Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-10
2002-08-20
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435547
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a method of folding an air bag for a driver to be mounted on the steering of the automobile.
Referring now to FIGS.
23
(A) and
23
(B), an example of an air bag apparatus for a driver's seat according to the related art will be described. FIG.
23
(A) is a plan view of an air bag apparatus for a driver's seat according to the related art, and FIG.
23
(B) is a cross sectional view taken along line
23
(B)—
23
(B) in FIG.
23
(A), and
FIG. 24
is a perspective view showing a modular cover viewed from the backside.
A retainer
110
comprises a flat plate portion
114
to which an air bag
112
is attached, and a module cover connecting portion
116
which is a strip extending from the edge of the flat plate portion
114
to the direction opposite to a driver. The air bag
112
in the folded state is covered with a module cover
118
. The module cover
118
comprises a main plate
118
A facing the driver and leg portions
118
B extending from the side portion of the main plate in the direction opposite to the driver. The leg portions
118
B are secured to the module cover connecting portion
116
of the retainer
110
by rivets
120
or the like. The reference numeral
122
designates a reinforcing plate.
An inflator
124
is secured to the retainer
110
in such a manner that the upper side thereof is accommodated in the air bag
112
through an opening
126
formed on the flat plate portion
114
. A ring
128
is an air bag connecting member. The opened edge of the air bag
112
is sandwiched between the ring
128
and the opened edge portion of the flat plate portion
114
, so that the air bag
112
is secured to the retainer
110
. Bolts, not shown, which are fixed to the ring
128
, are inserted into bolt insertion holes formed at the opened edge of the air bag
112
, the flat plate portion
114
of the retainer, and a flange
124
a
of the inflator
124
, and nuts are tightened onto the bolts.
The back surface of the main plate
118
A of the module cover
118
has tear lines
130
,
132
,
134
of shallow grooves formed as weakened portion for ripping the main plate
118
A. The tear lines
130
,
132
extend along the leg portions
118
B on the left side and the right side in FIG.
23
(A) in the vertical direction of FIG.
23
(A). The tear line
134
extends laterally of FIG.
23
(A) at about the center of the main plate
118
A so as to connect the tear lines
130
and
132
together.
The main plate
118
A of the module cover surrounded by these tear lines
130
,
132
and
134
are divided into two sections, i.e. flaps
140
and
142
. When the inflator
124
is operated to blow gas to inflate the air bag
112
, the portions of the module cover
118
along the tear lines
130
,
132
and
134
are torn or ripped, so that the flaps
140
,
142
can be outwardly opened respectively into a tongue shape.
When the inflator
124
operates in association with the collision of the vehicle, a large amount of gas is rapidly blown out from the inflator
124
and the air bag
112
starts to inflate. Then, the module cover
118
is ripped along the tear lines
130
,
132
and
134
in association with the inflation of the air bag
112
, and the flaps
140
and
142
are respectively opened into a tongue shape, so that the air bag
112
is rapidly inflated in the compartment of the vehicle to protect the driver therein.
Though the air bag apparatus for a driver's seat comprises three spoke portions
151
,
152
and
153
, an air bag apparatus for a driver's seat having two or four spoke portions is also widely used.
FIG. 25
is a perspective view of a steering wheel
165
having an air bag apparatus for a driver's seat
160
having four spoke portions
161
,
162
,
163
and
164
. There is also provided a tear line
167
on a module cover
166
of the air bag apparatus for a driver's seat
160
.
The module cover
118
or
166
of the above described related air bag apparatus for a driver's seat comprises a center portion and spoke portions extending from the center portion radially outwardly, and the air bag is covered only with the center portion.
In this way, in the air bag apparatus for the driver's seat covered only with the center portion of the module cover
118
or
166
, the module cover and the air bag apparatus are significantly large because they have to cover the air bag.
Accordingly, in view of the above problem of the related art, the object of the present invention is to provide an air bag apparatus for a driver's seat having relatively small and slim appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a method of folding an air bag for a driver, an air bag is placed in a flat form to orient an upper surface of the air bag upwardly, and then, at least two side areas of the air bag in the flat form are folded inwardly of the air bag so that at least two arm portions extending radially outwardly from a center portion of the air bag to lateral portions on an outer periphery of the air bag are formed without being folded toward the center of the air bag. The arm portions have elongated shapes extending along spokes of a steering wheel.
Each of the at least two side areas of the air bag is placed at the center portion and at least two arm portions. Preferably, each of the at least two side areas is folded in bellows so that folded portions in a form of bellows extend between the lateral portions through the center portion.
The folded air bag may have three or more arm portions extending from the center portion according to the number of the spokes of the steering wheel.
In the method of the invention, at least three side areas of the air bag in the flat form may be pushed toward the center portion to form at least three petal-shaped portions extending radially outwardly from the center portion, and side portions of each petal-shaped portion are rolled inwardly to form the arm portion. On the other hand, each of the upper and lower sides of the air bag in the flat form may be folded in bellows and disposed on a middle area between the upper and lower sides without overlapping each other to form an elongated form. Also, each of upper and lower sides of the air bag in the flat form may be rolled inwardly toward a center area without overlapping each other.
In the method of the invention, the air bag can be folded from the center to the spokes of the steering wheel. Thus, the center of the steering wheel can be made relatively compact.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3768824 (1973-10-01), Kloppe et al.
patent: 5529339 (1996-06-01), Niederman
patent: 5564730 (1996-10-01), Chizenko et al.
patent: 5690358 (1997-11-01), Marotzke
patent: 5865465 (1999-02-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 6007088 (1999-12-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 6170870 (2001-01-01), Marotzke
Dickson Paul N.
Dunn David R.
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Takata Corporation
LandOfFree
Method of folding air bag for driver does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of folding air bag for driver, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of folding air bag for driver will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2876852