WO1999002375A1 - Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule - Google Patents

Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999002375A1
WO1999002375A1 PCT/US1998/013893 US9813893W WO9902375A1 WO 1999002375 A1 WO1999002375 A1 WO 1999002375A1 US 9813893 W US9813893 W US 9813893W WO 9902375 A1 WO9902375 A1 WO 9902375A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
band
pleat
inflatable
pleats
belt
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/013893
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth W. Gwinn
Original Assignee
Precision Fabrics Group, Inc.
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 Precision Fabrics Group, Inc. filed Critical Precision Fabrics Group, Inc.
Priority to EP98933152A priority Critical patent/EP0993396A1/fr
Priority to AU82881/98A priority patent/AU8288198A/en
Priority to JP2000501925A priority patent/JP2001509450A/ja
Priority to CA002294790A priority patent/CA2294790A1/fr
Priority to KR1020007000086A priority patent/KR20010021528A/ko
Publication of WO1999002375A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999002375A1/fr

Links

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
    • B60R21/18—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
    • 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
    • B60R21/237—Inflatable members characterised by the way they are folded

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to vehicle occupant restraints. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inflatable band restraint that is configured to reduce stresses and strains on the band material. Description of the Related Art
  • Inflatable band restraint systems are increasingly being considered as safe, cost-effective replacements for air bags and seat belts in automobiles.
  • An inflatable band restraint system is typically incorporated into a three-point seat belt harness and, like conventional air bag restraint systems, inflates to protect the occupant upon impact. Unlike an air bag, however, the inflatable band is in contact with the occupant prior to inflation in a manner similar to conventional seat-belt arrangements. This contact practically eliminates the delay between inflation and occupant restraint.
  • Air bag systems decelerate the occupant by contacting him somewhere between the occupant's original position and the dashboard as he travels towards the dashboard while the vehicle decelerates during the crash.
  • an inflating band simultaneously tightens the belt, thereby maintaining the occupant in his seat to decelerate at a rate approaching the deceleration of the vehicle itself, a rate which has been shown to reduce the risk of injury to the occupant.
  • the inflated band supports the head, torso and chest of the occupant from the side of the vehicle during deceleration. The band's large contact area better distributes deceleration forces across areas of the body less prone to critical injury than the head.
  • the invention comprises an inflatable band for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a center plane and a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the center plane.
  • a first inner pleat and a second inner pleat are also included, the second inner pleat being further away from the plane of symmetry, but closer to the center plane, than the first inner pleat.
  • the invention in another aspect, includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising an inflatable band of material including a plurality of pleat pairs.
  • Each pleat pair should be comprised of an inner pleat and an outer pleat spaced from the inner pleat by an intra-pleat span of material having a first width.
  • Adjacent pleat pairs are connected to each other by an inter-pleat span of material having a second width. The second width of the inter-pleat span of material is wider than the first width of the intra-pleat span of material.
  • the invention includes an inflatable band for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a plurality of inner pleats and outer pleats, and a stitch pattern whose curvature corresponds to the curvature of the inflated portion of the band in the connection region of the band.
  • the invention comprises an inflatable band for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a first plurality of inner pleats and outer pleats located on one side of a center line and a second plurality of inner pleats and outer pleats located on the other side of the center line.
  • the inflatable band is folded at the pleats and attached to a belt by stitching which pierces through a portion of the band between the inner and outer pleats such that a region between the first and second inner pleats is not stitched.
  • This band can also use adhesives instead of, or combined with, stitching to make the attachment.
  • the invention includes a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a belt and an inflatable band which is attached to the belt at a concave attachment region having a radius equal to or smaller than the inflated radius of curvature of the inflatable band.
  • Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional inflatable band
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the ideal expansion state of an inflatable band
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the actual path lengths of a conventional inflatable band in the expanded state
  • Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an inflatable band according to the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a band according to the present invention
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the preferred stitching location of a conventional inflatable band
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a preferred attachment configuration according to another aspect of the invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a closer view of the preferred attachment configuration.
  • Fig. 9 is a graph illustrating the folded thickness of a band according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Prior art inflatable bands use a simple folded structure to fold the band into a compact, flat shape resembling a seat belt as shown in Fig. 1.
  • Outer pleats 1-6 are stacked, one above the other, and inner pleats 11-15 are similarly stacked when the band is not inflated.
  • the spans of fabric which connect the outer and inner pleats 11- 15 at a distance, f, from each other are folded together and the entire band is stitched to a seat belt (not shown) extending through the interior of the band.
  • the ideal inflated state of the band is shown in Fig. 2.
  • the ideal band inflates into a cylinder surrounding the belt 7 in which all of the outer pleats 1-6 and inner pleats 11-15 are points located on the same circle of radius R.
  • Fig. 3 The actual inflated state of the conventional band is illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • the width of the span of fabric, f creates different expansion center points for the outer and inner pleats, R' and R, respectively.
  • the inner pleats 11-15 are taking most of the load, while the outer pleats 1-6 are not significantly contributing to the support of the load.
  • the stress and strains on the inner pleat material are much higher than the other portions of the band, and a large center-line load is applied to the seat belt webbing 7 where the band is attached thereto.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a pleat configuration in an inflatable band according to one aspect of the invention.
  • the inflatable band of material includes a plurality of pleat pairs comprised of inner pleats 11'-15" and outer pleats 1 '-6'.
  • the outer pleats 1'-6' are spaced from the inner pleat 11'-15' by spans of material 21-25 and 31-35.
  • the inner pleats are spaced from the outer pleats by intra-pleat spans 21-25.
  • Adjacent pleat pairs are connected to each other by inter-pleat spans of material 31-35.
  • the inter- pleat spans of material 31-35 are wider than the intra-pleat spans of material 21-25.
  • a pair of pleats is made up of, for example, outer pleat 1' and inner pleat 11 ' which are spaced from each other by an intra-pleat span of material 21.
  • An adjacent pair of pleats is made up of outer pleat 2' and inner pleat 12' which are spaced from each other by intra-pleat span of material 22. The two adjacent pairs are connected to each other by an inter- pleat span of material 31.
  • This pattern may be symmetrically reproduced on the other side of the plane of symmetry 8 and the band's center plane 9. While the tuxedo pattern in Fig. 4 illustrates a pleat configuration in which the pleat directly adjacent to the belt 7 is smaller than the other pleats, the pleats may all generally be the same size.
  • the resulting band is illustrated in Fig. 5.
  • the inner pleats get closer to the center plane 9 of the belt as they get further away from the plane of symmetry to produce a "tuxedo fold" configuration. Moving the inner pleats out reduces the difference between the radial expansion positions of the inner and outer pleats. This difference tends to become smaller near the plane of symmetry.
  • the outer pleats may get closer to the center plane 9 of the belt as they get further away from the plane of symmetry 8. Also, the attachment forces are distributed across the width of the seat belt webbing, lowering the stress concentrations.
  • the band of Fig. 4 may be about 2 inches wide so that X is about 1 inch.
  • the adjacent pleats are extended out by distances, x, of about 1/8", as they get closer to the plane of symmetry 8.
  • the 1/8" fold is repeated below the plane of symmetry.
  • the distances, x need not be equal spacings, but can also be a variety of distances, e.g., X1 , X2, X3, X4. Expansion of the band results in a less jagged appearance or better approximation to the bulk expansion of the cylinder than that shown in Fig. 3; the band according to the invention exhibits a much smoother curvature approximation.
  • the tuxedo fold illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 keeps the folded fabric at the most even distance to the outer periphery of the inflated cylinder.
  • a belt 7 is located in the plane of symmetry.
  • the belt may be similar to a conventional seat belt that extends completely through the center of the band or it may refer to a section of material that ends within the band and secures the band in place near the upper body (shoulder or head) of the occupant or anchors the band in place near the floor of the vehicle.
  • the middle of the band may be folded at the pleats and attached to the belt by stitching 41 piercing through a portion of the band between the inner and outer pleats 40 such that a region between the inner pleats closest to the center plane is not stitched.
  • This stitching configuration may be used with the tuxedo fold or with the conventional fold as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the stitching arrangement is not present in the two layer fabric region 42 between the inner-most interior pleats 11' and 11" and 11 '" and 11"".
  • Adhesive may also be used instead, or in combination, with the stitching.
  • the configuration of the attachment of either end of the inflatable band to a belt also plays a significant role in the overall integrity of the inflatable band restraint system.
  • Conventional bands are attached using a flat attachment region or a "crown stitch pattern" in which a convex stitch pattern is used, i.e., the stitching bows away from the inflatable band.
  • this conventional attachment configuration promotes failure of the stitching and/or band and/or belt at the attachment region. This failure has been determined to be the result of uneven stresses at the attachment region because in actual use the inflated band is subjected to axial loading from the restraint of the occupant. This axial loading effectively reduces the radius of the inflated band, thereby altering the stresses and strains at the attachment portion.
  • the inflatable band may be attached to the belt at a concave attachment region as demonstrated in Figs. 7 and 8.
  • the radius of the curved attachment region is equal to or smaller than the inflated radius, R, of curvature of the inflatable band thereby compensating for the reduced radius of the inflated band when it is subjected to axial loads, such as those produced by restraining the occupant.
  • attachment region it is intended that this term refer to the leading edge of the region at which the band is attached to the belt. It is at least this portion that has the desired shape.
  • the leading edge i.e., the right side of the stitching region in Fig.8) is the more significant portion because this edge bears most of the strain at the attachment portion.
  • the radius of curvature of the concave attachment region may approximate an arc of a circle, a parabola, or any other curved shape that approximates the actual radius of the axially loaded, inflated band during deployment.
  • the degree to which the attachment region radius of curvature differs from the inflatable band's radius of curvature depends on the degree to which the belt/band system will be axially stressed. For example, in a configuration in which the belt extends completely through the interior of the band, the belt will reinforce the band. The resulting axial "stretching" of the band, therefore, will be smaller than in a system in which the belt does not extend through the band. Thus, the difference between radii of curvature can be larger for the system in which the belt does not extend through the band or for other configurations tending to experience greater axial strains.
  • the band can be attached to the belt by any number of means, such as stitching, adhesive or a combination of both, and the band may be attached to the belt at one or both of the ends using this configuration.
  • the tuxedo fold produces an uneven fabric thickness profile across the width of the band as illustrated in Fig. 9. (which is shown without the seat belt webbing) and the scale of Fig. 9 can be adjusted by the fabric thickness.
  • a conventional buildup typically uses 12 layers of fabric.
  • the resulting profile may be cast or otherwise formed into the clip arrangement used to secure the belt to the band, or in a D-shaped belt routing clip similar to those used in conventional seat belts. This profile will help ensure that the pleats of the tuxedo fold are in the appropriate positions and would reflect the shape shown in Fig. 9.
  • the inventor has completed a finite element analysis comparing the conventional fold pleated band and a band using the tuxedo fold configuration to compare the stresses which are generated from initial inflation.
  • the results of the analysis demonstrated the improvements attained by the tuxedo fold pattern.
  • This structure has similar thickness in the center of the band as the conventional pleated fold pattern (7 layers of fabric on each side of the belt.)
  • the analytical model of the tuxedo fold was constructed of 10,148 nodes and 10,128 membrane elements. Similar loading as was used in a conventional pleated band analysis was applied to this model to allow a direct comparison of the results (20 psi inflation peak).
  • the strain in the top layer of fabric extended across the spherical section of the band, toward the cylindrical portion of the structure, for both kinds of folds. This portion of fabric is loaded most aggressively by the secondary impact, because there is no pleat here and the fabric is essentially tight from the inflation only.
  • the tuxedo fold experienced a zone of 6% fabric strain, whereas the pleated fold had a larger zone of 8.8% strain. This is a potential failure site for dynamic loading, and, here too, the tuxedo fold demonstrated significant improvement.
  • the tuxedo fold reduced the peak fill loading from 308 lb/in to 236 lb/in.
  • the warp stress was low in this area since the pleats were not filled out, so these values of stress are inconsequential.
  • Strain in the pleats demonstrated similar results to the fill, with 16.6% strain being reduced to 12.7% for the tuxedo folds. More widespread results indicated that an 11 % strain can be reduced to approximately 6-8% when the tuxedo fold structure is used.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système de retenue de passagers à bande gonflable comprenant une bande gonflable configurée pour réduire les contraintes auxquelles est soumis le matériau de la bande au cours du gonflage et au moment de l'impact secondaire. La présente invention permet d'atteindre ce but en incluant un motif de plis qui permet de mieux reproduire la courbure cylindrique idéale de la bande gonflée, en attachant la bande à une ceinture de sécurité sur une zone de fixation à rayon plus petit, et en cousant la partie plissée de la bande à la ceinture tout en veillant à ce que le centre de la bande reste dépourvu de coutures.
PCT/US1998/013893 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule WO1999002375A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98933152A EP0993396A1 (fr) 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule
AU82881/98A AU8288198A (en) 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 Reduced stress inflatable band for vehicle occupant restraint system
JP2000501925A JP2001509450A (ja) 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 車両乗員拘束装置のための減少応力膨張可能バンド
CA002294790A CA2294790A1 (fr) 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule
KR1020007000086A KR20010021528A (ko) 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 응력을 감소시킨 차량 승객 보호 장치용 팽창 가능한 밴드

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5199597P 1997-07-09 1997-07-09
US60/051,995 1997-07-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999002375A1 true WO1999002375A1 (fr) 1999-01-21

Family

ID=21974725

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/013893 WO1999002375A1 (fr) 1997-07-09 1998-07-08 Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0993396A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2001509450A (fr)
KR (1) KR20010021528A (fr)
AU (1) AU8288198A (fr)
CA (1) CA2294790A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999002375A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1266806A3 (fr) * 2001-06-14 2003-08-13 Takata Corporation Dispositif d'airbag

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3801156A (en) * 1971-11-15 1974-04-02 H Granig Safety-belt
FR2236693A1 (fr) * 1973-07-09 1975-02-07 Pcs Developments Ltd
US3866940A (en) * 1973-01-11 1975-02-18 Allied Chem Differentially inflatable restraining band for vehicles
US5199597A (en) 1991-08-30 1993-04-06 Gladish William C Self-closing container lid
US5303953A (en) * 1991-10-21 1994-04-19 Takata Corporation Inflatable seat belt apparatus
WO1997023367A1 (fr) * 1995-12-22 1997-07-03 Universal Propulsion Co., Inc. Systeme de ceinture de securite gonflable

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3801156A (en) * 1971-11-15 1974-04-02 H Granig Safety-belt
US3866940A (en) * 1973-01-11 1975-02-18 Allied Chem Differentially inflatable restraining band for vehicles
FR2236693A1 (fr) * 1973-07-09 1975-02-07 Pcs Developments Ltd
US5199597A (en) 1991-08-30 1993-04-06 Gladish William C Self-closing container lid
US5303953A (en) * 1991-10-21 1994-04-19 Takata Corporation Inflatable seat belt apparatus
WO1997023367A1 (fr) * 1995-12-22 1997-07-03 Universal Propulsion Co., Inc. Systeme de ceinture de securite gonflable

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1266806A3 (fr) * 2001-06-14 2003-08-13 Takata Corporation Dispositif d'airbag
US6830266B2 (en) 2001-06-14 2004-12-14 Takata Corporation Airbag device and method of folding airbag

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20010021528A (ko) 2001-03-15
EP0993396A1 (fr) 2000-04-19
AU8288198A (en) 1999-02-08
CA2294790A1 (fr) 1999-01-21
JP2001509450A (ja) 2001-07-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5505485A (en) Plastic film airbag
EP1775176B1 (fr) Coussin gonflable formant une rainure
JP2677951B2 (ja) 車両用エアバッグおよび膨張制御部材
EP0896909B1 (fr) Coussins tubulaires gonflables pour la protection en cas d'accident des occupants assis dans une automobile
US4944529A (en) Inflatable protective cushion
US5275435A (en) Folded air bag
EP0901942B1 (fr) Dispositif de ceinture de sécurité gonflable
US5833265A (en) Airbag with excursion restrictors
US7946619B2 (en) Airbag
CA2339288A1 (fr) Airbag de protection contre les tonneaux
US5165716A (en) Airbag restraint system
US5718449A (en) Side-impact airbag device
WO2022066804A1 (fr) Système de coussin de sécurité gonflable centré sur le siège doté d'une chambre de retenue du bassin
WO1997006983A1 (fr) Systeme tubulaire gonflable de retenue
US4934734A (en) Inflatable air bag for protection of a vehicle occupant
US5520408A (en) Air bag fold and method
CA2259317C (fr) Systeme de harnais d'auto tubulaire et gonflable
GB2243119A (en) A vehicle air bag with inflation control straps
WO1999002375A1 (fr) Bande gonflable a contrainte reduite destinee a un systeme de retenue pour passagers d'un vehicule
EP0830991A1 (fr) Dispositif de protection pour les passagers d'un véhicule
MXPA00000283A (en) Reduced stress inflatable band for vehicle occupant restraint system
US6003896A (en) Airbag cushion having irregular configuration
CN220410497U (zh) 安全气囊组件
JPH03292237A (ja) 筒状ストラップ付エアーバッグ
WO2023228689A1 (fr) Dispositif de sac de sécurité gonflable de véhicule

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2294790

Country of ref document: CA

Kind code of ref document: A

Ref document number: 2294790

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: PA/a/2000/000283

Country of ref document: MX

Ref document number: 1020007000086

Country of ref document: KR

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1998933152

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1998933152

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1020007000086

Country of ref document: KR

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1998933152

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1020007000086

Country of ref document: KR