Abstract: An inflatable automotive protective cushion and method of formation. The protective cushion includes a multilayer film coating with an adhesive layer and an overlying barrier layer. The adhesive layer is adapted to bond to a textile substrate and the barrier layer is adapted to block air permeability.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the use of specific hybrid resins as airbag coatings. Preferably, the polymers used to create these hybrid resins, as described herein, are urethanes blended with acrylates, vinyls, silicones, and combinations thereof, where at least one of the components has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or less. The urethanes are preferably of the polycarbonate, polytetramethyleneglycol, silicon-based diol, or olefin-based diol type. The hybrid resins may be produced in an aqueous dispersion, in a solvent, or by mixing the polymers together where one polymer is dissolved directly into a second polymer to form a continuous matrix. The resulting hybrid resins exhibit a tensile strength of at least 1,000 p.s.i. and an elongation at break of at least about 200%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag cushion which exhibits a low amount of seam usage (in order to attach at least two fabric panels or portions of a panel together) in correlation to an overall high amount of available inflation airspace within the cushion itself. These correlated elements are now combined for the first time in what is defined as an effective seam usage index (being the quotient of the length of overall seams on the cushions and the available inflation airspace volume). The inventive cushion must have at least one substantially straight seam and must possess an effective seam usage factor of less than about 0.11. A cushion exhibiting such a low seam usage factor and also comprising an integrated looped pocket for the disposition of an inflator can is also provided as well as an overall vehicle restraint system comprising the inventive airbag cushion.

Abstract: A side curtain air bag treated with a film forming polyurethane coating that reduces the propensity for seam combing while simultaneously blocking permeability outboard of the seams to a sufficient degree to provide gas retention over an extended period of time following pressurization.

Abstract: An airbag cushion having a novel seam structure including either a tri-stitch fold-over seam structure or a double-stitch fold-over seam structure. The novel seam structure allows airbag cushions to be manufactured by using low tenacity yarns, preferably in the range of between about 40 cN/tex and about 65 cN/tex.

Abstract: Typical road surfaces are concrete, and gravel filled asphalt. They are very abrasive to fabrics that slide on those surfaces. For the new side impact curtain-type airbag, in a rollover situation, the airbag needs to protect the occupant from directly contacting the road hazard and should not deflate quickly or break when sliding on such road surfaces. We have found that a layer of elastomer can provide much better abrasion resistance than a layer of heavy industrial fabric. A Jacquard bag coated with 1.2 oz/yd2 polyurethane showed significant increase in air leakage rate after 5 cycles of concrete sliding abrasion. A 3 mil thick polyurethane film was laminated to the coated Jacquard woven airbag. After 110 cycles of sliding abrasion using the same concrete, no visual damage or change In bag leakage was observed. This finding indicates surprisingly better abrasion resistance of a thin elastomer film than a heavy industrial fabric.

Abstract: An airbag assembly including one or more elongate tether elements that extend through vent openings along travel paths from anchoring locations such that the tether elements extend in sliding relation through the vent openings. The gas emission capacity of the vent openings may be adjustable based on internal cushion pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag cushion which exhibits a low amount of seam usage (in order to attach at least two fabric panels or portions of a panel together) in correlation to an overall high amount of available inflation airspace within the cushion itself. These correlated elements are now combined for the first time in what is defined as an effective seam usage index (being the quotient of the length of overall seams on the cushions and the available inflation airspace volume). The inventive cushion must have at least one substantially straight seam and must possess an effective seam usage factor of less than about 0.11. A cushion exhibiting such a low seam usage factor and also comprising an integrated looped pocket for the disposition of an inflator can is also provided as well as an overall vehicle restraint system comprising the inventive airbag cushion.

Abstract: An airbag fabric has a finish on a surface thereof, the finish comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 ?m or less. A process for producing a coated airbag fabric comprises the steps of (a) providing an airbag fabric, (b) contacting at least one surface of the airbag fabric with a coating composition comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 ?m or less, and (c) drying the fabric treated in step (b) to produce a finish on the airbag fabric.

Abstract: An airbag and a method for making an airbag of the type that includes an irregularly-shaped panel, such as the side panels of a passenger airbag. The irregularly-shaped side panel is first divided into two segments with a single straight line to define an inflation segment and an impact segment. The straight line drawn to define the largest polygon that can be defined by any single straight line without coming too close to the inflation module hole. By segmenting the larger, irregularly shaped panel into two smaller ones with one of those being polygonal, better nesting of the segments can be obtained, which significantly improves fabric utilization to offset the labor cost from sewing the two segments together when making the irregularly shaped side panel required for the airbag.

Abstract: A fabric construction utilizing a tying yarn knitting arrangement wherein a portion of the tying yarns are threaded to engage needles so as to form two stitches with one on either side of the inlay warp yarn at rows of stitch formation. The neighboring stitches resist yarn separation and resultant combing while also blocking the commencement and propagation of de-knitting when a tying yarn is broken thereby enhancing seam strength character.

Abstract: An inflatable side protection airbag having a first panel and a second panel, in which the first panel and second panel each have an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The first panel may comprise the outboard portion of the inflated structure. The second panel may be formed in separate fabric pieces which are sewn together, reducing the overall amount of fabric required to construct the second panel. A bridging portion may be provided in the second panel. The bridging portion may be provided adjacent a void area which is positioned at least partially between the anterior portion and the posterior portion of the second panel. An anterior portion of the first panel is mated to the anterior portion of the second panel in forming a front pillow. A posterior portion of the first panel is mated to the posterior portion of the second panel to form a back pillow.

Abstract: An inflatable air bag structure formed from panels joined together along one or more sewn seams. The sewn seams are sealed at the interior between the adjoined layers by a low modulus, high elongation sealant surrounding at least a portion of the sewing threads. The sealant fails under tension in a cohesive manner by tearing through the interior of the sealant layer while remaining adhered to the fabric thereby maintaining gas blockage when the seam is placed in tension.

Abstract: An air bag curtain that incorporates at least a pair of substantially discrete inflation zones within the curtain structure such that upon failure or disengagement of one inflation zone, at least one other inflation zone remains operative.

Abstract: An air bag substrate fabric utilizing a tying yarn knitting arrangement wherein a portion of the tying yarns are threaded to engage needles so as to form two stitches with one on either side of the inlay warp yarn at rows of stitch formation. The neighboring stitches resist yarn separation and resultant combing while also blocking the commencement and propagation of de-knitting when a tying yarn is broken.

Abstract: A fabric construction utilizing a tying yarn knitting arrangement wherein a portion of the tying yarns are threaded to engage needles so as to form two stitches with one on either side of the inlay warp yarn at rows of stitch formation. The neighboring stitches resist yarn separation and resultant combing while also blocking the commencement and propagation of de-knitting when a tying yarn is broken thereby enhancing seam strength character.

Abstract: An airbag cushion for use in a vehicle restraint system is provided. The airbag cushion is formed from two or more body panel sections of substantially similar straight line geometry which are joined to one another by two substantially straight seams along corresponding lateral boundary edges. Each of the body panel sections is made up of one or more panels or pieces. The upper boundary edges of the body panel sections which are not joined to one another are joined around the perimeter of a rectilinear center panel by a series of substantially straight seams. A method of forming the cushion according to the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: Airbag cushions manufactured from polyester yarn having certain levels of intrinsic viscosity (IV) and certain specific carboxyl end group (“CEG”) levels perform unexpectedly well in high temperature and high humidity environments for airbag cushion applications. This specification identifies certain polyester yarns and characteristics of such polyester yarns that are necessary to achieve unexpectedly good performance in such high humidity and high temperature applications. A polymeric polyester yarn for airbags, said yarn having a high degree of tenacity even after a long period of exposure to high temperature and high humidity conditions is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a polyester yarn having CEG of less than about 60 equivalents/106 gram, and more preferably less than about 30 equivalents/106 grams, is particularly useful. In another embodiment, a polyester yarn having an IV value of at least about 0.6 performs exhibits superior properties.

Abstract: Airbag cushions manufactured from polyester yarn having certain levels of intrinsic viscosity (IV) and certain specific carboxyl end group (“CEG”) levels perform unexpectedly well in high temperature and high humidity environments for airbag cushion applications. This specification identifies certain polyester yarns and characteristics of such polyester yarns that are necessary to achieve unexpectedly good performance in such high humidity and high temperature applications. A polymeric polyester yarn for airbags, said yarn having a high degree of tenacity even after a long period of exposure to high temperature and high humidity conditions is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a polyester yarn having CEG of less than about 60 equivalents/106 gram, and more preferably less than about 30 equivalents/106 grams, is particularly useful. In another embodiment, a polyester yarn having an IV value of at least about 0.6 performs exhibits superior properties.

Abstract: A fabric construction utilizing a tying yarn knitting arrangement wherein a portion of the tying yarns are threaded to engage needles so as to form two stitches with one on either side of the inlay warp yarn at rows of stitch formation. The neighboring stitches resist yarn separation and resultant combing while also blocking the commencement and propagation of de-knitting when a tying yarn is broken thereby enhancing seam strength character.