Air bag fold indicator
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorRobert E. Bowser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air bag that includes a fold indicator to indicate whether the air bag has been properly folded within an air bag module. The indicator includes a plurality of marks disposed and spaced on an outer surface of the air bag in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is arranged such that when the air bag is properly folded the plurality of marks forms a folded pattern indicative of a properly folded air bag. The plurality of marks may be made from a material that is exposable by an x-ray such as a metallic coating. With such a construction, the air bag module, after it as been assembled, may be sent through an x-ray machine and examined as to whether the folded pattern of the marks of the air bag conforms to a standard pattern indicative that the air bag has been folded properly.
Claims4
A vehicle air bag module comprising:
- a base;
- a folded air bag mounted to said base and having a folded pattern on an outer surface of said folded air bag for visual comparison to a predetermined pattern indicative of a properly folded air bag wherein said folded pattern is comprised of strips made from a material that is exposable by an x-ray.
A method of assembling an air bag module with proper bag fold confirmation, the steps comprising:
- folding an air bag having marks which form a folded pattern on an outer surface of the folded air bag, the folded pattern exposable by x-ray;
- attaching the folded air bag to a generally planar base;
- mounting an inflator to the base;
- covering the folded air bag, inflator and base with a cover to assemble the air bag module;
- x-raying the air bag module;
- and
- during the x-raying step, comparing the folded pattern of the folded air bag to a predetermined pattern indicative of a properly folded air bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.