US 6,429,155 B1 · Low permeability airbag cushions having film coatings of extremely low thickness

Abstract

Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%. The film provides a low permeability airbag cushion exhibiting a leak-down time of at least 5 seconds as well as a very low packing volume (for more efficient use of storage space within a vehicle) for the target side curtain airbag.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A side curtain airbag exhibiting a packing volume factor of at most 0.05 to at least a portion of the surface of which a laminate film has been applied;

wherein said side curtain airbag exhibits a leak-down time after inflation of at least 5 seconds.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low permeability airbag cushions having film coatings of extremely low thickness

Life of this patent

Low permeability airbag cushions having film coatings of extremely low thickness

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40