the airbag.

  For convenience, the method further includes further folding the second portion of the airbag such that the second portion of the airbag incorporates at least one additional Z-fold.

  Preferably, the or each additional fold is adjacent to the airbag inlet.

  For convenience, the first portion of the airbag includes two spaced regions projecting away from the base of the airbag on either side of the second portion of the airbag.

  In one embodiment, the winding is in a first direction, and the method further includes winding another portion of the airbag in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

  Preferably, the method further comprises folding one part of the airbag inside another part of the airbag.

  Preferably, the method further includes attaching a retaining element to the wrapped airbag to retain the airbag in a packaged state.

  For convenience, the retaining element is a breakable thread, and the step of providing the retaining element includes sewing the breakable thread to at least a portion of the airbag.

  Advantageously, the step of winding includes winding the airbag using an apparatus for winding the inflatable curtain airbag.

  Preferably, the method further includes inserting at least a portion of the airbag into the housing.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a packaged airbag for use in a vehicle, comprising a base incorporating an inlet, a first portion of an airbag that is folded toward the base of the airbag, and at least A first portion of the airbag that is partially wound and a second portion of the airbag, wherein in use, gas introduced into the airbag through the inlet at least partially An airbag is provided that unwinds and then exerts a force that at least partially expands the airbag.

  According to a further aspect of the present invention, a packaged airbag for use in a vehicle, wherein the airbag is folded toward the base incorporating the inlet and at least one Z fold is incorporated. The airbag includes a first portion of the airbag that is further folded, a first portion of the airbag that is at least partially wound, and a second portion of the airbag, and is introduced into the airbag through the inlet when in use. An airbag is provided in which the applied gas exerts a force that at least partially unwinds the airbag and then at least partially unfolds the airbag.

  Preferably, the airbag is a pedestrian protection airbag.

  Preferably, the inlet is connected to a gas source.

  For convenience, the overall length of the airbag base is reduced by a fold in the first portion of the airbag.

  Advantageously, the overall size of the second part of the airbag is reduced by an additional crease.

  Preferably, the second portion of the airbag is folded with an additional fold to create a Z fold in the second portion of the airbag.

  For convenience, the or each additional fold is adjacent to the airbag inlet.

  Preferably, the first portion of the airbag includes two spaced areas projecting in a direction away from the base of the airbag on both sides of the second portion of the airbag.

  For convenience, the second part of the airbag is at least partially wound in the first direction, and the other part of the airbag is at least partly in the second direction opposite to the first direction. Is wound.

  Advantageously, one part of the airbag is folded inside another part of the airbag.

  Preferably, the airbag is held by the holding element in a packaged state.

  For convenience, the retaining element is a breakable thread that is sewn to at least a portion of the airbag.

  According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an airbag module comprising a housing that houses at least a portion of the packaged airbag of any one of claims 15 to 26 as defined below. Is done.

  In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is the schematic of the inflated pedestrian protection airbag with which the vehicle was mounted | worn. It is the schematic of the pedestrian protection airbag which is not packaged. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 in which a portion of the airbag is folded in an intermediate stage of the method of packaging the airbag. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in which the side wing portion of the airbag is wound in an intermediate stage of the method of packaging the airbag. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 4 which shows the other side of an airbag. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in which the airbag is wound at a later stage of the method of packaging the airbag. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the airbag of FIG. 2 with the airbag packaged in a housing. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an unpackaged pedestrian protection airbag in the first step of the method of a further embodiment of the invention. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8 by which the corner | angular part of the airbag 9 was folded. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9 showing the airbag after being folded. FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing a part of the airbag wound in the first winding step. FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 11 showing the airbag 9 after the second winding step. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 12 by which the entrance part was folded. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 13 which shows the typical example of winding part distribution of the packaged airbag. And FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an unpackaged pedestrian protection airbag of the method of still further embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to FIG. 15 showing an airbag with two additional folds.

  Referring now to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, in a preferred embodiment, the airbag 9 used in the vehicle safety device is at least partially formed of a woven fabric. The airbag 9 incorporates an inflatable central portion 10 and two inflatable side wing portions 11, 12. In one embodiment, the airbag 9 is a pedestrian protection airbag configured to inflate to at least partially cover a vehicle windshield and A-pillar, as shown in FIG.

  The airbag 9 incorporates a base 13 provided with an inlet 14 configured to be connected to a gas supply. The base 13 forms part of the lower edge of the airbag 9 having a width W1 approximately equal to the width of the automobile windshield. As shown in FIG. 2, the axis A extends along the length of the base 13 in the longitudinal direction.

  The inlet 14 is positioned at the base 13 of the airbag 9 approximately halfway along the width W1 of the base 13. The central portion 10 of the airbag 9 extends in a direction away from the inlet 14. The side wing portions 11 and 12 are provided on both sides of the central portion 10 so as to extend outward from the base portion 13 on both sides of the central portion 10.

  Referring to FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings, in one embodiment, the first step of the method of packaging the airbag 9 includes folding the side wing portions 11, 12 along respective fold lines 15, 16. These side wing parts 11, 12 form a first part of the airbag 9. Each of the fold lines 15 and 16 forms an angle with respect to the axis A of the base portion 13. In one embodiment, the fold lines 15, 16 make an angle of 45 ° with the axis A of the base 13.

  The folds in the airbag 9 made by the fold lines 15, 16 reduce the width of the base 13, and further, as shown in FIG. 3, the width of the airbag 9 is reduced from the width W1 shown in FIG. Reduce the overall width.

  In one embodiment, the method includes folding the side wing portions 11, 12 along at least two other fold lines 17, 18, as shown in FIG. The additional fold line creates a Z fold in the airbag 9. The Z fold folds portions of the airbag 9 relative to each other in order to reduce the overall width of the airbag 9.

  After the folding step is completed, the first part of the airbag 9 formed by the side wing parts 11, 12 is completely wound in the direction indicated by the arrow 19 towards the base 13 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. An intermediate winding step is performed. In the intermediate winding step, the second portion of the airbag 9 formed by the side wing portions 11 and 12 and the central portion 10 of the airbag 9 is directed to the base portion 13 as shown by an arrow 19 as shown in FIG. Continue by winding on. In one embodiment, the winding step is performed after all the folding steps have been performed. When the winding step is complete, the airbag is in a packaged state.

  Referring now to FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings, in one embodiment, the holding element is secured to the wrapped airbag 9 to hold the airbag 9 in a packaged state. In one embodiment, the holding element is a thread that is sewn to the wound airbag 9 to hold the airbag 9 in a packaged state. The retaining element is configured to break when gas is introduced into the airbag 9 to allow the airbag 9 to inflate.

  In one embodiment, the packaged airbag 9 is at least partially inserted into the housing 20 as shown in FIG. Further, the inlet 14 of the airbag 9 may be connected to a gas supply source such as the inflator 21.

  When the airbag 9 is inflated by the gas supply source, the airbag 9 is first unwound as the airbag 9 is inflated by the force exerted by the gas on the inside of the airbag 9. The airbag 9 begins to spread around the fold lines 15-18 after the winding of the airbag 9 is at least partially unwound. By unwinding the airbag 9 first, the folded portion of the airbag 9 remains locked, and the possibility that the airbag 9 does not inflate correctly is minimized. When the airbag 9 is first unwound during inflation, it acts on the folded portion of the airbag 9 to expand the folded portion for the gas injected into the airbag 9. A passage is provided. Therefore, the configuration of the packaged airbag 9 allows for rapid and uniform inflation of the airbag 9.

  Further advantages of the packaged airbag 9 and the method of packaging the airbag 9 include packaging the airbag 9 and placing the airbag 9 in a packaged state prior to being inserted into the housing by an attachment mechanism. It can be held. This is because the air bag 9 is made and packaged at one manufacturing site, and then transported in a packaged state to another manufacturing site for subsequent assembly to an air bag module. It is beneficial because it makes it possible to

  Referring now to FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, the method of a further embodiment of the present invention includes packaging the same type of airbag as the airbag 9 described above. The same reference numerals are used for airbag elements corresponding to the airbag elements described above.

  The method of this further embodiment includes first folding the lower corners 22, 23 of the airbag 9. The folded corner portions 22 and 23 are turned over so as to protrude into the main body of the airbag 9 between the woven fabrics forming the lower portions of the side wing portions 11 and 12 as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 9.

  The airbag 9 is folded around the fold lines 15-18 in the same manner as described above to reduce the overall width of the airbag 9. In this embodiment, since the lower corners 22 and 23 are folded inside the airbag 9, as shown in FIG. 10, after the airbag 9 is folded along the folding lines 15 to 18, the airbag 9 is folded. The side edges are substantially parallel to each other.

  The next step in the method of packaging the airbag 9 of this preferred embodiment includes winding the central portion 10 and the folded portions of the side wing portions 11, 12 of the airbag 9. In this embodiment, the winding is an inner winding, whereby the initial winding direction is the direction toward the plane of the side wing portions 11, 12. This first winding step is executed until the intermediate portion of the airbag 9 is completely wound around the inlet 14 as shown in FIG.

  A second winding step is then performed to wind the side wing portions 11, 12 toward the inlet 14. In this embodiment, the side wing parts 11 and 12 are wound in an outer direction opposite to the inner winding direction performed in the first winding step. The side wing portions 11 and 12 are wound so as to be positioned adjacent to the inlet 14 as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the portion of the airbag 9 that forms the inlet 14 forms a Z fold such that the inlet 14 is packaged adjacent to other sections of the airbag 9 as shown in FIG. In order to do so, it is folded around the fold lines 24-27. Thus, the airbag 9 is packaged in an elongated shape of substantially uniform thickness that can be easily housed in a uniform housing.

  In this embodiment, a holding element in the form of a holding tape 28 is at least partially wrapped around the packaged airbag 9 to hold the airbag 9 in a packaged state.

  Referring now to FIG. 14 of the accompanying drawings, the approximate winding distribution of the packaged airbag 9 is represented by substantially frustoconical indicators 29-31. Indicators 29-31 clearly indicate a substantially constant thickness of the packaged airbag 9, which is the result of two winding steps performed on the airbag 9.

  This further embodiment of the present invention provides a packaged airbag 9 with a substantially constant thickness that is compact and easy to store. Further, when the airbag is unrolled, the winding of the airbag is first unwound, and then the airbag is spread, so that the packaged airbag 9 is rapidly deployed.

  Referring now to FIG. 15 of the accompanying drawings, the method of a still further embodiment of the present invention includes packaging the same type of airbag as the airbag 9 described above. The same reference numerals are used for airbag elements corresponding to the airbag elements described above.

  The method of this still further embodiment includes an additional folding step of folding the airbag 9 along the line of the first additional fold 32. The first additional crease 32 extends at least partially across the central portion 10 of the airbag 9. The first additional crease 32 is adjacent to the inlet 14 of the airbag 9.

  Referring to FIG. 16 of the accompanying drawings, in this still further embodiment, the method includes a second additional folding step in which the airbag 9 is folded along the line of the second additional fold 33. In this embodiment, the line of the second additional crease 33 is exactly or substantially parallel to the line of the first additional crease 32. The first and second additional folds 32, 33 reduce the overall size of the airbag 9 from the first size H1 to the second size H2.

  In this further embodiment of the invention, the first additional fold 32 and the second additional fold 33 form a Z fold in the airbag 9. However, in a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is only one additional fold 32 that does not form a Z fold. In other embodiments, there are three or more additional folds adjacent to the inlet 14 to further reduce the overall size of the airbag 9.

  It should be appreciated that the embodiments described above and illustrated in FIGS. 2-14 can incorporate one or both of the additional folds 32,33.

  When the airbag 9 is inflated, the additional folds 32, 33 are expanded by the force of the gas introduced into the inlet 14 at an early stage of inflation of the airbag 9. As the additional folds 32, 33 are unfolded, the central portion 10 of the airbag 9 moves away from the inlet 14 to a position that at least partially covers the windshield wiper of the vehicle on which the airbag 9 is mounted. The airbag 9 provides a cushion that at least partially covers the windshield wiper of the vehicle at an early stage of inflation of the airbag 9. This minimizes the risk of a pedestrian hitting the windshield wiper of the vehicle during a crash situation.

As used herein and in the claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising”, and variations of these terms, include specific features, steps, or integers. Means. The term should not be construed as excluding the presence of other features, steps or compounds.

Claims (27)

A method of packaging an airbag, comprising:
Providing an airbag (9) having a base (13);
The first portion (11, 12) of the airbag (9) is at least partially folded toward the base (13) of the airbag (9) and the first portion of the airbag (9) Further folding the first portion (11, 12) of the airbag (9) such that the portion (11, 12) provides at least one Z-fold;
In order to package the airbag (9), the folded first part (11, 12) of the airbag (9) and the second part (10) of the airbag (9) are Winding at least partially towards the base (13) of the airbag (9).   The method according to claim 1, wherein the airbag (9) is a pedestrian protection airbag.   The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base (13) of the airbag (9) comprises an inlet (14) to be connected to a source of gas.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the overall length of the base (13) of the airbag (9) is reduced by folding the first part of the airbag (9). .   The method further includes folding the second portion (10) of the airbag (9) to reduce the overall size of the second portion (10) of the airbag (9). The method as described in any one of Claims 1-4.   The method further folds the second portion (10) of the airbag (9) such that the second portion (10) of the airbag (9) incorporates at least one additional Z-fold. The method of claim 5, comprising:   A method according to claim 5 or 6 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the or each additional fold (32, 33) is adjacent to the inlet (14) of the airbag (9).   The first portion (11, 12) of the airbag (9) is located on both sides of the second portion (10) of the airbag (9) from the base (13) of the airbag (9). 8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two spaced apart regions projecting away.   The winding is performed in a first direction, and the method further comprises winding the other part of the airbag (9) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The method according to claim 1, comprising:   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the method further comprises folding a portion of the airbag inside another portion of the airbag.   11. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises attaching a retaining element to the rolled airbag (9) to hold the airbag (9) in the packaged state. The method according to claim 1.   12. The retaining element according to claim 11, wherein the retaining element is a breakable thread and the step of providing the retaining element comprises sewing the breakable thread onto at least a part of the airbag (9). the method of.   13. The winding step according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winding step comprises winding the airbag (9) using a device for winding an inflatable curtain airbag. the method of.   The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises inserting at least a part of the airbag (9) into the housing (20).   A packaged airbag (9) for use in a vehicle, which is folded towards the base (13) with an inlet (14) and the base (13) of the airbag (9), and at least A first portion (11, 12) of the airbag (9) that is further folded to have one Z-fold, and the first portion of the airbag (9) that is at least partially wound ( 11, 12) and a second portion (10) of the airbag (9), and in use, the gas introduced into the airbag (9) through the inlet (14) is the airbag (9). 9) a packaged airbag that unwinds at least partially and then exerts a force that at least partially unfolds the airbag (9).   16. Packaged airbag according to claim 15, wherein the airbag (9) is a pedestrian protection airbag.   Packaged airbag according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the inlet (14) is connected to a source of gas.   The overall length of the base (13) of the airbag (9) is reduced by the folds (15, 16) in the first part (11, 12) of the airbag (9). 18. A packaged airbag according to any one of claims 17.   Packaged according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the overall size of the second part (10) of the airbag (9) is reduced by an additional fold (32). Airbag.   The second portion (10) of the airbag (9) is folded at an additional fold (33) to create a Z fold in the second portion (10) of the airbag (9). Item 20. A packaged airbag according to Item 19.   Packaged air according to claim 19 or 20, when dependent on claim 17, wherein the or each additional fold (32, 33) is adjacent to the inlet (14) of the airbag (9). bag.   The first portion (11, 12) of the airbag (9) is located on both sides of the second portion (10) of the airbag (9) from the base (13) of the airbag (9). The packaged airbag according to any one of claims 15 to 21, comprising two spaced apart regions projecting away from each other.   The second part (10) of the airbag (9) is at least partially wound in a first direction, and the other part of the airbag (9) is in the first direction. 23. A packaged airbag according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the packaged airbag is at least partially wound in a second direction that is opposite.   24. A packaged airbag according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein a part of the airbag (9) is folded inside another part of the airbag (9).   25. A packaged airbag according to any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein the airbag (9) is held in the packaged state by a holding element.   26. Packaged airbag according to claim 25, wherein the retaining element is a breakable thread that is sewn into at least a portion of the airbag (9).   27. An airbag module comprising a housing (20) that houses at least a portion of the packaged airbag (9) according to any one of claims 15 to 26.

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