Flexible airbag case
AssigneeZodiac Automotive US Inc.
InventorsHerve Matura, Benoit Bouquier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide an airbag case at least partly made from a relatively flexible material. The flexible material can be configured to provide the airbag components with the ability to connect to the vehicle and provide a channel to guide the flexible membrane upon expansion. In some embodiments, the airbag case includes a pocket formed from the folded flexible material. The pocket may receive a gas generator and a bag and attached to a cover or dashboard and the vehicle.
Claims20
An airbag comprising:
- a gas generator;
- an inflatable safety bag;
- an airbag case formed from a flexible material, the airbag case comprising a back portion and at least two side portions, wherein the back portion and the at least two side portions form a pocket for receiving the gas generator and the safety bag.
A method for forming an airbag comprising an airbag case having a flexible material, the method comprising:
- providing a flexible material having a shape that defines a plurality of areas, the areas comprising a first fold area, a second fold area, and a plurality of end areas;
- folding second fold area onto the first fold area;
- folding the plurality of end areas onto the second fold area to form the airbag case having a pocket;
- receiving an inflatable safety bag and a gas generator in the pocket.
An airbag case comprising:
- a flexible material comprising a first and second fold area and a first and second end area, wherein the second fold area is folded onto the first fold area and the first and second end areas are folded onto the second fold area to define a pocket having at least three sides;
- wherein the pocket is adapted to receive a gas generator and an inflatable safety bag;
- and
- wherein at least one of the sides comprises an extended portion adapted to be attached to a vehicle component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.