US3839948A

US3839948A - Apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition

Info

Publication number: US3839948A
Application number: US00393427A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Putti; E Roberts
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1973-08-31
Filing date: 1973-08-31
Publication date: 1974-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-08

Abstract

An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition where a pair of bag rolls extend alongside an elongated gas diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation. The apparatus includes a base that fixedly supports the diffuser and slidably supports a pair of carriers on the opposite sides of the diffuser for movement toward and away from the diffuser. Each carrier carries an elongated clamping arrangement whose longitudinal axis is generally parallel with the elongated axis of the diffuser. The air bag extends in each direction from the diffuser toward the clamping arrangements and has a pair of opposed edges which are respectively clamped by these clamping arrangements. The clamping arrangements are rotated to roll the bags thereabout and thereby pull the carriers toward the diffuser so as to form the pair of bag rolls alongside the diffuser. Each clamping arrangement takes the form of a pair of bifurcated clamps that are inserted through bearings in the carrier and received by tucked ends of the bag that open at the opposite ends of the diffuser. These clamps are coordinated for concomitant rotation by a gear train including an elongated shaft. A stop on the base prevents the clamps from being pulled axially to unclamp the bag during an intermediate stage of the rolling operation. A pawl and ratchet arrangement provides a oneway stop that prevents reverse rotation of the clamping arrangements as the rolling proceeds.

Description

[11] 3,839,948 [45] Oct. 8, 1974 United States Patent [191 Putti et al.

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fuser and slidably supports a pair of carriers on the op- Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. A. Kushman 4 Claims, 1l Drawing Figures sum 2 or 4 PATENEU GCT 81974 Hwa APPARATUS FOR ROLLING A VEHICLE OCCUIANT AIR BAG INTO A STORED CONDITION lBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition.

Recent research and development has been directed toward vehicle occupant air bags for restraining vehicle occupants during vehicle impact conditions. Generally, these air bags include a gas storage or generating device that feeds a pressurized gas to a gas diffuser upon a suitable signal indicating that a vehicle impact condition is taking place. The diffuser generally has an elongated configuration and is mounted forwardly of a seated vehicle occupant extending transversely with respect to the vehicle. The bag receives the gas from the diffuser and is thereby moved from a stored condition to an inflated condition so as to restrain the occupant during the impact. Prior to installation in the vehicle, the bag is generally secured to the diffuser so as to receive the gas therefrom and itis thus necessary to store the bag in its storage condition prior to installation within the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition where a pair of bag rolls are formed alongside the elongated configuration of the gas diffuser so as to thus be readied for installation within a vehicle. Y

One feature of the invention is that the apparatus includes a base supporting the diffuser and slidably supporting a pair of carriers that carry rotatable clamping arrangements which clamp to opposed edges of the bag and are rotated to roll the bag thereabout as the carriers are thereby pulled toward the diffuser so that the bag rolls are positioned alongside the diffuser. Another feature of the invention is that each clamping arrangement includes at least one bifurcated clamp that is elongated and axially movable withrespect tothe axis of rotation thereof so as to clamp the bag, and the clamps are movable in the opposite directions to release the bag after the rolling operation. Another feature of the invention is that engageable surfaces on the base and the clamping arrangements prevent the clamps from being axially moved to unclamp the bag during intermediate stages of the rolling operation. Another feature of the invention is that each clamping arrangement includes a pair of the elongated clamps with the bifurcated configuration, and these clamps are movable axially toward each other along their common rotational axis so as to clamp the opposite ends of the adjacent bag edge. Another feature of the invention is that each clamping arrangement includes a gear train having an elongated shaft for coordinating the rotation of each clamp thereof with the other clamp thereof, and each clamping arrangement also includes a oneway stop for preventing reverse rotation of the clamping arrangement in the unrolling direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS The above-specified features and other features, objects and advantages of this apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the air bag rolling apparatus with the bag shown in an unrolled condition ready to be rolled to its stored condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG.. l showing the bag after the apparatus has rolled it into a stored condition;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bag rolling apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partially broken away end view of the apparatus taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sideview of a portion of the apparatus taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 3 and illustrates the manner in which carriers of the apparatus are slidably supported on the base of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view taken generallyl along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and shows the manner in which one of the ends of the diffuser that attaches the aizr bag is mounted on the base of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a view which also shows this mounting of the one end of the diffuser and is taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken generally along 8--8 of FIG. 3 and shows the manner in which the end of the diffuser opposite to the one shown in FIG. 6 is mounted on the base of the apparatus, and in addition shows the :manner in which the handle of theapparatus is rotatably supported for manual rotation to cause the bag rolling operation provided by the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a view of the apparatus taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG'. 8 and shows a pawl and ratchet arrangement for providing a one-way stop that prevents reverse rotation of the apparatus during the rolling operation in addition to showing a stop on the base of the apparatus that is engageable with the ratchet to prevent the clamp that carries the ratchet from being pulled from its clamped position during intermediate stages of the rolling operation; and

FIGS. l() and 1l are views of a spring clip that is used to hold the bag in its stored condition after the rolling operation has been performed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle occupant air bag rolling apparatus of this invention is shown in perspective and indicated generally by 10. An air bag indicated generally by 12 is secured to an elongated gas diffuser 14 prior to mounting of the diffuser and bag on the apparatus. The particular bag shown is used as a knee bag to restrain the lower torso portion of a vehicle occupant, and is located within another bag that restrains the upper torso portion of the occupant. The diffuser 14 is supplied with gas from either a gas generating type supplya stored gas type supply, or a hybrid of these two former types. This gas supply blows both of the bags up to provide an occupant restraint during vehiclev impact conditions. A rubber shield 16 seen partially in FIG. 1 is secured between bag 12 and diffuser I4 to prevent hotV gas that is dispersed by the diffuser from scorching the bag.

After the bag and diffuser have been mounted on the rolling apparatus 10 in the position shown by FIG. 1, a rolling operation is performed to form a pair of rolls that extend alongside the diffuser in the manner shown by FIG. 2. The rolled bag is then secured in its stored position by a pair of spring clips I8 so as to allow the bag and diffuser to be manually removed from the rolling apparatus 10. The diffuser and bag may then be transferred to another apparatus which will roll an outer bag about diffuser 14 and this stored bag l2. An apparatus for rolling this outer bag to a stored condition is shown by copending application Ser. No. 393,426. However, it should be noted that the rolling apparatus of the present invention will function equally well in rolling a single bag type air bag unit as opposed to this dual bag type.

The rolling apparatus includes a generally planar base indicated by and supported in a generally horizontal configuration by a framework including legs 22 whose lower ends, as seen in FIG. 4, include floor supports 24. The base 20 supports the end of the diffuser located away from the viewer `of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a manner best shown by FIGS. 6 and 7. As seen in these` Figures, a cradle-like arrangement 26 supports this end of the diffuser and includes a lower plate 28 suitably mounted on the base 20. A cradle arm 30 that is integral with plate 28 extends upwardly as seen in FIG. 6, and includes a portion 32 that engages a flange portion 34 of the diffuser 14 as shown in FIG. 7. An arm 36 of the cradle-like arrangement has its lower end secured to plate 28 by welds 38 and is also secured to the arm 30 by a nut and bolt arrangement 40 with a spacer 42 secured therebetween. Arm 36 includes a portion 41 that opposes portion 32 of arm 30 as shown in FIG. 7

to cradle the diffuser 14 between these two arm portions. The arm 30 also has a positioning member 44 se'- cured to its right-hand side by this nut and bolt arrangement as can be seen in FIG. 6. The upper end of this positioning member includes a flange`46 for preventing upward movement of the mounted diffuser, and the intermediate portion of this member defines a circular aperture 47 seen in FIG. 7. This aperture receives a bolt 48, FIG. 6, at the end of the diffuser upon insertion into its mounted position. This bolt is also used to mount the diffuser in a vehicle after the rolling operation performed by the apparatus of this invention.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the other side of base 20 supports a second cradle-like arrangement 50 including a plate 52 suitably secured to base 20 such as by the nut and bolt arrangement 54 shown in FIG. 5. An upwardly extending arm 56 is integral with the plate 52 and has I an upper bifurcated end 58 whose tines 60 receive a bolt 62 at the adjacent end of the diffuser. The diffuser is thus mounted on base 20 by flrst inserting its one end into the cradle-like arrangement 26 and then allowing its other end to be received by the cradle-like arrangement 50.

Reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 shows that two pairs of rod-type bag supports 64 and 66 are supported by base 20 on opposite sides of the mounted diffuser 14. The bags supports 64 extend upwardly from the base 20 and terminate in generally T-shaped configurations, while the bags supports 66 extend upwardly from the base 20 and terminate in generally L-shaped configurations. These supports engage the lower surfaces of the bag 12 as it extends outwardly from the diffuser 14 generally in the manner shown in FIG. 1. This engagement prevents the bag 12 from engaging the base 20 and positions it in a generally rectangular configuration. It should be noted that the ends of the bag which face generally in the vsarne directions as the opposite ends of diffuser 14 are tucked inwardly as shown by the one tucked end 68 in FIG. l so as to reduce the size ofthe bag that is rolled. When bag l2 receives gas from diffuser 14, it is inflated and these ends extend past the adjacent ends of the diffuser 14 so that the length of the bag is appreciably more than the length of diffuser 14. This tucking thus allows the bag to assume an inflated condition forward of two laterally adjacent seat occupants and to restrain both of the occupants without having to extend completely across both occupants in its stored condition.

Base 20 of the rolling apparatus slidably supports a pair of carriers 70 that are located on opposite sides of the mounted diffuser 14 as can be seen in FIG. 3. These carriers have generally elongated configurations with cut-away portions 72 and 75 that respectively receive the upstanding portions of bag supports 64 and 66 when the carriers are located adjacent the diffuser 14 as shown by FIG. 3. An elongated central guide 74 is mounted on base 20 extending transversely of the diffuser 14 and functions as a common guide for both of the carriers. On each side of this central guide 74, somewhat shorter guides 76 are arranged extending transversely of the diffuser. FIG. 5 shows the manner in which one of the carriers 70 is slidably supported by guide 74 and one of the guides 76, the othercarrier it being understood is supported in the same manner. This support includes a plate 78 secured to the lower side of the carrier 70 in a suitable manner and carrying a second plate 80 on its lower side. Shafts 82 extend outwardly from plate 80 and rotatably support rollers 84 that are slidably received by the

guides

74 and 76. This support of the carriers 70 thus allows them to be slidably moved between the outer positions shown in FIG. 1 located away from the diffuser 14 and the inner positions shown in FIG. 2 where they are positioned adjacent the diffuser. A pair of stops 86 mounted on the base 20 limit outward movement of the carriers, and handles 88 on the carriers allow them to be moved manually to their outer positions.

As best seen in FIG. 1, each of the elongated carriers 70 slidably supports an elongated clamping arrangement lindicated generallyby 90. These clamping arrangements each include a pair of elongated clamps 92 that are used to clamp the bag 12. This clamping occurs at opposed edges 94 of the bag which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of diffuser 14 with the bag stretched to the position shown in FIG. l. Each clamping arrangement includes a manually rotatable handle 96 at one of its ends and a somewhat smaller T- shaped handle 98 at its other end. Each of the clamps 92 is connected to one of the

handles

96 or 98. FIG. 8 shows the manner in which one of the clamps 92 connected to one of the handles 96 is rotatably supported, it being understood that the support of the clamps 92 connected to handles 98 is in a similar manner. As seen in this view, the illustrated clamp 92 has a bifurcated configuration and defines tine portions 100 that are inserted through spaced lugs 102 of a clamp carrying' member 104 supported by the outer end of the associated carrier 70. A rotatable bearing 106 extends between these lugs 102 to receive the clamp 92 as it is inserted, and this bearing carries a gear 108 between the lugs. A pin 110 fixed to bearing 106 is received between tine portions 100 so that gear 108 rotates with the clamp 92 upon rotation of handle 96.

Each clamping arrangement 911 also includes an elongated shaft 112 rotatably supported by upstanding lugs 1141 that are supported on the carriers 70 alongside clamp carrying members 1011 as can be seen in FIG.A l. The opposite ends of shafts 112 carry gears 116. One of these gears 116 is driven by the gear 108 adjacent the handle 96 of the clamping arrangement and the other gear drives a similar gear 108 associated with the clamp 92 having the T-shaped handle 98. Thus, rotational movement of handle 96 rotates both of the clamps 92 in a simultaneous manner so that their rotation is coordinated.

The rolling operation performed on bag 12 by apparatus 111 is begun by first manually grasping the handles 86 on carriers 70 so as to move the carriers to their outer positions away from diffuser 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The bag 12 is then spread so that the bag supports 64 and 66 support the bag in a generally planar outstretched configuration as shown. The clamps 92 of each clamping arrangement 90 are then inserted through their associated clamp carrying members 104 so as to move toward each other, and one of the tines of each clamp is received within the open tucked end 68 of the bag 12 with the other remaining outside of the bag as shown. It is also possible for the total thickness of the bag edges 941 to be clamped between the tine portions 11111 of the clamps 92 as they are inserted to the position shown in FIG. 1. Rotation of the handles 96 then causes the aligned clamps 92 of each clamping arrangement to rotate and roll the bag about the clamps in a generally elongated roll. This rolling, of course, reduces the amount of bag extending outwardly from the diffuser 14 and consequently causes the carriers 70 to be pulled toward the diffuser. As the rolling proceeds, the bag rolls formed about the clamps thus approach the diffuser 141 so as to be stored in a pair of rolls that extend alongside the diffuser. The spring clamps 18 are then snapped over the bag 12 and diffuser 141 as shown by FIGS. 2, 111 and 11.

As seen in FlG. 8, the outer end of the illustrated clamp 92 fixedly secures an annular ratchet 118 whose configuration is also shown in FlIG. 9. This ratchet is cooperable with an elongated pawl 120 that is secured by a bolt 122 to the lug 1112 of the member 164i which carries this clamp. The action of this pawl and ratchet arrangement thus provides a one-way stop that prevents reverse rotation of the clamping arrangement 911 during the rolling operation but allows the forward rotation upon a mere ratcheting of the pawl 1211 over the ratchet 118. Also, as seen in FllG. 8, the ratchet 118 is positioned so as to move alongside a stop 124 as the inward carrier movement proceeds during the bag rolling. This stop 124 is carried by a generally L-shaped arm 125 mounted on the apparatus base 211, and is engaged by the ratchet 118 if an attempt is made to pull the clamp 92 associated with handle 96 out from its clamping position before the carrier 711 reaches a position to the right where the ratchet 116 is in its phantom line indicated position of FIG.'9. As shown in FIG. 9, it should be noted, the carrier is allowed to move further to the right than is possible during the rolling operation. This is possible since the bag limits this movement of the carriers toward each other during the rolling operation, but in this view the carriers are moved toward each other without this restraint.

An operator is thus apprised that the bag rolling has not been completed if attempted removal of the clamps 92 connected to the handles 96 causes this engagement of the ratchet 118 with stop 124 to occur and must continue to roll the bag until the carrier has been movedv inwardly far enough so that the ratchet clears the inner right-handl end of the stop. Once this rolling has proceeded to this completed extent, as shown in FIG. 2, the clamps 92 are pulled outwardly to unclamp the bag after the securement with the spring clips 18, and the diffuser and bag are removed from the apparatus which is then ready for another rolling operation. Also, with the carriers moved to their outer positions, FIG. 1, the ratchets 118 are free to clear the stops 124 at their outer ends to allow the clamps 92 to be inserted into their clamping positions.

It is believed that the foregoing description describes the manner in which this apparatus rolls a vehicle occupant restraint bag into a stored condition where a pair of bag rolls extend alongside a diffuser that is secured to the bag.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising:

a base having means for supporting the opposite ends of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation;

a pair of carrier means slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as tobe movable toward and away from the diffuser;

a pair of elongated clamping means respectively supported by the pair of carrier means for rotational movement about associated axes that are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser and for axial movement with respect to these axes, opposed edges ofthe bag on each side of the diffuser being respectively clamped by the pair of clamping means with the carrier means.` each located in an outer position away from the diffuser; and

means for rotating the clamping means to roll the bag thereabout and pull the pair of carrier means toward the diffuser and each other so that a pair of rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, each elongated clamping means being moved axially with respect to the elongated axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition.

2. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising:

a pair of carrier means slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable toward and away from the diffuser;

a pair of elongated clamping arrangements respectively supported by the vpair of carrier means for rotational movement about associated axes that are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser, each clamping arrangement including a bifurcated clamp that is elongated and axially movable with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, and opposed edges of the bag on each side of the diffuser being clamped between the bifurcations of the clamps with the carrier means each `located in an outer position away from the diffuser;

means for rotating the clamping :arrangements to roll the bag about theclamps and thereby pull the pair of carrier means toward inner positions adjacent the diffuser and each other so that a pair of bag 4. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, each clamp into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising: being moved axially with respect to the elongated a base having means for supporting the opposite ends axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition; and

engageable surfaces on the base and the clamping ar-v of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation and also having means for supporting opposed sides of the bag that extend from the diffuser in opposite directions and define opposed edges, the ends of the bag being tucked inwardly so as to open in opposite directions at each end of the diffuser;

pair of carriers slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable in a generally horizontal plane toward and away 3. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag from the diffuser;

into a Stored, Condition the appalatus comprising: l a pair of elongated clamping arrangements respeca base havlng means for supporting the opposite ends of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation and also having means for supporting opposed sides of the bag that extend from the diffuser in opposite directions and define opposed edges, the ends of the bag being tucked inwardly so as to open in opposite directions at each end of the diffuser;

pair of carriers slidably supported on thevbase on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable in a generally horizontal plane toward and away from the diffuser; pair of elongated clamping arrangements respectively supported by the pair of carriers for rotational movement about associated axes that are generally parallel to the elongated axis of the diffuser, each clamping arrangement including a pair of elongated clamps that are bifurcated and axially movable toward each other along the rotational axis of the arrangement so as to receive the opposite ends of the adjacent bag edge when the associated carrier is positioned in an outer position away from the diffuser;

means for rotating the clamping arrangements to roll the bag about the clamps and thereby pull the carriers toward inner positions adjacent the diffuser so that a pair of bag rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, the clamps of each clamping arrangement being moved away from each other axially along the associated rotational axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition; and

engageable surfaces on the base and one of the clamps of each arrangement so as to prevent these clamps from being moved so as to unclamp the bag during an intermediate stage of the rolling operation.

l along the rotational axis of the arrangement, the

clamps of each clamping arrangementreceiving the opposite ends of the adjacent bag edge when the associated carrier is positioned in an outer posivtion away from the diffuser and when the clamps are axially .positioned adjacent each other, and the clamps being axially movable away from each other to unclampthe bag;

means for rotating the clamping arrangements to roll the bag aboutthe clamps and thereby pull the carriers toward inner positions adjacent the diffuser so that a pair of bag rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, the rotating means of each clamping arrangement including a gear train having an elongated shaft for coordinating the rotation of each clamp thereof with the other clamp thereof and also including a one-way stop for preventing reverse rotation of the clamping arrangement in the unrolling direction, and the clamps of each clamping arrangement being moved away from each other axially along thel associated rotational axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition; and

engageable surfaces on the base and one of the clamps of each clamping arrangement so as to prevent these clamps from being moved so as to unclamp the bag during an intermediate stage of the rolling operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising: a base having means for supporting the opposite ends of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation; a pair of carrier means slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable toward and away from the diffuser; a pair of elongated clamping means respectively supported by the pair of carrier means for rotational movement about associated axes that are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser and for axial movement with respect to these axes, opposed edges of the bag on each side of the diffuser being respectively clamped by the pair of clamping means with the carrier means each located in an outer position away from the diffuser; and means for rotating the clamping means to roll the bag thereabout and pull the pair of carrier means toward the diffuser and each other so that a pair of rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, each elongated clamping means being moved axially with respect to the elongated axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition.

2. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising: a base having means for supporting the opposite ends of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation; a pair of carrier means slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable toward and away from the diffuser; a pair of elongated clamping arrangements respectively supported by the pair of carrier means for rotational movement about associated axes that are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser, each clamping arrangement including a bifurcated clamp that is elongated and axially movable with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, and opposed edges of the bag on each side of the diffuser being clamped between the bifurcations of the clamps with the carrier means each located in an outer position away from the diffuser; means for rotating the clamping arrangements to roll the bag about the clamps and thereby pull the pair of carrier means toward inner positions adjacent the diffuser and each other so that a pair of bag rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, each clamp being moved axially with respect to the elongated axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition; and engageable surfaces on the base and the clamping arrangements for preventing the axial movement of the clamps during an intermediate stage of rolling prior to the pair of carrier means reaching the inner positions so that the clamps cannot be moved axially and unclamped from the bag prior to completing the rolling operation.

3. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising: a base having means for supporting the opposite ends of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation and also having means for supporting opposed sides of the bag that extend from the diffuser in opposite directions and define opposed edges, the ends of the bag being tucked inwardly so as to open in opposite directions at each end of the diffuser; a pair of carriers slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable in a generally horizontal plane toward and away from the diffuser; a pair of elongated clamping arrangements respectively supported by the pair of carriers for rotational movement about associated axes that are generally parallel to the elongated axis of the diffuser, each clamping arrangement incLuding a pair of elongated clamps that are bifurcated and axially movable toward each other along the rotational axis of the arrangement so as to receive the opposite ends of the adjacent bag edge when the associated carrier is positioned in an outer position away from the diffuser; means for rotating the clamping arrangements to roll the bag about the clamps and thereby pull the carriers toward inner positions adjacent the diffuser so that a pair of bag rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, the clamps of each clamping arrangement being moved away from each other axially along the associated rotational axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition; and engageable surfaces on the base and one of the clamps of each arrangement so as to prevent these clamps from being moved so as to unclamp the bag during an intermediate stage of the rolling operation.

4. An apparatus for rolling a vehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition, the apparatus comprising: a base having means for supporting the opposite ends of an elongated diffuser that is secured to the bag before the rolling operation and also having means for supporting opposed sides of the bag that extend from the diffuser in opposite directions and define opposed edges, the ends of the bag being tucked inwardly so as to open in opposite directions at each end of the diffuser; a pair of carriers slidably supported on the base on opposite sides of the diffuser so as to be movable in a generally horizontal plane toward and away from the diffuser; a pair of elongated clamping arrangements respectively supported by the pair of carriers for rotational movement about a pair of respective axes which are generally parallel to the elongated axis of the diffuser, each clamping arrangement including a pair of elongated clamps that are bifurcated and axially movable toward and away from each other along the rotational axis of the arrangement, the clamps of each clamping arrangement receiving the opposite ends of the adjacent bag edge when the associated carrier is positioned in an outer position away from the diffuser and when the clamps are axially positioned adjacent each other, and the clamps being axially movable away from each other to unclamp the bag; means for rotating the clamping arrangements to roll the bag about the clamps and thereby pull the carriers toward inner positions adjacent the diffuser so that a pair of bag rolls are formed adjacent the diffuser, the rotating means of each clamping arrangement including a gear train having an elongated shaft for coordinating the rotation of each clamp thereof with the other clamp thereof and also including a one-way stop for preventing reverse rotation of the clamping arrangement in the unrolling direction, and the clamps of each clamping arrangement being moved away from each other axially along the associated rotational axis thereof after rolling the bag thereabout so as to unclamp the bag and leave the bag in a stored condition; and engageable surfaces on the base and one of the clamps of each clamping arrangement so as to prevent these clamps from being moved so as to unclamp the bag during an intermediate stage of the rolling operation.